5 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Several RV campgrounds serve the area surrounding Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, offering options from riverside sites to grassy pull-throughs with full hookups. Steamboat Springs KOA features riverside RV sites with electric, water, and sewage hookups, plus propane filling services. Sentinel Mountain RV & Quick Stop in Cowdrey provides grassy, level pull-through sites with full hookups including electric, water and sewer connections. "The sites are grassy and all looked fairly level. Ours was only about a 1/3 of a bubble off side-to-side," notes one camper on The Dyrt. Deer Haven RV Park in Saratoga accommodates big rigs with 50-amp service, offering sites directly on the North Platte River with seasonal operation from May through October.
Road conditions vary significantly when accessing RV campgrounds throughout the region. The approach to Hog Park Campground features "gravel with washboards in the curves" with the "last few miles very rough," according to visitor feedback. Cell service fluctuates considerably across the area—AT&T coverage at Sentinel Mountain RV ranges from 1-2 bars of 4G/LTE on one side of the park to spotty 3G service on the other. Most campgrounds remain open during summer and fall months, though amenities like dump stations occasionally close for maintenance. Many RV parks in the area are pet-friendly and provide trash collection services, but travelers should verify specific amenity availability when making reservations as services can change seasonally.
"We are full-timers in a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and needed a place to dump, do laundry and take on fresh water after a week of boondocking in the mountains outside of Steamboat Springs"
from $45 - $50 / night
"Easy walking distance into town for bars and restaurants. Best to call to reserve, request Riverside if you want to be on the river."
"It's a smaller park which we love, there are quite a few full-time tenants here. It is RIGHT on the north Platte river, so you don't have to go far for fishing or paddle boarding."
from $45 - $65 / night
"Sites are gravel for the RV, very level, and very well maintained. All sites are pull through. Hookups are in very good condition. Each site had a narrow grassy area with trees."
"Quiet, well maintained RV park on private land about 7 miles from downtown Steamboat Springs, relatively modest nightly costs for full hookups and all pull through sites. Dog friendly."
"Right outside of Steamboat Springs is Steamboat KOA. This campground has so many perks. Not only is there a beautiful Mountain View but it also has the Yampa river running through it."
"Women’s restrooms were great and hook ups were awesome."
from $80 / night
"There's a trailhead nearby for Douglas Creek Trail. This is a Wilderness and it is wild. We saw Marmots, Big Horn Sheep, and other wildlife."
"The lake was gorgeous!"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
"All of the sites are very clean with picnic tables and fire pits. They do have pit toilets as well. Cost is $10 per night."
"Great spot super close to the river. Lots of dispersed camping just outside this established campground."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
GuideInexpensive, quiet spot for a quick overnight stop. $15 for non electric “sites” by the lake and $25 for electric sites. Like most WY lakes and waters, signs of toxic HCB blooms; not safe for pets or humans.
GuideSpent 3 nights here with full hookups. Campground is very open, few trees, nice views of mountains all around, good space between sites, with only a handful of campers here. A full campground would probably feel quite different. Each site has a cement pad with picnic table and fire pit. Shower house like new, clean and worked very well. Great location to explore State Forest SP.
TravelerThis is a great Forest Service campground up Buffalo pass, but it’s quite inaccurate for The Dyrt to indicate full hook-ups. Each site has a picnic table, bear proof food container and maybe a fire pit. A couple of vault toilets are also offered in the campground. Good spacing between camp sites and quite quiet as well for us on the Saturday we stayed (despite the campground being nearly full that night.) We were not expecting to have any power or water, as we knew there is barely cell service in the area, but just wanted to be helpful to others that may be taking the information provided at face value.
GuideAlmost nobody here last week they are open
GuideLove coming here to get away. Peaceful and quiet. Campers are generally respectful, friendly and quiet. Love seeing the regrowth of trees.
GuideI had a beautiful site about five miles up CR 103. Lots of hunters when I was there.
TravelerWe stayed here for 4 nights in mid September. Not very busy and plenty of fcfs sites available. Large spacious sites however some have very small parking sites that would be better suited to a van or tent. A few were very long parking spaces. Very clean out toilets but no potable water or dump station.
GuideA great, easy place to pull in to- even in the rain. The only thing I didn’t care for was it is well visited by others - even on a Wednesday in September.
RangerI went up the road maybe .75 miles. I had a very scenic spot. Verizon coverage actually better up the FS road a bit than at the pass.
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland contain over 2 million acres spanning three states. Elevation ranges from 5,500 to 12,940 feet at the summit of Mount Zirkel, creating diverse camping conditions. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing even in summer months, with sudden weather changes common at higher elevations.
Hiking trail access: At North Fork Campground, campers can explore multiple trails directly from their sites. "Creek to dip your feet in and trails to hike on," notes one visitor. The campground sits along the Laramie River, providing water access for anglers.
Paddleboarding on mountain lakes: Pearl Lake State Park offers calm waters perfect for paddleboarding. "It's a quiet lake, surrounded by mountains and forest, perfect for paddle boarders. There is also a nice hike that goes over the dam and then climbs up and away from civilization," according to one review. Non-motorized watercraft restrictions maintain the tranquil setting.
Star viewing: At elevations over 10,000 feet, Sugarloaf Campground provides exceptional stargazing opportunities. "We bundled up and stargazed and felt so lucky to have detoured to this spot," writes one camper. The high elevation means nights remain cold even in summer, with temperatures dropping below 30°F after sunset.
Private riverside sites: At Deer Haven RV Park, campers appreciate the riverside location. "It is RIGHT on the north Platte river, so you don't have to go far for fishing or paddle boarding," notes one reviewer. Another adds: "Request Riverside if you want to be on the river."
Lake views: Visitors to Sunrise Vista Campground value the scenic setting. "Our site was very well maintained and level. Sites are nicely spaced and for such a busy time (week of the 4th) it was amazingly peaceful and quiet," writes one camper. Another mentions: "We visited this site in Hahns Peak for the first time, it is breathtaking with the scenery it offers."
Alpine wildflowers: Sugarloaf Campground offers abundant summer wildflower viewing. "There are so many wildflowers and little cascades that even a short stroll with children is rewarding," notes a camper. The campground's late opening (mid-July) corresponds with peak wildflower season in the alpine zone.
Weather extremes: Higher elevation campgrounds experience significant temperature fluctuations. At Sugarloaf Campground, one camper warns of "constant strong wind" while another notes it "Got below 30 degrees at night so come prepared!"
Limited availability: Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially on weekends. "We arrived on Wednesday morning to find all sites occupied. So we drove around for a little while before heading to Brooklyn Lake," reports one Sugarloaf visitor. Weekday arrivals offer better chances at securing sites.
Road conditions: Access to Buffalo Pass Dispersed requires appropriate vehicles. "Crazy hard to get to in anything less than 4wd," warns one visitor. Another notes: "The road up got rough and really did a number on my top mounted bike racks. I wouldn't take anything more than a teardrop or Airstream Basecamp up."
Budget-friendly options: Sugarloaf Campground offers excellent value. "For $10, can't be beat!" notes one visitor. The campground has 16 sites with water access and clean vault toilets, making it suitable for families seeking basic amenities at reasonable prices.
Bug preparation: Multiple campgrounds report significant insect activity. At Buffalo Pass, one camper warns: "When you see other reviews that say there are lots of bugs… they were not exaggerating, there are massive swarms of mosquitoes everywhere." Bring appropriate repellent, particularly during June and July.
Local ice cream stops: Eagle Soaring RV Park offers easy access to town amenities. Deer Haven visitors recommend: "There is a wonderful ice cream shop downtown that makes their own ice cream it's delightful." These small-town stops provide welcome relief during hot summer days.
Site leveling: When selecting sites at rv campgrounds near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, pay attention to terrain. Eagle Soaring RV Park gets good marks for site preparation: "Sites are gravel for the RV, very level, and very well maintained. All sites are pull through."
RV size limitations: Many campgrounds in the Medicine Bow-Routt area have size restrictions. North Fork Campground accommodates larger rigs, but Buffalo Pass dispersed camping is challenging for anything substantial. One camper noted seeing "one or two RVs up, shocked they made it" at Buffalo Pass.
Cell service variability: Internet connectivity varies significantly across rv campgrounds in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests. At Eagle Soaring RV Park, a reviewer reports: "We had 2 bar LTE with Verizon. Our hotspot was usable and performed very well. The campground wifi was average at best."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland is Sentinel Mountain RV & Quick Stop with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland?
TheDyrt.com has all 116 RV camping locations near Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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