Palms Oasis, El Centro Naval Air Facility (NAF), CA

Stay Date:  Feb 2016
Our Rating:  GOOD –8
We were looking for a warm park, and EL Centro NAF filled our needs.  Located about eight miles outside the city of El Centro, the elevation is 87’ below sea level.  This is a small but busy base, where the Blue Angels acrobatic team spends the winter practicing for their summer season.  On arrival, the gate guards opened a side gate for us since the barriers make the normal entry impossible.  We had reservations, and checked in with the campground host to get a space.  There are three sections; a new area (our spot) with landscaping and full-width patios, the larger section, also paved, and the “tarmack”, basically a parking lot with hookups.  Our site was great – an end spot so no neighbor on one side, level, and with convenient hookups.  No obstructions to satellite TV, which is good because there is no cable and while the OTA antenna picked up 27 stations, 23 were from Mexico.  No Wi-Fi, but Verizon cell/data worked well.  There’s a clubhouse, a bit time-worn, and a laundry with $1 machines.  The exchange and commissary are very small and only carry the basics.  The major drawback here is the noise; besides the Blue Angels there is constant jet traffic as the runway is painted and lit to simulate an aircraft carrier.  Flying starts early and can last until 10:00 at night – and it seems like every aircraft flies over the park.  But overall it’s a good place to stay, and is reasonable at $20/day or $350/mo, electric included.  El Centro NAF RV Park

Adobe Village RV Park, Yuma, AZ

Stay Date:  Jan 2016
Our Rating:  GOOD – 8
Yuma is a snowbird heaven, where the population more than doubles in the winter.  To understand how many people from “up north” come here, take a look at Yuma on Google Earth – and try and find a structure that isn’t an RV or mobile home.  RV parks here run the gamut, but most are 300+ site places with countless planned activites.  We were looking for a one-week stay, without the amenities or activities that we wouldn’t use.  Adobe Village was perfect for us; reasonable, convenient to I-8, and a weekly rate that included electric.  Like all Yuma parks, there are few trees, but the lots were very large with a concrete patio and streets are very wide.  Hookups were good, Verizon cell/data were strong, and there were lots of over-the-air TV stations….but most were Mexican.  People were friendly, but get used to sentences ending with “eh?” with all the Canadians.  For the area, a week’s stay was a reasonable $150, electric included.  Adobe Village RV Park

Saguaro Escapees (SKP) Park, Benson, AZ

Stay Date:  Nov-Jan 2015/16
Our Rating:  GOOD –9
Our stay of choice when visiting the area; the park has the friendliest group of people you’ll ever meet.  Members of the SKP RV Club can rent the lots of leaseholders who are abscent, or a separate area with long-term spots.  Since you’re renting from a leaseholder, each lot is different; you may have a concrete pad and patio, or in our case, just a large gravel lot.  The lots are very large, hookups are convenient, and there are few trees to block a satellite.  Cable is included but isn’t very good, and there’s no Wi-Fi except at the clubhouse.  Verizon cell/data is strong, and there are OTS stations available.  The clubhouse has a large gathering room, a pool room with professional-quality tables, a library, craft room, exercise room, meeting rooms, and a nice laundry.  Everything is spotless, inside and out.  There are hiking trails behind the park that lead into the desert, and a few small trails scattered throughout the park.  Convenient to Benson with a number of restaurants and a Wal-Mart and Safeway, and a bit less than 40 miles from Sierra Vista or Tucson.  It’s worth the annual dues to be a member and use this park.  Monthly rates are low at $330 plus Electric.  Saguaro SKP RV Park