Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Established in 2001 as one of four new public land areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Sonoran Desert National Monument offers visitors access to nearly 500,000 acres of rugged desert plains covered in cactuses and surrounded by stony mountain ranges. Outdoor enthusiasts come to the Sonoran Desert to enjoy the untouched desert landscape and its native wildlife.
As you plan your trip to the Sonoran Desert to explore the natural wonders and historic and cultural relics protected within, prepare for a trip made better by your decision to rent an RV. In this guide, find everything you need to know about visiting this beautiful stretch of Arizona desert behind the wheel of your rented recreational vehicle.
While the desert is beautiful in the daytime, it comes alive in a whole new way at night. Nocturnal desert creatures come out to hunt and the brilliant night sky creates a backdrop for unforgettable adventures, like a Sonoran Desert Hummer Night Tour and Critter Hunt. Take a four-hour trip inside a rugged Hummer that takes you off the beaten path and deep into the Sonoran Desert. Tours leave from nearby Scottsdale and promise an incredible night under the stars.
Each tour is led by a local expert guide, who will inform you about the desert’s flora and fauna, as well as the rich history of the area reaching back millennia to the Native Americans who once called the Sonoran Desert home. Learn more about these tours and book your ticket online here.
Also departing from Scottsdale, you won’t want to miss a half-day rappelling adventure that puts you right into the action on the Sonoran Desert’s rocky mountain cliffs. Tours leave early in the morning so you can enjoy a calm (and cool!) hike into the wilds of the Sonoran Desert National Monument led by an expert climber and tour guide. Once you reach a scenic peak, you’ll get a crash course in rappelling safety before you strap in to climb backwards down a sheer rock wall overlooking the rugged desert below.
This might sound like an adrenaline junkie’s dream—and it is—but it’s not just for the most extreme of athletes. Children as young as nine years old can enjoy this excursion, which is accessible to anyone who doesn’t suffer from back conditions. If necessary, they’ll even work with you to coordinate transportation to the repelling site, so nothing’s standing in the way of your adventure. Learn more and book online here.
The famous Apache Trail that leads into the Sonoran Desert out of Phoenix takes visitors along exciting sights and attractions, and perhaps the best way to see them all is in a small group or private day tour. You can choose to join up with another family or, for a premium, secure your very own private tour. Either way, you’ll have an entire day of Wild West exploration as you venture first into the Sonoran Desert National Monument, then into the attractions of the Tonto National Forest.
After your desert stop, check out the Goldfield Ghost Town, a perfectly preserved Wild West town that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time over 100 years. Then, take a trip to beautiful Canyon Lake, and round out your tour with a ride upon the Dolly Steamboat on Canyon Lake itself. This steamboat ride has a special focus on nature, giving guests the chance to spot bighorn mountain goats, bald eagles, and other denizens of the Sonoran.
As the sun sets over the Sonoran Desert, there isn’t a better way to cap off a day spent exploring the desert by foot than to hop in the basket of a hot air balloon. Taking off from North Phoenix, a sunset hot air balloon ride gives you a front-row seat to the painted majesty of the desert as the golden light covers the landscape, beautiful colors blaze through the sky, and wildlife like jackrabbits and coyotes begin to roam searching for their next meal.
As with the other tours on this list, each balloon pilot is an experienced tour guide, and will provide ample entertainment and education as you float through the twilight. Tickets aren’t cheap, but these rides are a full evening’s experience, complete with a champagne toast and a full catered meal when you arrive back on land. Get all the details here.
There’s no shortage of tours through the Sonoran Desert area that put you in the passenger’s seat, whether you’re going by hummer or boat or hot air balloon. But if you’re itching to take the wheel yourself, you won’t want to miss your chance to off-road in the Tonto National Forest in your own Jeep. Tours are for four people per vehicle, and you can take turns traversing the streams and rocky landscape dotting the sprawling cactus forest.
Tours are designed for drivers of any experience level. Each tour is led by two spotters who will help to customize your experience to fit your comfortability with off-roading. New to the concept and looking for a light adventure? There are plenty of trails perfect for that. Looking to make this a truly rugged experience you won’t soon forget? That’s on the table, too. Learn more about these excellent off-roading tours and book yours online here.
It’s rare for a Good Sam RV park to earn a perfect 10/10/10 rating, but that’s exactly what Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort continues to do. Guests love this resort for its beautiful golf course and facilities. Since this is a 55+ resort, it’s ideal for retirees exploring the Southwest by RV and always guarantees a quiet stay with friends to meet and plenty to keep you busy outside the National Monument itself.
Another perfect 10/10/10 resort near the Sonoran Desert is Desert Shadows RV Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. Desert Shadows boasts an impressive 638 RV campsites that can fit RVs up to 75 feet, each with full hookup. Enjoy the many on-site amenities and the close location to all the restaurants, shopping, and attractions Phoenix has to offer.
Phoenix Metro RV Park is another great 55+ option located in the heart of bustling Phoenix. This gated community is a long-term destination but also doubles as a great short-term RV park for visitors to the Sonoran Desert National Monument. They’ve got great activities like men’s and women’s luncheons, plus a pool and full hookup sites for RVs of any size.
The Phoenix area is home to many full-service RV resorts worth an entire vacation in their own right, and Sunflower RV Resort in Surprise, Arizona is no exception. Enjoy the resort’s poolside tiki bar; bocce, tennis, and shuffleboard courts; and their spa and wellness center which offers dozens of classes and events to choose from during your stay.
For a fun, all-ages family destination, you can’t beat Royal Palm RV Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. Just a mile off the interstate and located north of Phoenix, it’s a bit further from the other parks on our list from the Sonoran Desert National Monument, but it makes up for that distance with a putting green, excellent community center, and fun atmosphere.
The Sonoran Desert National Monument is a Bureau of Land Management park, which means it’s fairly undeveloped, like most BLM land. That said, it’s located in the greater Phoenix area, so there’s plenty of great dining just a short drive from the park itself.
Phoenix has a vibrant and diverse culinary scene, with restaurants and bars to suit any taste. Of course, if you’re visiting Arizona, you’ll want to experience the southwest and Mexican favorites that locals enjoy. One of the top Mexican restaurants in the area is Barrio Café, which focuses on offering authentic southern Mexican cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Taco Guild is a local favorite for its new twist on classic street tacos.
For a more complete list of all the dining options throughout Phoenix, Arizona, visit the Phoenix tourism website.