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Signs & Maps

Established Camping

BLM Oxbow Campground

BLM Oxbow Campground, near Palo Verde, Arizona, is a solid choice for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors along the Colorado River. This spot is perfect for tent and RV camping, with each site featuring fire rings for cozy evenings under the stars.

The campground is known for its friendly hosts and clean facilities, including vault toilets and picnic tables. Visitors have remarked on the beautiful sunsets and sunrises, making it a picturesque place to unwind. One camper noted, “Gorgeous sunset & sunrise,” which captures the essence of this scenic location.

Fishing is a popular activity here, with many campers taking advantage of the river's proximity. If you're into kayaking, the nearby Oxbow Lake offers a peaceful setting to paddle and enjoy wildlife sightings. Just keep in mind that this is a dry camp, so bring your own water and firewood.

While the campground is remote enough to feel like a getaway, it's still close to town for any supplies you might need. Whether you're here for a quick weekend trip or a longer stay, BLM Oxbow Campground provides a welcoming atmosphere for all types of campers.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

Oxbow Recreation and Wildlife Area provides RV and tent camping sites, a boat launch, and a day use area on old river channel (oxbow) of the Colorado River. The site is heavily used on summer and holiday weekends, and is popular with winter visitors.

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Location

BLM Oxbow Campground is located in Arizona

Detail location of campground

Directions

The site is located approximately 23 miles south of Blythe, CA and 68 miles northwest of Yuma, AZ. From I-10: Exit at Neighbours Blvd. /CA-78 in Blythe, California, heading south on Highway 78. From I-8: Exit north on Ogilby Rd. Turn right on Highway 78 heading north. The site is approximately 3 miles south of Palo Verde, California, at Colorado River mile 100. Turn east onto the gravel road at sign marked "Colorado River." Oxbow is ? mile east of Highway 78.

Coordinates

33.38769823 N
114.71199827 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Poor
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

9 Reviews

Reviewed Mar. 18, 2023

Wonderful spot

We arrived late afternoon and were hoping for a quiet place to stay for one night. The host was very friendly and showed us the beautiful campground next to the river. Lots of RVs and tents; mostly visitors for fishing over the weekend. Fireplaces at every campsite. 50% off with the annual national park card. Great spot, definitely a recommendation!

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Dorothea M., March 18, 2023
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Dorothea M., March 18, 2023
Reviewed Jan. 27, 2023

Great BLM camp on river.

Nice BLM CG on Colorado River. Colo and AZ state line seems to bisect this area. CG has tables, fire rings vault toilets, dumpster, but NO water or RV dump. $15/$7.50 senior. 14d limit.

Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Greg L., January 27, 2023
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Greg L., January 27, 2023
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Greg L., January 27, 2023
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Dec. 28, 2022

Dry camping

This is a dry camp, but fee based. $15.00 per vehicle, per night. Or half price with a federal park pass.

Plan on bringing water and the nearest dump area is Blythe,  CA.

Close to Cibola Wildlife refuge.

Beautiful and quiet, family area.  

Hosts are excellent and keep very clean bathrooms.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Tina R., December 28, 2022
Reviewed Mar. 2, 2022

This was a GREAT SPOT!!

This marker is closest to the Camp Host, Attila, who greeted me upon arrival. There are several ’areas’ available. Right on the Colorado River, technically this lil part of land is AZ. Beautiful camp, clean. Clean pit toilets right there. Gorgeous sunset & sunrise.

Siteright next to Camp Host
Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Greg B., March 2, 2022
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Greg B., March 2, 2022
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Greg B., March 2, 2022
Reviewed Nov. 12, 2021

Secluded sites by Oxbow Lake

Most of the sites are grouped together near the Colorado River but there are a few nice sites right on Oxbow Lake. We got the best one at the south end. No neighbors except nearby farmers plowing their fields all night long, some noise but not enough to bother us. We really enjoyed kayaking on the lake, it’s about 2.5 long. We saw dozens of coots, plus one cormorant and a great egret.

SiteS end of Oxbow Lake
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Gary M., November 12, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Gary M., November 12, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Gary M., November 12, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Apr. 21, 2021

Weekend Getaway Boondocking

I met up with an old Marine buddy of mine and my 15 year old son for some camping, fishing and offroading with my friends Polaris Razr. There is a nice boat dock that is well used. NOTE: The walking dock to get into your boat is not setup and is not functional. Fishing spots are around the camping sites... fishing from shore into the river is doable... but the flow of the river means you probably will be like I was just practicing your casts. The trails on the Arizona side off of Levee Rd. We're great. We went out into the desert by the Hart Mining area and saw Big Horn Sheep and a Log Cabin from 1910. The weather was great... wind did get a bit gusty in the afternoons. Other than that great sunrises and sunsets. Camp fire rings were full of past ashes. We dug ours out to make it better for a fire. The Vault bathrooms are Really Bad. Luckily I brought my privacy pop-up tent and Lowes bucket with a toilet seat. That was way better than the stench of the toilet. No water so you need to bring your own, same with firewood, toilet needs... no toilet paper provided, no sinks or clothes pins required. We were the ONLY campers in the main campsites by the off duty camp host trailer on the river on Sat night and woke up to an empty campground.

SiteSites aren't numbered.
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Miles K., April 21, 2021
Reviewed Feb. 19, 2021

Looks like there was a recent fire here

Camping along the river is great, but the main dispersed camping area looked as if there was a fire there recently. Some campers there, but lots of burnt trees and ash.

I did find a beautiful spot along the river, and a nice clear path to the river. The sounds of the river reached my RV and was so soothing and relaxing,

Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Larry B., February 19, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Larry B., February 19, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Larry B., February 19, 2021
  • (17) View All
Reviewed Feb. 18, 2021

Beautiful Sunsets by the River

My brother drove out from upstate NY to camp with me. We camped in several BLM dispersed camping areas in AZ and this was one of our favorites.  We were lucky to get a spot right on the river. The dirt roads getting back there were a bit rough especially for my brother whose van and trailer were low to the ground, but it was worth it. (We drove around 5mph towing our trailers so it took forever.)

There were other campers around us because we were on the river but it wasn't bad.  There was only a fifth wheel directly behind us on the river spaced much farther away than if we'd been in a paid park.  Across the road a delightful woman was camping with her converted cargo trailer and pet pig.  There were some other campers not too far away but you couldn't see them.  We had glorious sunsets each night. We were there in January 2021 and the weather was nice in my opinion; a bit chilly at night. We stayed at least 10 days a really enjoyed it.

The only negative was that around 5 or 6 pm most evenings very loud military planes flew over. It was a bit startling the first time, but we got used to it. We unhitched so could drive to Blythe CA for groceries (there's not much available in Quartzsite AZ.)

I'll definitely be going back to this campground.

SiteIt's dispersed camping no numbered sites.
Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Dee S., February 18, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Dee S., February 18, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Dee S., February 18, 2021
Reviewed Jan. 5, 2021

Excellent remote-ish campground!

Stayed for two nights with a group of friends. Super nice camp host, good fishing on the river. We had 2 cars so we were able to float down the river in an inflatable raft for a day trip and drive back up w/the second car. Site has water, bathrooms, wood for sale and is super close to town if you need to pick something up at the store, but still feels far enough away to be a nice retreat.

Not much else to do other than fish and float (no close hikes).

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Dan X., January 5, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Dan X., January 5, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM Oxbow Campground by Dan X., January 5, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at BLM Oxbow Campground?

    Camping at BLM Oxbow Campground can starts at $15.00.

  • What is the elevation of BLM Oxbow Campground?

    BLM Oxbow Campground is located at 229 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at BLM Oxbow Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at BLM Oxbow Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does BLM Oxbow Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, BLM Oxbow Campground does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at BLM Oxbow Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is poor, and T-Mobile is available.