Visit our Popular Forums

rjack · 08-20-2016, 07:11 AM

We plan to visit Quartzsite in January for an initial visit, staying maybe a week or so. Having traveled on several caravans we enjoy the company of new friends and other Airstreamers. Is there an Airstream community there, or are other such folk in our situation ? I am a retired judge and Kay is a retired college teacher...with a small dog and broad interests...coming from Missouri. Also, any advice is solicited and appreciated. Thank you. The Garretts

tevake · 08-20-2016, 07:45 AM

First of all, you are in for an adventure. The scene around Quartzite in Jan has to be seen to be believed.
The size of the turnout is mind blowing. Rigs spread out all over the desert.
People everywhere, vendors set up all over town. It's wild.

Do try to be well prepared going in, as resorces are stretched.
There are a few R V parks in town, and some not too far away out in the desert.
Reservations are a good idea unless you plan on circling the wagons with the hordes that are boondocking.

A burning man for geezers is a good description that I heard.

I'm not much for big crowds so that may shape my view.

Have fun. If it's all too much. There are nice places to camp along the river, not too far away.

Cheers Richard

wkerfoot · 08-20-2016, 09:45 AM

The El Camino Real Unit of WBCCI is there in January, no date set as yet but usually about the third week.

Bill

MomcatA · 08-20-2016, 09:34 PM

Highly overrated, IMHO, but if you go, report back for another opinion.

SilverEagle6 · 08-26-2016, 07:56 AM

To The Garretts: we were parked next to you at St Andrews By The Sea in NB last year. We will be in Quartszite in January. Will send you a PM.

John

karenjude · 08-26-2016, 08:10 AM

Small world!

Rob Edgerton · 08-28-2016, 05:46 PM

Personally, after visiting Quartzsite last year for a week of boon docking on BLM land just south of town, I would spend two or three nights max there. It is just a giant tourist trap over ridden with trinket shops. I would move on to Twenty Nine Palms and spend a few days and evenings exploring Joshua Tree NP. A good one day side trip from there is to run over to Palm Springs and ride the tram up to the top of the mountain on a clear day.

Enjoy tour trip.

68 Overlander · 08-28-2016, 07:11 PM

Aren't tourist traps what tourists expect when touring?

TG Twinkie · 08-28-2016, 08:12 PM

NO!!! I am not interested in all of the Chinese made stuff along with a lot of other junk they sell.

MsTara · 08-28-2016, 08:23 PM

Me and friends do Quartzsite every year as visitors and another friend sells.

Boondocking: Plan on having your water management in place if you are going to stay for more than a couple of days.

Weather: It can be just above freezing or it can be hot as hades. Make sure you have a plan for temperatures that are all over the place.

Junk: It depends what you are going for. If you are looking for raw rocks you are in the right place. Do a lot of learning before offering money. Many people bring product in pretty close to the mining operation and you can find some gorgeous raw rocks for amazingly low prices If you fall into the "resale" shop areas you can find some great deals for resale shops that are brought in from China and other places. But they are mass produced.

I personally love Quartzsite, but I also only want to spend at most 3 days shopping there. I am more around the 2 day mark :-). Now, head on down to Tuscon at the end of Jan and beginning of Feb and you are all set!

One more note: The Quartzsite dates are weird this year and the end of the show is overlapping with the beginning of Tuscon. MANY vendors will leave Quartzsite a week before the show closes to go and set up in Tuscon so my recommendation is don't plan on going at the end of the show as it may be a bit sparse on the vendor side.

rjack · 08-29-2016, 06:26 AM

What is the reference to "Tucson"....is some event there?

MsTara · 08-29-2016, 07:18 AM

Tucson gem and mineral Show. Basically rocks, jewelry, crafts, and resale items takr over the entire town of Tucson. Pretty amazing but defi Italy need a car to get around. Great Camping outside the city.

mandolindave · 08-29-2016, 07:33 AM

Might be a great destination for you. You could avoid the trinket shops if you don't like them. Maybe treat yourself to some tasty junk food.

rjack · 08-30-2016, 06:38 AM

We simply enjoy human activity, even in its often less elegant forms. Can we find Portobello Road, Arbat street, the Souk, etc. in the southwest US ? Not without looking ! It's the humanity, not the goods, although it all is fun. Stop by at 4232. Rjack, Kay and Abbydog

jimmini · 09-02-2016, 11:49 AM

Many of you know I love to spend the winter in the BIG Q. There is lots to do. It is nice to see what all the venders have but we do not buy much. Mainly what we buy are items that make boondocking easer or trailer life better.
There is a group of us that stay in the same area on the west side of the old Yuma Rd about 1 mile south of the north entrance to the La Posa LTVA.

Some are Airstreamers from as far away as Canada and some are SOB.
It is always changing as there are folks coming and going.

I still do not know what I am doing this winter because I may have a job in CA working on C-130s. Time will tell.