Pump Station Road Dispersed Camping
Ironwood Forest National Monument
Write a Review N. Pump Station Rd. Marana, AZ 85653 520-258-7200 Official WebsiteGPS: 32.4448, -111.3717
Location submitted by: Chris
Overview of Pump Station Road Dispersed Camping
Caution: There is a 6000lb GVWR bridge on Silverbell Rd. To bypass this bridge, access Pump Station Rd. via W. El Tiro Rd.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: Boondocking 101.
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by Mike & Nancy on 3/22/2024
Longest RV Reported: 44 feet (Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel)
Reported by SaltyVetAdventures on 2/15/2023
Pad Type dirt
Elevation 1,968 ft / 599 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
Unlock pro campendium features
Featured Video by The Wandering Shores
Q&A - Ask the Community about Pump Station Road Dispersed Camping
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 520-258-7200
Campendium users haven't asked any questions about Pump Station Road Dispersed Camping
Reviews of Pump Station Road Dispersed Camping 56 people have reviewed this location.
“Boondocking next to Saguaro National Park ”
Reviewed 3/7/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 7 |
RV Length: | 30' (Travel Trailer) |
We stayed for about a week. Very clean and nice view of the sunset over the mountains. Plenty of places to take any size rig. Local gas station and dollar general store real close. Very quite and very friendly near by campers.We did avoid Bridge that other talked about in the reviews.
flhjeff would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Views and Boondocking”
Reviewed 2/28/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 1 |
Big RIG FRIENDLY. The road is a bit bumpy, and paved just take it slow. There is a narrow one lane bridge coming in. Maximum 6000 GVWR.
Last mile is gravel but OK just take it easy. Verizon full bars no issues with cell service.
NAVRET would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great boondocking spot close to city amenities”
Reviewed 2/25/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 2 |
RV Length: | 30' (Class C) |
We stayed here for 2 nights in mid-February in our 30-foot Class C and had a great stay overall. The fellow campers were very friendly and the night sky was great, although you did get a little light pollution from Tucson. As for access, the prior reviews regarding the weight limit on Silverbell are correct...larger vehicles should... more
We stayed here for 2 nights in mid-February in our 30-foot Class C and had a great stay overall. The fellow campers were very friendly and the night sky was great, although you did get a little light pollution from Tucson.
As for access, the prior reviews regarding the weight limit on Silverbell are correct...larger vehicles should take El Tiro in to avoid any issues. There is a gas station and Dollar General at the end of El Tiro for any immediate needs. El Tiro turns to dirt about 3/4 of the way in and the washboard is pretty bad in areas, so you'll want to slow down (I kept it between 5-15 MPH).
Once you turn off Pump Station Road and start heading back, larger vehicles should not go much farther than where the road meets the barbed wire fence with the white tires. Any beyond that and the road narrows significantly, degrades in quality, and lacks any turnaround spots...up until that, there are multiple opportunities to turn around. This being my first time here, I didn't know that and continued on. I ended up in a bad spot with no real way to turn around, so I had to do an Austin Powers maneuver and ended up picking up a hole from debris in the sidewall of one of my steer tires. Thankfully, the leak, though audible, was slow enough to allow me to get back out to a decent spot to park for the night. Bronco Towing came out the next day and assisted with the tire change (and had no reservations about finding us on an unimproved dirt road).
Many of the unimproved sites have existing fire rings and some had small wood piles left by prior campers that were unable to finish it all. Overall, the area was exceptionally clean, with no stray trash to be seen. It was very quiet at night.
There were some videos on YouTube showing illegal activity (smuggling) in this area from about 10 years ago, but I didn't see any signs of it during our stay.
MattS would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great boondocking location”
Reviewed 2/18/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 5 |
Site Number: | Na |
RV Length: | 40' (Fifth Wheel) |
Just outside of Tucson. Easy to get to, even for larger rigs. The road in is washboard dirt, but go slow and it’s not too bad. Area is flat and wide open. We stayed near the entrance for better cell signal.
Scott would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great desert views and quiet”
Reviewed 2/17/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 5 |
We enjoyed our stay immensely! The roads were a bit bumpy, but not too bad. DO NOT take Silver Bell to get to Pump Station BLM. Not only is it weight restricted... the roads are horrendous. (Continue on to El Tiro Rd.). Since it was a long weekend there were other campers around. But, we were able to space pretty far apart. It was v... more
We enjoyed our stay immensely! The roads were a bit bumpy, but not too bad. DO NOT take Silver Bell to get to Pump Station BLM. Not only is it weight restricted... the roads are horrendous. (Continue on to El Tiro Rd.). Since it was a long weekend there were other campers around. But, we were able to space pretty far apart. It was very quiet. The sunsets were very pretty with beautiful desert views. We had to purchase unexpected parts for our trailer, so, it was very convenient to run into Tucson. I would definitely recommend Pump station Dispersed camping.
KenJen would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Excellent spot ”
Reviewed 2/13/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 12 |
RV Length: | 27' (Travel Trailer) |
Awesome place to free camp outside of Tucson. Beautiful and felt very safe. We have a 27 ft airstream and got in and out just fine. We worked from our camper the entire time and had very fast service even without our we boost. The only weird thing we saw that was weird is a person drive really fast up the road like a bat out of hell an... more
Awesome place to free camp outside of Tucson. Beautiful and felt very safe. We have a 27 ft airstream and got in and out just fine. We worked from our camper the entire time and had very fast service even without our we boost. The only weird thing we saw that was weird is a person drive really fast up the road like a bat out of hell and stole our friend’s camp chairs. Overall though very quiet and peaceful
Wyldestreamin’ would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Best Boondocking spot ever!”
Reviewed 2/13/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 7 |
Site Number: | NA |
We loved this area with the wide open spaces and beautiful mountain views. Plenty of room to ride bikes or hike. 20 min drive to some amazing hikes, like Picacho Peak!
Justine & Scott's Adventures would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Would have stayed longer, but had commitments in Quartzsite.”
Reviewed 2/13/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 6 |
RV Length: | 38' (Fifth Wheel) |
NOTE: Do not follow Garmin directions, they take you to a narrow 6,000 pound bridge which you can not cross. Directions: I 10, Exit 236, Turn left at bottom of exit, go under I 10 and turn right onto West Marana Road. West Marana Road turns into West Trico Marana Road. Continue on West Trico Marana Road to North Trico Road, turn lef... more
NOTE: Do not follow Garmin directions, they take you to a narrow 6,000 pound bridge which you can not cross.
Directions: I 10, Exit 236, Turn left at bottom of exit, go under I 10 and turn right onto West Marana Road.
West Marana Road turns into West Trico Marana Road. Continue on West Trico Marana Road to North Trico Road, turn left. Follow to El Trio Road, turn right. Follow El Trio to Pump Station Road, turn right. BLM land starts about 1//2 mile up Pump Station Road on both sides of the street.
This is a fairly large BLM area with dispersed camping for rigs of all sizes. Access is generally good, but a little bumpy. Slow driving gets you there safely and more or less comfortably. There are dozens of "sites", some with fire rings, spaced a good distance apart. It is quiet, people respect boundaries and a very pleasant place. Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful. Cactus and mountains make for some nice photo ops. Be careful where you step, though, as Churro barbs are on the ground and if you step on them, they will go right through your shoe and into you foot. It is about 20 miles to shopping, with big city amenities and stores. We had very good internet through US Cellular Hot Spot.
Jim would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Amazing Clean and Quiet CG”
Reviewed 2/11/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | na |
A very nice clean and quiet to stay that’s close to I10. No road or neighbor noise.
freedom would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Just what i needed!”
Reviewed 2/10/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
---|---|
Days stayed: | 4 |
Site Number: | Dispersed |
This area is easy to get to as usual for back roads the so called Paved road was very rough. Just go slow. I have a 32ft class C and things were banging around. Had great weather and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I apologize to those around me...because i wear a CPAP i have to charge my battery...having to run my Generator 3-4 hrs... more
This area is easy to get to as usual for back roads the so called Paved road was very rough. Just go slow. I have a 32ft class C and things were banging around.
Had great weather and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
I apologize to those around me...because i wear a CPAP i have to charge my battery...having to run my Generator 3-4 hrs straight. Im getting a solar panel to use soon...then no noise from me.
Lots of flat paths to walk lots of rocks everywhere...proper shoes would help...twisted my ankle several times misstepping.
I will be back!
Tammy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Best BLM & Free Camping in the United States
One of the best things about traveling by RV is the ability to visit beautiful destinations with all of the comforts of home, minus the cost and hassle of flights, rental cars...
6 - New Year's Eve | Coop and Ellie
Woke in: NM - Cattlemen Trail Stayed at: AZ - Pump Station Road Dispersed CampingThe next morning we woke to 12° F, feels lake 6° F. If we had continued west for only one...
Contact us to update this listing.
Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Site Amenities
- big rig
Pets
- pets
Nearby
Desert Peak Dispersed Camping
Beautiful, But It Is located Near Local Shooting Range.
- camper-870226
Please select a reason for flagging this item: