Quartzsite, Arizona – Small Town of the Week

Quartzsite is a town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population was 2,413. Interstate 10 runs directly through Quartzsite which is at the intersection of U.S. Route 95 and Arizona State Route 95 with I-10

Quartzsite is a small town which welcomes up to two million visitors each winter, located just 17 miles from the California border at the intersection of I-10 and Hwy. 95. Quartzsite has been a rock hound’s paradise since the 1960’s. Thousands of acres of dispersed BLM camping draws upwards to a million visitors a year. Snowbirds enjoy the warm winters while camping in over 70 RV parks and 11,000 acres of BLM Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA), plus five 14-day free dispersed camping areas.

With over a thousand vendors arriving each winter, Quartzsite is also known for its RV and ATV friendly atmosphere. Off Road Vehicle (OHV) trails lead in all directions from town with beautiful desert scenery along the way.

Mountain Quail Cafe 500 N Moon Mountain Ave, Quartzsite, AZ

Even just passing through there are places to see and good places to eat on your way by. We’re big on stopping at family owned restaurants and the Mountain Quail Cafe is really good, freshly made and generous portions!

The winter season is “go time” in this Arizona-California border town. With winter temperatures hovering in the 70s, people flock to Quartzsite from colder climates to relish in the warm weather and fascinating shopping. Thousands of vendors gather during these months to showcase items ranging from rocks, gems, and minerals, to jewelry, apparel, home decor, and more. Quartzsite’s consummate event is the PowWow Gem and Mineral Show every January. Vendors come from all over the world to display and sell their geologic treasures.

Arizona Peace Trail

The Arizona Peace Trail is a 675 mi off-highway vehicle trail loop system in Mohave, La Paz, and Yuma counties in western Arizona. It is supported by the Arizona Peace Trail Committee, which was formed in 2014, and as of early 2016, fourteen OHV clubs.

Generally considered a moderately challenging route. This trail is great for off-road driving, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while exploring.

As you can see there is more to Quartzsite that a fast food burger and some gas, take a while and explore this charming little town, in the winter.. in the summer it is blazing hot, like really hot from June to September so there’s not a lot going on.