Discover Glamis: Best Camping Locations

Glamis CA located between El centro and Yuma CA is located on Federal land that managed by BLM. Typically with BLM land you can camp in most areas with little restrictions. Yes anywhere, if you can get out there and back, then you can Camp there. There is only a couple small rules with regards to spacing from some of the structures already in place, for instance camping within so many feet off the actual road on Gecko, and from the bathrooms structures on site. But if you want to camp out in the middle of the dunes then Go for it. We will break down all the popular camping destinations Pros and Cons of each. All of Glamis is considered to by Dry Camping or Boondocking, there is no water or electricity available to the public. If you need directions Click Here to our contact page that has a google map.

Glamis Camping main areas

These are the most popular areas that allow over a hundred thousand people to visit on a busy holiday weekend in the Glamis. There are benefits to each camping spots but you need find what is best for your group. You are not limited to these spots but may be the easiest/safest for first time visitors. If it was my first time visiting I would probably have to stay down by the store and in one of the washes.

• The Flats/Vendors/Store
• The Washes- from 3 to 25
• Osbourne lookout
• Cement Flats
• Canal
• Gecko- which makes up the Pads (1-5) Gecko loop, Key hole, Roadrunner
• Anywhere south or highway 78/ along gecko road

The Flats/Vendors/Store– Can be found in the north east section of Glamis this is also where you will find the beach store on HWY 78 where the highway meets the train tracks. There is a small turn off the highway at the start of the area or you can exit at the store and make a turn west to head towards vendors row. Overall it is a nice flat area that has several outhouse type restrooms and it meets up with some small dunes to the west that is the entrance to the bigger dunes. Benefit of being here is that you will be next to all the vendors for all your goodies that range from firewood, food, clothing, and parts for your off road toys. Main benefit is that you have access to resources to just about everything you may need on your trip or that you may have forgotten. There is a lot of open area that allows you to form a camp circle that may include as many vehicles as you need. Many people just circle up make home for the time that they are there. There is a Downside it is also very popular and may become very dusty/loud on a big weekends. Area is mostly firm but will have some soft spots that may require you may need four wheel drive and assistance to get unstuck.

The Washes 3-25– “the washes” as they are referred to allow the same style of as the flats/store camping. To access the Washes you will pass the beach store and then just after make a right to head south down the wash road. The main road is maintained by the BLM and is usually safe to travel in 2 wheel drive vehicles. The washes are numbered after the openings under the train tracks that allows flood water from the east traveling west not wash out the train tracks. Once you find a wash that you can call home you will turn of wash road and head west to find a space that you like. Many of these washes allow you to travel far back in there to kind of get away from other people. Groups that have been coming for years all have there favorite spots to camp. When setting up camp please take note that these are run off for Rain water. Try and set up on ground that may be a foot or two higher than surrounding area to prevent being surprised during a storm to the east and all the runoff. Benefits is that you have a large area to form a camp with your friends. There some bathrooms located throughout which is nice if you are tent camping. You are close to Vendors row and Beach store. Downside is that there are a lot of people on busy weekends which leads to excessive noise and dust from all the traffic. On Busier weekends it can lead to a long time of getting out to the highway as there is really only one way out. Many times I have heard stories of multiple hours wait on a Sunday to get to the highway.

Osbourne Lookout– This is a unique place to camp as it is the highest camping spot in the Dunes. It is located just west of Competition hill and off hwy78 that leads up a small road to small asphalt parking lot. This area allows campers to set up camp and enjoy the views of the dunes. Benefits it is paved with little worry of being stuck. Downside it is a small area and not many campers can utilize this space, big groups may struggle to find room

Cement Flats– After passing over the Canal, traveling from Brawley, is the first place one will see large groups. You will make the turn onto Gecko rd and head south. Just past the small vendor area you will see a sign and will turn right sown the hard gravel road to cement flats. Benefits it is hard packed and will good in a big coach or toy hauler. Easy in and Easy out not very hard to get back on the highway and head home. Close to ranger station and the several vendors located on Gecko. Downside it is a smaller area but still able to accommodate a lot of large groups. can get really tight between trailers/groups on busy weekends. Being located next to the highway you will hear road noise, upside is that other than the other groups around you it can be rather quiet at night on busy weekends

Gecko Rd– Is approximately 6 mi long from the highway to Roadrunner loop at the end of the road. Along the way there are many options to find camp either one of the 3 loops or on the Pads that have been created. Starting at the north end of gecko you will find the Ranger station. AKA Chauilla Ranger station. Then traveling south you start with a pushout on the right across from the trash Dumpster area. South of the dumpsters on the east side is Pad 1. This pad is nice as you across from the Drags that happen every night during busy times. The pad is fairly long with a decent amount of depth allowing to fit large groups. A lot of people like to back in just past pad 1. It is manageable with a slight down slope to put your trailer in the sand and drop the nose to make the trailer level. A lot of people take advantage of 4 wheel drive and drop further down to the flat area to set up camp. Then next is Pad 2 This pad nestles up against a small dune that limits the depth of the pad but it rather long. Next up is Pad 2.5 which is just before the Gecko loop. Again this pad is long and had good depth and many large groups are able to squeeze in and make camp. Next is Gecko Loop this is a paved road with several loops that allow people to camp on the outside(or inside) of the road on fairly firm dirt, there are many options in here to camp. Benefit is that there are bathroom buildings here allowing all to use them. Down side is hard to organize a large group in a circle here. Usually need to back in or line up long way along road. Traveling beyond the loop is on the east is Pad 3 and West Pad 5. Both of these pads are long and with pad 3 being just big enough to back a long rig onto before getting into the soft sand. Pad 5 is deeper and will allow groups line both the inside and outside to get a bigger groups. Pad 5 provides very good sunset views to the west. Beyond these pads you have Pad 4 on the East side prior to Key Hole. Key hole is a small road with a Cul de sac at the end allowing probabaly 8-10 trailers max. At the end of Gecko rd is Roadrunner Loop which allows traffic to loop around and travel back down gecko. The loop forms an area in the middle that allows rigs to camp inside the loop and along the outside of the loop. Inside the loop gives the ability to circle up while the outside usually is parked parallel to the road or backed in.

Canal– This is the area furthest west at Glamis. This is large cement structure that takes water from the Colorado river along Highway 8 then turns north along the west side of the dunes ultimately helping to irrigate the many farm fields. This is an open area and many people choose to camp here which allows you to camp like the Washes. Benefits-Large groups can circle up and make a big camp without infringing on anybody else. It Tends to be quieter at night, less people, and less traffic. If your coming from the west it is first place to camp and typically easy in and out on the more popular weekends. Downside– Can be some soft soil and sand mixed in there, four wheel drive may be necessary. Also tends to have more scorpions in this area. Scorpions are part of the Southwest and typically can be seen at night with a black light (they glow a purpleish white color). Although not Deadly to adults they will leave you with an irritated spot that will create discomfort if stung.

Where is the Best place to camp

• If you have a large group 8-10+ rigs cement flats or the Store/washes
• If you have a large group have a couple retired buddies that can hold down space on a gecko pad
• Smaller groups usually have the option to squeeze into more places
• Need access to food or parts- then Vendors or the store is batter choice

What is the best place for you all depends on your needs as a group. For people coming from San Diego/LA camping in wash 13 may add another 45 minutes to your drive time compared to camping on Gecko Rd. The opposite is true for people coming from Vegas or Phoenix. The washes and store area allow you to circle up a large group, have that true camping experience with all your friends, with a large camp fire in the middle for all your shenanigans. Gecko has benefits due to the road which limits the amount of people that will be around you. But Gecko makes it hard to have a large group, it may be hard to secure enough room for all your rigs. Gecko tends to be not as dusty during busier weekends. The wind typically blows from the west moving dust towards the washes and the store. Parking by the canal or securing a place on cement flats may give you the space needed for a large group and keep you on the west side of the dunes.