Spending the winter in the van, we knew we needed to escape the wet Oregon winters and head somewhere dry and warm. Year after year, we’ve said we want to head to Tucson, but never made it happen.
This year, we finally did! Mountain biking, hiking, and a whole lot of outdoor work, we spent a month free camping near Tucson and are sharing each of the locations we stayed here.
After 2.5 years living in a van in Scotland and another 2.5 years living in a minivan in the United States (what we’re currently doing), we have an eye for boondocking sites. We have a list of things we look for at each, and cross-reference with multiple van life apps to find epic places to camp for free.
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Things To Note About Boondocking
- Bathrooms aren’t a thing. Either bring a toilet with you, or know how to properly poop outdoors. Don’t know how? Don’t worry, we wrote a guide all about pooping outside here!
- Cell service is spotty. We’ve noted which sites have cell service, and recommend maps.me for an offline map app.
- Take your trash with you. Similar to no bathrooms, there’s no trash. Pack out what you pack in.. including organic matter like banana peels, apple cores, and your used toilet paper!
- Water is limited in the desert! We recommend bringing a water jug and filling it within Saguaro National Park. If coming into Tucson along i10 from the north, at the Sacaton Rest Area (33.041333, -111.783884) you’ll find free potable water.
- Be prepared for some serious wind around Tucson. I’m not sure if it was just when we were there, or if it’s normal in the desert, but wind was prevalent every day, sometimes super gusty!
Don’t have an RV but want to try out life on the road? Check out these RV rentals.. all different shapes, sizes, and pricing too!
Free Boondocking in Tucson
West Arva Valley Road
- Coordinates | 32.373478, -111.386316
- Cell Service | yes
- Accessibility | 2WD, low clearance, and big rig friendly
Coming into Tucson from Phoenix with the plan of working for a few days before playing, we knew we wanted to stay in the northwest region of Tucson.
This location is great for it’s easy access right back to a main road, and there are loads of places with a lot of privacy.
We came in pretty close to sunset and decided to just camp at the first place we saw open.. which is the exact coordinates above. However, upon running in the area, we found that there are a lot of other really cool areas too that would have less traffic along the main entrance to this free camping area.
If you’re looking for more privacy, consider heading down to the left at these coordinates, 32.378562, -111.392103. There was only one rig down that way, though it is a big closer to the main road noise.
While we were here, a ranger came through documenting us in the area — the legal stay limit is 14 days before needing to move at least 25 miles from here. The ranger was super friendly and was simply documenting people in the area.
It’s worth noting here that the road coming into this boondocking area is a gas line! We had people from the gas company talk to us about digging in the area and ensuring if we had a fire it would be small and in control.
The gas line runs the entire road, and carries gas from Texas all the way to California! So be sure to not dig for bathroom use or have fires near the road coming in.
BLM Campground Near Tucson Mountain Park
- Coordinates | 32.159508, -111.114752
- Cell Service | yes
- Accessibility | all rig friendly, big open spots, and lots of uneven spots
This is hands down the most crowded spot we’ve ever boondocked at. The only reason we stayed here was to be close to some mountain biking trails we wanted to ride, as the crowds of people aren’t really are jam.
With that said, we ended up staying three nights in this area, and while the first spot wasn’t great.. the second spot we had still offered some privacy, and the hike to the top of the hill is nice for sunset and sunrise.
There were rigs of all sizes here, people in tents, and some groups of people with multiple rigs and off roading vehicles there hanging out for a while.
We found this spot to be surprisingly quiet and a nice stay for what it is. There were definitely areas of lots of trash, and if you don’t secure a spot on the outside it wouldn’t be nice.. but for how close it is to Tucson Mountain Park and West Saguaro National Park, it’s a good place.
Ironwood National Monument West of Saguaro National Park
- Coordinates | 32.247464, -111.279031
- Cell Service | yes, really good and could use hot spot
- Accessibility | sandy road, but 2WD doable, wouldn’t suggest after heavy rain
We pulled up to this spot and both agreed this was our favorite spot so far in Tucson. When we read about this place, there were reviews of it being gated off.. but it’s actually just a cattle gate at the entrance.
There are signs in multiple spots saying you can camp in this area for up to 14 nights — so we knew we were good.
Pulling up to our campsite, there was only one other rig in the far distance that we could see. Other than that, there was nobody around, and it was magical — until someone came and parked right next to us.. don’t be those people!
This area is all sand, has little to no shade, and has small bushes all around. Georgie loved it here because she could roam freely without getting stickers in her paws and fur, and seemed to be the most comfortable here than the other two places so far while free camping near Tucson.
This area is accessible to all, but it’s worth noting, the quickest way to get here from Tucson is via Gates Pass, and RV’s are not allowed on that road. It’s windy, steep, and a pretty skinny road for how much traffic there is on it!
Redington Road Dispersed Camping in Southwest Tucson
- Coordinates | 32.267266, -110.646149
- Cell Service | yes
- Accessibility | bumpy road up, multiple places for larger RVs, 2WD low clearance doable
We had high hopes of finding a camping spot with city views on the way up Mt. Lemmon, but when that failed due to everything being closed for the winter, we drove back down and went here instead.
This area has around 20 pull-outs for camping, most of them pretty flat and having great views of the city at night.
Even during the week, it’s quite busy here. All the spots were taken up until the coordinates above, which is where we stayed for the night.
The road up can be super washboard and definitely has some ruts and rocks to avoid in low-clearance vehicles, but it is manageable with driving slowly.
We did see someone with a trailer just before our site, so I know it’s possible to pull something of decent size up here.. just remember it’s a dirt road with lots of turns, and can get super windy.
Looking for an RV for your next trip, reserve here!
Arizona State Trust Camping in Tucson
While arguable Arizona State Trust camping can count as free after you get the pass, since you have to purchase a pass, I’m putting this as a separate section than above.
To camp on State Trust land, you must obtain a permit, which can be done online here, and it costs $15 for a single person or $20 for two adults and their children. There’s also a $1 processing fee as well.
But, after you purchase the permit, you can then use all Arizona State Trust Land for free for 365 from the date of purchase! We ended up buying ours mainly so we could mountain bike on trust land, but the free camping is great too!
Southeast Tucson Near Saguaro East And Colossal Cave
- Coordinates | 32.09098, -110.62427
- Cell Service | spotty
- Accessibility | big rig friendly spots, short washboard road coming in
We stayed in this area for the soul purpose of mountain biking, and the trails here did not disappoint!
In fact, the trails in this area were some of our favorite trails in Tucson as they were super flowy and not technical and rocky like others we experienced.
We stayed closest to a trailhead, however, there are some other great areas just before this location, and actually I would pull off and find a place down the road at these coordinates if we stayed again, 32,086228, -110.62767.
The cell service was pretty bad here, but there are some great views of the surrounding mountains, and the trail access is unmatched!
Old Youth Camp North of Catalina State Park
- Coordinates | 32.467794, -110.920496
- Cell Service | yes
- Accessibility | paved entrance to large paved parking areas and some dirt roads leading to other spots
Holy smokes.. incredible views of Mt. Lemmon here! Seriously, the views make you think you’re not in Arizona!
This spot can be very busy, but at the coordinates above where we stayed, there was nobody else around!
There are multiple large paved parking areas to stay at, and even more dirt spots that are a bit smaller and tight to get to. And while you can hear the road, the views make up for the noise!
The entrance is easy to get into, the lot at the beginning is great for those needing just a quick stop, and the cell service is pretty decent.
Parking Lot “Camping” in Tucson
There are a handful of places in Tucson that allow overnight parking. And there are also a handful of places in Tucson where we wouldn’t actually recommend overnight parking.
Some areas of Tucson, Arizona, aren’t really the greatest for sleeping in your car or leaving your vehicle.. as we experienced people knocking on our doors and drug deals right out our front window.
Cracker Barrel in Northwest Tucson
- Coordinates | 32.35977, -111.09258
- Cell Service | yes
- Accessibility | paved parking lot, 4 pull-through RV sites, and more street parking in the area
Cracker Barrels are usually a really safe bet for an overnight stay. And while they sometimes get a bad rep for being right along the interstates, the noise is pretty constant making it somewhat like white noise.
The Cracker Barrel in the northwest area of Tucson was definitely one of the busiest Cracker Barrels we’ve ever stayed at. With that said, it was also one of the largest!
We recommend getting to Cracker Barrel after they close, at 9 PM, as the parking lot opens up a bit from all the employees and customers leaving.
If you’re not going to stay for breakfast there, try to leave before they open at 7 AM, just out of respect. Otherwise, consider grabbing a coffee, breakfast, or something from their gift shop to support them.
Bashas’ in Northeast Tucson
- Coordinates | 32.3068, -110.84433
- Cell Service | yes
- Accessibility | paved parking lot, with regular size spots, mostly level
When looking at iOverlander, I had seen a couple of reviews from people staying at this Bashas’. However, what really sold us was the fact that our friends texted us telling us it was a great place to overnight.
The views from this Bashas’ are so pretty, and it’s actually a relatively quiet place to spend the night, close to Sabino Canyon.
We got to Bashas’ just before closing, parked in the furthest spot from the entrance, and enjoyed a really restful night, only waking up once traffic started picking up around 6 AM.
With that said, Jay sleeps with ear plugs and had no problem sleeping in longer — I was just a bit nervous so I got up early and worked in the front seat of the van. But nobody even came close to the rig or bat an eye at the van in the parking lot.
Home Depot in Northwest Tucson
- Coordinates | 32.328943, -111.048835
- Cell Service | yes
- Accessibility | paved parking lot, mostly level
We stayed at the Home Depot parking lot for a night when we were in town late and were planning on going to a coffee shop the next morning for our work day.
This home depot parking lot is really large and there was one other person staying there when we stayed. There were also a couple of rigs in the parking lot of the gym next door.
If you stay here, keep it stealth, and we highly recommend Crema Coffee right around the corner. It’s $4 for black coffee with free refills the entire time you’re there.. and the coffee is really tasty!
Enjoy Nature. Respect Nature
We try and share as much as we can when we visit places. In fact, we’ve been doing these mini free camping guides to anywhere we’ve spent an extended amount of time in.
We like to share the exact locations so that you can get out and enjoy nature without the stress or worry about finding a place to stay.
Remember, if you choose to camp for free at any of these locations, you’re enjoying the beauty of Creation.
Keep it clean, be respectful of those around you by not running generators or music all day and all night, and for the love of nature — do not damage or kill the live plants and epic scenery in the area!
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