Quartzite... Is it too late?

[GinoandLinda]

Hi all. We're thinking about heading down to the Quartzite event in January '25. My question being is this an event we can decide on in December or does it require advanced planning and reservations? We won't be able to decide until mid-December depending on how our dog responds to some medical treatment.

 

[Donna D.]

You can decide the day of! IF you're talking about the Dome Rock Gathering of all molded travel trailers, Feb 6-9. I was there for 12 days last year. You just show up, grab some space in the dirt and prepare to have fun! There's no Wagonmaster for the 'event,' it's really people show up. Gene Layton the webmaster of the CasitaForum has a thread for it and there's a Facebook where group anyone going to the 'event' are encourage to sign up so you can get last minute info:

CasitaForum: 2025 Quartzsite Gathering Feb 6-9, 2025

Facebook, Dome Rock Fiberglass RV Rally: Log into Facebook

 

[GinoandLinda]

Thanks Donna, that sounds good. We were actually thinking about the big RV shindig that is happening on Jan 18-26... or is that not worth going to? We just want to go south to warm up and see the sun for a while and see what Quartzite is all about.

 

[Donna D.]

Ooooh The big tent show for all the camping and RV.... stuff. I wouldn't know about that. I have no interest in more stuff and rubbing elbows with hundreds to thousands of other people. Someone else will need to answer your specific dates question. But I had a good time when I was there!

 

[Ron in BC]

We were actually thinking about the big RV shindig that is happening on Jan 18-26... or is that not worth going to?

Hopefully Jon will jump in with an answer as he's been at Q'site for many years.

Ron

 

[JohnK-ESC]

We have attended the fiberglass Quartzsite gathering only three times but hope to make it a fourth time this coming February and more in the future. It's a great time and place to meet and match faces with forum names and get to know them in person. We have also made new friends there with whom we have mutually benefitted by exchanging trailer and travel information. Credence Clearwater Revival may or may not show up, but you'll hear their and others' music sung and played by fiberglass trailer owning musical enthusiasts sometime around happy hour. And, it's free camping in the desert where for wintertime it's relatively warm. Emphasis on relatively.

John

 

[Drives1937]

We will see you there at Quartzite. Looking forward to meeting you and others with the Escapes.

Ken in Mesa AZ

 

[vermilye]

Hard to say about the Big Tent show. It is something to see at least once, but it is not an RV show. More like a state fair. There are some RV related booths, but most are cooking & household stuff, cell phone cords, clothes & jewelry, etc. There has been a great Alaska booth for those thinking about heading that way.

While I'm staying in the east this winter, I have attended the show most of the years I stayed in the LTVAs, and as long as you don't expect a tent the size of a couple of football fields to be just RV stuff, it is worth seeing at least once.

 

[Ron in BC]

Thanks Jon.

So trading the warmth of Arizona for lake effect snow.

Ron

 

[Donna D.]

Thanks Jon.

So trading the warmth of Arizona for lake effect snow.

Ron

He left off the word SOUTH in his post. I follow his blog, he's in Alabama right now....

 

[OneCentHillman]

Thanks Donna, that sounds good. We were actually thinking about the big RV shindig that is happening on Jan 18-26... or is that not worth going to? We just want to go south to warm up and see the sun for a while and see what Quartzsite is all about.

We'll be @ Quarzsite w/ our non-Escape friends Jan 20-26, then heading out to the Kanab area for a week, then back to Quarzsite Feb 3-9 for Escape rally.
The RV shindig is impressive! Lots to spend your $$ on. ;-)

 

[Fox hunt]

I’m going end of January into February for the rally I love the open space and warmer weather hope to see you all!

 

[Jim Bennett]

Quarzsite Feb 3-9 for Escape rally.

It started as a Casita Rally and evolved into a Moulded Fibreglass Rally. But yes, lots of Escape's there too, at least the two years I was there.

 

[vermilye]

Yes, I'll miss the Quartzsite rally this year (unless I get sick of the arctic blast that seems to be following me around northern Florida, Alabama & Georgia and make a mad dash west).

One more point on the January Big Tent show - the traffic and parking in Quartzsite gets terrible during the event. I usually stay in the LaPosa West LTVA for the event - you can walk from your trailer to the tent. There is usually a short cut across a wash to the show grounds. Just don't try to drive. I've seen the traffic on 95 backed up past the LTVA entrance (about a mile).

 

[Durango1]

WARNING: Contrarian view here, GinoandLinda. IMO, basically the Big Tent Show is a huge flea market with a mild emphasis on RVing.

As long time "dispersed camping" Desert Rats we were kind of MEH! We went a couple of years ago but doubt we'd go back. However, if that's your thing...

On the other hand, KOFA and the surrounding desert area is incredible!

 

[GinoandLinda]

WARNING: Contrarian view here, GinoandLinda. IMO, basically the Big Tent Show is a huge flea market with a mild emphasis on RVing.

As long time "dispersed camping" Desert Rats we were kind of MEH! We went a couple of years ago but doubt we'd go back. However, if that's your thing...

On the other hand, KOFA and the surrounding desert area is incredible!

Thanks for that. We're probably going to pass on the big tent event and go sometime around the fiberglass gathering. Neither of us are into crowds and our dog will just be coming off some medical treatment, so something low key would be better.

 

[Ron in BC]

We've been there many times, never when the big tent event was on, and there was still a huge amount of vendor stalls. Some of them were actually RV stuff but most were just about anything under the sun.

Ron

 

[Donna D.]

For those heading to Quartzsite for any of the doin's, you might be interested in the Tyson Wells Directory for 2025: Tyson Wells Directory 2025

 

[JohnK-ESC]

Over on the Casita Forum is the following FB quote posted by Eileen:

Thanks to all the folks at Dome Rock that can’t follow rules….it’s supposed to be a 14 day area. Some have been there since Halloween. Overheard in the Yuma district office while getting permit they were talking about….Dome Rock becoming part of the LTVA next year with the price increase…and also after New Year's, a sweep of that entire area.Gusss the green truck and white car have been taking pictures and driving through documenting license plates of people who have not moved and they said after new years they would be back to enforce the 14 day rule of the people …trash…and buses and cars that have not moved in months.

To which long time Casita owner Jerry responds:

Sad, but one shouldn't be surprised. Another 10 years and boondocking on public lands will probadly be history. So many inconsiderate people living on, trashing, and abusing it. Hard to find fault with NFS, BLM, etc, under the circumstances.

I echo Jerry's lamentation. Boondocking on public lands while obeying the rules and leaving little or no footprint is for us the most satisfying of all camping experience. But that kind of camping experience is now in jeopardy thanks to lack of personal discipline and society's seeming inability to control its indulgence in excesses.

John

 

[Donna D.]

I was really impressed to find out the town dump was free in Quartzsite when I was there last winter. FREE. That means NO EXCUSES for leaving garbage and trash on BLM land around Q. NONE. The refuse station is pretty dang clean too. For instance, I didn't worry about getting nails in the tires of my truck when I went there twice in February. It's just north of downtown (Central Ave) on Hwy 95.