LTVA Cost Calculator
Is the Long-Term Visitor Area season permit worth it — or should you stick to the 14-day dispersed camping rotation? Enter your plans to find out.
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LTVA season: September 15 – April 15 (maximum 26 weeks)
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Understanding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) LTVA Permits
BLM Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) are designated camping zones in the Sonoran Desert of California and Arizona. During the winter season (September 15 – April 15), they accommodate tens of thousands of long-term campers — the largest concentration of boondockers in North America.
Key LTVA facts:
- Full season permit: $180 total — stay at any combination of LTVAs for the full season
- Short-term permit: $40 per 14 consecutive days at a single LTVA
- Major LTVA locations: La Posa (Quartzsite, AZ), Imperial Dam (Yuma, AZ), Pilot Knob (Winterhaven, CA), Midland (Blythe, CA)
- Amenities: trash dumpsters, porta-potties at some sites — not hookups
- Outside LTVA season: LTVAs become regular dispersed BLM land with standard 14-day rules
Outside of designated LTVAs, all BLM dispersed camping in the Southwest is free with no permit required — up to 14 days in any one area before moving. See our 14-Day Rule guide for details.