Source
r/GoRVing•
Pool_Guy

What’s with all the 55+ places in AZ?

Hey everyone, my wife and I (early 40s) are on a 3 month road trip of the SouthWest US in our 5th wheel from Canada. We’ve traveled I10W from Florida panhandle and are currently in Tucson, AZ. We have had no issues finding parks to stay in until AZ ... it seems it’s all 55+ around here. We want to spend a few days in the Phoenix area to check it out and then will be carrying on into Nevada and SoCal, likely in the Colorado river area.

Anybody got any referrals to places that are clean, safe and not 55+?. The stresses of searching and getting denied due to age are getting old! Thanks.

Posted Jan 10, 2019, 1:36 AM UTC

2634
goobernads•

The stresses of searching and getting denied due to age are getting old! Thanks.

Nice.

17
Pool_GuyOP•

No pun intended;)

3
LNG•

Try State Parks! We’re young and travel full-time too and have never had to stay at an RV park, or what we like to call, glorified parking lots. On the plus side, state parks are cheaper, more beautiful, and less crowded than private RV parks! Most have hookups too!

15
freakame•

This - State and National Parks in that area of the country are fantastic and affordable. National Parks will be a problem at the moment.. but State Parks should be good to go. Kartchner Caverns State Park is one of my favorites, just outside of Tuscon.

4
learntorvFifth Wheel•

Call them any way. Often times they’ll let a percentage of under-55 people in.

(Contrary to popular belief, they don’t have to. But often are willing.)

11
Pool_GuyOP•

We found that true in Florida and assumed it was universal... not here sadly.

7
xrandx•

Bare in mind these places that will let you in despite their rules do so at their own judgement based on whatever impression they get of you on a phone call. It's possible they are getting a vibe from you that makes them say no.

8
skimmer•

Fire up RV Parky site or app, you can filter to exclude those places.

10
Pool_GuyOP•

My wife usually uses GoodSam as it has been very consistent and reliable. With further research it definitely seems more geared towards the retired crowd. I tried using Allstays but there is no 55+ filter option and just too many parks to manually go through them all ... I’ll look into RV parky. Thanks.

4
throw_karma•

I'm on RV Parky website right now and there's a filter for 55+ campgrounds. I imagine you could run into accuracy issues if it's one of those camps that's only 55+ in the off-season.

1
Freedom_33[1992 Minnie Winnie][24 ft Class C][Semi-FullTime]•

Try calling them, they might let you in, especially if you don't have kids. It is what it is.

Other recommendations: Check the Maricopa County Parks, here is one for example: https://maricopacountyparks.org/usery

You can try the KOA

8
Pool_GuyOP•

Thanks for the advice. Will look into them.

2
Bionicjiveturkey•

We manage a hidden gem in the middle of the desert off of I-10. It's a 55+ park but only to own a spot. We're happy to take in anyone. Message me if you're interested in staying. You won't regret it!

8
Pool_GuyOP•

I’m interested. Tell me more please.

1
GHMariner•

It's Arizona. The west coast's retirement home.

3
Woodscraps•

Snowbirds.

I tend to call them coldcrows though.

3
Pool_GuyOP•

Yeah I get that ... being from Ontario we have spent a couple winters in Florida (East Coasts Retirement Home) and didn’t have any issues with age restrictions ... fully booked and expensive is a whole nother story!

2
decaturbob•

If you don't have kids, just call. The rule is mostly to keep families with young kids out of the parks

2
rose_tyger•

This is exactly what we’ve found. Husband is 47, I’ll be 40 this year, full timers, no kids, one small do. My husband will call ahead first and be honest. He says something along the lines of we are a very quiet couple, prefer to stay in quieter areas because he works at home. He almost makes it seem like we are seeking THEM out. Which. I suppose, is kind of true. We prefer quiet. We are purposely child free, so don’t really even want to be around them at all. Once he mentions all that up front, we’ve never had a problem.

4
brianlpowers•

Seriously... I'm searching for places in Yuma and it seems like nearly all of them are 55+.

2
Pool_GuyOP•

Not sure which direction you are heading but we are currently in a gem of a place in the middle of the desert 60 miles east of Yuma in Dateland. Oasis it's called. Leaving tomorrow for California. Hoping the searching gets easier

1
ki7iib•

I'm in Tucson, but don't really have any advice for you other than try Walmart :)

​

Is this kind of age discrimination illegal?

1
stonedv8•

I've always wondered this myself about age discrimination. Maybe if there was an actual lawsuit brought up it may very well be challenged as age discrimination.

Found this tidbit ", businesses never have the right to refuse or turn away customers because of their race, gender, age, nationality or religion according to the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

To be clear though. I dont care that they do. I feel the RV parks are creating a service for the older crowd. In my 30s now so I cant partake in the benefits but when I am of that age I would be glad for the opportunity.

8
stonedv8•

Upon further investigation I found this article that states RV parks would fall under the Housing Protection act which does NOT include discrimination based on age, only the other attributes such as race, religion, sex and familial status. Therefore it is legal in regards to that law.

Source: https://www.technomadia.com/2016/03/can-you-stay-in-55-rv-parks-if-youre-under-55/

6
Stannic50•

Is this kind of age discrimination illegal?

No. It's generally legal to discriminate against young people. It's not legal to discriminate against old people when hiring.

4
ganymede_mine•

Age isn't a protected class under the Federal Fair Housing Act. Some states have their own laws, but many don't.

3
Elwood8524•

Great boondocking on the west side of Tucson. 20 min from downtown. Don’t stay in a park there.

1
cr0ft•

This isn't the reason I would prefer to build out a high-top extended work van into a decent quality stealthy RV, but if I were in the states it would. You can park a van in some random out of the way point and just sleep there instead of trying to get permission to pay them to take you...

1
imnotplayingwithu•

If you drive south about an hour, you can stay at Patagonia Lake. Full hook ups and dump. A really nice place.

1
tongboyFT - 07 Tiffin Bus•

Phoenix area is easily the worst for under 55, the parks that are there that allow it suck. If you're fine driving in to town that greatly opens up options

1
rovnrev•

As others said, look at State Parks. Catalina and Picacho are probably you best bet near Tucson. Theres snow on Mt Lemmon as well. I would highly recommend skipping the concrete jungle that is Phoenix and look at Red Rock State Park or the plethora of nice areas more north anywhere from Show Low, Payson, Prescott, to Flagstaff. Unfortunately to be here during the shut down since we have some amazing National Parks. The Grand Canyon is amazing in winter.

Theres lots and lots of dispersion camping to, a lot of people just go out to BLM or National Forest land and camp away from developed sites.

1
Tebuu•

Its ALL about the weather.

1
jamesholden•

My SO's family loved quartzsite so much they own a lot there.

Go to lake Havasu the weekend after Valentine's for some crazy fireworks.

1
calvarez•

There are two campgrounds at Lake Pleasant that have no age restrictions. One has lakefront space, the other is farther away. Both have nice facilities, and offer full hookups or dry spaces. They are slightly out of town, but not far. You're 20 minutes from major shopping. And you have the scenery of the lake. If the weather holds, we'll be up there tomorrow night for one night (we live just 30 minutes away).

​

Desert's Edge is very nice, and one of USA Today's "top ten RV parks in the US." It has no age restrictions.

1