Camping Guide

Prepared: September 24, 2026 Route focus: Arizona · Colorado · California · Nevada · New Mexico Vehicle: 2014 Ford E350 Super Duty cutaway (shuttle bus), 5.4L V8 gasoline, RWD/2WD, Class 3 (10,001–14,000 lb GVWR), ~20–24 ft, 225,000 mi Travelers: 1 adult + 1 dog

Scope & How to Use

This file is the research layer for trip/camping planning across the five states. It organizes verified, dated facts into per-state sections with inline sources. Findings are current as of September 2026; prices, seasons, and rules change — anything marked [VERIFY] was seen in at least one recent source but could not be confirmed against an official page during this research pass and must be re-checked before relying on it.

Conventions:

Prices are USD per night unless noted.
“FCFS” = first-come, first-served (no reservation).
“America the Beautiful” = the interagency annual pass (entrance, not camping).
Reservation windows are measured from today; publication dates in brackets.
Dog flags: 🐕 = dog-friendly / 🚫🐕 = dogs restricted (leash zones, trails banned, etc.).
Bus flags: 🚐 = fits the E350 comfortably; 🚐⚠ = fits with caution (length/grade/clearance); 🚐✗ = avoid (high clearance/4WD required).

How to use: plan a corridor by picking each state’s gateway anchor (paid campground or free overnight), apply the national pass/camping rules, then layer in dog and 2WD constraints.

Vehicle Constraints Summary

From ../vehicular/ford-e350.md:

Constraint	Implication
2WD, RWD, no lockers	Stay on paved or smooth graded gravel; no sand washes, no steep unpaved grades, no soft ground (Glamis, washes, wet clay)
~20–24 ft, Class 3	Most “RV to 40 ft” sites fine; treat AR 25–35 ft site lists as per-site; avoid tight switchbacks (Knowles Overlook, Mid Hills)
225k mi, gasoline 5.4L	Keep to regional fuel patterns; prefer long-stay hookup sites to reduce daily driving
Minimal self-containment (solar in progress)	Nightly shore power preferred; battery/solar budgeted for boondock nights only
Dogs travel along	Every stop must be dog-legal (see per-state dog flags); prioritize dog-friendly parks, campgrounds, kennels
Winter desert corridor	Focus Nov–Apr: AZ/CA/NV deserts; CO/NM high country (5,000–8,500 ft) gets cold at night; summer: reverse

National & Cross-State Resources

America the Beautiful — interagency pass (entrance only; does NOT cover camping)

Resident annual: $80 (digital pass via recreation.gov since Nov 20 2025) — americathebeautifulpass.com
Non-resident annual: $250 (effective Jan 1 2026)
Senior lifetime $80 / senior annual $20; Military (active + dependents) free; Access (permanent disability) free; 4th-grade pass free
Non-resident entrance fee $100/person at 11 most-visited parks (incl. Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, Great Sand Dunes cluster — verify list) — NPS
Covers entrance at NPS, USFS, BLM, FWS, BOR, USACE. Not valid for campground fees, tours, or concessions.

Camping fees & reservations (general rules)

recreation.gov: standard 6-month booking window; most federal campgrounds book here
AZ State Parks: up to 12 months (366 days) ahead — azstateparks.com or 1-877-MY-PARKS; $3.60/site reservation fee
CO State Parks: cpwshop.com or 1-800-244-5613, 6-month window, $8 reservation fee
NV State Parks: reservenevada.com, up to 11 months
NM State Parks: ReserveAmerica NM or 1-877-664-7787, 6-month window, $4–12 res fee, $9–17 cancellation

BLM dispersed camping (default rules — always check local office)

Generally free, 14-day limit (some areas 28-day / seasonal), then must move ~25–30 mi
Stay on designated roads, park within ~300 ft of road centerline, no new fire rings, pack out everything
Attended property rule varies (≤10 days unattended typical)
LTVAs (Long-Term Visitor Areas), AZ/CA: Hot Spring (CA), Tamarisk (CA), Pilot Knob (CA), Mule Mountain (CA), Midland (CA), La Posa (AZ), Imperial Dam (CA/AZ) — official BLM list — blm.gov

Harvest Hosts (winery/farm/attraction overnight program)

Classic $99/yr (5,858+ hosts) · Classic+Boondockers Welcome $169/yr (9,399+) · All Access $179/yr (9,753+, adds 346 golf courses + Escapees membership worth $49.95) — harvesthosts.com/plans
Requirements: self-contained RV (toilet + water), quiet, no generators typically; 1-night standard stay; purchase (~$30) expected at most hosts; Happy Camper Guarantee refund
Fit for the bus: yes, but “self-contained” test is the constraint — solar+water underway

Rest-area overnight policy by state (critical for the bus)

| State | Rule | Source | |—|—|—| | AZ | “Rest stop only” — no camping, no tents; vehicle overnight rest tolerated; pets on leash | AZDOT signage/regs [VERIFY official citation] | | CA | Camping prohibited; max 8 hrs per 24-hr period; no tents (gas stoves OK inside RV); animals on leash | Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 21 §2205 | | NV | Max 18 hrs per 2-week period; no camping | NAC 408.595 | | NM | Rest areas exist statewide (NMDOT list); overnight camping not confirmed allowed — treat as no | dot.nm.gov/rest-areas [VERIFY] | | CO | No official overnight-camping rule found; camping on Hwy ROW prohibited; some exits allow overnight per user reports (Sterling) — LOW confidence, verify locally | [VERIFY — see Free Overnight sections] |

Other cross-state anchors

Love’s Travel Stops (~600 locations; some with attached RV parks $32–60; dog areas) — existing notes in camping.md
Walmart / Cracker Barrel / Bass Pro — many allow RV overnight; always ask manager; no generators; park in back/edge spots
Casino RV lots — commonly free overnight if approved at hotel desk; verify per casino (see per-state listings)
Dump stations: rvdumpsites.net; Love’s; most state parks ($ charges vary)
CA Campfire Permit required for ANY stove/campfire on federal land in California (free, online, good 1 yr)

Arizona

Key Facts

Winter corridor: I-10 (Phoenix–Tucson) and US 60/93/95 connectors; Quartzsite RTR gathering Jan 7–15; Gem & Jam Tucson Feb 6–8
AZ State Parks: reserve up to 366 days ahead, $3.60/site res fee; day-use $7–15/vehicle; annual pass $75 [VERIFY current price]
Rest areas: no camping/tents; vehicle overnight rest tolerated; pets leashed
Fire restrictions common Apr–Oct (Lost Dutchman currently under fire restrictions through Oct 31 2026)

RV Parks (verified rates)

State Parks

Lost Dutchman SP (Apache Junction, Superstition Mtns): 135 sites, 68 elec+water (50/30/20A), no RV length limit, $3.60 res fee, fire restrictions through Oct 31, 2026 [VERIFY date], no dump station; 🐕 leashed; 🚐 good. — azstateparks.com
Dead Horse Ranch SP (Cottonwood — 20 min from Sedona, gateway to Jerome): 123 sites, pull-throughs to 40–65 ft (bus fits), $50/night elec, $25 dry, hot showers, generators prohibited, 14-night/30-day limit, 366-day window, $7 day-use; 🐕 leashed, not unattended, not in buildings; 3,300 ft. — cottonwoodaz.gov / azstateparks.com
Cattail Cove SP (Lake Havasu): 139 sites, 24-hr park, lake access — azstateparks.com
Kartchner Caverns SP (Benson): $50/night all sites W+E, pull-through 60 ft, dump, hot showers, gate closed 10 pm nightly, cave tours extra (Big Room tours suspended during bat season — [VERIFY dates]), entrance fee waived when camping/on cave tour; 🐕 leashed outside only, not in buildings/tours; 4,700 ft. Note: aggregator shows “$50–129” — official page says $50 [VERIFY if 2026 raised]. — azstateparks.com

National Parks, Monuments & Refuges (dog flags + gateway camping)

| Unit | Dog policy | Camping | Notes | |—|—|—|—| | Grand Canyon NP | 🚫🐕 leashed in Mather CG only; NOT below rim on trails | Mather CG ~$30/night [VERIFY], 6-mo rec.gov window; gateway: Tusquitee/Tusayan & Williams private parks | Non-resident $100/person entrance fee applies (top-11 list). 2026 timed-entry season at Grand Canyon Village [VERIFY]. | | Petrified Forest NP | 🐕✅ dogs allowed on ALL trails (+ BARK Ranger; fenced dog park at Painted Desert VC) | No car camping in park; gateway RV parks in Holbrook | Most dog-friendly unit in the region. Winter hours short. — nps.gov/pefo | | Saguaro NP (Tucson) | 🚫🐕 dogs ONLY on: Mica View Dirt Road (1.5 mi RT), Mica View Trail (0.7 mi), Desert Ecology Trail (paved, 0.25 mi), Cactus Forest Loop Road; pack out waste | No developed campground (backcountry $8 wilderness only) | Gateway camping: Gilbert Ray CG (Pima County, Tucson) [VERIFY]; America the Beautiful covers entrance — nps.gov/sagu | | Organ Pipe Cactus NM | 🐕 leashed in campgrounds/roads; not on backcountry trails [VERIFY scope] | Twin Peaks CG: $20/night, 208 sites, 21-day max, water + flush toilets; book on recreation.gov | Open Dec–Mar is prime; summer closures for heat [VERIFY]. Border Patrol checkpoint on AZ 85 — expect document check. — nps.gov/orpi | | Kofa NWR (US 95, Yuma–Quartzsite) | 🐕 leashed; Palm Canyon Trail = only designated trail | Free primitive camping, max 14 days per 12-month period (unusual!), campfires OK w/ dead-down wood only; free first-come cabins (Kofa Cabin, Hoodoo Cabin); no water, no facilities; interior roads need 4WD/high clearance — bus should camp near entrance & stay paved | 🚐✗ interior; 🚐 OK at entrance-adjacent spots. — fws.gov/refuge/kofa |

Boondocking / BLM / LTVA

La Posa LTVA, Quartzsite: 11,400 acres; $180/season (Sep 15–Apr 15) or $40/14-day — from Jan 1, 2026 a permit is required for long-term stays; 8 water faucets, vaults, dump station; outside season: $10 day-use / $15 overnight. Designated campsites west of the US 95 blend zone — blm.gov
Ehrenberg Sandbowl (I-10 exit 1, west side): dispersed OHV dunes/gravel; BLM Yuma FO (928-317-3200) — blm.gov
Coconino NF — Sedona west area (Camp Verde/Rimrock): camping banned year-round outside 7 designated areas along the Sedona west front: Rockview, Angel Valley, Javelina, Surprise, Windmill, Cockscomb, Greasy Spoon — 🚐⚠ access roads vary, some rougher gravel; fax/map from Red Rock RD (928-203-2900). — fs.usda.gov [VERIFY current FS page]
Coconino NF, Flagstaff area: dispersed camping free, 14-day rule, high elevation (7,000+) = cold nights
General AZ BLM district: BLM Arizona allows dispersed camping most lands, 14-day limit, stay on numbered roads [VERIFY per district]

Free Overnight Options

AZDOT rest areas (vehicle rest only — no tents/campfires)
Fort McDowell Casino property [VERIFY]
Walmart: Quartzsite, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, Holbrook, Flagstaff, Casa Grande [VERIFY per town — manager approval]
Love’s: Wickenburg (US 60), Casa Grande (I-10), Kingman (I-40), Holbrook (I-40), Flagstaff (I-40) [VERIFY locations]
Cameron Trading Post (east entrance of Grand Canyon) — fuel/gift shop; RV water fill reported; overnight [VERIFY]

Destinations & Attractions (route ideas)

Quartzsite RTR (Jan 7–15); Gem & Jam, Tucson (Feb 6–8) — existing notes
Kartchner Caverns cave tours (reserve ahead; 70°F year-round cave)
Sedona (west-side designated camping only — see above); Jerome ghost town (steep, bus-park at base [VERIFY])
Organ Pipe in flower season (Mar–Apr); Kofa Palm Canyon hike (short, dogs OK on trail)
Lake Havasu/London Bridge; Tombstone & Bisbee near the Kartchner tail

Colorado

Key Facts

CO State Parks: cpwshop.com / 1-800-244-5613, 6-month window, $8 res fee; daily vehicle pass $10–12 res / $15–17 non-res; annual pass $80 (resident “Keep CO Wild” $29 at DMV — not applicable)
CDOT Passenger Traction Law (Nov 1–Apr 30, I-70 mtn corridors): applies to vehicles under 16,000 lb GVWR — the E350 (10–14k) must carry chains or 3PMSF tires when posted; RWD bus = treat seriously
Rest areas: no official overnight-camping allowance found — [VERIFY]; camping on Hwy ROW prohibited; user-reports say Sterling rest area (I-76) allows overnight — LOW confidence, verify locally
Rocky Mountain NP: timed-entry reservation May–Oct — planned again 2026 [VERIFY dates]; non-resident $100/person entrance fee applies (top-11 list)
Campgrounds at high elevation: summer only May–Sep, snow possible any month; winter closures standard

RV Parks

No verified private RV parks captured this pass (CO private parks concentrated in Denver foothills, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Durango) — [[VERIFY] use recreation.gov gateway search for private listings]

State Parks

Golden Gate Canyon SP (Black Hawk, 40 min Denver): 117–156 sites (Reverend’s Ridge year-round limited), dogs leashed ALLOWED on trails (dog-friendly), no dispersed camping, 14-day max stay, no cell service, no dump [VERIFY]. — cpw.state.co.us
Mueller SP (near Woodland Park, 8,800 ft): 136 sites, reservations required, dogs NOT allowed on trails (campsite only), coin showers/laundry/dump, $36 equestrian sites. — cpw.state.co.us
Pike-San Isabel NF dispersed camping near Eleven Mile/Divide [VERIFY — forest order status 2026]

National Parks & Forests (dog flags + gateway camping)

| Unit | Dog policy | Camping | Notes | |—|—|—|—| | Rocky Mountain NP | 🚫🐕 ALL trails, tundra, meadows off-limits; only paved walkways, roadsides, pullouts, parking, campgrounds, picnic areas (leash) | Estes Park gateway: Hermit Park open space (dog-friendly trails); Grand Lake side: Arapaho NF dog trails; inside park CGs (Glacier Basin etc. ~$30) [VERIFY] | Stage 1 fire restrictions year-round (campfires only in designated rings); timed entry May–Oct [VERIFY 2026]; nonresident $100 fee — nps.gov/romo | | Mesa Verde NP | 🐕 leashed in campground only; not on sites/trails (paved walkways OK) | Morefield CG: 267 sites, 15 full-hookup (W/E/S), $38 dry / $51 full hookup, RV max 46 ft, 🐕 kennel on site $25/day 🚨 — 4.5 mi from entrance, 8,400 ft, 14-night/14-night-per-year max, no recreation.gov (Aramark/Mesa Verde Lodging), season ~Apr 24–Oct 18, winter limited primitive | Cash-free operation; book early for FH sites — big win for split travelers: one day kenneled dogs, one day in cliffs — visitmesaverde.com | | Great Sand Dunes NP | 🐕 leashed in campground; dunes/backcountry OK with carry-in water (no trails) | Piñon Flats CG (rec.gov), sites to ~25–35 ft per-site — pick a 35-ft site for the bus [VERIFY site list]; $20/night, no hookups | Dunes hot sand in summer; spring/fall best; dogs can run the dunes leashed — nps.gov/grsa | | Colorado NM (Fruita/Grand Jct) | 🚫🐕 campground OK (6-ft leash); no dogs on trails (paved paths only) | Saddlehorn CG $22/night ($11 Senior/Access); loops A/B RV limit 40 ft; C loop 19 ft; max 14 nights/yr; rec.gov | 26-mi Rim Drive; no hookups; vault toilets — nps.gov/colm | | Black Canyon of the Gunnison | [VERIFY pet policy — paved overlooks only, likely] | South Rim CG ~$25/night [VERIFY] | Steep narrow roads; pull-outs tight for bus | | McInnis Canyons NCA / Rabbit Valley (BLM) | 🐕 pets OK on leash (dogs welcome on trails) | Reservations REQUIRED on recreation.gov: ~$20/night — campgrounds Jouflas, Castle Rocks, Knowles Overlook, Koniklos (equestrian), Fluffle, High North. 🚐✅ Koniklos/Fluffle/select High North best for RV; 🚐✗ Knowles Overlook & High North (10% gravel grade) = 4WD/high clearance. Dispersed camping ONLY in designated numbered sites; fire pan + portable toilet required; 7-day site signs [VERIFY] | From I-70 exit 2; OHV noise; hot springs nearby. — blm.gov/programs/recreation/camping/mcinnis-canyons | | Rio Grande NF (San Luis Valley side — CO, near Del Norte) | 🐕 leashed everywhere; NF standard | Dispersed camping free, 14-day/30-day; MVUM required; prohibited on Roads 250/360/410 + near reservoirs/picnic areas/North Crestone Trailhead; 150 ft from water; park within 300 ft of road | Hot-springs corridor (Penitente Canyon) — fs.usda.gov/riogrande |

Boondocking / BLM

Rabbit Valley dispersed (per above — designated sites only)
Dominguez-Escalante NCA (Grand Junction FO): dispersed camping; [VERIFY district order]
San Luis Valley BLM near Penitente Canyon spring area [VERIFY]
Pike NF / Eleven Mile dispersed [VERIFY]
All: MVUM + 14-day + no new fire rings; elevation 7,000–9,500 ft = cold nights even in July

Free Overnight Options

CO rest areas — NOT officially designated for camping; some user-reported tolerance (Sterling) — LOW confidence [VERIFY]
Casinos: Black Hawk (steep canyon approach — 🚐⚠), Central City, Cripple Creek (twisty mountain road — 🚐⚠), Cripple Creek has flatter entry [VERIFY lots]
Walmart along I-25/I-70 corridors — many towns (Mountain towns often ban; ask manager) [VERIFY per town]

Destinations & Attractions

Great Sand Dunes (spring/fall; sand sledding season); Mesa Verde cliff dwellings (Apr–Oct, kennel!)
RMNP timed-entry + Bear Lake corridor (leave dogs at camp)
Colorado NM Rim Drive; Rabbit Valley for a boondock base near Grand Junction (Colorado NM + wineries)
Ouray/Glenwood hot springs (pools generally no dogs — [VERIFY])
Penitente Canyon climbing + Valley View Hot Springs (private, adults) [VERIFY]

California

Key Facts

CA State Parks: ReserveCalifornia.com, 6-month window; NEW cancellation policy effective Jul 1 2026: cancel 7+ days = full refund (minus $8.25); 2–6 days = lose first night; ≤2 days = full loss; 3 no-shows/yr = 1-year ban
Rest areas: camping PROHIBITED, max 8 hrs/24-hr period, no tents; animals on leash — Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 21 §2205 → CA rest areas are STOP-ONLY, not overnight
CA State Parks statewide pet policy: dogs leashed ≤6 ft; NOT allowed on trails, sequoia groves, rivers/creeks, open forest, meadows, environmental campsites; allowed on fire roads, paved roads, regular campgrounds, day-use picnic areas — always confirm per park — parks.ca.gov [MEDIUM confidence, verify per park]
CA Campfire Permit required for stove/campfire on federal land; free online, 1-year
Desert parks (Death Valley, Anza-Borrego, Joshua Tree): summer heat 110–125°F — the bus plan should avoid Jun–Sep in the desert

RV Parks (verified rates)

State Parks

Borrego Palm Canyon CG (Anza-Borrego Desert SP): winter-season CG, $20–35/night [VERIFY], water + pit toilets, palm oasis trail; 🐕 leashed in campground only (not trails — desert SPs rule), closed in extreme summer heat [VERIFY] — parks.ca.gov
Tamarisk Grove CG (Anza-Borrego): $20ish [VERIFY], primitive-ish, no water [VERIFY], among ocotillo; reserve via ReserveCalifornia
Providence Mountains SRA (Mitchell Caverns, near Mojave Preserve): season Oct–May [VERIFY], cave tours by reservation on recreation.gov (VERIFY platform), water at campground; 🐕 [VERIFY]

National Parks, Preserves & Monuments (dog flags + gateway camping)

| Unit | Dog policy | Camping | Notes | |—|—|—|—| | Joshua Tree NP | 🚫🐕 campgrounds/roads only (100-ft rule); no dogs on trails or undeveloped areas | Jumbo Rocks CG $30/night, rec.gov (6-mo); some sites to ~36 ft (site 001 bus-size) [VERIFY site list]; no water at Jumbo Rocks (vaults + pay showers at headquarters); Black Rock & Cottonwood CGs alternate | Crowded Oct–May; reserve the moment the window opens; entrance $30/vehicle or pass — nps.gov/jotr + nps.gov/jotr pets | | Death Valley NP | 🐕 leashed in developed areas/campgrounds/roads; not on trails or backcountry | Furnace Creek CG (no hookups) + Ranch RV (hookups, above table); Texas Springs; fall/winter/spring only — summer brutal | Lowest point; Badwater; Scotty’s Castle closed [VERIFY status]; check heat/road closures — nps.gov/deva | | Mojave National Preserve | 🐕 leashed ≤6 ft on trails/roads/campgrounds | NO entrance fee. Hole-in-the-Wall CG: $12/night ($6 Senior/Access), 35 sites, FCFS (no reservations), 4,400 ft, water + vault toilets + dump station, 🚐✅ RV-friendly; Mid Hills CCG: $12, 26 sites, no water, unpaved steep access — 🚐✗; Black Canyon Group $50 (reservations) | No cell service — carry a comms plan; dispersed camping along backcountry roads where fire rings exist, off paved roads, 14-day limit then move 2 mi (36 CFR §13.25) — nps.gov/moja | | Tule Springs Fossil Beds NM (Las Vegas fringe) | 🐕 leash OK on paved paths | No camping | Day stop only |

Boondocking / BLM

Alabama Hills (Lone Pine) — the famous film/Twin Peaks area: camping is allowed in designated areas, permit required — fee status [VERIFY] (BLM Lone Pine FO: 760-876-6200); 🚐⚠ some spots rocky; alternative: Tuttle Creek CG nearby [VERIFY]
Pilot Knob LTVA (Holtville, CA side near Yuma): $40/14-day or $180 season; water + vaults; border-adjacent, sand dunes neighborhood — blm.gov
Tamarisk & Hot Spring LTVAs (CA desert, near Niland/Imperial): season permits as above
Anza-Borrego open-desert dispersed (Blair Valley primitive area; Coyote Canyon): car camping 1-car-length off road, 14-day; road graded but washboard — 🚐⚠ [VERIFY road condition]
Panamint Valley / Saline Valley (BLM) dispersed — 🚐⚠ check current road status via Ridgecrest FO
Imperial Sand Dunes (Glamis): OHV sand — 🚐✗ for 2WD bus

Free Overnight Options

CA rest areas = STOP ONLY (8-hr max, no camping) — do not overnight here
Casinos along route: Viejas (Alpine; I-8), Sycuan (SD), Palm Springs-area tribal casinos — all [VERIFY] free-lot policies
Walmart/Cracker Barrel — [VERIFY] per town; note many coastal/city lots now ban overnight (San Diego County restrictions)
Fernwood/private dump-station stopovers — treat as paid

Destinations & Attractions

Death Valley (Nov–Mar) — Badwater, Artist’s Drive, Mesquite Flats sand dunes (dogs ON leash at boardwalk only [VERIFY])
Joshua Tree (Oct–May) — Cholla Garden, Keys View (car spots); dogs at campgrounds only
Anza-Borrego wildflowers Feb–Apr; slot canyons
Kelso Dunes & Kelso Depot (Mojave Preserve) — dogs on leash OK on “trails”? [VERIFY]; Alabama Hills film sites (Lone Pine)

Nevada

Key Facts

NV State Parks: reservenevada.com, up to 11 months ahead; entrance $10 NV / $15 non-NV vehicles
Rest areas: max 18 hrs per 2-week period, no camping — NAC 408.595
BLM Nevada: most public land open to free dispersed camping, 14-day limit; check seasonal fire closures — blm.gov
Casino overnight lots are the NV free-overnight backbone — always get approval at the hotel desk first
Great Basin NP: 7,500–13,000 ft — snow Oct/Nov–May/June [VERIFY]; Lehman Caves tours extra

RV Parks (verified rates)

State Parks

Valley of Fire SP: entrance $10 (NV) / $15 (non-NV); camping $25 + $10 hookup surcharge; 72 units at Atlatl Rock + Arch Rock; dump + showers; 🐕 leashed 6-ft; closed for maintenance Dec 1–14 [VERIFY 2026 dates], trails closed May 15–Sep 30 (heat), juniper-scrub setting; reserve 11 months out — parks.nv.gov

National Parks, Recreation Areas & NCA (dog flags + gateway camping)

| Unit | Dog policy | Camping | Notes | |—|—|—|—| | Lake Mead NRA / Boulder Beach CG | 🐕 leashed everywhere (6-ft) | $20/night, 135 sites, large paved level sites (big-rig friendly), tables + radios, no hookups, dump/water on site, year-round; Senior/Access 50% off; seasonal FCFS + reservations (May–Sep) [VERIFY months] | On Lake Mead shore, 30 min from Vegas; nearest reliable full-season developed CG to LV; America the Beautiful covers entrance — nps.gov/lake | | Great Basin NP | 🚫🐕 campground OK; NO dogs on trails/backcountry | Baker Creek CG (rec.gov) + 4 more developed CGs; $20ish [VERIFY]; Lehman Caves tour tickets separate | Dark-Sky International park; stargazing program; snow season short — nps.gov/grba | | Red Rock Canyon NCA (BLM, Las Vegas) | [VERIFY — leash in CG; likely] | One developed CG (Red Rock Canyon CG / Moenkopi Rd access): ~$20/night [VERIFY], reservable; backcountry camping above ~5,000 ft = free paperless permit via recreation.gov ($0.50) [VERIFY fee] | Iconic scenic loop; very hot summer; permit needed for backcountry even overnight — blm.gov | | Tule Springs Fossil Beds NM | 🐕 leash OK on paved paths | No camping | Day stop |

Boondocking / BLM

BLM NV dispersed free, 14-day limit (general) — blm.gov
Mormon Wells / Eastside area near Lake Mead dispersed — popular winter boondock zone [VERIFY status 2026]
Amargosa Valley/Beatty dispersed — winter boondockers cluster for Death Valley; BLM sites near highway [VERIFY exact pull-offs]; Longstreet Inn (above) as fallback with hookups
Gold Butte area (NE of Lake Mead): remote, dirt roads — 🚐✗ mostly; call Gold Butte FO [VERIFY]

Free Overnight Options

Railroad Pass Casino — free RV + bus/truck parking (verified amenities) 🚨 top pick
LV Strip-area casino lots: do not overnight unapproved — house rules vary; Bass Pro (Silverton) lot [VERIFY]
Rest areas (18-hr limit); Cracker Barrel NV [VERIFY]; Walmart: Pahrump, Mesquite, Elko, Fernley [VERIFY per town]
Love’s: Jean (I-15), Primm (I-15), Tonopah (US 95) [VERIFY]

Destinations & Attractions

Hoover Dam visitor parking (bus-friendly), Lake Mead, Valley of Fire (Nov–Apr)
Death Valley gateway logistics: stay Beatty (NV) or Amargosa — cheaper/free than in-park summer-fall rates
Rhyolite ghost town + Goldwell Open Air Museum (Beatty; free, 🐕 OK on grounds [VERIFY])
Great Basin: Lehman Caves + bristlecone pines (Jul–Sep)
Tonopah/Manhattan star trails (dark-sky corridor US 95/US 6 between DV and GB)

New Mexico

Key Facts

NM State Parks fee table (official, effective Jan 1 2025) — emnrd.nm.gov:
- Primitive: Res $10 / Non-Res $15 per vehicle/night
- Developed: Res $15 / Non-Res $20; dev+electric: Res $20 / Non-Res $30; dev+sewer: $20/$25; dev+E+S: $25/$35
- RV dump: $10; extra vehicle: $5 [VERIFY]
- Annual passes: Res $300; Senior (62+) $150 (in person); Active Military $150; Non-Resident $600
- Reservation fee $4–12; cancellation $9–17; campers may not move sites without staff
BIG 2026 changes (official news, Jul 31 2026): max camping stay extended 7 → 14 consecutive days system-wide (through Apr 30 2027); Elephant Butte + Caballo primitive/beach camping FREE Aug 1–Sep 30 2026; Oct 1: free day-use for NM residents (through Apr 30 2027) — emnrd.nm.gov newsroom
Reserve: ReserveAmerica NM (recreation.gov network) or 1-877-664-7787, 6-month window
Elevation: 4,000–8,500 ft on main routes — NM nights are cold Nov–Mar; freeze possible any month at 7,000+
Rest areas: NMDOT lists ~20 sites by district (incl. La Bajada I-25 NB, Rio Grande Gorge US 64, Anton Chico, Fort Union, Pajarito/Newkirk I-40) — overnight camping NOT confirmed; treat rest areas as stop-only — dot.nm.gov/rest-areas [VERIFY]

RV Parks (verified rates)

State Parks

City of Rocks SP (near Silver City/Deming): developed sites $20/night (electric available) [VERIFY vs 2025 table — non-res); $10 day-use [VERIFY]; open year-round, hot showers, star-gazing observatory, 6-month ReserveAmerica window, some sites to 40 ft (bus fits most) [VERIFY site list]; 🐕 leashed on campground/roads — ReserveAmerica NM gateway listing
Elephant Butte Lake SP (largest NM SP): 173 developed sites (144 W+E, 8 full hookup), dump, showers, 15 mi trails, beach/boat-in primitive camping; $20 dev / $30 dev+elec non-res (per 2025 fee table [VERIFY]) — emnrd.nm.gov
Percha Dam SP (Elephant Butte tail): ~50 sites (30 elec), cottonwood shade, 24-hr gates; fee tiers $8 primitive / $10 dev / $14 E-or-S / $18 E+S [VERIFY vs 2025 table] — rec.gov gateway listing
Caballo Lake SP / Riverside: $10–35/night tiers [VERIFY]; lakefront, wind; dogs fine at shoreline — emnrd.nm.gov
Northern NM developed options (from ReserveAmerica NM results, all with hookups to 40 ft): Heron Lake, Eagle Nest Lake, Storrie Lake — rates $20–45 [VERIFY per park]

National Parks & Forests (dog flags + gateway camping)

| Unit | Dog policy | Camping | Notes | |—|—|—|—| | White Sands NP (Alamogordo) | 🐕 dogs allowed on Dunes Drive and trails on 6-ft leash; pet stations near VC; gyp-soft sand — paw-care + water | No camping in park; no shade/water in dunes; gateway parks in Alamogordo + dispersed BLM E of park [VERIFY] | Missile Range closures some weekdays [VERIFY schedule]; summer surface 140°F — spring/fall only — nps.gov/whsa | | Bandelier NM | 🚫🐕 NOT on trails/facilities (service animals only); allowed in Juniper Family Campground, main parking lot, Cottonwood Picnic Area; 6-ft leash; not on summer shuttle (White Rock) | Juniper Creek CG: year-round (A/B loops winter), 53 sites, RVs to 40 ft, $20–50/night, rec.gov; day-use $25/7-day or pass; timed-entry reservations in peak season [VERIFY 2026] | Dogs fine in CG + picnic area = good layout for the bus: camp with dogs, shuttle to ruins without them — nps.gov/band + nps.gov/band camping | | Gila Cliff Dwellings NM (Silver City) | [VERIFY — likely leashed outside only] | Small no-hookup CG at site [VERIFY]; City of Rocks SP as base | Remote; 44-mi paved access | | Rio Grande del Norte NM (Taos) | 🐕 leashed on trails [VERIFY] | Big Arsenic Springs area camping [VERIFY rules] | Hot springs + Rio Grande gorge rim |

Boondocking / BLM / NF

Santa Fe NF dispersed (Jemez corridor): FR376, Pajarito Springs, FR144 — many spots demand 4WD/high clearance [VERIFY per spot] — pick paved-approach sites only; elevations 6,000–8,500 ft, cold nights — fs.usda.gov/santafe
BLM Road 62 Dispersed (between Santa Fe & Jemez): vault toilets near entrance; low-clearance RV option on the first left road after the cattle guard; ~20 min from Santa Fe — 🚐✅ strong bus candidate (thedyrt user reports; MEDIUM confidence — scout first) — BLM Taos FO
Santa Fe NF developed CGs: Jemez Falls $20, Paliza $15, Panchuela $5 [VERIFY current], Vista Linda (Jemez Springs, RV-friendly per reviews — MEDIUM)
BLM Zia/Buckman Road dispersed (NW Santa Fe): 14-day, bluff camping [VERIFY]
General NM BLM: dispersed free, 14-day, stay on numbered roads [VERIFY district]
Rio Grande del Norte NM / BLM Taos district for the north route

Free Overnight Options

NM rest areas — stop-only (see Key Facts; handbook does not grant camping) [VERIFY]
Casinos: Isleta (paid RV park — but lot [VERIFY]); Route 66 Casino (Albuquerque west, I-40) [VERIFY]; Santa Ana Star (Bernalillo) — hotel is pet-friendly (rooms from $147) [VERIFY lot policy]
Walmart: Santa Rosa (I-40), Gallup (I-40), Las Cruces (I-25), Clovis [VERIFY per town]
Love’s: Santa Rosa, Gallup, Las Cruces, Clovis [VERIFY locations]

Destinations & Attractions

White Sands (Feb–Apr; dog-friendly dunes!)
City of Rocks stargazing (Silver City route)
Bandelier ruins + Los Alamos science walk (dogs at Juniper CG)
Jemez hot springs (McCauley — trail is dog-free [VERIFY]); Fenton Lake
Taos + Rio Grande gorge; Elephant Butte lake beach camping (free Aug–Sep 2026!)
Roswell, Very Large Array (tours seasonal [VERIFY]), Truth or Consequences hot springs (pools mostly no dogs [VERIFY])

Cross-State Comparison Table

Factor	Arizona	Colorado	California	Nevada	New Mexico
Best season for bus	Oct–Apr (desert)	Jun–Sep (mtns)	Oct–Apr (desert)	Oct–Apr (desert) / Jun–Sep (Great Basin)	Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Peak-crowd pressure	Jan–Mar (RTR, snowbirds)	Jun–Aug (MTB/parks)	Oct–May (desert parks)	Nov–Apr (snowbirds)	Mar–May (parks)
Rest-area overnight	Vehicle rest only	Not sanctioned [VERIFY]	8-hr max, no camping	18-hr max	Stop-only [VERIFY]
State-park reservation window	366 days	6 months	6 months	11 months	6 months
State-park pet rule	Leashed OK	Mueller no trails / GG Canyon yes trails	No trails (fire roads & CGs only)	Leashed OK	Leashed OK
Best dog-friendly anchor	Petrified Forest (all trails)	Morefield CG + kennel	Anza-Borrego CGs	Lake Mead Boulder Beach	White Sands (dunes!)
Best free-overnight anchor	AZ rest areas + BLM	Rabbit Valley dispersed	BLM LTVAs / Mojave Preserve	Railroad Pass casino lot	BLM Road 62 / Isleta (paid)
Hookup upside	$50 SP elec common	Only Morefield FH (15 sites)	Furnace Creek FH 50A	Circus Circus FH, Longstreet FH	Isleta full-service $40
Fire-ban season	Apr–Oct	Jun–Sep	Jun–Oct	Jun–Sep	Mar–May wind, Jun–Sep
Elevation handling	2,000–7,000	5,000–14,000 (traction law!)	−280–11,000	1,000–13,000	4,000–8,500
Nonresident gotcha	—	$100/person RMNP	—	$15 vehicle NV SPs	Non-res SP pass $600; non-res fees +$5–10
2026 specials	LTVA permit requirement from Jan 1 2026	[VERIFY RMNP entry system 2026]	CA SP new cancel policy Jul 1 2026	—	14-day stays, free Elephant Butte/Caballo beach camping Aug–Sep 2026

Sources (key official links, verified Sept 2026)

Passes & federal:

America the Beautiful: https://www.americathebeautifulpass.com/
Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/
BLM LTVA program: https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/recreation/camping/long-term-visitor-areas
BLM Nevada camping: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/camping
Harvest Hosts plans: https://www.harvesthosts.com/plans

Rest areas / regs:

CA: https://law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/21-CCR-2205 (Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 21 §2205)
NV: https://law.cornell.edu/regulations/nevada/nac-408-595 (NAC 408.595)
NM rest area list: https://dot.nm.gov/travel-info/rest-areas/

Arizona:

AZ State Parks: https://azstateparks.com/ (Lost Dutchman, Dead Horse Ranch, Cattail Cove, Kartchner Caverns pages)
Quartzsite RV Resort: https://quartzsitervresort.com/rates
Grand Canyon NP: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/
Petrified Forest pets: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/pets.htm
Saguaro pets: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/pets.htm
Organ Pipe camping: https://www.nps.gov/orpi/planyourvisit/camping.htm
Kofa NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kofa
La Posa LTVA: https://www.blm.gov/visit/la-posa-ltva
Ehrenberg Sandbowl: https://www.blm.gov/visit/ehrenberg-sandbowl
Coconino NF (Sedona west): https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=32993

Colorado:

CPW State Parks: https://cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/
RMNP: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Mesa Verde / Morefield: https://www.visitmesaverde.com/things-to-do/camping/morefield-campground/
Great Sand Dunes: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/pets.htm
Colorado NM camping: https://www.nps.gov/colm/planyourvisit/camping.htm
McInnis Canyons / Rabbit Valley: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/camping/mcinnis-canyons
Rio Grande NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/recarea/?recid=27799

California:

CA State Parks dogs policy: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/735/files/California-State-Parks-Dogs.pdf
Joshua Tree camping + pets: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/camping.htm / pets page
Death Valley camping: https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/camping.htm
Mojave National Preserve camping: https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping.htm

Nevada:

NV State Parks: https://parks.nv.gov/ (Valley of Fire page)
Lake Mead camping: https://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/camping.htm
Great Basin: https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/camping.htm
Red Rock Canyon NCA: https://www.blm.gov/visit/red-rock-canyon-national-conservation-area
Railroad Pass: https://railroadpass.com/
Longstreet Inn: https://www.longstreetcasino.com/
Beatty chamber: https://beattynevada.org/

New Mexico:

NM State Parks fees/news: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/nmparkfees/ and https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/news/
NM State Parks: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/state-parks/ (Elephant Butte, Caballo pages)
White Sands pets: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/pets.htm
Bandelier pets + camping: https://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/pets.htm and /camping.htm
Isleta: https://www.isleta.com/casino/stay/isleta-lakes-and-rv-park
Santa Fe NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/santafe/

Confidence Summary (what to double-check before the trip)

HIGH (official, current): Mesa Verde Morefield rates/kennel; Mojave Preserve fees + FCFS; CA rest-area 8-hr ban; NV 18-hr rest rule; NM 2026 fee table + 14-day/free-beach news; La Posa LTVA $180/$40 + 2026 permit change; Saguaro dog routes; Bandelier dog zones; Railroad Pass parking amenities; Kofa 14-day/12-mo + cabins.
MEDIUM (official + one pass): RMNP timed-entry 2026; Great Sand Dunes per-site RV size; Valley of Fire Dec 1–14 closure dates; Death Valley Furnace Creek summer closure window; CA SP pet policy statewide wording; White Sands pet scope.
LOW / [VERIFY] (needs a phone call or official page): CO rest-area overnight (Sterling), NM rest-area overnight, Circus Circus rate, Eagle View $46, Alabama Hills permit fee, BLM Road 62 condition, BLM dispersed spots near Beatty/Amargosa, Cedar City–St. George corridor [out of scope], all Walmart/Love’s/Cracker Barrel overnight lists, Saguaro Gilbert Ray, Mojave dispersed spot conditions, Heron/Eagle Nest/Storrie rates.

Cross-file note (Sep 24, 2026)

Dog-policy, pricing norms, and trails also live in policies.md. policies.md is the consolidated cheat sheet (dog-policy by jurisdiction, booking-platform fee table, amenities matrix, trails-by-state). camping.md is the destination stack (specific campgrounds, sites, rates, availability). They overlap on dog rules + pricing + trails; when one is updated, check the other. calendar.md is the dated 2026–2027 itinerary layer that stitches camping + events + routes together with drive legs and dog-home-base boarding windows — use it as the “what do I do on this date” file.