Let’s talk about a different kind of dump station, one that’s not on the typical RVer’s radar but can be an incredibly useful tool in your arsenal, especially if you’re a local or a seasonal visitor to a particular area. I’m talking about using an RV storage facility. Specifically, a place like Ameripark Covered Storage in Waddell, out on the west side of Phoenix. Now, you have to shift your mindset here. This is not a campground. It’s not a travel center. It is, first and foremost, a place where people store their prized RVs and boats long-term. But, because they cater to RV owners, they often have a key amenity we all need: a dump station.
The primary purpose of a place like Ameripark is to provide secure, and often covered, parking for your rig between trips. This is a huge business in a sun-drenched place like Arizona. The convenience here is for the person who is either ending a trip and wants to clean out their tanks before putting the RV away, or for someone who is just starting a new adventure and needs to handle sanitation before they even hit the main road. The location in Waddell is strategic. It’s on the western edge of the Phoenix metro area, which means you have access to all the suburban services you could need, but you’re also pointed toward the open desert and all the amazing boondocking and recreation opportunities that await out west. Using a storage facility for a dump can be a wonderfully low-stress experience. There are no crowds, no lines of impatient travelers behind you, and no campground traffic to navigate. It’s a private, straightforward affair, but it comes with its own set of rules.
This brings me to the most important point about using a place like this: you absolutely, positively must call ahead. You cannot just roll up to the gate and expect to be let in. These are secure, gated facilities, and access is tightly controlled for the safety of the stored vehicles. Your first step should always be a phone call to the office. This is where you need to ask the key questions: Is the dump station available for public use, or is it strictly for tenants? If it’s open to the public, what is the fee? Do I need to make an appointment? What are your office hours? How do I pay? Getting answers to these questions beforehand is non-negotiable. The office hours, in particular, are critical. Ameripark’s are listed as typical weekday business hours, something like 9 to 4. If you show up at 5 PM on a Friday or anytime on a Saturday, you’re almost certainly going to be met with a locked gate and no one to help you.
When you do use a storage facility’s dump station, you need to be completely self-sufficient. Think of it as a bare-bones utility stop. The main amenity is the dump station itself. That’s what you’re there for. Some of the storage spots might offer limited electric hookups, which is a fantastic perk if you’re a tenant and want to keep your batteries on a trickle charge while your rig is parked. But you should not expect any of the other comforts of an RV park. There will be no potable water for rinsing your gear or filling your fresh tank. There will be no restrooms or showers for you to use. There will be no public trash cans for you to offload your garbage. And pets are almost universally not allowed to be out walking around in these types of facilities. You need to arrive with everything you need: your gloves, your sewer hose, your clear elbow, a small container of your own non-potable water for rinsing, and a plan to dispose of your trash elsewhere. It’s a purely transactional experience.
The cost and value proposition here is a little different. The price for using the dump station isn’t usually advertised publicly, which is another reason why that initial phone call is so important. If you’re a tenant already paying for storage, the use of the dump station might be included as a free perk, which is a fantastic value. If they do allow public use, they’ll quote you a fee over the phone. The value isn’t in the amenities, because there are none. The value is in the convenience and the privacy. For someone who stores their rig there, being able to dump on-site saves them an entire extra stop at a busy travel center on their way home. For a local RVer who just needs a quick, quiet place to empty their tanks, it can be a perfect solution, as long as they can operate within the facility’s hours and rules.
So, who is this kind of stop for? Ameripark Covered Storage is not your typical tourist dump station. It’s a strategic option for a specific type of RVer. It’s ideal for the person who already stores their rig there. It can also be a great choice for a local resident or a long-term snowbird who has established a routine and can easily work within the 9-to-4 weekday schedule. If you’re just passing through Phoenix on a tight timeline, this is probably not your best bet. But if you fit the profile, it offers a calm, private, and efficient alternative to the more crowded public options. Just remember the golden rule: call first. Verify everything. And show up prepared and self-contained. It’s an insider’s trick that can make managing your RV life in the Phoenix area just a little bit easier.
17220 W Bethany Home Rd, Waddell, AZ 85355
(623) 777-8853
Cost: Price not available
Category: RV storage facility
No Water
ameriparkcoveredstorage.com/waddell/?utm_campaign=gmb