Phoenix Bound (Part-time)

[jimb757]

Starting in March, my work will require I spend 10-15 days a month close to Phoenix. My wife wants to take our 29 foot Excella out and park for a while to test the waters. We live in Nashville full time, and would commute to Phoenix.

I know how hot it gets in the summer, and don't think the A/C will keep up. What I'd like to do is find a long term (month-to-month) campground somewhere in the hills north of Phoenix, within a two hour drive of PHX airport. Looking for moderate temperatures in the summer. I think Flagstaff is a little out of range. I envision moving the trailer down to Phoenix in the winter, and back to the hills in the spring.

Do any forum members live close to Phoenix?

Is this plan doable? Is there a place where summer temperatures aren't infernally hot and two hours or less from PHX? The two hour restriction is due to being on reserve and having to be available at the airport. (I'm an airline pilot.)

I'm retired Air Force, so armed forces recreation areas are an option, also.

Any Arizonans (sp?) have a suggestion?

Thanks

[azflycaster]

I live and work in North Phoenix. Several people I work with live in the Prescott area. They travel in a van pool and travel time is a little over 1 1/2 hours each way. Your travel time from this area could be 2 hours or a little more. They arrive at work before 6:00am and Phoenix Sky Harbor is another 20 miles south of our location. We are located just north of the Deer Valley Airport. The weather in Prescott is warm (80 - 90) in the summer, bur not hot like Phoenix. Your AS should have no problem with that. Winters are also mild with very little snow. Check out this link http://www.prescott.org/

[jimb757]

Thanks for the quick response. Checking website now.

[Hippo]

jimb757,
I agree with azflycaster. Prescott is a nice small town very close to the Bradshaw Mountains. You will enjoy the beautiful country side. I was born in Phoenix many years ago and travel their several times a year by plane. Arizona will grow on you so you may not want to go east again.
Chuck

[AgZep]

One word of caution needs to be added. The overwhelming majority of RV parks in the Phoenix area have age restrictions, i.e. you have to be over 50 or 55 to get in. I'm also retired AF, but I'm only 43, so my wife and I had a terrible time finding a decent park there. We ended up inviting my mom over to stay with is so that we would have a way to get in.

I understand Phoenix catering to the snowbirds, but these policies make it difficult to impossible for an RVing family to go visit grandma. Age discrimination, bordering on the illegal, if you ask me.

[jimb757]

Ok, Thanks for the heads up. I'm 52 but will be able to bluff my way in to one whose min is 55, now that I have a heads up. Thanks, and yes it is age discrimination, so I don't mind bluffing them.

[silverback]

The Payson area is also in the 80 to 90 degree range in the summer. I don't know what they have for RV parks (lots of National Forest) but I would put the drive time to the airport in the two hour range.
-Ken

[jimb757]

Thanks a bunch, all. A friend from college is very familiar with Payson, also. Says it is somewhat cooler that Phoenix proper. We plan a trip out in February to scout it out before towing the A/S all the way out.

Jim