Pilot Knob LTVA

On the video (in the video tab) we provide a comprehensive review of the BLM Pilot Knob Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) near Winterhaven, CA and Yuma, Arizona. This may be the perfect snowbird winter getaway. For just $180 you can stay for up to 7 months without having to move and from September 15 to April 15 dry camping (with services (garbage included and free water and $ dump nearby). There are 10 LTVAs in the SW Arizona, SE California area and your pass gives you access to all of them.

We stayed here recently for 5 days. We chose the LTVA over the free BLM spot, because we felt better leaving the RV to run errands, etc. We paid $40 for 2 weeks, but only stayed 5 days. Still a good bargain. The host is right when you pull in. They were gone when we arrived, so we left a sticky note on their door to call us and we would come back and purchase the proper permit.
Plenty of places to park. Dry camping only. They do have dumpsters at the entrance and there is a Chevron across the street that has propane, salt free water, and dumping. Close to freeway, so you can hear it, but it’s white noise to us. Can also hear trains going by. The sunsets were beautiful. You can see the lights from Mexico each night. You will see border patrol driving by occasionally, but we felt very safe. Warm days and not too cold of nights in January.

Plenty of RVs here this time of year but still very spread out and wide open. Nearest neighbor is 100 yards away. Close to the freeway but far enough not to hear all the noise. Excellent cell signal for both Verizon and AT&T. Gravel/rocks all over, some uneven and bumpy terrain here and there but most rigs shouldn't have a problem navigating back here. No litter in the area that I could see, very impressive.

Permit is required and there's a camp host at the entrance as well as a dumpster. I bought an annual permit last year for Imperial County LTVA so I didn't have to pay this time.

We arrived late afternoon and there were no other RV's. Other than the wind howling it was quiet as can be! Lots of space, little vegetation. Packed dirt with small rocks but not a bad drive in or out. No pot holes that we could see.

It wasnt too far off of I-8 and there was a factory in the distance. Looks like there were lots of tracks from ATV's and dirt bikes so this is probably a pretty popular site for weekenders.

Area was clean. No trash cans. Please keep it clean and take what you bring with you.