Cieneguita Camping Area

We’ve been here for 8 nights so far. We arrived the day before a big snowstorm (ended up with at least one foot of snow around us!), so it’s been relatively quiet as far as other campers go. But, we drove they a few weeks ago when it was “full” and it was still awesome! The sites are spread far enough apart that you still have peace and quiet, even with other campers around. We’ve seen (and heard!) coyotes, javalinas, antelope, bunnies, open range cows, cowboys on horseback... and we love it! The Empire Ranch nearby has a water source that is free, and the Quail Run RV Park in Whetstone (17 miles to the east) has a $5 dump station, water and propane. There’s a Dollar General and a few restaurants in nearby Sonoita. The Border Patrol makes regular rounds, as does the Ranger (who checked in on us during the snowfall), and we’ve even seen a Sheriff drive through. Area is safe (we have 2 bicycles and a motorcycle outside, as well as our outdoor chairs, etc. that have remained unbothered. Road to get to the site is dirt, but not too bumpy or rutted. We had no issue getting our 35’ motorhome back here.

Stayed here in November 2018. After leaving highway and entering E. Empire Ranch Road you will come to T intersection, group area to the left and smaller area to the right. I stayed 1 week in each, and they are both excellent. Good roads, longer rigs would be happier in group area. The group area has some high spots which command perfect 360 degree view to mountain ranges in all directions. To give you an idea of how much space there is here, I arrived before thanksgiving weekend and during the long weekend at least 30 other RV's showed up, but I never felt crowded, or had too much noise. I will return here many times if I am able.

Big sites, spaced far apart. Saw two other sites filled in early November and I couldn’t even see them in mine. Nice soft flat ground for tent camping, amazing stars at night. Big open views. Saw a kangaroo rat and heard coyotes and cows. There seems to be at least another site beyond the cattle’s fence, but there were patties everywhere. Very peaceful.

Found this site while deciding to extend a day trip from PHX. Just a tent jockey with a hybrid sedan here, but had no problem getting in on the unlaced road. Follow the directions given by previous posters.

This place is quiet except for the coyote howl at dusk and the occasional moo from a nearby heifer. Only one other spot was taken night I was here. My go to place to spend a night in southern AZ now. Give it a shot!

Will be back fer sure. We camped just on the other side of the gate with our 26' class C and 8' cargo trailer. There are only a couple of sites past the gate and no turnaround spot past our camp spot. We had to back into the grass off the road to get turned around. Trees growing closer to road past the gate touch/scrape side of class C or wider. Be sure to close gate if you come through - saw 6 cows while we were there.

Very peaceful camping area with large sites, with grassland views to the mountains, and mesquite trees. The sites are private and widely-spaced. I stayed 7 days, the first week of December. I would have stayed longer, but there was a freeze forecast for the next few nights. The elevation is 4,600 ft. My site could have fitted 3 rigs in comfort. Come in from the west side, taking East Empire Ranch Rd from Hwy 83 (South Sonoita Hwy). Empire Ranch Rd is about 2 miles south of the Border Patrol station. It's a 2-lane paved road most of the way to the camping area. The lat/long coords at the top of this page will take you right to the entrance to the camping area. (If you come in from the south on East Yucca Farm Rd from Hwy 82, you have miles of single-track dirt road with very few places to pass traffic coming the other way.)

Contrary to what another reviewer said, you cannot camp anywhere at Las Cienegas NCA. You can only camp in the defined camping areas at Cieneguita, Oak Canyon, Road Canyon and the Empire Ranch airfield.

There is water available by the toilets at the ranch headquarters. There are no trash dumpsters. Most of the 40,000 acre property is leased out to cattle ranchers. There is no office (other than a visitor office at the Ranch headquarters that is open only on volunteer work days).

This is a good base for visiting the Titan Missile Museum and the ASARCO copper mine at Sahaurita, the Spanish mission at Tumacacori and the Presidio at Tubac. Walmart and all the other stores are available at Sahaurita.

This place was perfect. We just crossed into the states from Mexico the day before. We had just done 12 hours of driving and a night at a Walmart and we really wanted a shower and some wifi but all the RV parks either wouldn't let us dry camp since we are not "self contained" or were going to be $30-40 bucks. So we gave up on the shower and we have cell service so that's pretty nice. This place was really what we needed. Quite, peaceful, no one around except singing coyotes. The sunset over the mountains was beautiful. Sunrise is beautiful as well. All sites are clean and cleared of the tall grass and thorns from the few trees around. The sites feel large, but we are just a small camper on a pickup truck. This is a great place for the dog to be free as well.