Edwards AFB FamCamp

We didn’t stay at Edwards this time due to all the RV spots being taken. However, I feel compelled to write a review anyway. If ever a military famcamp has hit the bottom of the sewer, this one is it. First, there are several long-time “residents” staying there. I counted 11 rigs that appeared to have been there for some time and I spoke to a gentleman who said most of them are DOD contractors who are working on Edwards. I can’t verify that but I can say that there is junk laying all around and under several of those RV’s. Secondly, the circle in the center of the park has weeds grown up to at least two feet high. At one time the area was kept neat and clean but not anymore. When we arrived, I looked on the board where you check in and noticed two sites were not paid for, #10 & #20. Site 10 was being taken so we checked site 20. There was a home-made “occupied” sign in that site. Technically, we could have removed the sign and parked there but we didn’t want to get in a big p&^%%ing contest so we just left. Andy, the camp host is not in the park as he works full-time and is not available to during the times he is needed. I feel that Edwards really needs a “hands on” host who is there during hours that RV’er need assistance. and possibly take care of the park. I plan to write a letter to the Wing Commander about the deplorable conditions at the famcamp.

Agreed with Boomer1, An eyesore that is overpriced, not maintained by the base services, disregard by the command staff "My thoughts was the place was abandoned at first sight. There were very few campers on site. The famcamp needs some attention from the powers in charge. Several of the sites are closed due to inoperable utilities. This famcamp has great potential with the right management and maybe a lower price. The write-up below is accurate."

All but five of the sites are now permanent residence. They keep five open for travelers. It is first come first served. The location is in nowhere. It is a stop over if you need a place to stay. Sites are very tight, and permanent site are basically a mess. A couple of even have washers and dryers on the sites. Toys, bikes, and junk on sites. To be fair, I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be living there with children.

Overpriced

Edwards AFB is a huge base, but the services and facilities are all fairly close and convenient to the famcamp. Check-in is a self-service thing like you find in many national and state parks, with forms and envelopes in a weather-proof box. First pick out a vacant site, then do the paperwork. Put one copy of the completed form, along with check or cash together in an envelope and deposit it into the locked metal post-box adjacent to the campground sign. You take another copy for your receipt, and the white copy goes into the "occupied sites" slots on the back of the c/g welcome sign. There is a camp host, but he is not involved in check-in or site assignment. All the FHU sites are level, paved pull-throughs. The bath house is clean and heated (it's a chilly winter in the high desert). The laundry room is also clean, and has fairly new machines. The commissary, exchange, and shoppette pretty well cover all your travel/camping supply needs. The base gas station also sells propane. Andy, the camp host, is a peach of a gentleman, and was helpful and caring about the campers. One annoying thing about this campground is that the kids from the base schools use it for their shortcut to/from school. In the process, they cut right through the individual campsites, and several of them went into the clubhouse and bath house, and just generally loitered there. A number of them passed through our campsite between our RV and the picnic table, all the while being generally rowdy and loud as groups of school kids tend to be. Andy said he knew this was a problem and, to illustrate the point, another group came rambling through as we were speaking. He said he's working with the schools to find some equitable solution. He also intercepted the kids and explained the rules to them. There's work in progress to cover the barren ground around the bath house and picnic shelter with a thick layer of crushed desert rock. It will be a significant improvement to the appearance of the area and minimize dust on windy days. Andy says other improvements in the works are: WIFI for the whole camp (the contract has been let and he's expecting installation very soon); A new flat panel TV and cable hookup for the club room (there is no TV now except for a small analog set connected ONLY to a DVD player); A new, fenced dog play area; four shuffleboard courts will be added to the existing tennis courts adjacent to the c/g; and an expanded tent camping area. When all these projects are done, it will be worth the $15/night price. So, contrary to the opinion expressed by the May 2009 reviewer, it appears the services squadron folks care a great deal about the success and appearance of this famcamp and that it'll be here for a long time to come. For Sprint broadband air card users, we had good 3G EVDO signal for our internet connection.

Directions from SR58 need updating. Take the Edwards AFB Exit. Use the right hand lane at the gate as originally indicated. From there on, there are signs directing you to FamCamp. The campground is Spartan, but adequate for a couple of days...especially for $17 a night. It definitely could use some sprucing up. After staying at the Davis-Monthan and Nellis FamCamps, this is a letdown, but different commands, different budget priorities. Host was very nice and helpful. I called the day before arrival to check on availability.

We have stayed at Edwards several times and have always enjoyed our visit. This review will provide you with a couple of updates. Verizon Wireless completed the upgrade to 4G LTE service on the base and now our Jetpack MiFI screams. Here in the Famcamp we are getting five bars of solid 4G service. AAFES is building a new gas station directly behind the famcamp and by the looks of the progress, we should see that completed very soon. If you have an Air Force Frequent Camper book, you must go to the Outdoor Recreation Office to get that stamped. On Fitzgerald Ave go past the BX/Commissary complex, turn right at the next street and follow that around until you come to a strip mall on the left. The MWR office is the last office.

You know those campgrounds where dedicated camp hosts keep things squared away and in good working order? This is not one of those. It is sad to see this park fall into disrepair. Over twelve years we have seen it improve, including a new bathhouse and lounge and upgraded electric. This visit, we arrived at 1:30 PM and found one unoccupied space, #6. The electric box was damaged, the water faucet broken and the site covered in dried toilet paper. When I tried to dump, it started backing up. Perhaps that's how the site got flooded with sewage previously? Weeds several feet high separate the sites. The restroom was littered and dirty with unwashed floors, broken shower-heads (both), dirty sinks (one clogged), dirty shower curtains and walls. The rubber mats hadn't been picked up and cleaned for a long time. There is evidence of neglect everywhere. The payment envelopes were wrinkled, stained and reused many, many times. I lacked the strength to open the rusted dumpster door. No one appears to reproach speeding drivers. There are twenty snug Jack-and-Jill sites and five very spacious ones. In the years we have been staying here, we have never seen one of the big sites available. The good side? It was quiet, dark (good star-gazing) and the voltage was good.

The Famcamp has been taken over by full timers the base CO changed to maximum stay from two weeks to 90 days with unlimited renewals and extensions, contractors and homesteaders took over the camp. We have stopped there three times in the last year and have been forced to dry camp each time.

FAMILY HOUSING - NOT A FamCamp! Base Commander has now turned most of the FamCamp to permanent residents, i.e. family housing. Edwards does not offer reservations, and price is $30/nite.. We tried to to get a spot in Oct., Dec., and Jan, but they were packed. Many trailers have outside storage sheds, stacked storage containers, plants, multiple propane tanks, large grills, dog pens, and other add ons. In 2022, the base added 16 full-hookup sites on the outer perimeter of the 36 original sites. We were able to get a site in April. Because most original sites have long term occupants, expect to use the new sites. I went to the Recreation Dept. to pay for site 50. I was told I had to have my RV in the site first. I asked how that would work if you have a Class A,B, or C RV. The policy is that you get in the site, then call and pay. If you drive away to get groceries or other activities, someone else can claim your site, EVEN IF YOU PAID FOR IT. You must force the site host or base security to enforce your site occupancy. The Recreation Department said they are not really set up for anything but trailers. They were willing to find a cone to place at our site if you leave, but that is no guarantee. The new sites are bare rock, which gets all over your shoes. There are no tables at the new sites. Long-term residents are now filling up the new sites. The old sites are narrow and crowded. Until the base moves out the permanent residents, this FamCamp is marginal quality at best. Under base HPCON “B” and higher, retirees and other non-assigned FamCamp users may only enter the base on Wednesday and weekends. For example, if you need to get off base on Monday, you would not get back to your RV until Wednesday. Check the base HPCON first. Overall, Edwards AFB is a prime example of benefits erosion. The drive is about 15 miles from the west base perimeter to the FamCamp, and you are more than 30 miles from facilities in Lancaster and Palmdale. The dry camping overflow area is now RV storage, with most spots filled with trailers.

We stayed here one night enroute from Travis to Nellis. The location is perfect right off Hwy 58. Access onto base was easy, just showed ID's and the airman told us how to find the camp. It is a spartan little camp on a spartan little base, as she said as we left "Just be glad you don't have orders to stay here the next 4 years!" Nice clean shower/restroom facilities, a pleasant little day room set up with small library, TV, comfy chairs and a few books and games. The museum on base is a must-see! Great displays of the heyday of aerospace testing at Edwards. Typical static displays outside, but they have an SR71! Always like seeing that bird. The museum is just south of camp and within walking distance - just look for the buff! We also enjoyed seeing Lake Rosamund where it all happened back in the day. The base has a small but very nice BX complex and a commissary. Bowling alley, golf course and outdoor rec all within easy distance of camp. Propane at the gas station just a block from camp. There is also a very nice rest area a few miles east of the gate and I highly recommend venturing into the small town of Boron where you will find a couple more small museums. One on Air & Space and the other all about the 20 Mule Teams and early days of Boron. They are free, but we left a donation to help them keep it that way. The Borax Mine also has a museum, but we did not make it there this time. Definitely will stay there again, Edwards is a desert gem.

Our first visit here. The campground is old but all utilities worked good and the sites are level. Verizon has a good single. All shopping is in walking distance. The museum was great good history and highly recommended and static displays were presented well. The NASA gift shop is also a great visit. Poor Andy has his hands full with the weeds and is a fine host (To bad they won't let him use round up). He's a wealth of information on the base and surrounding area. This is a great stop over for a few days to rest up and shop.