Location / Description
Quartzsite, in western Arizona, just 20 miles east of the Colorado River on I-10, Quartzsite has been a rockhound's paradise since the 1960s. These days, it is also a mecca to well over a million visitors each year, most of whom converge on this small town in a wave of RVs during the months of January and February.
At this time of the year, 2,000 vendors of rocks, gems, minerals, fossils and everything else imaginable create one of the world's largest open air flea markets in Quartzsite. Eight major gem and mineral shows as well as vendors of raw and handcrafted merchandise peddle their wares to snowbirds, collectors and enthusiasts, making Quartzsite the place to be the first two months of each year. See list of Quartzsite's shows under Things To Do.
Population / Elevation
Quartzsite 1,900 people / 876 feet above sea level
Weather / Climate
Quartzsite has a classic low desert climate with extremely low relative humidity and very high summer temperatures. On the average, it receives less than 4 inches of precipitation a year. Stores, shops, restaurants, theaters and homes are air-conditioned year round in Quartzsite.
| Quartzsite, Arizona - Monthly Climate Normals |
| |
Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| High °F |
87.0 |
65.1 |
71.2 |
78.0 |
86.0 |
94.7 |
103.9 |
108.3 |
106.7 |
100.9 |
89.9 |
74.7 |
64.4 |
| Low °F |
58.1 |
37.3 |
42.7 |
48.4 |
54.8 |
64.6 |
73.5 |
81.5 |
80.5 |
71.9 |
59.1 |
45.7 |
37.0 |
 |
| Avg °F |
72.6 |
51.2 |
57.0 |
63.2 |
70.4 |
80.0 |
88.7 |
94.9 |
93.6 |
86.4 |
74.5 |
60.2 |
50.7 |
| Rain " |
4.07 |
0.54 |
0.45 |
0.35 |
0.15 |
0.05 |
0.03 |
0.34 |
0.66 |
0.39 |
0.38 |
0.27 |
0.45 |
History
In 1856, settler Charles Tyson built a fort at the present site of Quartzsite to protect his water supply from attacks by Native Americans. Fort Tyson soon became a stopover on the Ehrenburg-to-Prescott stagecoach route. It had become known as Tyson's Wells by the time the stage stopped running and the town was abandoned.
A small mining boom revitalized the town as Quartzsite in 1897 and it remained thus until 1965, when the Pow Wow Rock, Gem & Mineral Show began the rockhound winter migration to Quartzsite each year. These days, the population can swell to almost a million during January and February as rockhounders, jewelers and vendors, mostly in thousands of RVs, attend the eight major gem and mineral shows.

Things To Do In Quartzsite
2009 - 2010
November 01 2009 - February 28, 2010 Prospectors Panorama
Dec 5, 2009 Chrismas Lights ParadeGardens
January 01 - February 28, 2010 Desert Gardens - Annual Gem & Mineral Show
January 09 - February 24, 2010 Main Event
January 01 - January 10, 2010 Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show
January 15 - January 24, 2010 Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama
January 29 - February 7, 2010 Tyson Wells Arts & Craft Fair
January 16 - January 24, 2010 Sports, Vacation & RV Show
January 27 - January 31. 2010 Hobby Craft & Gem Show
January 20 - January 24, 2010 Annual Pow Wow
January 30 - January 31, 2010 Rock & Roll Car Show
February 13, 2010 Blue Grass Festival at Tyson Wells
February 27, 2010 Chili Cook-Off & State Salsa Championship

| Hotels/Motels
There is one motel in Quartzsite with online reservations - Super 8 Motel - click here. (Rates, availability and reservations online)
There are other hotels and motels in nearby (about 20 miles) Blythe, CA and one in Ehrenberg CA For more information and a complete list, click here. (Rates, availability and reservations online)
Click on the city names for reservations in, Indio CA - Yuma AZ or Lake Havasu. (Rates, availability and reservations online)
|
| Camping & RV Parks
There are camping and a plethora of RV accommodations in and around Quartzsite. For more information, contact:
- Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce
495 Main Event Lane
Quartzsite, Arizona 85346
928-927-5600
- Arizona State Parks 602-542-4174
- Arizona National Forests 800-280-CAMP
|
Resources & Nearby Attractions
Resources
Side Trips
Cities & Towns
Parks & Monuments
Recreation & Wilderness Areas
- Kofa National Wildlife Refuge: 5 miles south.
- Cibola National Wildlife Refuge: 40 miles south.
- Imperial National Wildlife Refuge: 50 miles south.
Historic & Points of Interest

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