Flat, open, and close to the highway, Snyder Hill BLM East sits on the eastern edge of BLM land managed by the Tucson Field Office, drawing a mix of travelers passing through and longer-term residents who winter in the area. The terrain is exposed and unshaded, with no designated sites, no water, no electricity, and no toilets. Free. That simplicity is the main draw.
The atmosphere here leans more toward a roadside staging area than a remote desert camp. Reviewers consistently flag highway noise as a factor, though greg H. notes it "quiets down at night." Crowding is a real consideration, particularly in winter months when some campers settle in for extended stays. Trash accumulation has been noted in multiple reviews, though conditions vary. Verizon users report about one bar of cell service, while others describe the signal as strong enough for regular use.
Access comes in from Old Ajo Road and S San Joaquin, with multiple entry points of varying quality. Ashley M. notes "no water, electricity, or dump," and points out that a dump station and water fill are available nearby at Justin's RV Park for $15, with free options roughly 20 minutes into town. The flat terrain makes this one of the more accessible spots in the area for travel trailers and larger rigs, though entry points with deep dips can still catch low-clearance vehicles off guard. Scouting the entrance before committing is worth the extra few minutes.
The Snyder Hill BLM Camping Area sits about 0.7 miles to the west and offers more privacy, while BLM Dispersed off AZ 86 near Snyder Hill is a half mile southwest. Campers who want a paid option with hookups can check out Western Way RV Resort to the north. BLM signage indicates a 14-day stay limit, and rangers reportedly patrol the area weekly. Note that this location is listed as permanently closed, so confirming current access status before planning a trip is strongly advised.
Description
Camping on public lands away from developed recreation facilities is referred to as dispersed camping. Most of the remainder of public lands are open to dispersed camping, as long as it does not conflict with other authorized uses or in areas posted "closed to camping," or in some way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources. Dispersed camping is allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. The 28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. The purpose of this special rule is to prevent damage to sensitive resources caused by continual use of any particular areas. In addition, campers must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days (12 months in Alaska). Campsite Selection Dispersed camp sites are located along most secondary roads and may not be marked. Popular locations can be recognized by the telltale flat disturbed area that has been used as a camp site before. Not all flat spots are sites. If possible, please use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or in any manner pollute the surrounding area.
Map & DirectionsSnyder Hill BLM east is located in Arizona near Tucson
Coordinates
32.16095412 N
111.10430518 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 19 usersLast on 7/11/26- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 45 usersLast on 7/11/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 14 usersLast on 7/11/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 19 usersLast on 7/11/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 45 usersLast on 7/11/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 14 usersLast on 7/11/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Phone Service
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Snyder Hill BLM east - PERMANENTLY CLOSED needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 14 min from Tucson, AZ
- 1 hr 11 min from Sierra Vista, AZ
- 1 hr 57 min from Phoenix, AZ
- 3 hrs 2 min from Prescott Valley, AZ
