USMC Venture Lodging at Martinez Lake

It is an easy thirty or forty minutes to a gas station so fill up when you see the Circle K and Chevron next to each other if coming from Yuma.  If coming from the north Quartzsite is probably your last chance for gas.  It is in the middle of nothing and nowhere, a little oasis with little to no cellphone signal.  The roads are currently undergoing heavy upgrading so be ready for long travel times and keep an eye out for the wildlife at night.  It was easily over 100F so the water feels nice.  They are currently waiting on their own motorized equipment but until it is ready you can still rent paddle boards and the like to go on the water.

As noted in other reviews the sites are water and electric only with no dumpsite.  The sites are almost on top of one another as well.  We had enough room to use our picnic table between our camper and the slide out of the fifth wheel next to us.  The camper on our other side was in a similar situation.  The sites back right up to the water.  If you are looking to lose yourself for a few days, this is the place.  The store packs the basics to include ice.

Once you leave I-8 it’s about 35-55 minutes back to major services. I hear Fischer’s Landing has a new convenience store. The office has beer, soft drinks and a few choices of hard stuff. The RV pads are cement and level. Our rig is 24 feet and we fit very well on the pad. This is a military only facility so you must be either active duty or retired to utilize. The description says “full hookup” but alas, it is only electric and water. The electric service is only 50 amp (I noted that in a prior review, thank you for the warning). An 50 to 30 adapter is a good thing to have and it worked flawless. The water pressure is very adequate. I would definitely make this a come back to place. The park staff were extremely helpful. When we left, we turn right at the access road to Fischer’s Landing. The dump station is in the screen building with all the golf carts, this is to the left of the store. The screen door is unlocked. You will find the key for the dump station padlock hanging by a 2” piece of pvc pipe. There is a lock box next to it. The cost is $5.00 to dump. It’s on the Pooh honor system, which I found very cool. There is also attached non potable water hose for tank flush out. A bit inconvenient if staying a month but a day or two was no problem.

Quiet, clean, remote little military family camp on Lake Martinez with concrete RV sites and full hook ups, 50 amp electric only, but they have a loaner 30 amp adapter if they can find it. Park models and cabins available for those who do not tent camp or RV. Various types of water craft available for rent and limited docking for your own boat.

Easy to get camp site reservations in Summer. Have not tried here in winter as the place fills up with military retirees/ snow birds.

Staff on the other hand is mentally lost at best. Seems like they don’t really know what’s what most of the time ( refer back to the 50/30 amp adaptor that they usually can’t find as their storage location is on the floor beside the desk). The store is adequately stocked with alcohol, USMC souvenirs, but very lacking the things campers need most often, ie toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap etc. they don’t even sell popcorn, how can one camp without popcorn.

Despite the “lost in space” staff and the “non” mercantile in a remote place, I give this place 4 stars as it is quiet, inexpensive and a great little spot away from the city.