The campground on a windy day.

Gila Bend FamCamp

Featured
 
3.2 (45)
96493 1 12 2 43

Location

Installation
Gila Bend Air Force Auxilary Field, Luke AFB, Gila Bend, AZ
GPS Coordinates
32.88196, -112.72985
Location Information
Gila Bend, AZ

Directions

Directions
From I-8, take Exit 115 and follow signs to AZ-85 South and Ajo. The base gate is about 2.5 miles South of I-8. After gate check-in, follow signs to Desert Hideaway Inn lodging office (Bldg 4300) for site registration. The office is on the north side of the building at Fourth St and "I" St, about two blocks beyond (east of) the campground. If arriving after hours, Front Gate Security Forces will log your entry onto the base and pass this info to the lodging office; you will be expected to pick up an RV payment envelope in the office entry and submit applicable payment.

Map

Google Map (Click on the map to enlarge)
Map of Gila Bend FamCamp

Contact Information

Phone Number
(623) 856-5211
Mailing Address
Lodging Office, HC01 Box 14, Gila Bend AFAF, AZ 85337-5000

Campground Information

Authorized Users
Active Duty, National Guard, Reservists, Retired Military, 0-100% DAV, Purple Heart Recipients, Former POW, Veteran Caregivers, DoD civilians. Read this article on Authorized Users
Season
Year round.
Reservations
Not accepted.
Internet Access
Wi-Fi signal is available in/around the Lodging lobby.
Mail Forwarding
(Your name), c/o General Delivery, Gila Bend, AZ 85337
Pet Information
Allowed with usual leash and clean-up rules.
Campground Information
30 day stay limit in FHU if full. Maximum famcamp stay is 180 days. May only use dry-camp when FHU sites are full. No restrooms or showers. No base services.
Big Rig Friendly?
Yes
Facilities
Lounge w/TV.
Amenities
  • Dump, Sewer
  • Water
  • Electric
  • Laundry

Site Information

Type of site
Spaces
Hook-ups
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Camper
37
W/15,30,50A/S
$12
N/A
N/A
Dry
Unlimited
None
$5
N/A
N/A

Other Information

Weather Information

A quiet, no frills, remote location in the sunny Arizona desert.

Photos

Site #11
Gila Bend FamCamp
Gila Bend FamCamp
Gila Bend FamCamp
The laundry room.
Typical FHU Site
The laundry room.
The water RO system at our site.
Gila Bend FamCamp
Gila Bend FamCamp

Videos

360 degree Video Tour of Gila Bend AFAF FamCamp, AZ

Attachments

  • File Description
    File Size
    File Type
    Downloads
  • Gila Bend Rules
    1 MB
    458
  • Gila-Bend-FamCamp-Map
    300 KB
    859

Map

Swap Start/End

User reviews

45 reviews
 
4%
 
47%
 
29%
 
11%
 
9%
Overall rating
 
3.2
Location
 
3.1(45)
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
3.2(45)
Amenities/Facilities
 
2.4(45)
Value
 
4.1(45)
Overall Experience
 
3.3(45)
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View all user reviews View most helpful
March 13, 2024
Overall rating
 
3.9
Location
 
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
2.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
We were absolutely thrilled to be able to have a huge full-hookup site in this location for only $12 a night. Where in the world can you get that value? Okay, so there aren't any activities for you to partake in but this place is peaceful and it's a good place to get off the road and relax. That's what it's all about. The sites are huge and easy to get into. We will definitely stop here again in the future. Next time we might be able to take a few day trips from this great location! Kudos to this Famcamp!
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Jan 31 - Feb 3, 2022
Overall rating
 
4.0
Location
 
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
2.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
Very nice campground with HUGE full hookup sites for $12/night!!! Very quiet, with beautiful sunrise and sunset views. Not far from the Organ Pipe National Park which is worth the day trip. The water is not as big of an issue at the sites as people have reported. They have reverse osmosis at each site to fill containers for drinking. Or just fill your containers or tanks before you get there. The town is only 2 miles from the base. Great place for bike riding on base. No traffic to deal with. Pam (lodging reception) is amazing to work with. No TV there, but it was a nice break. Will definitely be returning. If you want great quality time with each other or the family, you get it here.
Report this review Comments (1) | Was this review helpful? 6 0
January 2021
Overall rating
 
4.2
Location
 
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
3.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
Great stopping over location from East/West Interstate 8. All sites are gravel with FHU's, the exception is the water has a low arsenic content and non potable. There is a RO cabinet on each site for filling containers with drinking/cooking water. The sunrise/setting view of the surrounding mountains and desert are beautiful. We will stay here again if in the area.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 8 0
Nov 2020
Overall rating
 
3.2
Location
 
3.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
2.0
Value
 
4.0
Overall Experience
 
3.0
About an hour from any real shopping I.e. Lowe’s, Sams, Wal-Mart, PetsMart, conventional size grocery store, meat markets etc. Famcamp is about 3 miles south of I-8. Water hookup contains low level arsenic to use for showering/washing but each site has a reverse osmosis tank that yields about a gallon of drinking/cooking water. Famcamp is mostly occupied by elders in which some stay long term. Summer months, I’m told are almost intolerable due to the fact that it can reach 120’s Fahrenheit. 120’s pretty much negates proper function of RV ceiling ac units. The scenery is beautiful however that is tempered by long drives to shop so go to a Walmart /Grocery before arriving. There are a couple truck stops, a dollar general and a family dollar in Gila Bend. Though it is open and well spaced, a close watch on kids is a must. I suspect tolerance of kids screaming and interrupting the life of elderly outside of the jets noisy hours would be not met with joy. Washing is limited to two loads per day per camp site. Guards and lodge staff are very courteous. Price is very good considering full hookups. I do see why folks don’t flock here. I would stay again. You are near the border with Mexico and this is a huge wilderness / the wild desert which includes coyotes, rattlesnakes, scorpions etc. keep watch over kids and pets! Keep in mind fighter jets start early so early to bed early to rise is a great.
Gila Bend FamCamp
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 7 1
Feb. 26-28, 2020
Overall rating
 
4.0
Location
 
3.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
3.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
Barren looking, out of the way place. BUT, full hookup for $12 a day and free laundry. Plenty of areas to walk dog. No showers, and only restrooms are in the office building. Nice lounge w tv and wifi, open 24 hours. Little over an hour to drive to Organ Pipe Cactus Natl Monument..well worth the visit.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 11 0
February 12, 2018
Overall rating
 
4.0
Location
 
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
3.0
Value
 
4.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
This was our second visit to Gila Bend, and we'll likely be back again. Our visit was just a stop for the night both times, and we don't anticipate any future visit being more than one or two nights. It not much to write home about in terms of appearance and amenities, but it's a good value and not far out of the way if you're headed through on Interstate 8.
Gila Bend FamCamp
Gila Bend FamCamp
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 4 0
8 January 2019
Overall rating
 
4.0
Location
 
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
3.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
Had read about this place several years and wanted to try it on way to Scottsdale. All info and reviews on this website are accurate. Nothing much in the way of amenities, but an interesting, quiet place. Last hookup spot was taken just before we arrived, so we dry camped. We were told to just find a spot and park, then pay in morning. Well worth the $3. We decided we could dry camp here several days sometime. We just lined up on the end of the hookup sites. Interesting to see the F16s making passes over the runway. Can't see that everywhere! We'd stop here again.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 6 0
5-9 October 2018
Overall rating
 
4.2
Location
 
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
4.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
...nice spot in middle of nowhere. We were looking for a place to sit and relax for a few days. Not much to do here, but you can get a permit to go downrange to sightsee and hike. No TV reception unless you have satellite. No Wi-Fi. Spacious and roomy sites --- pull throughs and back-ins. I would stay here again if in the neighborhood. 
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 6 0
22-24 April 2018
Overall rating
 
3.0
Location
 
2.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
1.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
3.0
Auxiliary base has no amenities, 4 miles from downtown gila bend ( lol). Large sites, couldn’t receive tv reception with antenna, other wise great price at $10 @ night. Pam checked us in at lodging/famcamp office, provided info on rv tire purchase due to blown tire. 
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 6 0
January 2017
Overall rating
 
4.2
Location
 
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
3.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
The major improvement made in Fall was all new asphalt paving of road and parking bibs (see FamCamp Map download). Main sites (1-34) are super roomy; were formerly mobile home sites before conversion to RVs. The entire campground is flat and gravel-covered so all sites are more-or-less pull-thrus. Pleasant office staff there now, who actually check the camp each day. Most evenings a number of campers gather at the far end of the loop for a group campfire - all are welcome. Very quiet base and campground except for the occasional daytime training jets. Comment below about no grocery in Gila Bend is true, but there is a Family Dollar store on the main street with reasonable assortment of food and supplies.
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Jan 1 and Jan 5 2017
Overall rating
 
4.2
Location
 
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
2.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
We stayed one night each on the way to and from San Diego. Three miles south on South Highway 85. Easy to find the FamCamp. The gate guard provides directions to the campground. If you cannot find the office, ask a resident. They will point to it. The nightly rate is $10 for full hookups. Some of the spaces require a tool to turn on the water. Be sure to ask. They have a reverse osmosis system because of the hard water native to the area. Amenities are few because this is a Reserve base. Just the campground basically. We found the folks we dealt with on base to be friendly, helpful, and happy to be there. We spoke to some of the longer term campers and the nearest shopping for food is Buckeye about an hour to the north on I-10. Gila Bend has no grocery store.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 3 0
Nov 16, 2016
Overall rating
 
2.0
Location
 
2.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
2.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
2.0
Value
 
2.0
Overall Experience
 
2.0
As of Nov. 16 it is open again, with some new gravel on the exterior spaces, nothing done to the interior row. It is again occupied by the same sometimes clickish, and sometimes rude walk thru your space, barking dogs, tie up the laundry all day people that are alsways there, We had not stayed there in a few years, so we stayed a few days to see if anything was new, not so much.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 3 3
Oct 2016
Overall rating
 
1.5
Location
 
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
1.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
1.0
Value
 
1.0
Overall Experience
 
1.0
Missed looking at the Sept 2016 review below advising the FamCamp being closed for a couple months. So were bummed when we learned at the front gate that FamCamp was closed. We did take a drive past the campground and they were busy working away at getting sites paved. We like this FamCamp and hope it doesn't change too drastically.
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Sept. 7, 2016
(Updated: September 08, 2016)
Overall rating
 
1.2
Location
 
2.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
1.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
1.0
Value
 
1.0
Overall Experience
 
1.0
This famcamp is closed for 2 months, it might reopen in November. If you're going through Gila Bend, the Holt Shell RV Park in Gila Bend is outstanding and very accommodating all sites are pull through. They charge $19 per night but it is easy in and easy out and they have great WIFI and a restroom which Gila Bend doesn't have. Their lot is so big you can stay outside the park and dry camp, well lighted.
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February 2016
Overall rating
 
4.3
Location
 
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
5.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
We last stayed here 11 years ago.  The famcamp looks much the same as it did then but on closer inspection find newer electrical connections and an issue with the water system (guessing that water issue was here last time but no action taken).  Was warned by a couple fellow campers that the water from the hose bib is not suitable for consumption (okay for showering and washing the dishes) and that the gray metal box next to the hook ups is for drinking water.  You can’t hook up your water line to the drinking water but can fill a bucket or water jug from it.  (We just purchased a couple gallons of bottled water to use for coffee and cooking.)  We did remember to turn off the ice maker and based on comments from others will search for the ice machine.  Wi-Fi in lodging lobby worked fine with the exception that I found some sites blocked.  Was trying to look at some RV parks and they were blocked for some reason.  We like this sort of no frills RV park that has the basics and within reasonable distance of things to do.  We jumped on the bikes this morning and took a cruise around the base; there was very little traffic and we could hog the whole road if we wanted.   Note: Found free ice and laundry.  Nice little laundry room (3 each washer and dryer) with couch and small book exchange.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 5 1
March 6, 2015
Overall rating
 
3.7
Location
 
3.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
3.0
Value
 
4.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
Just stayed one night. Got in after dark. Check-in was nice, found full hookups and had a quite night sleep. Would stay there again, in the winter!
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 5 0
21-24 Feb 2015
Overall rating
 
2.9
Location
 
2.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
3.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
2.0
Value
 
4.0
Overall Experience
 
3.0
Nothing fancy here. That being said, for your $10 a night, you do get good 50 amp electric service, sewer and water from a reverse osmosis system. Also, there's free laundry and all the ice you can use which you get at the lodging office. There are no reservations but we're told to call ahead to check on availability. Tried to call several times inbound but could not get anyone to answer. When we went to pay, in mentioned that to the desk clerk who shrugged her shoulders and turned on the answering machine. Luckily there were two open sites. We had dinner at the Little Italy restaurant in Gila Bend which was good and we noticed the small grocery store is now open. We will go back.
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Dec 14, 2014
Overall rating
 
2.6
Location
 
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
1.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
1.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
2.0
KBUG (Know Before You Go). Homesteaders and Drop & Hops (folks that store RVs in full hookup sites) are in charge. Keys for the water are available at the front desk. Use of water filters is advised. Supplies and Services available in the city of Buckeye. At 10$ a night you get what you pay for. Availability to all comers would be better served if max stay was reduced to 30 days and RVs could not be left unoccupied for more than 48 hours. At minimum all sites with electricity should be repaired to include working water and sewer. Lastly, out of common since open fires should be restricted to barbeque stands and group areas provided. Talking about second hand smoke. HC
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18 November 2014
Overall rating
 
4.3
Location
 
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
3.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
4.0
Value
 
4.0
Overall Experience
 
5.0
This was my second time at Gila Bend. The staff was very friendly. My first visit was in the heat of the summer, only two RV were there. The temp was 117. This visit there were a number of "snowbirds" there. Very friendly group. The camp is a basic very basic, but at 10 bucks a night, it had everything I needed. Free Laundry. The electrical upgrades, completed since my first visit, were very nicely done. There's no WiFi there, The water is non-potable, but they do have a reverse osmosis system at each space for drinking water.
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March 9, 2014
(Updated: March 09, 2014)
Overall rating
 
3.6
Location
 
2.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
 
3.0
Amenities/Facilities
 
3.0
Value
 
5.0
Overall Experience
 
4.0
Wow! This campground has changed for the better since our last visit. The recent electrical upgrades are great. Every site now has good 30 and 50amp electric. Since the water isn't the greatest, each site also has their own Reverse Osmosis system for drinking water. They've placed this system in a nice metal box at each site. Some sites do have the sewer connection in the way of driving into the site - be careful. The campground is mostly dirt and gravel. There's a very nice laundry room (free). The campground was about 50% empty when we arrived. The prices did go up from $7 to $10 a night for FHU. Considering the remote location and lack of other amenities, this is a fair price for the FamCamp. While some people stay here for months over the winter (snowbirds), there is a fair rotation policy. We arrived on a Sunday and easily did the self-pay at lodging. A very nice place to come relax and sit out the winter. There is some sight seeing nearby. Mexico and the town of Casa Grande aren't too far away. If we are looking for an affordable place to stay for awhile, we would consider staying here for a month or so.
Site #11
The water RO system at our site.
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