Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory, Benson, AZ
We’ve opted for a due south departure route this year after cold temps followed us all the way through the south western corner of Colorado and into central Arizona last year. Our first night will be in Albuquerque, at the Isleta Lakes and RV Park. We’ve stayed at this park in the past. It’s quite convenient to I-25 and nestled in a nice park-like setting around a couple of lakes along the banks of the Rio Grande. There are two improvements to note since we last stayed here in 2019. All of the sites to the south have been converted from their former gravel base to concrete pads next to a nice pavers patio. The northern sites are still pull-through gravel sites. Pick your option at check-in. When we stayed the concrete sites were a $5 premium. Also of note, the parks WiFi system has been upgraded. Our tests showed the download runs along at well over 100MB and the upload at about 30MB.
From Albuquerque we’re headed to Las Cruces and one of our favorite KOA parks. We’ve been in this park many times, however since new owners took over a few years ago, major improvements are always apparent. Currently they are working on several new premium sites just at the front of the park. They have also upgraded the office/store area and the WiFi. They offer both a 2G network which struggles along from our site #19, and a 5G network which is capable of video streaming. We spent 2 nights in Las Cruces, but wind and rain kept us indoors for much of our stay.
Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory, Benson, AZ
Leaving Las Cruces, we’re bound for Benson, AZ exactly 220 miles straight across I-10. Setting the truck’s navigation system it says “make a left turn in 220 miles”! We’re at the Butterfield RV Resort in Benson, AZ. This park reminds me of the Lost Alaskan in Alpine, TX with a pine tree at nearly every site. Also rather unique, they have an observatory. Unfortunately with heavy cloud cover, it’s doubtful that they will open this evening. Butterfield RV provide a outsourced WiFi service. The “free service” includes up to 1MB speed and 2GB limit in any 7 day period. The upgrade to “premium access” is $30/month, for a single device, regardless of how long you are staying. In testing, we found 2.4 MB down and .8MB up. And, with a single night stay, we didn’t come close to the 2GB limit. So, all in all it worked fine. Most likely we’d have to upgrade to more bandwidth on a stay over 2 or 3 days.
Palm Creek RV Resort, Casa Grande, AZ
From Benson we’re headed to Casa Grande. Before checking into Palm Creek RV Resort, we opt for a truck and trailer wash as the local Blue Beacon. For around $65, Blue Beacon does a great job of washing the winter grime off the vehicles and their RainX treatment seems to help keep things clean. We first visited Palm Creek in 2021 and met friends that were staying here last year. We’re parked in site #56, a back-in on the far east side of the park overlooking a field and I-10. This is a huge resort with over 2200 sites – both RVs and Park Models. There’s nearly any amenity you can imagine, which come at a price – per night rates are from $87-$92. Add about 11% sales and hotel tax and these sites are pushing close to $100/night. However, book a month and the rates fall to around $45/night. We enjoyed our 2 nights at Palm Creek, but to really take advantage of the amenities, you need to spend more time here.
Circling of the Montana’s – Quartzsite, AZ (Aerial Photography courtesy Scott Zenonian)
From Casa Grande we’re headed to our first scheduled destination, Quartzsite, AZ. We’re meeting other members of the Montana Owners Club on the Plomosa Road BLM land for 4 days of dry camping. At full capacity, our “Montana Circle” contained 21 rigs. We enjoyed daily happy hours, a pot-luck dinner on Sunday and great conversation, knowledge sharing and fun around the campfire. On Saturday we joined a group trip to the Desert Bar, aka Nellie E Saloon located just north of Parker, AZ. This off-grid bar and grill is similar to the Bunker Bar we visited last year near Lake Havasu City.
Nellie E Saloon, Parker, AZ
Nellie E Saloon, Parker, AZ
On Sunday we walked the “big tent”, talked with some of the vendors on the midway and viewed a few new-model Montana and Grand Design RV’s. From Quartzsite we’re headed to Havasu…more from there.
Small Home - Big Yard 
