Best Dispersed Camping near Buckeye, AZ

This is a free dispersed camping area in the BLM Sonoran National Monument. Take Interstate 8, Exit #140 and take gravel road to south. The gravel road is rough washboard first section, then gets narrower and just rough. Camping areas seem to be just within less than a mile of the Interstate so truck noise will be an issue. No services for 30 mi back to Gila Bend or 20 mi back to Stanfield. No water, trash, tables. Cell signal is excellent on all carriers. This area is more difficult to access with a TT or RV due to the rougher narrow roads, compared to the Vekol Rd camping area at exit #144.

Not too far from I-10, easy to get to from highway. Used Google Maps. Pilot truck stop right off the exit with a few taco stands/trucks. Many roads to get on the BLM land, some more rocky than others. We had a big rock lodged between our 2 back dually tires, but suspect that doesn’t happen often. Some days it was a little windy and with the winds from the west it brought black flies. We had 8-10 flies hang in the van with us after we opened the door a few times. Other than that, plenty of sites very spaced out and neat walking trail up the mountain.

This is a two track road that leaves Interstate 8 at about MP 124. There are no signs and EXTREME CAUTION is advised trying to access these BLM roads from the freeway without an exit ramp. No TTs or RVs are recommended. Road goes thru a gate out into the flat desert. Dispersed camping areas are scattered around but since this is close to Gila Bend there is evidence of dumping in this area. Cell service is good. No water, toilets, tables, fire rings or trash bins.

This is pretty much like the reviews say, your basic BLM undeveloped dispersed camping area. One difference are the powerlines overhead that emit a cracking and rattling noise constantly. Not sure of the health implications of those powerlines. As one reviewer mentioned there are washers that could hang up many large and even midsize rigs. This is also a popular ATV area which comes with a lot of dust and noise and rude people. Beware of paths that seem fit for a two wheeled vehicle but were created by ATVs which can often climb into and out of these washes with no problem. I drove through one that almost ripped off the tail end of my 17 foot TT. Don't forget to GOAL, get out and look.

Access road is fresh gravel so better than 2024. Large open flat area in middle close to a livestock water and corral, so cow noise and smell. Free dispersed but need the $15 AZ lands permit. Cell signal is very good. No toilets, no trash, no tables...just rock fire rings. Close to the hwy so some hwy noise. Some Campers look to be folks that work in town. The other dispersed camping area a bit to the north closer to town by the cell tower may be another good spot. Only 4.5 miles to the Safeway in town.

Only 2 stars as the area is no scenic and had beat down vegetation, cow crap smell and general vibe is ick.

Nice open dispersed camping area near the trailhead to Vulture Peak. Lots of random washes and remnants of mines to discover. Grocery store is only a few miles down the road near Wickenburg.

Nice enough place for dispersed camping, but requires a very bumpy drive to get there. Really good cell phone service (Verizon - I got 3-4 bars of 4G, which got me 75+ mb/s download speed)

First time dispersed camping with our 21’ pull-behind and had a great experience. Gravel road leading to the area is well kept and our truck had no issues getting to the area. Awesome views when we setup camp with plenty of space.

Great place to Boondock up to 2 weeks.

Miles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites. Can get busy on holiday or event weekends but worth it otherwise. Some weekends have horse or Dirtbike events. Nearby washes lead to tons of trails near castle hot springs that can lead to various abounded mine sites (including Anderson Mill). Obviously not ideal camping in the summer but GREAT for the fall/winter/spring months.

That's right, this is AZ, State Trust land, AKA: FREE camping and parking land—72,000 acres of open dispersed, rough, rugged, off-the-grid life. I've parked here in my converted Skoolie of 36 feet for two years. I DO purchase the $ 15-a-year permit and I DO display it. But in 2 years, I've not seen even one "official" vehicle and have never been asked to see my permit or how long I have parked. It is messy, I like to clean it up at times, please help and please remember, this is your land so do not trash it to the point that we will be kicked off. I've watched this happen all over northern AZ and it does not need to happen here. Pack it in and pack it out. Leave no trace. There are garbage cans 1 mile from this land. A new gas station/convenience store has been erected a mile from Maddock Road. Although Maddock Road is no longer an access point to the lands, there are plenty of other access points. The new gas station has diesel, water dispensing, propane dispensing, and all the conveniences anyone would need. It is a paradise in Winter, believe that. In summer, it is hotter than the dickens. I bounce from Flag to this location yearly, it works well for us nomads.

Perfect spot for boondocking. The dirt road is decent, people are spread out, it's peaceful. Bit of a drive to get gasoline...fill up before you get here!

This is one of my favorite areas to boondock in the southwest winter season. The views are phenomenal ! To my surprise I thought it would be crowded here this year, but no. As soon as you turn off of W Salome Hwy on to W Courthouse rd you’ll find at least 9 or more entrances that lead up towards the mountain. Some better than others, meaning they can be very rocky, so be careful of tire damage. Like any time your looking for a site, park in a safe place and search by either foot or in my case ebike. I have found the last couple roads in on the far west to be the smoothest, but they are also more populated. Sites here can accommodate the big rigs, but the smaller you are the more options you have. This BLM, 14 day maximum.

It was a great area to boondock camp, roads are rough but worth the trip. Cellphone service is spotty. Lots of ATV on the weekends. Be prepared to get stuck in the mud if it rains. There's a great lil gem you can hike to called Mudd Spings, it's super small natural spring.

Not a lot of sites at this location maybe 15-20 if you crammed them in, but if you don’t have a big rig their is a few before getting here in State Trust land ( Vultures peak) for a small one time annual fee coming from Wickenburg. Only 4 star because your not going to get the seclusion of most dispersed camping and the cell service is spotty. Verizon was 2-3 bars LTE and T Mobile 1-2 which normally is not bad but most of the time it wasn’t usable. Plenty of trails that begin at the Vultures Peak trailhead and a lot of washes to hike. If you plan on making the hike up to Vultures Peak be prepared, the last quarter involves using your hands to crawl up to the peak. And for those wondering why it’s called Box Wash, it’s the name of the wash a hundred feet south of where the sites are located. My favorite site is the last one before the trail head which overlooks Box Wash. Their is plenty of room at the trail head to turn around most big rigs if the trailhead is not too busy which is day use only with a vaulted toilet.

This two- track BLM road leaves from the westbound lanes of Interstate 8. EXTREME CAUTION is advised and TTs and RVs are not recommended for these unmarked two tracks along the Interstate.

You go thru a gate and this area is to west of the wilderness area and is not restricted by the wilderness buffer road issues. The road splits in a couple tens and there are several camp spots along the way, but best to get farther away from the freeway truck noise. On the map this #8032 roads goes all the way to hwy 238 between Gila Bend and Maricopa. No facilities, no water. Cell signal was couple weak bars but ok for txt email.

Lots of camping spots before and after this specific location. Camping spots are spread out. You can see about 20 miles of I-10 from this area. Power substation have bright lights on all night but I would camp there again.

Great spot, lots of camping spots well spaced out, many with established fire pits. Very little road noise at night, and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. T-mobile , 2 bars 5G service.

Camped for one night on my way from NM to LA.  Arrived at night and it was easy to find. Awoke to a beautiful sunrise at the foot of the mountains. Great rock hunting too! This will be my regular camping spot form now on when traveling the same route.

We came out here to scout out Margie's cove but realized when you turn in you can keep going straight to tons of campsites with firepits. We probably passed about 6 or 7 before we parked and saw a truck even further out. Not sure why this whole area hasn't been listed, there's a ton of empty sites.

Not sure if I put these coordinates in right, this is only my second time contributing but if you head north on 85 going towards buckeye you will turn right on South Woods Road. It's a bit hilly in the beginning so we pulled over to the side and walked out there to find a ton of sites. We have 2 wheel drive truck pulling a 24 foot TT and it did great.

There are washes all around but the sites are good and packed albeit rocky. About 30 minutes North is the town of buckeye where there's a walmart, autozone, etc and some beautiful hikes out at the Skyline Regional Park. Some saguaros around the spots for some nice sunset shots and a ton of sonoran vegetation at that Skyline Park. Would come here again!

BLM road #8030 leaves Interstate 8 in westbound lanes. No signage at the freeway, EXTREME CAUTION is advised trying to access these unmarked two track roads from the Interstate hwy. There is a gate to go thru then you pass a couple v- shaped wash dips that would restrict TTs and RVs, hence the recommendation that Overlander truck types would be best here. The road goes past an abandoned corrals/tank and then at the y split you are going to go left and into the wilderness cherry-stem road. This road buffer is only about 50 ft wide so not really good for finding campsites. The road gets rougher and crosses many sandy washes so high clearance 4x4 is a good idea. Cell service was not good here, must be in a hole from the antenna at Freeman road and the cell towers at Gila Bend. Going to the end of the cherry stem #8030 road will likely end at another ranch structure/corral with camping sites (I was not able to get that far in my truck safely).

No water or any other amenities, and with limited cell signal would recommend access with a buddy vehicle for backup.

This BLM road just leaves the Interstate in the west bound lanes..there is a 4" drop off from pavement and then a steep short dip. NO RVS OR TRAILERS OR LONG WHEEL BASE VANS recommended! The BLM road goes into the wilderness as a "cherry- stem" and vehicles are allowed. However the wilderness buffer along the road looks to be only about 50 ft total so very limited camping until you get into the Big Horn pond area (3.5-4 miles). Road is rocky high clearance and sandy in spots and gets rougher as you go in farther. 4x4 is nice to have.

Note that the exit from the interstate is very risky and EXTREME Caution is advised...check your rear before you slow down to lv the interstate pavement. Same risk when you return to the pavement...extreme caution is advised as the interstate traffic cannot see you and do not expect vehicles from the side access.

Great cell signal and a cool primitive road bounded by wilderness makes this road an Overlander dream camping area, imo.