Arizona State Guide
Arizona suprised to the upside. From the amazing views and energy of Sedona, to the underrated and undervcalued mountrain biking of Tuscon, Arizona just gave me an amazing expeerirence
Quick Stats:
Time in State: 37 Days
MTB destinations visited: Sedona & Tuscon
Favorite camping Spot: Catalina State Park
Favorite Highlight:| Verde Canyon Railroad!
Thousand Trails Verde Valley!
The Sedona Secret: Why Cottonwood is the Better Basecamp for RVers
Skip the Sedona crowds! Discover why Cottonwood is the smarter, cheaper RV basecamp, featuring Thousand Trails Verde Valley reviews, Jerome ghost town, and epic mountain
Thousand Trails Verde Valley Review!
What to Do in Cottonwood AZ!
Arizona Mountain Biking!
Beginner Mountain Biking Sedona? That May Be an Oxymoron
Is beginner mountain biking in Sedona a myth? I tackled the red rocks to find the best progression for intermediates who value their collarbones.
Tucson MTB: The Old Pueblo’s Secret Sauce
Ditch the Sedona crowds for Tucson’s jagged beauty. This intermediate MTB progression covers Sweetwater, 50-Year Trail, and Starr Pass with local lore and RV tips.
Arizona RV Life Adventures!
Exploring Tucson: My Week in An Urban RV Park
From massive 150-foot murals to 18th-century forts, this Tucson itinerary proves that urban RVing is safe, gritty, and the best way to see the city.
A Week of Biking and Basecamping at Catalina State Park
Trade the Vegas lights for desert heights. We’re diving into mountain biking “The Chutes,” Arvie booking hacks, and why Catalina State Park is the ultimate basecamp.
Some Thoughts and Highlghts:
Thousand Trails Verde Valley is now one of my favorite Thousand Trails Parks. Thre is just so much to do and see in the area and I actually love the location. You are far enough away from Cottonwood that you still feel like you are in a rustic area, but can be in town in 15 minutes. From Jerome to Sedona – there is so many unique experiences to have!
Catalina State Park was also a major highlight. I used Arvie to snag a sold out spot for a week. And it was truly epic!
Useful Resources
Tucson & Southern Arizona Destinations
Tucson is a mountain biking mecca, and you stayed at some of the best “basecamps” in the region.
- Saguaro National Park
- The Vibe: Home to the nation’s largest cacti. You likely saw the contrast between the Tucson Mountain District (West)—perfect for sunsets at Gates Pass—and the Rincon Mountain District (East) with its famous Cactus Forest Loop Drive.
- Pro Tip: Great for road cycling on the paved loops or hiking the Valley View Overlook
- Catalina State Park
- The Vibe: Sitting at the base of the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains. This is a premier spot for birding and hiking.
- MTB Highlight: This park provides the primary access to the 50-Year Trail, an intermediate-to-advanced favorite for mountain bikers.
- Gilbert Ray Campground
- The Vibe: Located in Tucson Mountain Park, this spot feels incredibly remote despite being near the city. Surrounded by saguaros and incredible dark skies.
- MTB Highlight: You’re right next to the Starr Pass and Sweetwater trail systems—some of the flowiest singletrack in the desert.
- Sentinel Peak RV Park
- The Vibe: The only RV park in downtown Tucson. It’s “Big-Rig” friendly and puts you within walking or biking distance of the Mercado District and the “A” Mountain (Sentinel Peak) overlook.
Camping & Booking Tools
Camping & Booking ToolsThese are the “workhorses” that likely made your trip logistics possible.
- Thousand Trails Verde Valley
- The Vibe: A massive 300-acre oasis located on the Verde River in Cottonwood (near Sedona). It’s the perfect hub for exploring the former ghost town of Jerome or the red rocks of Sedona.
- Amenities: Known for its pool, pickleball courts, and river access for kayaking
- The Vibe: If you’re a regular, this is the “Costco of camping.” Their Camping Pass allows for stays at over 80+ locations nationwide with no nightly fees once you’re a member
- Arvie
- The Vibe: The ultimate “concierge” for RVers. It’s a multi-platform search engine that lets you book thousands of campgrounds (State, National, and private) in one place.
Cool Feature: Use their Sold-Out-Scan to snag a cancellation at high-demand parks like Catalina when they look full.
Mountain Biking Resources
Mountain Biking ResourcesSince you did “all the cool things,” these links are great for showing your readers where to find the trails you rode.
- Tucson MTB Trail Guide (BikeAZ): A comprehensive breakdown of every major trail system in the area.
- Trailforks – Tucson: The “gold standard” app for checking trail conditions and difficulty levels in real-time.
- Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists: This is a great resource for all things Biking in Tucson. There suggested routes for each area are gold.
About Me/What I Bring.
I didn’t start this life to blog. I’m a retired lawyer and CEO. The result. I take a more analytical, data-driven approach to travel and RV life than most creators in this space.
Instead of focusing on hype or highlight reels, I focus on:
- how things actually work,
- what they really cost,
- what breaks or goes wrong;
- and what I would do differently next time.
Before You Go…
If you found this guide helpful, here are a few ways to keep exploring, plan your next stop, or support the work I’m doing here.
Learn More About Me!
Like everyone else on the Planet – my Journey has been unique. It was never a straight line – and where I ended up is not where I thought I’d be. Learn more about my and how I ended up living Full Time in an RV
Destinations & Itinerary
Check out and follow along on the Journey! This is where I chronicle my Adventures and Future plans. Its also the home of my state-by-state guides and all kinds of other useful information! Check it out!
Support the Journey!
From Subscribing on YouTube and watching videos, to Buying Me a Coffee or using our affiliate links to grab exclusive discounts on Products, this page has ways you can help support the blog and keep the content coming!
RV Life Information Page.
I never thought I’d be full time in a Van/RV traveling this great country. This was supposed to be a 1-2 year thing… Along the way I learned so much And I share that wisdom with you. I made that mistake so you don’t have to!
SPONSORS PRODUCTS USED In Arizona:
Thousand Trails
Thousand Trails is one of the biggest factors in making long-term RV travel financially sustainable for me. Being able to stay for extended periods without paying nightly campground rates dramatically reduces travel costs. If you’re curious how the memberships work or whether it makes sense for your style of travel, you can schedule a call with a membership specialist to learn more. Using my exclusive referral link can often unlock hundreds in Savings from the Thousand Trails Website Price!
Arvie
Arvie is a campground search and booking tool that helps find availability in high-demand parks and automatically monitors cancellations. It takes a lot of the stress out of planning and makes it much easier to get into places that normally book out months in advance. Click here to visit the Arvie Website and start your first sold out Scan!
Good Day Optics!
Good Day Optics makes high-quality riding and outdoor eyewear that I personally use on the trail. They’re comfortable, durable, and designed for active use rather than just casual wear. I love my Good Day Optics – because I can tell they were designed by people who actually do the sport they were designed for! With the best return policy in the biz, you can try them risk free! If you decide to try them, you can use my link to receive 20% off your order.
Passport America.
Passport America offers discounted nightly rates at participating campgrounds and can be a great supplement to other memberships, especially when traveling between longer stays or passing through new areas. It’s one of those tools that doesn’t replace other options — but pairs really well with them. It’s cheap and has some unique and interesting Campgrounds. I’ve used it several times and always been satisfied!