Tag: Boondocking

February 2026

Hello Everyone:

As we close out February we are located on Hurricane Ridge in the Imperial Dam LTVA which is technically in Winterhaven California. This month has been anything other than relaxing, the last couple of weeks has been a busy time around the Coach, We closed our stay at the El Dorado Ranch with little fan fare, Miss Laurie playing pickleball and I was writing and starting to prepare for our departure, always an exciting time with a little anxiety thrown in, will everything work the way it is designed, will that welded torque rod hold up, will our bumper hit while pulling out of this site, how will the border be, will the U.S. Customs and Border guard be nice, will we be able to restock, refuel, and find our friends in the LTVA area all before dark? I’m sure you get the idea, the sadness of leaving some where that has been a great winter home, the joy of being mobile again, the desire to explore, the need to address our solar shortfall, boondocking where there are very few rules and no one really cares what you do. We were also expecting cooler days and nights as is the norm but finding ourselves in the middle of a major record setting heatwave.

Looking Ahead:

Key Dates:

  • March 16th Andrew has a ball tournament in Mesa Arizona

Plans & Highlights:

  • Visit with friends in and around Phoenix
  • A return visit to Laurie’s happy place “The Boyce Thompson Arboretum“
  • Boondocking in some new areas
  • End of March make our way to Show Low to visit with friends

Bucket List Items:

  • Explore the Mount Lemon area near Tucson
  • A visit to Tohono Chul Botanical Garden

Blog Posts this Month:

Travel and Destinations:

RV Tech & Gear:

Lifestyles & Reflections:

This Month in Photos:

Lessons From the Road:

After 8+ years of full-time RV living

This Months Take Away:

The wanderlust that drives so many of us living this nomadic lifestyle, while hard to explain it is the never ending quest to a new place, a drive to explore some where new, the comfort of having your home and all of its comforts with you, the desire to enjoy time with old friends and make new friends along the way.

Updates & Projects:

Rig Update:

  • Not a lot of changes on the rig this month, we have had another tire sensor failure on our TPMS, this time on the right front coach tire.

Systems / Solar / Connectivity:

  • As we returned to the United States I have a multi-point plan for our solar system, it will be a multi point systematic approach that will be very involved and detailed, but not real expensive in actual dollars.
  • We have been battling with the power consumption of many of our creature comforts, like our StarLink, does the power consumption outweigh the benefit of constant connectivity?

Blog & Creative:

  • It has been a cruise control month for blogs, as I had prepared and scheduled their publishing times for the whole month.
  • A new video on YouTube this month, shows a day at the beach see video

Laurie’s Projects:

The first of February was a busy pickleball time for Miss Laurie, and after crossing into the United States and settling into the Imperial Dam LTVA then there was rock exploration of the area, so this is the only painting that was completed.

Mister Sam’s Photos:

Thank you for following along and being part of our journey.

See you down the road.

Laurie & Brian

The Buchanan’s Rolling Down the Road

www.thebuchanansrollingdowntheroad.com

Day 3082

LTVA – Imperial Dam

🌵 Imperial Dam LTVA: The Ultimate Guide for Extended Desert Camping

Imperial Dam Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) is one of the premier desert boondocking and snowbird camping areas in the Southwest. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), this long-term visitor site sits near Yuma, Arizona / Winterhaven, California and offers a unique desert camping experience with access to lakes, river recreation, and iconic Southwestern views.

📍 Location & GPS Coordinates

  • Imperial Dam LTVA
  • Latitude: 32.901256
  • Longitude: -114.495431

This places it on the California side of the Colorado River, north of Yuma.

🏕️ What It’s Like

Imperial Dam LTVA covers roughly 3,500 acres of flat desert terrain — dotted with creosote bushes, palo verde, mesquite, ironwood trees, and native cacti typical of the Sonoran Desert. The landscape is mostly flat and open, which makes it ideal for RVs, tents, and boondocking with plenty of space between neighbors.

💦 Amenities at the Site

On-Site Services

  • Multiple dump stations (including black/grey water).
  • Several potable water stations.
  • Restrooms & outdoor showers near admin areas.
  • Trash dumpsters serviced regularly.
  • Ramadas and open day-use areas for shade.
  • Boat launch access & nearby fishing opportunities on lakes and the Colorado River.

⚠️ This is still primarily boondocking. Most individual campsites are not marked, and many do not have full hookups. Plan to be self-sufficient.

💰 Fees: Current (2025–26) & Projected

Running Season (Sep 15 – Apr 15)

  • Long-Term Permit: $180 — valid for up to 7 months anywhere in BLM’s LTVAs.
  • Short-Visit Permit: $40 — valid for 14 consecutive days (with unlimited renewals).

Off-Season (Apr 16 – Sep 14)

  • Day Use: $10/vehicle
  • Overnight: $15/vehicle
  • Annual Pass (vehicle): $75

🪪 Projected future changes: Fees historically remain stable; occasional minor increases are proposed by BLM business plans (subject to federal recreation fee reviews). No official 2026 fee increases published yet — check official BLM updates before planning.

☀️ Weather & Seasonal Temperatures

Imperial Dam sits in one of the sunniest, driest deserts in the U.S., near Yuma — frequently ranked among the most sunshine-filled cities.

🌤️ Fall (Sept – Nov)

  • Daytime: 80–100°F and cooling into the 80s by November.
  • Nights: Generally 60s–70s°F.
  • Great weather for hiking, boating, and outdoor activities.

❄️ Winter (Dec – Feb)

  • Highs: 60s–70s°F — mild and very popular with snowbirds.
  • Lows: 40s–50s°F at night.
  • Rare freezes — generally comfortable.

🌼 Spring (Mar – May)

  • Highs: 70s–90s°F early, warming into 90s by May.
  • Nights: 50s–60s°F.

☀️ Summer (Jun – Aug)

Very hot: highs often >100°F — not recommended for long stays unless prepared for extreme heat.

Rainfall is minimal (around ~3″ annual), with some summer monsoon and occasional occasional storms in late summer.

🚗 How to Get There

From Interstate 8 (I-8)

  1. Take Exit 9 (S-24 / Yuma Road) north.
  2. Head north ~22 miles on S-24.
  3. Turn left onto Senator Wash Road.
  4. Continue ~2 miles to the Imperial Dam LTVA entrance.

From Interstate 10 (I-10)

  • Head south on US-95 toward Yuma, then turn right on Senator Wash Road and follow the directions above.

🧭 Nearby Attractions & Services

Outdoor Recreation

  • Imperial National Wildlife Refuge – unique birding/wildlife habitat close by.
  • Senator Wash Reservoir & Imperial Reservoir – fishing & paddling.

City Conveniences

  • Yuma, AZ – groceries, RV services, restaurants, medical, and entertainment. ~30–40 min drive.

📌 Tips for Campers

✔ Bring extra water and fuel — desert environment is remote.
✔ Solar or generator power recommended — few hookups except dump/water points.
✔ Observe “pack it in, pack it out” — no permanent fire rings; keep area clean.
✔ Birders will find seasonal species tracking through the Colorado River corridor.

🧡 Summary

Imperial Dam LTVA is a must-visit spot for snowbirds, RVers, and desert lovers, especially in winter and spring. With affordable long-term permits, basic amenities, and spectacular Southwestern scenery, it’s one of the best desert camping areas managed by the BLM. Whether you’re boondocking for months or just passing through, this campsite offers both solitude and access to rivers, lakes, and wide-open landscapes.

Day 3065