Every year, September 15 marks the beginning of the winter LTVA camping season. Long Term Visitor Areas, or LTVAs, are often-huge stretches of BLM land set aside for winter visitors. A $180 permit (2011/2012) buys access to seven long-term boondocking spots for seven months.
The term "spot" is something of an understatement; the largest and most popular area, La Posa LTVA near Quartzsite, is around 11,400 acres! Your LTVA permit lets you move between any of the winter-season LTVAs at will and you can also get a two-week, $40 permit. During the LTVA season, there is no restriction on how many times you can renew the two-week permit.
LTVA basics, 2011/2012 season in Quartzsite, Yuma and Blythe
This information will be updated annually. Just about everything here is the same from year to year, but RV boondockers need to be aware that some things, such as fees, do occasionally change. Information is correct, to the best of the writer's knowledge, as of September 15, 2011.
Where can I buy LTVA permits?
Easiest way: Show up to any of the four entrance stations at La Posa LTVA in Quartzsite, Arizona. Do not show up at weekends, anywhere near a holiday, or after 4 p.m. Hand over cash or write a check for $180 (or $40 for the two-week permit). Expect it to take several weeks, if not months, for your check to be cashed.
You'll need to supply an address and the registration numbers of your rig and any toads. (For the uninitiated, “toad” means an additional vehicle that you're towing). You'll receive stickers to put in the windshields of your vehicles, along with rules about using the LTVAs and some maps. On weekdays, you can also buy permits from field offices:
- Yuma: 2555 E. Gila Ridge Road, Yuma, AZ; 928-317-3200
- El Centro: 1661 South Fourth Street, El Centro, CA; 760-337-4400
- Palm Springs Field Office: 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA; 760-833-7100.
How long can I stay at LTVAs?
The winter LTVA season is from September 15 to April 15 inclusive. Some LTVAs, such as Midland, near Blythe in California, revert to regular two-week BLM stay rules after April 15, which means that you can legally stay on another two weeks if you have to and don't mind being warm. Expect a conversation with a ranger if you do stay on; this writer's experience is that the rangers are polite, knowledgeable, pleasant and invested in your safety – and that they enforce the two-week limit.
What facilities are at the LTVAs?
All LTVAs have dumpsters but no recycling. La Posa LTVA, just south of Quartzsite, has eight water faucets, an RV dump station and a pavilion where jamming sessions and talks are held. The Quartzsite Improvement Association puts on a full program of events both in-town and, sometimes, at La Posa. Midland LTVA, seven miles north of Blythe, California, has a dry dump station; pick up water in town at Miller Park. Water is potable but may smell earthy; filters take care of this issue.
There are four welcome huts at La Posa's four entrances, but for the other LTVAs you must contact the volunteer host in his or her RV if you need assistance. La Posa LTVA has take-one leave-one bookshelves in the entrance huts, and Midland LTVA has an open-air station where visitors take and leave books. Since it does rain, if you leave books at Midland, you might consider putting them in freezer bags.
What are the LTVA rules?
LTVAs have "supplemental rules." They're all rather commonsense. Rather than list them all here, please refer to the official rules document (PDF format). See also supplemental rules for the California Desert District -- it covers El Centro Field Office, which looks after three of the LTVAs.
What is the best LTVA?
What do you like? If you're interested in being close to Quartzsite's string of shows and expos, La Posa LTVA is best. La Posa West and, to a lesser extent, La Posa North put you within walking distance of the shows, but you'll need to install yourself early to find a spot and will have to put up with sardine-like living conditions for the duration. La Posa in general is the busiest LTVA; La Posa South is perhaps most popular because of its water and dump. For a quieter scene that's still close to civilization, try Imperial Dam or Midland. Of the “big three,” Midland is the most remote and quiet, but if you truly want solitude, try any of the other, smaller LTVAs.
What about free RV boondocking in Quartzsite?
There are several free boondocking areas around Quartzsite and other LTVAs. Their rules are different so they'll be covered in a separate article.
Where are the LTVAs?
Here is a list of all the winter LTVAs with a summary of facilities. Note that there are also summer LTVAs in California. These will be covered in a separate article.
Any more questions?
Ask and this writer will attempt to answer.
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