@basketball stars: Just a little detour off Needles Highway. Just a little way behind the trees. Performs its function without much fanfare. Since it is only a 5-minute drive, I recommend sleeping here the night before your hike of Black Elk Peak. Outage on Verizon's network.
The ruts become somewhat steep once the entrance road terminates. There are plenty of spots to set up beforehand, but you might be able to drive around them. Only one other camper on the main road, so it's really peaceful. Great day hikes and exploration opportunities abound on this undulating landscape.
Thanks a lot for the helpful information you bring. Hope you will always give everyone as many great posts as possible in the future.
Describing this as a family campground is an exaggeration. The majority of structures in this area are semi-permanent, consisting of campers with non-mobile buildings attached. These constructions are in a state of severe degradation. Several of the residential areas require cleaning.
You must arrive at this campsite before everyone else. The rangers or boards in other areas of the park cannot be relied upon to inform you whether the campsite is filled. We were informed it was full, but we decided to drop by nevertheless.