We stayed at Encore Pilot Knob RV Resort in Winterhaven, California. (Campground Reviews listing.)
Across the road from the Center of the World, but kinda in the middle of nowhere. Except lots of freeway and train noise.
This is probably a popular place for snowbirds (people who travel south for the winter) in December and January, but was mostly empty while we were here at the end of October and into the start of November.
Dates:
- Check in: 2024-10-27
- Check out: 2024-11-03
- 7 nights
Weather:
- Mostly sunny
- High temps 72-94°F, lows 49-61°F
- One day of high wind, gusts to 46 MPH
Noise:
- Loud freeway noise
- Train horn noise
- Military helicopters flying over daily
- Negligible neighbor noise
Site:
- #13, back-in, gravel
- Needed to disconnect toad, parked beside coach
- Mostly level site; a little high on passenger side; used hydraulic leveling
- Gravel driveway about 50 feet long by 28 feet wide
- Concrete patio about 20 feet long by 6 feet wide (plus bonus pavers on this site)
- No picnic table (which is fine, we never use it anyway)
- Some trees and shrubs
- Somewhat clean site
- Non-invasive ants
Utilities:
- 50 amp power, conveniently located
- 50 PSI water, a little inconveniently located behind site
- Loose sewer connection, inconveniently located under coach (1.5 10-foot pipes needed)
Internet (in usage priority order):
- T-Mobile: 65-85 Mbps down, 16-60 Mbps up, 30 ms ping
- AT&T: 77 Mbps down, 35 Mbps up, 32-100 ms ping
- Verizon: 4 Mbps down, 1 Mbps up, 38 ms ping
- Starlink: not used
- Campground Wi-Fi: not used
Amenities:
- Garbage dumpsters by entrance
- Pool
Our review on Campground Reviews:
Decent desert destination
If you want to be close to Yuma but with a bit more rustic vibe, this might be someplace you’d enjoy. The noise from I-8 and the freight trains is unavoidable, but for the most part, this was a good place to stop. Our back-in FHU site was spacious and had a nice little patio area with a palo verde tree and bougainvillea shrubbery. It was pretty empty when we were there, as it was a bit early for the snowbirds, and we enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere. We camped at Encore Pilot Knob RV Resort in a Motorhome.
Campground map:
An interactive map:
Our site:
The sewer connection was under our coach (which also limited how far back we could go), and power and water behind the site. Which is fine for us, but might be inconvenient for some:
Extra big paved area and some nice flowering shrubs on this site; it was probably occupied by a long-term resident many years ago:
The entrance, with the I-8 freeway in front:
Pool and clubhouse area:
Other sites, mostly empty:
Military helicopters went over pretty much daily:
Garden area in the center of the campground:
BLM land with boondockers surrounds the campground:
Not a bad campground; we wouldn’t mind staying here again, though probably not for more than a few days; too noisy.