Saddleback Mountain RV Park

There was no problem finding this campground(CG) as it is right off I-10 adjacent to a Valero gas station. We had paid online, and per the emailed instructions, we went and chose an empty site. After driving through and looking at sites that didn’t have trees that would interfere with our slide-outs, we went into pull-through site 29 with FHUs. As we were only staying overnight, we did not use water and sewer. The CG’s sites are all pull-throughs with FHUs. About 1/4 of the sites are transient workers or full-timers. When we were here towards the end of January, there were plenty of sites to choose from. Our site was plenty long enough for our 40’ 5th wheel and F450. This is a basic CG with no internet, but they have a laundry room on the back of the Saddleback Steakhouse and Bar that has seen better days. There’s also an unmanned office with instructions and a drop box for campers without a reservation. There were plenty of sites that have clear shots to the sky for satellite. We got 3 bars on Verizon. We should have used our sound machine as there’s a lot of road noise from I-10. There’s no formal dog park, but there is plenty of room to walk your dog. Other than the price, one of the reasons we stayed here was the raving reviews by other campers on the Saddleback Steakhouse and Saloon, especially their ribeyes. Boy, were we disappointed. We were expecting a big Texas-style steak. The steak was maybe 1/4 inch thick, and the hand-cut fries were greasy. This may be the only place in the US that still allows smoking inside. They live by their own rules here. On the bright side, this dive-type bar was interesting and somewhat entertaining depending on your views as this establishment is clearly pro-Trump and anti-Biden.

Every picture tells a story, don't it.

We actually stayed here for a week, part of relocating from Texas over to the desert for the winter. 

The Pros:

• Easy in and out.  You can actually just go right to the back of the gas station there and cut left, big entrance area, though going to the right of the Saloon and restaurant does put you going the right way for....

• Large, long spots.  Now, some have a cone in them, I'd guess some problem with one of the three hookups, but I don't know.  Some of them are also overgrown.

• Plenty of room, really.  This isn't a place people stay for long, being next to the highway, I would guess.  So when you're trying to "reserve" a spot on the phone, it'll pretty much be "just come on".

• During our stay we had reliable power and water, no issues.  Decent water pressure as well.  We did hit some freezing overnights so I just filled the tanks and we ran off that until we left.  I didn't actually hook up to the sewer at all.

• The onsite bar and restaurant isn't bad.

The Cons:

• Not really a problem for me, but you ARE next to a truck stop and a highway, but honestly, I didn't hear them really at all during the night unless I was listening for it.

• There was someone with loose dogs.  As a former traveling-with-dog RVer, that annoys me to a VERY great deal.  I don't know your dog, mine always seemed to get attacked.  Keep your dog on a leash, please.

• Again, not a problem for me, but the bar/restaurant is very right wing Republican.    F*** Biden flags, Trump Won, etc.  Just warning you.  The patrons and staff didn't say or do anything untoward, but if this kind of stuff bothers you and you're easily offended, just be aware.

• It took me second time to realize that my chicken fried steak wasn't just awesomely tender, but rather I'm pretty sure it was hamburger.  The batter and gravy was good, really, all the food was good.  (Though we did feel a little ripped off at 5 or 6 small onion rings for $6.99.)   There is a great Mexican restaurant in town (as much as there is any town to Balmorhea), too, be sure to check hours and such.  It's called La Cueva de Oso.

We stayed here two nights while we swam in balmorhea. We pulled in late at night and we just placed $20 in the office , picked a spot and slept. The next day we swam all day and returned to a different spot. Same easy process, leave $20 in the office with your spit number. All spots are open and have full hook ups. Some are overgrown with weeds and the water isn’t accessible so choose wisely. Gravel and level spots, next to a gas station and diner.

This is a no frills campsite, but it met our basic requirements for an overnight stay. We arrived at 8 pm on a Friday and decided to eat at the on-site restaurant/ bar. Despite the rustic outdoor appearance, the food was homemade and quite tasty. I’d have no issue staying here again.

We pre booked our stay (paid on line). Received an email and text on the day we arrived. It’s an open RV park which is nice as we chose our spot. Closest to the mountains (although they are in the distance). Smell of Creosote this morning was amazing. Only here for a night but loved this site. Very basic no pool or hot tub or even a shuffle board court but definitely fit the bill. Restaurant next door circle bar and saloon. Great bar and food is great and reasonable. Highly recommend a stay here if you like basics and friendly people.

Overall good experience. Plenty of vacancy - no reservations needed. $20 cash in an envelope gets you full hookups (50/30 amp - powerpoles in good shape), water (good quality/ pressure), and sewage. No picnic tables or bbq/fire. Nice access to store, gas, ice, and steakhouse/bar (I didn't visit). Nice landscape, but lots of goatheads (thorns) that get in your dog's paws. Quiet nights, despite popular truckstop adjacent.

$20 for FHU. All utilities worked great. Campground has been beautifully landscaped with various cacti. Despite being adjacent to the truck stop and interstate, there was surprisingly little noise. They even taken a large plot of land next to the campground and filled it with various native plants and cacti with a nice walking trail through it (perfect to stretch your legs after a long drive). We definitely would stay here again when passing through.

Great spot for a no frills campground. They have lots of pull thru spots, full hook ups. No amenities, but look it’s only 20 dollars.

Couldn't ask for a better place for $20. They have a fresh water dispensary and a bar nearby.

We stayed one night on a Wednesday, on our way thru Texas. The price was ok, $20 a night with full hookups. The host claimed to not know what was available as far as places to eat at the truck stop next door. There is a restaurant 100 yards away. The food there was not good and the prices were high. Had I known any of this beforehand, I would have pulled behind the truck stop and parked in the lot with all the trucks and saved $20.

Great location for anyone traveling through the area. We were shocked to see permanent sites at such a desolate location. The campground lacks amenities other than hook ups but was exactly what we needed for an overnight stay.

We pulled off I-10 to stay for the night on a cross-country trip. This park is just off the exit and you drive through the gas station entrance to get here, but the park is remarkably quiet and scenic for being in the middle of the desert and right next to the highway. We arrived around 4:30 pm on a Friday and the office wasn't open. They have a dropbox that tells you to find a spot and pay the nightly rate in the dropbox. The restaurant is closed, but if you need anything at the gas station, it is very close. For $20, we have water, sewer, and electricity.  The T-Mobile cell service is amazing, but there aren't over-the-air TV channels. The sites are a little close together, but the first half have pretty desert plants between each site. There are clearly some long-term residents, but we felt safe and welcome and would definitely come back as a stopover.