Matt,

No need to completely write off California. When my daughter lived there a few years ago, we found some very reasonable places to camp with full hookups even. Oak Park in Venture county only cost us $25.00/night (now $31.00). We stayed at River Park in Lompoc, for $20.00/night (now $30.00). Reasonable places can be had. I guess you don't want to do anything illegal, but I don't see how they can enforce their laws on weapons and ammo. Unless you are stopped and searched (unlikely) you can probably sail right through the state with whatever you have stashed in your coach.

No need to go to CA though, the Southwest has a lot to offer. Arizona has elevations ranging from 140' to over 12,000' with desert, and tall pine and fir trees and everything in between. Utah has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world (as does AZ) Nevada and New Mexico also have a lot to offer. If you come to Tucson, you will start out at about 2300' and can drive to the top of Mt Lemmon, at over 9,000', in about an hour and cross through 5 climate zones from lowland desert to alpine forest.