Free Camping Near Phoenix: Sonoran Desert National Monument

We were looking for free camping near Phoenix but aside from some casino parking lots, we weren’t having much luck. But then, about an hour south of Phoenix, heading west on I-8 we found nice dispersed camping at the Sonoran Desert National Monument. This vast, sprawling stretch of BLM land was a welcoming landscape to spend some time in warm winter temperatures with plenty of room to roam.

Quick Info: Camping in Sonoran Desert National Monument

Cost: Free

Ownership: BLM; 14 day limit

Directions: From Maricopa, follow the AZ-347 S for about 13 miles before turning right onto AZ-84 W. Then, after 5.6 miles, merge onto the I-8 W and drive 7 miles to exit 144. From here, you can turn left and reach an expanse of BLM land that allows dispersed camping. We chose to take exit 144 and then get back on the I-8 heading back east for about 3 miles before turning right onto a dirt road. And from here we explored more options for camping at Sonoran Desert National Monument.

Solar: Great

Miles From Town: About 25

Water: None

Road Conditions: The dirt road was in good condition. Some areas had rocks, some were sandy, and the one we chose to take to camp down was a bit narrow. But there are enough camping options that plenty are easily accessible.

Cell Service: Yes, there are areas with cell service.

Our Experience Camping at Sonoran Desert National Monument

As I mentioned above, we were looking for free camping outside of Phoenix when we found dispersed BLM camping at Sonoran Desert National Monument. After spotting the dirt road while travelling on I-8, we carefully pulled off of the highway and we were immediately greeted with this large brown sign.

Just past the sign, there are several sand roads going in all different directions. Many of the options for dispersed camping at Sonoran Desert National Monument are in the wide open desert with not much around. So we were on the hunt for a spot that had a little more privacy and with a more interesting landscape for wandering around and exploring. We turned left and followed a narrow sandy road back behind some small rock hills.

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Unfortunately, we did find some trash – glass, tires, bullets… but we found a spot that we liked. It felt more secluded back here behind the hills.

On our little adventures exploring the area, there were plenty of sand roads to follow in all different directions. We climbed around on the rock hills nearby, went on lots of walks and runs. And on one run, we found an old windmill near a pen and an old metal watering hole. Up we went for a better view of the desert surroundings.

All in all, camping at Sonoran Desert National Monument was nice, pretty and peaceful. Although it wasn’t extremely exciting, we were able to explore the area with no one else around and had plenty of time to enjoy the sunny winter weather while getting lots of work done. And finding ways to stay entertained 🙂

Thanks for Reading About Free Camping Near Phoenix!

We hope you found this article about camping near Phoenix at the Sonoran Desert National Monument helpful! Sometimes looking for dispersed camp spots in new areas can be tricky. If you would like to see more of our articles about great dispersed camping spots, check out the links below:

• Laguna Mountain Recreation Area
• Camping and Climbing at Logandale Trails
• Boondocking and Exploring at Trona Pinnacles

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