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Major city · United States

Quartzsite

Go only in Jan–Feb for the gem shows and RV desert scene, or as an I-10 fuel-and-food stop. Otherwise skip: summer hits 40°C+ and most businesses close.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jan–Feb (shows and full services); Nov and Mar for quiet desert camping
avoid May–Sep (extreme heat, many businesses closed)
Airports
PHX · BLH
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Quartzsite is a crossroads town of about 3,700 people on I-10 in western Arizona that swells past 100,000 in winter when RVers camp on the surrounding BLM land. It is a winter-only destination built around rock, gem and mineral shows in January and February. Outside that window there is little open and the heat is dangerous.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Quartzsite, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–5
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedBLM primitive camping (own RV or tent), a night, per personUS$0
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$95
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$140

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$45 · Mid US$95 · High US$180

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

QIA Pow Wow Gem & Mineral ShowWinter RV camping on BLM landHi Jolly MonumentDesert petroglyph and geoglyph sites
Airports
PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor (About 2 h 15 min by car on I-10 east; the usual arrival airport) · BLH Blythe Airport (Small field about 45 min west in California; no scheduled airline service (check))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Quartzsite: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

19°C

5°C

2 rd

Feb

22°C

7°C

2 rd

Mar

26°C

10°C

2 rd

Apr

30°C

13°C

1 rd

May

35°C

19°C

1 rd

Jun

41°C

24°C

1 rd

Jul

43°C

28°C

2 rd

Aug

42°C

28°C

2 rd

Sep

39°C

23°C

2 rd

Oct

32°C

15°C

1 rd

Nov

24°C

8°C

1 rd

Dec

18°C

4°C

2 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

There is no public transport in town: a car is essential. I-10 runs east–west with town exits at 17 and 19; US 95 heads north to Parker and Lake Havasu City and south to Yuma. Main St is the local spine through downtown.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

go

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

Drive south on US 95, then dirt roads into the refuge

Desert bighorn sheep country; winter hiking and free primitive camping. Bring water and a spare tyre.

Bouse Fisherman intaglio

go

Door to door: About 1 h

North on AZ-95, right on Plomosa Rd for about 10 km, then a short walk

Pre-Columbian geoglyph on the desert floor; BLM-managed, free, no shade.

Lake Havasu City

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

AZ-95 north via Parker

River town with the London Bridge; a full day or an overnight.

Yuma

overnight

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

US-95 south

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there and continue.

Oatman

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

I-10 east, then AZ-95 and old Route 66

Historic mining town with wild burros; pair with a Colorado River stop.

Dateland

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

I-10 west into California

A date-shake roadside stop, not a destination on its own.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Main St motels

The two or three in-town motels sit on or near W Main St; book weeks ahead for show weeks.

BLM free camping areas

Dome Rock, Roadrunner and Scadden Wash: no water, no hookups, 14-day limit, free.

La Posa Long-Term Visitor Areas

Four BLM LTVAs south of town on US 95; long-stay permit, primitive conditions.

RV parks in town

Most beds in Quartzsite are RV sites; winter rates rise sharply in January.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$40–70 excl. bed (BLM camping is free)
Mid
$80–130 excl. bed
High
$150+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 2 nights × US$95US$190
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$95US$380
Fuel, one full tank for local driving1 × US$60 · checkUS$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Gem show parking and impulse buys2 × US$40 · Shows are free to enter; parking and purchases are notUS$80
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$74
Trip total≈ US$204 per person per day, bed includedUS$814

Rates jump during show weeks

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Pizza or burger meal$12–20
Gallon of fuelcheck$3.50–4.50
Motel room, winter show week$90–150
BLM campingFree (14-day limit)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Quartzsite is a small, low-crime town and feels safe by day. The real risks are desert heat, unmarked dirt roads, flash floods in washes and long drives with no services between towns.
  • Summer heat is the main hazard: plan any walking or desert site before 10:00 and carry more water than you think you need.
  • Free BLM camping has no water, no hookups and a 14-day limit; pack out all waste.
  • Petroglyph and geoglyph sites need high-clearance or 4WD roads; do not drive a normal rental car onto them.
  • Many restaurants and shops close for months at a time outside winter; call before you rely on one.
  • Cell coverage is patchy away from town and on the BLM lands.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

QuartzsiteQuartzsite

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Quartzsite; nearest consulates are in Phoenix. US visitors: your own embassy is in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Fuel, Quartzsite: about $3.50–4.50 per gallon (check)
  • Motel room, show week: $90–150 per night
  • BLM camping: free, 14-day limit

Say or show

  • Where is the nearest gas station? — Where is the nearest fuel?
  • Is there drinking water here? — Is there water here?
  • How far is it to the next town? — How far to the next town?
  • Can I camp here overnight? — Can I camp here?
  • Is this road paved all the way? — Is this road paved?
  • I need help, please call 911. — I need help

Show your hotel or RV park address to a driver; many are on Main St or off I-10 exits 17 and 19.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Quartzsite. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jan–Feb (shows and full services); Nov and Mar for quiet desert camping · avoid May–Sep (extreme heat, many businesses closed) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PHX: last sensible departure time, rental-car desk hours, overnight rung in Blythe or Phoenix.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main St downtown, the museum and Hi Jolly, the BLM camping rings, the petroglyph and geoglyph sites.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (QIA Pow Wow, Desert Gardens show, Quartzsite Historical Society, Hi Jolly Monument) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Show-week and heat-wave fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources