BLM Long-Term Visitor Areas: Winter Van Camping Near Quartzsite and Yuma
LTVA permits cost $180 for the September 15 to April 15 season or $40 for 14 days. Here is what each area offers, the self-containment rules, and how to buy a permit.
For the 2026-27 winter season, a Bureau of Land Management Long-Term Visitor Area (LTVA) permit still costs $180 for the whole season (September 15 to April 15) or $40 for any 14 consecutive days, according to BLM's own LTVA pages. That buys you a spot in some of the cheapest legal winter camping in the US, across seven desert areas near Quartzsite and Yuma, Arizona, and in southeastern California. There are no hookups, but some LTVAs have water, trash service and dump stations, which is exactly what a self-contained van needs to stay put for weeks.
What an LTVA is
LTVAs are designated BLM areas where you can camp for months during the winter season instead of moving every 14 days, as you would on most other public land. One permit covers all of them, so you can spend a few weeks at La Posa near Quartzsite and then move to Imperial Dam outside Yuma without paying again.
The areas covered by the permit are:
- La Posa (North, South, West and Tyson Wash), just south of Quartzsite, Arizona, about 11,400 acres
- Imperial Dam, north of Yuma on the California side of the Colorado River, about 3,500 acres
- Hot Springs and Tamarisk, in the Imperial Valley area of California
- Midland and Mule Mountain, near Blythe, California
- Pilot Knob, west of Yuma near the Mexican border
Permit options and costs
| Permit | Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term | $180 | Unlimited stay at any LTVA from September 15 to April 15 |
| Short-visit | $40 | Any 14 consecutive days within the season; renewable |
| Off-season day use | $10 per vehicle | April 16 to September 14 |
| Off-season overnight | $15 per vehicle | April 16 to September 14, max 14 days in 28 |
| Off-season annual | $75 per vehicle | Up to five people per vehicle |
A few details matter for budgeting. The short-visit permit starts the day you exchange your receipt for the official permit and decal, not the day you buy it. Interagency passes such as America the Beautiful do not discount LTVA fees. Permits can't be transferred, and BLM does not refund them.
If you plan to stay more than about two months, the long-term permit is cheaper than stacking short-visit permits.
About the proposed fee increase
In 2024 the BLM's Yuma Field Office published a draft business plan proposing to raise the long-term permit to $600 and the short-term permit to $200. That proposal has not taken effect: BLM's LTVA pages still list $180 and $40, and reports from the start of the 2026-27 season show the same figures. Fee changes like this need further review before they can apply, so check BLM's site before each season rather than assuming prices will stay the same.
Amenities by area
LTVAs are dry camping. You should arrive with full fresh water, empty tanks and a plan for power. What's available varies:
- La Posa: vault toilets, water faucets, a dry dump station, a dump station with water, and trash service.
- Imperial Dam: two restroom buildings with outdoor showers, trash service, grey water dump sites, and a black water dump with water.
- Smaller LTVAs have fewer or no facilities; you'll need to haul trash and waste to the nearest disposal site.
Self-containment rules for vans
This is the part van owners need to check. BLM's LTVA brochure defines a self-contained unit as one with a permanently affixed wastewater holding tank of at least 10 gallons. Units that are not self-contained are allowed only at Mule Mountain, Imperial Dam and La Posa, where restroom facilities exist.
If your build relies on a portable cassette toilet and no fixed grey tank, plan to stay at one of those three areas, or add a permanently mounted grey water tank before you go.
Rules to know
- Display the decal on the bottom right of your windshield and somewhere visible on your camping unit. Up to two secondary vehicles can be covered.
- Don't leave your site or rig unoccupied for more than five days without BLM approval.
- Keep at least 15 feet between camping units.
- Your rig must stay mobile: wheels on, no permanent structures.
- Quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and generators must not create unreasonable noise.
- If a permit is revoked, you have 12 hours to leave all LTVAs.
How to get a permit
- Buy online through the Yuma Field Office pass on Recreation.gov, or pay at an LTVA host entrance station when you arrive.
- Exchange your receipt for the official permit and decal at the host station.
- For questions, contact the BLM Yuma Field Office, 7341 E. 30th St., Suite A, Yuma, AZ 85365, phone 928-317-3200. California areas are also handled by the El Centro and Palm Springs-South Coast field offices.
Payment must be in US funds, and permits are not sent by mail.
What to watch out for
- Quartzsite crowds: La Posa fills with RVs in January and February, around the town's big shows. Arrive earlier in the season for more space.
- Cold nights: Desert winter days are mild, but nights can drop near freezing. Insulate water lines and have a safe heat source.
- Solar and dust: Short winter days and dust on panels reduce output, so budget power accordingly.
- Distance to supplies: Some areas are a long drive from water fill-ups and groceries. Check before you set up for weeks.
Bottom line
At $180 for seven months, an LTVA permit is one of the best-value ways to winter in a van in the US, as long as your build is self-contained or you stay at La Posa, Imperial Dam or Mule Mountain. Confirm current fees and conditions on the BLM's La Posa and Imperial Dam pages before you go.