Most people head to sunny Florida or southern California when planning a winter RV trip. While a few prefer the snow-laden hoodoos of Bryce Canyon or the frozen lakes of New York, most of us are chasing 70 degrees. Yuma, Arizona is home to Cactus Gardens RV Resort, and today, we’re sharing more about the pros and cons of this campground. Is it the perfect destination for your travels? Let’s dive in and find out!
If you’re a member of Thousand Trails and have the optional Trails Collection add-on, you might have stayed at Cactus Gardens RV Resort. It’s in sunny Yuma, Arizona. There are over 400 campsites at this year-round RV resort.
It’s easy to get to Cactus Gardens as it sits just north of I-8 in southwestern Arizona. It’s a little more than two and a half hours from Phoenix and less than 20 minutes from the border at Winterhaven, California. You can also get to the Mexican border at San Luis in about 40 minutes.
While Cactus Gardens RV Resort is an Encore park, which is part of the Trails Collection, you don’t have to be a Thousand Trails member to make a reservation here. You can book a retail site and pay the nightly fee. Thousand Trails members get to stay for free for up to two weeks.
You can also book seasonal or annual sites and enjoy Yuma’s 300+ days of sunny weather. However, not every RVer can make a reservation here. Cactus Gardens RV Resort is an age-qualified resort. You must be 55 or older to visit this Encore location.
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Snowbirds flock to Yuma, Arizona every winter. It’s one of the most comfortable areas of the U.S. during the colder months. These travelers enjoy sunny weather almost daily and temperatures ranging from lows in the mid-40s to highs in the mid-70s. Because it’s primarily clear here year-round, RVers can enjoy outdoor recreation daily. What’s not to love about escaping the frigid temperatures of the north and soaking up the sunshine and clear skies of Yuma?
Cactus Gardens RV Resort offers many amenities for guests. This, along with its location and friendly staff, makes it an excellent option for travelers who want to spend the winter in southwestern Arizona.
At Cactus Gardens RV Resort, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep you busy and outside enjoying the sunshine. There’s a shuffleboard court, nature trails, a swimming pool, a hot tub, and water aerobics classes. Check out the library, clubhouse, business center, and game room for inside activities. There are also planned events like potlucks, bingo, church services, jam sessions, and dances.
You can’t beat the location of Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma. Not only is the weather amazing year-round, but you’re near fantastic outdoor recreation and attractions. Several state parks are nearby, as well as markets, gardens, arts centers, and wildlife refuges. Plus, you’re less than 20 minutes from California and 40 minutes from Mexico, with plenty more shopping, dining, and recreation opportunities.
Several reviews mention the friendly staff at Cactus Gardens RV Resort. The staff can make or break your RVing experience. One happy RVer shared, “The assistant manager April is awesome to deal with and has a very pleasant personality. That made our stay very enjoyable!” If you have a problem or need anything, the staff at Cactus Gardens is ready and willing to serve you.
However, just like any campground, Cactus Gardens isn’t perfect. Several negatives to the resort were mentioned multiple times in reviews and could make for an uncomfortable and unenjoyable stay.
Because Cactus Gardens RV Resort is an Encore property, the campsites are tight. You don’t have much space to spread out. If you have a larger rig, this can be problematic. This is typical for many Thousand Trails properties. So, if you enjoy having a large site to host family or friends, this may not be the ideal campground for you.
Several Google reviews mention this park is outdated and in need of repairs. While the campground isn’t in shambles, it could use some upgrades. One repeat visitor wrote, “Over the years, this park has gone from being an excellent park to visit to the point where it has, in my opinion, to be considered a very low-grade park with very little maintenance. They have a pool that is closed for repairs more often than it is open and other areas that are in dire need of upkeeping.”
Depending on where you land a campsite, you may be near the train tracks that are within a half-mile of the RV resort. Trains regularly travel through this area. You’ll want to avoid the M-section along the north side of the park if train noise will bother you.
Finally, the age qualification is the biggest con against Cactus Gardens RV Resort. You must be 55 or older to check-in. While this is excellent for retired snowbirds, it eliminates the campground as an option for full-time families or younger couples wanting to vacation in Yuma.
Yuma, Arizona is one of the hottest snowbird destinations in the U.S. The 300+ days of sunshine and proximity to California and Mexico make it an ideal winter home for many retirees. Even with the smaller sites and outdated facilities, we think it’s worth considering because of the excellent activities and amenities within the RV resort and the surrounding areas.
Will Cactus Gardens RV Resort be your next winter destination?
