The Spring Road Trip, 2025

11 01 2025

After being delayed by snow and extreme cold, we’re finally headed south towards our first scheduled stay in Quartzsite, AZ.  It’s about a 5 hour drive down to Albuquerque, where we’re parked at American RV Resort, west of downtown along Route 66.  We’ve been at this park before – it works fine for an overnight, but suffers a lot of noise due to its location on I-40.  Sunday was the first NFL wildcard game, and with Denver wining a wildcard position, we decide to stay put and watch the game.  Unfortunately the Broncos lose – but hey, at least they made a playoffs!

Snow! in Albuquerque, American RV Resort

On Monday we’re all set to make the 4 hour drive to Holbrook, AZ.  But, even before we hitch up, the snow starts to fall.  After a cold and wet departure, we’re in snow on and off all the way across to Gallup.  Fortunately it’s dry and sunny as we arrive in Holbrook, at the OK RV Park.  This is our first time to OK – and find it much quieter than the KOA that’s nearby but much closer to I-40.  From Holbrook, we’re off to Camp Verde at Verde Ranch RV Resort.  This is a favorite, and frequent stop for us.  Nice level sites and full hookups make our quick overnight stay very pleasant.

Fork in the Road food truck at Verde Ranch RV

From Camp Verde, it’s a relatively easy drive across Phoenix for at stop at the Blue Beacon Truck wash and on to Quartzsite.  The weather has finally moderated in Quartzsite with highs pushing into the 70’s and lows in the 40’s.  There are about 30 rigs in the Circle of Montana’s when we arrive and as always, we had a great time with new and old friends from the Montana Owners group.

From Quartzsite, we’re off to Cathedral City, CA.  We’ll be at Outdoor Resorts, Palm Springs for 2 weeks.  More from the Coachella Valley!


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2025

Changing Plans

29 01 2021

Lost Dutchman State Park

On January 14th, we departed on the 2021 Spring Road Trip.  The original plan was to make our way to Yuma, AZ as quickly as possible to enjoy 2 weeks in the (hopefully) warmest spot in the state.  However by early January, Yuma and the surrounding area of southern California began making headlines as the “worldwide hotspot of Covid”.  With nearly no available hospital beds and business once again shutting down, we decided that Yuma probably wasn’t the best choice.

Our first night out was in Durango, at the Oasis RV Park.  This former KOA is now related to the Oasis in Amarillo – and we found the park and sites very enjoyable.  We’d stay here again.

Our next night was at Goulding’s Lodge and RV Park in Monument Valley, Utah.  This is a favorite park, and we always enjoy our stays here.

Goulding’s Lodge and RV Park, Monument Valley, UT

Finally arriving in Arizona, we once again selected the Verde Ranch RV Resort for a 7 night stay.  Last time in Camp Verde we visited the Verde Brewing Company.  Unfortunately the brewery is still temporary closed due to the affects of Covid.  We enjoyed an afternoon in Sedona where we sampled beers at Oak Creek Brewery before a great lunch at Creekside American Bistro.

Sedona, AZ

In Camp Verde we visited Sedona View RV Resort, just 7 miles from Verde Ranch RV (and the noise of I-17) with great views of the Verde River Valley.  This might be a good option on the next trip to Camp Verde.

Sedona View RV Resort, Camp Verde, AZ

Just as winter makes a come back to Camp Verde, we’ve moved south to the Phoenix area.  Somehow, we managed to find 4 nights of no-services dry camping at Lost Dutchman, one of our favorite State Parks.  And, as rain and even some freezing temperatures mange to follow us to Phoenix, we’re able to upgrade all 4 nights to electric/water sites.  Unheard of – it must be due to either covid or weather related cancellations.

Snowy Superstitions, Lost Dutchman SP

From Lost Dutchman we’ll spend 3 nights at the Rancho Sonora Inn and RV Park in Florence, AZ. We’re in site #36, and friends in #17.  Both are very tight back-in sites.  PARK MAP Better options would be pull-throughs 8 or 9 or back-in sites 42-47.

Site #36, Rancho Sonora Inn and RV Park, Florence, AZ

While in Florence we visited several RV parks in the Casa Grande area – our favorite was Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort. PARK MAP

Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort, Casa Grande

Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort, Casa Grande

After Florence we’re headed to Tucson for a week before returning to Apache Junction.  More from Tucson…

 


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2021

On to Camp Verde

11 02 2020

Welcome to Arizona!

In the past we’ve talked about the rough, crumbling roads in Colorado and Texas.  Today we learned that Arizona highways (at least I-40 & I-17) are even worse.  After 2 nights parked within sight of I-40, we can vouch for the extremely heavy truck traffic on the route between Albuquerque & Flagstaff.  In the 10 mile corridor that we could see from the campground, there always seemed to be at least 40 or 50 trucks traveling east and west.  Obviously all of this heavy traffic is causing our already old, crumbling infrastructure to fail even faster.  Huge pot holes (some poorly patched, some just gaping holes) are encountered at nearly every bridge crossing and turn in the road.  Sometimes long stretches of washboard concrete patches shake everything inside the truck, and undoubtedly rearrange things inside the RV too.

We last visited Camp Verde in mid-February 2018 when we stayed at Rancho Verde RV Park and Dead Horse Ranch State Park.  This time we’re parked at a relatively new park (Aug’2019), Verde Ranch RV Resort.  The new facilities at Verde Ranch are beautiful – from the manicured doggie “rest-areas” to the modern club house, outdoor pool and hot tubs – and even the laundry rooms.  Set along the Verde River at the junction of I-17 and AZ 260, it’s very convenient to Camp Verde, Sedona and Cottonwood.  Even Prescott is less than an hour away.  Some of the best river-side sites suffer from some highway noise, but the majority of the sites are far enough away, or behind a noise blocking hill.  The resort offers premium & standard pull-throughs, deluxe end/back-ins and standard back-in sites and even covered sites for use in the hot Arizona summer.  Along the river are 3 pickle ball courts as well as a couple shuffle board courts and a children’s play area.  With leaves, this lush green river valley will be a beautiful backdrop to the resort.

We’re parked in site 127, a standard pull-through site on the far North end of the property.  Sites provide 20/30/50 Amp electrical, water, sewer and cable TV.  Most of the sites are level gravel, but a few are still dirt, awaiting the daily loads of gravel that arrive at the resort. In early February, temperatures during our 4 night visit ranged from downright chilly 25 (snow on the higher peaks around town) to fairly pleasant 65.

After a fun evening out in Prescott (thanks Janice & Steve) and a quick exploration of the local brewery, we’re once again headed south to Lake Pleasant Regional Park & Campground – just on the northwest corner of the Phoenix metro area.  More from Lake Pleasant…

 


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

Rancho Verde RV Park, Camp Verde, AZ

21 02 2018

Rancho Verde RV Park, Camp Verde, AZ

While not exactly as their brochure states “A Green Oasis in the Heart of the Verde Valley”, this time of year – this small park of about 40 spaces occupies a attractive spot near the Verde River just outside of central Camp Verde.  Camp Verde is only about 55 miles south of Flagstaff, but nearly 3800 feet lower and provides what the Camp Verde’ites tout is a climate milder than Flagstaff in the winter and milder then Phoenix in the summer.  But with temps struggling to top out at 50 and lows sinking into the upper 20’s each night – it’s not quite as “mild” as we’d prefer.

We’re parked in site E-2 at Rancho Verde, a back in site along Horseshoe Bend Drive, named for the big sweeping turn the Verde River makes near here.  This site suffers from a bit of early morning and late afternoon “rush hour” traffic.  However, this and most other sites are wide, deep enough for fairly large trailers and provide full hookups (water, electric, sewer port) for $45/night including taxes.  Approaching the park from highway 260, there’s another property along the way called Verde River RV Resort and Cottages.  Closed for what looks like major renovations, this park might provide a bit quieter sites once it reopens.

With only a overflow site available for Friday night, we opt to depart on Friday morning to explore nearby Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood.  More from there…

Rancho Verde RV Park, Camp Verde, AZ Site E-2

Rancho Verde RV Park, Camp Verde, AZ


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2018