RV Park Review – Escapees North Ranch, Congress, AZ
A basic, but very peaceful Escapees (SKP) park in a great location to explore Congress/Wickenburg in central-northwest AZ. Open to both SKP and non-SKP members.
Link to park here: Escapees North Ranch, Congress, AZ
Link to map location here: Escapees North Ranch, Congress, AZ
- Site quality = 3/5
Escapees North Ranch is a huge park, most of which is dedicated to established homes & owned lots. Only the front ~1/10 or so of the park (near the entrance) is the “RV Park” area where members or non-members can stop and stay. This section of the park is very basic and consists of two big dirt lots (one on north side of main street and one on south side) with ~111 hookup sites (30amp/water/sewer only) and a smaller dry camping area. Sites are just dirt back-ins (there are a few pull-throughs), arranged side-by-side in three long rows with no separation or privacy. Spacing is decent and sites are all long and flat, plus each site has a picnic table, but otherwise there is nothing to separate one site from the other. Front row sites (#7-36) do have some trees behind them which provide afternoon shade, but middle and back rows are mostly open/bare. When the park is empty there is plenty of space, but when full I could see it feeling a tad cramped.
Note/ Posted signs say NO generators allowed at any time (and I assume this includes the dry camping area) - Facilities = 2.5/5
There are two areas with flush toilets, in the main office/clubhouse and the activity center both of which were nicely clean and spacious. Only one shower facility in main office/clubhouse, but it was closed while I was there so I was unable to see or review it. The ding in the facilities rating reflects this. - Amenities = 4/5
The amenities here are quite nice and available to anyone who comes (owners or RV park visitors). There is a clubhouse by the main entrance with nice laundry room ($1.25 for wash and dry), library (lots of books), games/puzzles and free WiFi (inside the clubhouse only). There is also a large, separate activity center with a 2nd laundry room and a huge indoor space where the park runs various on-going activities such as beading, tai chi and music. There are also plenty of “socials” such as ice cream socials, so lots of opportunity to mingle and meet as well as a pickleball court in the barn. Main “dings” are no pool or exercise room (there are some stationary bikes outside the back of the clubhouse, but they didn’t seem to be in great shape) and no free WiFi outside the clubhouse (there is paid on-site Tengonet but we did not try it). On-site dump station and propane.
Note/ North Ranch is also one of only 3 SKP locations that offers the Smart Weigh program where you can get an accurate, 4-corner weigh of your RV. This is something everyone should get done for their rig once in their RVing lives. It’s not free, but for $45 it’s a great deal. - Location = 5/5
This is a nice location to explore Congress & Wickenberg area, being short drives from both. It’s easy access from the main road and surrounded by many miles of ATV-friendly desert which you can access thro’ a gate in the SE corner of the park (if you like ATV’ing, jeeping or dirt-biking, this is the park for you). Congress has a few small eateries & a cool ghost town area, while Wickenberg has a larger grocery, a museum, interesting street sculptures and even more eateries. Lots of additional towns and sights to visit within a few hours drive. - Pet friendliness = 5/5
This is a great area for doggie. There is a small fenced-in dog run (off-leash) near the entrance and a nice long “dog walk” that goes around the first row of the park (leashed only). For more extensive walking there is access to miles of open desert and “free hiking” on BLM land through a gate in the back SE corner of the park. Lots of bunnies and coyotes around so if you’re off-leash on BLM land, just make sure doggie knows how to stay close.
Overall rating = 3.9
BONUS ALERT: Camp within walking distance of MILES of open BLM land!
Summary: We have friends who own a house at this park so we decided to try it out for a few nights on our trip south. The park is quite large and mostly composed of owned lots & houses. Only the front 1/10 or so area is the “RV park” which basically just consists of two large dirt lots with ~111 hookup sites (plus a few dry camping sites) arranged in three long rows one right next to the other. The sites are flat and long, decently separated but only offer 30amp/water/sewer (no 50amp) and don’t really offer anything in the way of privacy. It’s just a big ‘ol parking area. On the bonus side the park is very welcoming, has a lovely clubhouse with books/puzzles/laundry, lots of social activities (which anyone can attend) and feels very quiet and peaceful. For doggies there is a nice doggie-walk behind the first row of the park, an off-leash dog run in the front and miles (and miles and miles) of fully open BLM walking out the gate in the back SE corner of the park. This same SE corner gate is open to ATV’s (and dirt-bikes, and jeeps), and dirt-roading is a popular pass-time here since all the surrounding BLM land allows it. Town-wise you are less than 5 miles to the cute little town of Congress and only ~12 miles to the larger (very cute) western town of Wickenberg, plus there are lots of other towns to see within a few hours drive of the area. During our stay here the RV parking spots were mostly empty (we had no-one behind us, nor in the 6 sites to left of us) so we had a lovely view of the mountains and found the park very peaceful, but I’d probably find it a tad cramped if all the sites were full. Still, the location is great and the hookup price is right especially for SKP members (you don’t have to be an Escapees member to stay here, but it makes it cheaper). I’d say this park is a good base to explore the area and if we wanted hookups (i.e. we weren’t boondocking), we’d certainly stay here again.
Extra Info: Paid WiFi (Tengonet), but we did not try it. Decent Verizon signal (3 bars of 4G LTE unboosted), but weaker ATT signal (3 bars 3G only, NO 4G). 111 total sites. Dry-camping sites cost $5/night (Escapees members) or $12/night (non-Escapees) with 21-day limit. Hookups sites cost $19/night (Escapees members) or $26.50 (non-Escapees). Deeply discounted weekly and monthly rates available HERE. All rates include access to clubhouse and activities. On-site dump station and propane, but no free WiFi except at the clubhouse.
Extra, Extra Info – BOONDOCKING: There is actually quite a bit of boondocking on BLM land around here, depending on your size and where you want to be. We’ve boondocked near Congress, but there is also land just south of the North Ranch Park and a large boondocking area by Vulture Peak in Wickenberg. All these areas are free and have 14-day camping limits.
corner of the park.
We stayed there for several days site 73. The best thing was the location, loved the area. I did not know about the BLM land around there, thanks for the info. As usual, you’re a great source of information.
Absolutely agree. The location is great. Lots to explore around here.
Nina
Excellent review and so comprehensive on one of my favorite bucket list areas
I love the detail even AT&T vs Verizon since I have both lol, thanks again!
Did you have time to eat at Nichols West?
No, we did not. It was on our list to do when we get there, but we only ended up staying a few days and our time ran away from us. It’s a top-rated restaurant and we really, really must go next time we pass through.
Nina
Amenities: There is also pickleball court in the barn . This is the only pickleball court in the Escapees Rainbow Parks system.
We really like this park. This is a great area for motorcycle riders.
Good to know about the pickleball. I missed that detail. And indeed we did see motorbikes out on that BLM land too. I’ve updated the review to add those two details. Thanks!
Nina
I’ve wondered what the park area was like there as we’re hoping to see the area this winter – so another big thank you for the review 🙂
I agree this Rainbow SKP park is a good stop for the area…and Nichols West is a wonderful restaurant. We stayed there for almost a week during the annual Gold Rush Days in Wickenburg with friends and had a great time. They do take reservations which many of the other SKP parks don’t.
Ah yes, they take reservations. I did omit to mention that.
Nina
Thanks for the info. This is one SKP park we have not been to. Will definitely try it out this winter.
Thanks for the review. We agree that this is a great SW location. It is about a half days drive to most things of interest in the SW. We like it so much we bought a small lot there years ago. BTW, most of Rainbow parks (owned by Escapees) now take reservations.
Had no idea you guys had a lot there. I’ve used your tech info website for years so don’t know why I didn’t make the connection. I’m bummed we missed the chance to meet you! This is indeed a great place to own and I know many people who started off visiting (or lot sitting) in the park and ended up owning ‘coz they loved the location so much.
Nina
Good to see the photos of the basic RV area. It seems like Michael and Janna always stayed on second site that someone owns so Janna never posted photos of the area you were. We are thinking of heading there in early spring. Last visit we stayed at the cattle fairgrounds. The RV park is very nice but it is dry camping only. But for $5 a night, you can’t beat it. But we want to stay a little longer this time. I have several Jeep trips and hikes I want to do.
Well as jeepers I know you’d LOVE this park. You can drive through the park right onto BLM land via the gate in the back SW corner, or (if your jeep is too wide for the gate) you can access that same land just ~1/2 mile south of the park via a larger gate from the main road. Plus Janna and Mike have lots of ATV connections & experience in the area, so I’m sure they’d be happy to introduce you to some outings. They do some MEGA ATV’ing here.
I think you’d enjoy staying here!
Nina
Pam, I think this would be a good option.
Extremely intriguing comment: “We bought a small lot there”—could this be a way to obtain a bona fide permanent address in Arizona for ACA purposes, perhaps???
Yes, I believe it would. Now this particular SKP park is pricey (lot-wise) since it is a deeded lot park with a rather extensive housing development. We looked around a bit when we were there, but the prices were above what we would be open to (at the moment).
For something much less expensive the Saguaro SKP Park (down in Benson, AZ -> which is a co-op, not deeded lots), provides you with a permanent address (for ACA or anything else you’d need) and lot prices starting at a much cheaper rate ~$12K. They have a long waiting list down there (we’ve actually been on the list for over a year) so it’s not a quick fix, but the lots are reasonable.
There’s also the registration & other $$ to consider, of course. AZ is very expensive for RV registration costs. Still, buying a lot at an RV park, or just a bare land lot are both possibilities for getting a permanent address.
Nina
Thanks, I checked NR and was amazed that lots were going for upwards of $60K there—yikes! So maybe I’ll swing by Benson and check out Saguaro this spring. In the mean time, I am going to attempt a trifecta and see if I can successfully acquire an Arizona PMB, DL, and ACA while I am here in Yuma this winter.
As far as AZ veh reg costs go, they are high only for new vehicles. It would actually be cheaper to register my two in AZ than SD, after SD nearly doubled their rates this year.
True. The older and cheaper the vehicle, the less expensive the costs are to register. The biggest $$ in the AZ registration fees are in the vehicle license tax portion which is based off 60% of the original manufacturer’s retail price, reduced 16.25% annually…then you pay a fixed portion on that. For our “beastly” Class A it’s still a lot more expensive than what we pay in SD. But for smaller and older rigs, it can be very reasonable.
Nina
Back in the 90s when I actuallly lived there, the AZ VLT used to be based on when the RV was first registered *in AZ*. So even quite old out-of-state RVs were taxed at the full 60% rate—no 16.25%+ depreciation! They have since gotten rid of that provision.
Wow! Well I wasn’t sure if I read the details right, but I’m glad they got rid of that provision. That would make it rough to move any vehicle there.
Nina
My husband and I are Escapee members and we’ve be hitting the campgrounds this fall. So far our favorite is Jojoba Hills in Aguanga, CA. I highly recommend it. It’s also a co-op and the park membership is high ($30k) but you truly get what you pay for. You can see photos on my blog for Oct. 27 – http://daughertystravels.blogspot.com/
We’ve actually got a few friends who’ve bought lots at Jojoba. Plus the waiting list is not long at all. It looks like a LOVELY park, but we have yet to visit it.
Nina
North Ranch was our winter “home” for about 7 years. I don’t know about now but there were 7 lease lots above the dry camping area. Did you visit Saguaro Park? The park has a wonderful collection of labeled desert plants and is a labor of love from North Ranch volunteers. The park’s center of attraction is “Methuselah,” a saguaro that is circa 1600. (I call it the bird condo). The back gate leading to the BLM land is in the “SE” corner of the Park. North Ranch is one of the few Parks where you own your lot in the permanent section. Nichols West is owned by a couple who had a restaurant in the Hamptons called Nichols East. This is a gem in the middle of nowhere. Enjoy following your travels–more so now that we have settled into a home after 13 years of full-time living,
Yes we did! We walked daily through that cactus garden on our way to the back gate (our site was very close to it). It was gorgeous!! Oh and duh, yeah….SE corner would make much more sense. I’m very directionally challenged so thank goodness I have long-term readers to keep me aligned LOL. I’ll update the blog post to correct it.
Nina
We owned large lot #218 for about 12 years along the back perimeter, but never built on it. It was near that gate at the back, as I recall – a very nice lot. In those 12 years, we visited the park exactly twice, so it made sense to sell it. They built a nice house on it and enjoyed it.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Some of those back-facing lots are lovely, especially those with views of the BLM. I do like the fact that the lots here (and what’s built on them) is so varied and different. It gives the park a very “homey” feel and makes it a pleasant place to walk around. For the folks who make it their winter home I can totally see the attraction in owning a lot, but if you don’t stop here much I can see it doesn’t make sense to keep.
Nina
We stayed there a week this past October and will be going back for a month starting January 25 (made reservations). We have lots of friends in the Phoenix and Wickenburg area and this will be a perfect home base for us. While there in October I did a lot of desert hiking – yes, the gate is in the SE corner. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg is a wonderful museum. The drive from NR to Prescott (by car) on Hwy 89 is a very scenic trip.
BTW – the park does offer the Escapees Smart Weight program.
All excellent tips! I’ll update the blog post with the correction to the gate location and add the Smart Weigh info into the Amenities (I think I’m going to have to bump the rating there…I keep adding stuff on!). Thanks!
Nina
Hi Nina,
You may have noticed a jump in your views…I posted on a RV FB page how much I love your blog and received 40 likes!!! I personally think your blog is the best one out there and anyone who is considering this lifestyle should read! Debbie
Well goodness. Thanks so much {{blush}}
Nina
This is what I posted…hope you don’t mind.
I just want to give a shout out to Nina of “Wheeling It”. Her blog is my all-time favorite! Love her style of writing! It’s not only entertaining but full of information, from solar basics to health insurance. The site is easy to navigate without distracting advertisements & easy on the eyes. Her photos are breathtaking beautiful! She also gives detailed reviews of campgrounds & boondocking spots. I started reading this years posts & now am reading every single one starting in 2010….it’s that good!
Such a lovely comment. Truly, I’m humbled 🙂
Nina
Your review is, as always, stellar and I so appreciate the photographs which give life to your description. The comments and your responses are also just a wealth of information. Top notch as always! Many thanks.
Fantastic review! Do you know if they allow kids in the park? We’re heading out that way soon, but it seems that a lot of parks in the area are adult only parks. Thanks for any help!
Ahhh….very good question Christi. I didn’t see any kids while we were there, and I know many SKP parks have age restrictions, but I admit I didn’t specifically ask. I’d give them a call and ask.
EDIT -> Just saw Travis & Melanie answered the question on Xscapers Facebook page. They ARE kid friendly…yeah!
Nina
Hello again,
I recently joined the Escapees at the $39 per year membership. With that membership, what will I expect to pay for the campgrounds?
And what does the coop refer to, you buy into the park? Is that the only way you can stay at some of them, like Jojoba?
What is the benefit of joining a specific group like the Escapers?
We aren’t FT yet, Judy learning the ropes and started planning our future trips.
Since we live in AZ, we are going to Quartsite in Jan for a Grand Design Rally (that’s the rig we are considering) looking forward to the BIG RV show!!
Lastly, one more question…have you decided on changing your domicle due to health insurance needs?
Thanks Nina for all your help!!
There are several different types of Escapees (SKP) parks out there.
The “Rainbow” parks are owned outright by SKP and anyone can stay there as a guest, but as a SKP member you get a preferential rate, anything from $17-$25/night, with deep discounts for weekly and monthly (around $300/mo). You can see all the rainbow parks and their rates here: https://www.escapees.com/benefits/rv-parking/
The co-ops are set up differently. Escapees helped to start the parks, but they don’t own them and each co-op is run independently and has their own rules. For guests, you typically DO have to be a SKP member to stay. Renting a site at a Co-op costs anywhere from $15-$25/night with deep discounts for weekly and monthly (around $300/mo). Here are the co-op parks list: https://www.escapees.com/support/parking/skp-co-ops
And no, we’re not changing domicile this year. If you missed my post on what we’re doing bad why its here:
https://www.wheelingit.us/2015/11/04/health-insurance-time-less-ppos-harder-choices-for-pre-medicare-fulltimers/
Nina
Dang it!!!! We were your neighbors and didn’t know it until you were gone! Our rig is in the pic of where you say you can ‘see our butt’ in 106. We would have loved to meet you guys!
No way! Sorry we missed each other. We met quite a few folks at North Ranch. It’s a popular little snowbird spot.
Nina