If you’re an RV enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of the Quartzsite RV Show. Technically billed as the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show, it’s among the largest and most popular RV-related events in the world. Located in the small desert town of Quartzsite, Arizona, hundreds of thousands of RVers attend the show each year. But what exactly is the Quartzsite RV Show? When is it, what happens there, and why would you want to attend? Can you camp in the area? If so, where?
This post serves as a guide to this popular RV show. We’ll take a look at its history, location, dates, attractions, camping options, and provide tips to help you decide whether it’s an event you think you’d enjoy, as well as how to make the most of your experience if you attend.
- 1) What Is the Quartzsite RV Show?
- 2) A Little History of the Quartzsite RV Show
- 3) Where Is the Quartzsite RV Show Located?
- 4) When Is the Quartzsite RV Show?
- 5) What Kinds of Things Can You Do At the Quartzsite RV Show?
- 6) Can I Camp At the Quartzsite RV Show?
- 7) A Few Insider Tips to Keep In Mind If You Plan to Attend the Quartzsite RV Show
What Is the Quartzsite RV Show?
The Quartzsite RV Show is a massive RV trade show held annually in Quartzsite, Arizona. It features a 70,000 sq. ft. tent with over 300 exhibitors selling a wide range of RV-related products and services. Those include accessories, gadgets, appliances, solar panels, generators, insurance, financing, and more.
Outside the big tent, hundreds of new and used RVs are for sale or on display from various dealers and manufacturers. You can also enjoy food vendors and live entertainment, as well as seminars and workshops on various topics related to RVing, including boondocking, maintenance, safety, travel tips, and more. But the Quartzsite RV Show isn’t just a trade show. It’s also a social event where you can meet and mingle with fellow RVers from all over the country and beyond. And like all gatherings of RVers, it’s fun to connect with like-minded people who share their enthusiasm for RVing.
A Little History of the Quartzsite RV Show
The Quartzsite RV Show started over 40 years ago as a small gathering of rockhounds who went to Quartzsite to buy and sell rocks, gems, and minerals. The event grew over time, and people started bringing their RVs and setting up camp in the surrounding desert.
In 1984, a man named Kenny King, who had previously worked as a rock dealer and promoter of gem and mineral shows, decided to organize a formal RV show in Quartzsite to cater to the growing demand for RV products and services. He rented a small tent and invited some exhibitors to participate in the event. The first show was a success, attracting about 10,000 visitors.
Since then, the Quartzsite RV Show has grown exponentially every year, becoming one of the biggest events in the RV industry. The event currently attracts over 300 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of visitors, and is now billed as “The Largest Gathering Of RVers in the World.”
The Quartzsite RV Show started as a small gathering of rock & mineral collectors and has grown into one of the largest RV shows in the world, attracting around a million people to Quartzsite. (Photo credit: Quartzsite RV Show)
Where Is the Quartzsite RV Show Located?
The Quartzsite RV Show is located in Quartzsite, Arizona, a small town of about 3,000 residents, a couple of hours west of Phoenix. Located approximately 20 miles east of the California border on Interstate 10, Quartzsite is known as the “Rock Capital of the World” due to its abundance of rocks, gems, and minerals, which continue to attract collectors and dealers from around the world.
The address of the RV show itself is 700 S. Central Blvd in Quartzsite, AZ, 85346, covering about 20 acres. This particular show features a large tent area and a vast outdoor display area, set against a backdrop of desert landscapes. There is plenty of parking available for both visitors and exhibitors.
When Is the Quartzsite RV Show?
The Quartzsite RV Show takes place for nine days every year in late January. As we write this post, the next show is scheduled for January 17th – 25th, 2026. Show hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day, with the exception of the final day when the show closes at 3:00 PM.
There are several other events that take place in Quartzsite, including the Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show, flea markets, and swap meets. Additionally, the Xscapers Annual Bash is typically scheduled for the week immediately preceding the Quartzsite show. The Bash’s timing and location (in Lake Havasu City, AZ, about 75 miles north of Quartzsite) make for a perfect pair of RVing weeks. When we attend one, we usually do both.
Travelers are drawn to Quartzsite for various reasons, including the opportunity for some boondocking (dry camping) on BLM land in the area’s mild winter temperatures. Thousands of RVers even spend most or all of the winter RV camping in the BLM’s nearby LTVAs (Long-Term Visitor Areas). It’s no surprise that Quartzsite is known as “RV Country.”
What Kinds of Things Can You Do At the Quartzsite RV Show?
There’s a lot to do at the Quartzsite RV Show, so most people need more than one day to see it all. There are various main attractions daily, including educational seminars presented by businesses in the RV industry and by RV enthusiasts themselves.
There’s so much to see and do at the Quartzsite RV Show that it’s hard to get it all in unless you stay for several days. (Photo credit: Quartzsite RV Show)
Here are some of the things you can do at the show:
- Shop for RV-related products & services, visiting over 300 exhibitors inside and outside the tent
- Take a walk through hundreds of new & used RVs for sale or on display from various dealers & manufacturers
- Attend free seminars and workshops on various topics related to RVing
- Sample food from vendors who offer a variety of cuisines
- Enjoy live entertainment
- Meet and hang with fellow RVers from all over the country and beyond
- Take part in contests and giveaways
Can I Camp At the Quartzsite RV Show?
Yes! A great feature of the Quartzsite RV Show is the fact that you can camp right near the showgrounds. There are options for free camping, low-fee camping, and camping for all budgets all over Quartzsite.
BLM Land
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers free dispersed camping on public land around Quartzsite. You can camp anywhere you want as long as you follow the rules & regulations. There are no hookups or facilities on BLM land, so you must be self-contained and adhere to the “leave no trace” principles.
The short-term BLM areas around Quartzsite, AZ are a great place to stay while attending the show.
If you’re not familiar with boondocking (our personal favorite way to camp) or are a little nervous about trying it, take a look at our post on boondocking for newbies and watch the video below for lots of great tips (part of this video was shot at Split Rail RV Park right in Quartzsite).
You’ll also find our posts The Complete Guide to Class A RV Boondocking and 27 Boondocking Tips to Extend Your Next Trip very helpful.
Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVA)
As mentioned above, the Bureau of Land Management also offers Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVA), where you can camp for up to seven months (or any shorter length of time between September 15th and April 15th) for a fee of $180 or $40 for two weeks. There are a total of four LTVAs near Quartzsite: La Posa, Tyson Wash, Hi Jolly, and Plomosa Road. These areas offer amenities such as dump stations, potable water stations, trash bins, and restrooms. However, there are no hook-ups, which typically means relocating your rig to dump waste holding tanks (or using a blue boy) and refilling the fresh tank (or using a water bladder).
For more information, check out the Bureau of Land Management’s page covering the La Posa Long Term Visitor Area.
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RV Parks
If you prefer the comfort and convenience of an established RV park, you can stay at one of the many commercial parks in Quartzsite. These parks offer full hookups, showers, laundry, WiFi, and other amenities, including activities and events for guests. Keeping in mind that RV parks will definitely be more expensive and crowded than other options (especially during the show) you can find a list of Quartzsite RV parks with reviews and prices from Trip Advisor here.
A Few Insider Tips to Keep In Mind If You Plan to Attend the Quartzsite RV Show
The Quartzsite RV Show welcomes an estimated 750,000 to 1 million visitors. That’s a LOT of people. It can be quite overwhelming, especially if you’re not accustomed to the show and aren’t familiar with what to expect. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the show a little more easily:
Plan in Advance
Do some research beforehand and plan which exhibitors, vendors, seminars, and other attractions you’re interested in visiting. If you’d like to see certain brands of RVs, plan a day to browse them. If you have a list of what you want to do, it’ll help you to make your way through the week without feeling completely overwhelmed.
Bonus Tip: Don’t plan too much on any one day! You can pick up a program for the entire show at the entrance, but we highly recommend visiting the Quartzsite RV Show website before your visit to plan your activities in advance.
To get an idea of the show’s setup, have a look at Kenny King’s brief video compilation of the 2019 show:
Arrive Early In the Day
The Quartzsite RV show can become very crowded during peak hours, especially on weekends. To avoid getting stuck in traffic jams and long lines, it’s best to arrive as early in the morning as possible or later in the afternoon. You’re also likely to find the show less crowded on weekdays than on weekends.
Dress In Layers & Wear Comfortable Shoes
The weather in Quartzsite can be chilly in January for part of the day, but it often warms up considerably later in the afternoon. Dress in layers to stay comfortable in a range of temperatures. Items like a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and plenty of water and snacks in a backpack can be very helpful. Emergency items like Band-Aids, Advil, Tylenol, etc., are always good to have on hand as well.
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Be sure to wear your most comfortable footwear, as you’ll be on your feet for most of the day when you’re away from your RV.
Embrace Plan B
If you’ve never been to the Quartzsite RV show before, you may be somewhat overwhelmed, no matter how much you plan in advance. Remember that rolling with Plan B sometimes yields the best experiences. You could make a plan and then arrive to find that it isn’t working well. The ability to pivot is always helpful.
The Quartzsite RV show is a massive event with numerous opportunities to interact with exhibitors, learn new things, discover new products, and socialize with other RV enthusiasts. See old friends, make new friends, and enjoy the great company surrounding you. Here’s another video from Kenny King, giving you a look inside the Big Tent before the crowd arrives, to give you an idea of the variety of vendors you’ll find:
Final Tip
If you enjoy being social, we suggest participating in group events (such as the Escapees/Xscapers groups or other RV Brand owners’ groups) that hold gatherings in BLM areas during and around the time of the show. See what you can find that you might enjoy, and go out and have some fun! If you’re an introvert, well… ummm… this gathering of a million RVers might not be the right show for you. 😬
We, along with The RVers creator & producer Anthony Nalli, hang on for dear life as Kenny King takes us bombing around the Quartzsite desert at insane speeds in his monster quad. Kenny was a force bigger than life!
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Linda Montgomery
Sunday 22nd of June 2025
Good morning, been many times, but it’s been a few years since we’ve been. Will be staying in Parker for 7 months (right around the corner from Quartzite) starting Oct 2025 thru April 2026, so we will definitely be attending. We need a new awning, so hoping to find one that they can install the same day, and just overall have a good time. Great event to attend if you can.
Linda
TheRVgeeks
Monday 23rd of June 2025
Hi Linda. Not sure who else at Quartzsite might be able to handle your awning, but you may want to consider contacting Tough Top Awnings (https://www.toughtopawnings.com). Some years, they pre-book appointments with people for awning fabric replacements at Quartzsite... and they've also attended the Xscapers Bash in Havasu (the week before the Quartzsite Show), so they may be able to take care of you.
If they're able to do the job, be sure to use the discount code "RVGEEKS" when you order and you'll save 5%!
Eddie
Monday 23rd of June 2025
@Linda Montgomery, Hi! We also need a new Awning. How do you know if this is the place to get one or who offers the hem and how to find the hem?? Thanks!
Jay
Tuesday 23rd of July 2024
Owning, at the time, a Travel Supreme, we were grandfathered into the Entegra owner's association and went to their Quartzsite rally in January 2020. This was very early in the pandemic and no one knew what to expect. We camped out with the group for about a week in one of the BLM LTVA areas. It cost us $40 (cash only), and they give you a sticker to apply to your vehicles. The group posted signs to their location or we would have never found them. We towed our Chevy Bolt EV there and while didn't need to charge it during our stay, had we needed to, that would have been a problem. We drove the car to the RV show. The traffic was very slow and finding parking was difficult. Entry is free. While there, we were introduced to Dragonfly Energy, the sellers of Battleborn batteries and various Victron devices. We bought 2 batteries and their shunt for our coach. We also bought a 7-way plug tester and a leather belt and not much else. They had a display for SeeLevel II tank monitors that we had been told couldn't be installed in the Travel Supreme. Impressed by them, we bought their system and successfully installed at a later time ourselves. They had a large display of various types and manufacturers of RVs, perhaps the largest RV show in the country. In general, were underwhelmed with their quality. Prevost and Foretravel MHs were not represented at the show. We went to an interesting rock show, but we're really not collectors. We ate in a couple of their restaurants which, for a town of only 3,000, were pretty good but obviously crowded. On the last scheduled evening at our rally, we had a cookout. The food for that was purchased from Blythe, CA, about a 1/2 hour drive west on I-10.
For us, Boondocking isn't all that it's cracked up to be, especially if you like to take showers or use your appliances. At the rally, that meant operating our generator for hours each day. I forget their operating hours at the LTVA but there were long lines at the water and dump stations and we would have to get in line very early in the morning in order to access them, which was about for about every 2 days. Our LTVA area was also very dusty. Both the coach and the car were pretty filthy after a week. Many there liked the challenge of seeing how long they could go without needing to go to the water and dump stations. Others with million dollar rigs bragged about how infrequently they needed to stay at real campgrounds when traveling. If you've only recently purchased an RV, I suggest camping with full hookups a few times before trying boondocking.
You may then find something that interests you at the Quartzsite show, but perhaps not. We found it fun, interesting and educational. By being introduced to Victron and Battleborn batteries, it changed our RVing lifesyle. It was a 2, full-day drive for us. As with any RV trip, you will need to decide whether it's worth the cost of fuel and accommodations.
Luc Coulombe
Tuesday 23rd of July 2024
We’ll be there in 2025. Hopefully will get to say hi!
John S.
Monday 31st of July 2023
We've done Quartzite both in group camping and on day trips from Coachella.
First timers should definitely camp. If you are a member of any RV groups then I'd suggest you see if they have any camps or gatherings arranged.
We've had some fantastic group gatherings (and one where it was rain 3, gathering for campfires and meals 0.)
We will be there again in 2024. For a day trip or boondocking will depend on if friends come to visit in January or wait until later.
Eric Wooten
Monday 31st of July 2023
My wife and I are going to make our first trip out in 2024. We haven't bought our RV yet, sounds like a great place to see all options before making a decision. Thanks for great content on this site. R, Eric
TheRVgeeks
Monday 31st of July 2023
True, Eric! Though if Quartzsite isn't close to home... try to get to ANY RV show that comes near. It IS a great way to see all different makes and models, all in one place.