Several dispersed camping areas surround Sun City, Arizona on state trust land and BLM property. Most sites require a state land permit, available for $15-16 annually. Maddock Road Dispersed area provides ample space for RVs and tent camping, with no facilities or hookups. Dispersed camping off Highway 74 offers similar primitive conditions across thousands of acres with numerous established sites for free dispersed camping enthusiasts.
These areas feature flat, open desert terrain with no amenities—no water, toilets, or trash service. Access is generally suitable for most vehicles including larger RVs. A visitor commented, "Wide open state land with hundreds of established campsites." The newly constructed gas station one mile from Maddock Road provides diesel, water, and propane. While officially limited to 14-day stays, enforcement appears minimal. Summer temperatures become extremely hot, making winter the preferred season. Cell service is generally good throughout the area, with a camper noting, "Great AT&T service, was able to work off hotspot Tuesday-Friday with no incidence."
"Lower clearance rigs and vehicles need to stay closer to the main road. We have a 4x4 class C towing a Jeep so we went through some steep banked washes."
"The campsite is good, quiet, easily accessible and I met some friendly neighbors. I love all the cacti as well. There is quite a bit of trash and glass around."
"Numerous campsites available in an area along State Road 74 and New River/Lake Pleasant Roads, at least 2 or 3000 acres with hundreds of establish campsites."
"Great walks! Lovely and remote!"
"Two week stay limit, but that's pretty standard for BLM properties. There's no facilities so be prepared. Good level land and plenty of room."
"Really cool cactus variations all around, you can hear coyotes. And there are wild burros in the area you can def hear them and during the week it's likely you will see them!"
"The sites are not marked but you can easily tell where you would have room off the main dirt road to park and unload."
"Nobody else on Friday night, plenty of space The typical rumble strip dirt road to this point but easily doable.
Service: 1 bar Verizon"
"Gunshots in the distance, but no incidents/casualties lol. Pulled my 31ft TT back into a spot for a week. Close 10 min drive to stores like WinCo and Safeway and gas stations."
"The map shows McDowell twice but there is only one. It us about 23K acres of beautiful desert surrounded by the Superstition Mountains. Clean campground and pretty quiet."
"Gorgeous views, very spaced out sites, and access to great mountain biking and hiking trails. Even the overflow area where we had to spend a couple of nights has a very nice bathroom and shower."
from $32 / night
"I use the north entrance off Bush highway. I've camped here 5 or 6 times. No water or bathrooms. Leave no trace. You need a permit and gate code. Most ATVers but not loud during the week."
"Pretty passable dirt road (our G20 camper van had no problems). Sunsets were so so pretty and for us Washingtonians, camping in the desert amongst the saguaros was 👌🏼."
from $10 - $80 / night
"Turned left on the dirt road around mile marker 13--as other reviewers stated, the dirt roads closer to you when coming from the east are very rocky--I had to take it VERY slow just driving my high-clearance"
"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."
GuideI just pulled in here and didn't go very far up the road, it's dark and I'm in my 25ft Class C Motorhome. Not gonna lie, it feels a little bit wrong to be sitting here and camping out 😂 I have never been in this area, and I am hoping it will work out ok. I couldn't see if there were established places to park, so I just found a level spot behind a bush.
TravelerAbsolute shithole! As soon as I pulled in my truck was swarmed with thousands of flies (no exaggeration!) if I hadn’t just traveled from Colorado and was exhausted I would have immediately left. My trailer was then infested with flies as well. It’s going to take days to get rid of the infestation. Despite that, I did give it a two-star rating for the views.
TravelerI am a 5th generation Arizonan. That might not mean a lot to some people. And that's OK. But it means a lot to me. When you visit my beloved Arizona please do not trash her. The desert is a delicate landscape. A mythical land full of spiritual energy. Leave her as you found her. Leave no trace. Be a ghost visiting. Since seeing the population quadruple since I was 8 I have noticed a severe uptick in garbage all over my state. And I'm a weed smokin, gun tote'n bonafied desert rat.
TravelerWhat good is it to have a pen to a location that is closed. I just signed up I feel like I'm getting ripped off Half the places I find are closed
GuideThe entrance is covered in small bushes/trees. Go down road to West to main Sonoran desert monument entrance. Wide open and can accommodate all rigs.
GuideThis is an isolated location for off road trail riding, horseback riding and boon-docking. There is a small community at the end of the unpaved road named Bubble Bee, AZ, population 11. The main road into the area is gravel but any roads intersecting with the main gravel road are not maintained and many require a high clearance vehicle. Some of the campsites were not left clean by previous campers. We still enjoyed the area. We enjoyed hiking and exploring the desert mountains and river washes. The location was quite
and peaceful…I enjoyed listening to the variety of birds. Keep in mind that this is a desert landscaping. If you don’t like the view of the first campsite, keep driving until you get to the bridge and there are more campsites farther back. After the bridge, you will see an adorable sign for the local community. We intend to visit the area again…the next time we will take our ATVs so that we can explore more. Be cautious, there are many areas marked as mineral claims and it is illegal to pick up rocks/minerals in an identified claim area.
LegendWaaaaay too much trash and I only stopped because I was worn out. The one highlight was a dawn parade of motorcycles that was impressive in length, albeit noisy given the proximity to the highway.
ScoutStayed here a dozen times seeking some nature. Half the times some crack heads blast horrible drum and bass music all night, and look all strung out the next days. Displayed my pass but never checked, hoping they’d come Welfare check the chaos heard for miles at night. Sad but avoid for families. Havelinas roam at night for trash.
RangerKinda far from town, but quiet...except on weekends. Lots of side by sides. Looking at map it appears the road leads to lake pleasant.
Dispersed camping near Sun City, Arizona offers public land options on both state trust land and BLM property throughout the surrounding desert terrain. Most areas sit at elevations between 1,200-1,800 feet with sparse vegetation dominated by creosote bush, palo verde, and occasional saguaro cacti. Access roads range from maintained gravel to rough dirt tracks depending on recent rainfall and maintenance schedules.
Hiking opportunities: Saddle Mountain offers challenging terrain for experienced hikers with minimal shade. A camper at Saddle Mountain BLM noted, "Saddle Mountain is fun to hike but strenuous. The area is quiet and easy to get to."
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings provide opportunities to spot desert wildlife including wild burros. At Old Airstrip Camping & Staging Area, a visitor observed, "Wild burros wander through occasionally, and coyotes make their presence known as well."
Stargazing: Clear desert nights reveal exceptional star visibility due to minimal light pollution. One camper at Saddle Mountain BLM remarked, "Stargazing is spectacular. You won't regret it!"
Rock collecting: Several dispersed areas contain interesting geological specimens. A visitor to Saddle Mountain BLM shared, "We road our E bikes all over and did some agate hunting with wonderful success!"
Desert solitude: The further from main roads, the more peaceful the camping experience becomes. A camper at Maddock Road Dispersed - AZ State Trust Land praised the "desert and the solitude it brought. The further off carefree you get, the more solitude you'll find."
Balloon watching: Early risers can catch colorful hot air balloons floating across the desert landscape. A visitor to Dispersed Camping off hwy 74 shared, "Awoke to WONDERFUL hot air balloons, cactus and mountains… after sunrise! What a sight!"
Social opportunities: Some camping areas foster community among visitors. One camper at Dispersed Camping off hwy 74 reported, "I had Christmas Eve dinner with a bunch of other campers. A lot of fun."
Open terrain: The landscape provides ample room to spread out. A visitor to Maddock Road Dispersed noted, "Parked here last two years, 6 months at at time over winter. Quiet, spacious, close to water, stores, lake pleasant."
Security concerns: Like many dispersed camping areas, theft can occur. At Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - North Entrance, a camper warned, "No problems except for the people on drugs. Be careful and lock up before you leave to go anywhere."
Permit requirements: Bulldog Canyon requires special authorization. A camper explained, "Easy to get a permit from the ranger station. Just email your name, address, phone number and driver's license number to sm.fs.mesa_ohs@usda.gov and you'll get your permit within 2 days for free."
Weekend noise: Recreational vehicle activity increases on weekends. A visitor to Old Airstrip Camping noted, "Since it was a nice weekend there were a gazillion trucks with their OHVs. I must say I didn't really mind, plus if you have 4x4 you can access more distant parts of the area for calm and privacy."
Recent closures: Some previously popular areas have new restrictions. A camper at Dispersed Camping off hwy 74 reported in April 2025, "Unfortunately, the state has closed this area down. Brand new 'No Motor Vehicle' signs installed. This was a major travel destination for RV'rs and campers."
Cactus hazards: The abundant cacti require careful supervision of children and pets. A camper at Old Airstrip Camping cautioned, "All the cacti so close is a bit hazardous for pets and small children, my dog already got spines in her paws."
Weather timing: Avoid summer months when desert temperatures become dangerous. A visitor at North Castle Hot Springs Road Camp advised, "If you need to dump and/or get fresh water Wickenburg is just miles up the road and the Fast Mart Chevron station has two stations for this, plus propane."
Location scouting: Take time to find the right spot for your group. A camper at Saddle Mountain BLM suggested, "Like any time your looking for a site, park in a safe place and search by either foot or in my case ebike."
Supply logistics: Pack extra water and plan shopping stops carefully. A visitor to Maddock Road Dispersed noted, "Shell by this spot is pricey so make sure to get some stuff at Walmart in Anthem or somewhere else, however the shell is super convenient when in a pickle."
Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly in quality. A visitor to Boulders OHV Area observed, "The typical rumble strip dirt road to this point but easily doable."
Site selection: Many areas accommodate large rigs but require careful navigation. A camper at Saddle Mountain BLM advised, "Sites here can accommodate the big rigs, but the smaller you are the more options you have."
Dust management: Prepare for significant dust, especially during windy conditions. A visitor to Maddock Road Dispersed reported, "It's been pretty windy (25-30mph gusts) which causes a lot of dust but it's gorgeous and warm during the day, even in January."
Extended stays: Some areas allow longer camping periods with limited enforcement. A camper at Old Airstrip Camping shared, "Free. Wide open space, an abandoned air strip. Really cool cactus variations all around, you can hear coyotes."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Sun City, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Sun City, AZ is Dispersed Camping off hwy 74 with a 3.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Sun City, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 60 dispersed camping locations near Sun City, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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