Let me paint you a picture. You’ve been out enjoying the soul-stirring landscapes of Arizona, maybe boondocking for a few days in the Coconino National Forest, with the red rocks of Sedona filling your windows each morning. The generator has been humming, your freshwater is getting low, and more importantly, the black and grey tanks are sending you those tell-tale signals. The magic of being off-grid is starting to wear thin as the practical needs of RV life take over. You start the familiar search, thumbing through apps and making calls, looking for a place to handle the dirty work. That's when a spot like the Speedway in Cottonwood becomes less of a gas station and more of an oasis. Finding a free dump station, especially in a traveler-heavy region like this, feels like striking gold. It’s a simple, unglamorous stop, but it represents freedom—the freedom to reset your rig and get back to the adventure without pulling another twenty-dollar bill out of your wallet.
This isn’t a destination; it's a strategic waypoint, a pit stop that punches well above its weight. Cottonwood itself is perfectly situated. It’s the anchor of the Verde Valley, a place that gives you a breather from the tourist crush of Sedona but keeps you within arm’s reach of its majesty. You’re only a thirty-minute drive from those world-famous crimson cliffs. You could spend the morning hiking Cathedral Rock and be back in Cottonwood for a late lunch, ready to empty your tanks before heading to your next spot. And just five miles up the road is Jerome, that quirky old mining town clinging to the side of a mountain. It’s a fantastic day trip, full of art galleries, ghost stories, and views that stretch for a hundred miles. It’s the kind of place you wander through, imagining the lives of the miners who once walked its crooked streets.
The Verde Valley is a phenomenal area for RVers. The winters are mild, making it a popular snowbird escape, and the access to public lands for boondocking is fantastic. But even when you’re living the free life on BLM land, you eventually need services. That’s the beauty of this Speedway. It’s right there on South Main Street, easy to find and easy to use. You can be exploring the riverfront trails at Dead Horse Ranch State Park one minute and pulling into the gas station the next. Or maybe you’ve just taken a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad out of Clarkdale, a four-hour journey through some of the most stunning scenery in the state. It’s an unforgettable trip, but after sitting for that long, the first thing on your mind is getting your road duties handled.
Now, using a dump station at a gas station is a skill in itself. It’s not like the spacious, leisurely pull-throughs you find at a state park campground. This is a place of business, with cars and trucks zipping in and out. The dump port is usually tucked away to the side, often near the air and water pumps. You have to be mindful of your swing radius, especially if you’re piloting a big rig or towing a long fifth wheel. My advice? Have a spotter. Even if you’ve done it a thousand times, a second set of eyes can save you from a costly crunch. The traffic flow here is predictable. It gets hectic during the morning and evening commutes, as you’d expect. The sweet spot is mid-morning on a weekday. The commuters are gone, the lunch rush hasn’t started, and you’ll likely have the place to yourself.
Preparation is everything at a spot like this. You don’t want to be the person fumbling with their sewer hose while a line of cars builds up behind you. Get everything ready before you even pull up to the port. Have your disposable gloves on, your sewer hose connected to the rig, and your clear elbow attached so you can see what’s happening. Have your tank flush hose ready to go, and maybe even a gallon or two of your own rinse water, just in case the station’s spigot is out of order. At a free station, you might find the cap is locked. Don’t panic. A quick, friendly trip inside to the cashier is usually all it takes. They’ll either buzz it open or hand you a key. I always make it a point to buy some fuel or at least grab a coffee and a snack. It’s just good karma to support the business that’s providing this fantastic free service.
Let’s talk about the amenities, or lack thereof, from a real RVer’s perspective. They have water available, which is great. But let's be clear: this is not for filling your fresh tank. This is non-potable water, meant for a quick rinse of your sewer hose and maybe a brief flush of your black tank. Never, ever cross-contaminate your hoses. Keep a dedicated, clearly marked hose just for these dirty jobs. Of course, there’s gas and diesel on-site, which is the whole point. Combining these two essential tasks—dumping and fueling—is a massive time-saver. You’ll also find a restroom inside, which is always a welcome sight after you’ve handled the black tank. One thing to note is that pets are generally not welcome right at the pumps, so you’ll need to find a patch of grass away from the main forecourt for Fido’s relief break.
A couple of things this Speedway doesn’t have are important to know. There are no public trash cans for you to dump your kitchen garbage. You’ll need to pack that out with you. We keep a small, sealed tub in an outer bay for just this purpose. It contains the smell until we get to a proper dumpster. There’s also no propane, so if you’re low, you’ll have to make another stop. And it goes without saying that this is not a campground. There are no showers, no laundry, and no hookups. It is, as we in the community call it, a "splash-and-dash." It’s designed for you to get in, do your business, and get out in under fifteen minutes.
The value here is undeniable. A price of zero is hard to argue with, especially when other places in Arizona are charging ten or fifteen dollars for the same service. But as with anything free, it’s always wise to call ahead. Things can change. A station might start charging, or the dump could be temporarily closed for maintenance. A quick phone call can save you a lot of frustration. Even if they did start charging a small fee, the convenience of its location in the heart of the Verde Valley, with easy access to fuel and major routes, would still make it a worthwhile stop. It’s a true gem for the budget-conscious RVer, a perfect example of a business understanding and catering to the needs of the traveling community. It’s a stop that keeps you on the road, on your budget, and on your way to the next incredible view.
999 S Main St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
(928) 634-8459
Cost: FREE
Category: Gas station
Has Water
speedway.com/locations/az/cottonwood/999-s-main-st-43025?utm_source=G&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=google-local