Lee D.

The Dyrt Pro

West Des Moines, IA

Joined September 2018

“Wander often, wonder always”

Oceanfront camping!

General: A mix of RV and tent sites, and tiny houses. 

Site Quality: We had called ahead of time to determine the best site to reserve. We travel in a camper van and generally do not like RV park layouts so inquired about the tent sites. We were told the only tent site that could accommodate our van was T9 and we were happy with it (although we could easily have fit in Site T10). However, the sand was very deep, and we tried several times to back in without success. We were able to park parallel on a mix of grass/sand as the site is very generous in size. All RV sites have gravel drives and are close together with no privacy as is typical of RV parks.

Bath/Shower house: Restrooms have two stalls and two sinks and were clean. Since most of the campers were in RVs, I rarely saw anyone in the bathroom. The showers are roomy and have nice hot water. 

Activities/Amenities: The best thing about this campground’s location is the mile-long wide and flat beach! There is a small fitness center, but I prefer nature’s playground. Small store and laundry room ($2 for wash/$2 to dry). Amenities include: a crab cooking station, a small fitness room, a meeting yurt with a kitchen, and a large selection of games. It is available to reserve for group functions and open to all campers if not reserved. Both the fitness center and yurt are only open during business/office hours (usually around 8-5). There is a $10/day “resort” charge, the first time I have encountered this at a campground. 

For us, it was a five-star stay, mainly because of the site we were in; what we sacrificed in privacy (many people walking by, right across from beach access), was made up by both the view and the easy access to the beach. The sunsets were fantastic! It was a bit of a splurge (nearly $200 for three nights in a non-hookup site) so we would likely only stay here again if we could get the same site or Site T10.

Efficiently designed NPS campground

General: 208-site campground. No hookups but sections are separated into tent-only, generators allowed, and non-generator sites (which we were very happy to see!). Only four sites can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet; otherwise, there is a 40-foot limit. 

Site Quality: All are level and have generous-sized concrete/macadam pads (except for the tent sites which are all gravel). Although the sites are close together, there is ample foliage separating them. 

Bath/shower house: I never expect showers in National Park Service campgrounds so was pleasantly surprised to find showers here (in three of the restrooms). Otherwise, the restrooms were basic but clean. 

Activities: There is a.9-mile perimeter trail that allows leashed pets and the 1.3-mile Palo Verde Trail that leads to the Visitor Center from the campground. The 21-mile one-way dirt Ajo Mountain Drive is considered the most scenic area of the park but trailers, buses, and RVs over 25 feet are not permitted on this road. There are a few short hikes off of this road. You can also drive a loop around the area, but four-wheel drive is recommended. The night sky is stunning here and there is a telescope pad. The hour-long evening ranger talk was both interesting and well-attended. The Visitor Center was also a wealth of information.

Note: As others have mentioned, when we arrived, we were instructed to leave our hoods up to discourage the pack rats. Not a problem and we didn't see any,

Decent RV Park

We arrived on a Friday in late April around 5 pm without reservations hoping we could secure a site. The office closed at 3 pm but there were instructions on how to register after hours. We chose Site 19 (water and electric) but unfortunately, we could not take advantage of the electricity as our cord would not reach (had we not been instructed to drive in/back out, it might have worked). Had we known we could not access the electric, we would have selected the less expensive dry site. The roads in the RV park are gravel and some driveways are gravel while some have concrete pads. Our 18-foot campervan fit in Site 19 but there was not a lot of room left over. There was a picnic table and BBQ grill on a concrete pad to complete the site. There is some foliage to separate the sites but as would be expected in an RV park, the sites are close together. 

The restrooms/showers were clean, and the shower was nice and hot with a good spray. There is a separate code for the men’s and women’s restrooms, however, since we registered after hours, we had to search through all the materials to find the code. 

There is a somewhat dated playground and a dump station. This RV Park is located near the main highway but not directly on it; there was some road noise but not too much. We were within walking distance to Guadalajara Grill which had been recommended to us and we were not disappointed. It was a very quiet stay for us even as the park was about ¾ full.

Available off-season camping near Lake Tahoe

After October 2, it is first come, first available and only sites 26-72 were open so my review is limited to a small portion of the campground. When I researched ahead of time, it was the ONLY open campground I could find in the Lake Tahoe area. At least the per night rate was decreased to $25 ($23 for seniors). I don’t know about the rest of the loops but most of the sites in the open loop appeared to be “doubles” or even “triples”; the camper pads were paved but appeared to be side-by-side parking spaces. Fortunately, there were not many campers so this was not a problem, however, if the park were more crowded, this layout would only make sense if the camper pads were used to park vehicles and people tent camped. All sites appeared to be level. No hookups. Each site had a large picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. 

We had been warned multiple times that we were camping in an active bear area and although we did not encounter any, one of the other campers told us they had seen a mama and bear cub, along with a coyote. 

The showers and dump station were closed for the season. There was no host on-site. The restrooms were very basic: toilet and sink but no soap, paper towels, or air dryers. 

My rating might have been higher if we could have seen other parts of the campground, but our experience was limited to one night and we did not visit the day-use area.

Wonky layout

General: Small state park campground with 29 sites and two group areas. There are a variety of sites in both size and quality. Most are paved but a few are gravel. 

Site Quality: Sites 1-14 have water and electric hookups but are obscenely close together (I’m quite certain if a person in the adjacent site sneezed, you would hear it)! The one redeeming quality to these sites are covered pavilions with lights. Most of the other sites do not have w/e but four others did (15A, 15B, 17, & 18). Some of the driveways are very long while others are very short. There are two “shared” or “twin” sites that would best be suited for people traveling together (although they are not as close together as Sites 1-14)! 

Bath/Shower house: There are two restrooms in the campground. The bathrooms are very clean, as were the showers (there is a code to get into the showers). 

Activities: Hiking and biking. There are several trails accessible from the campground. Highly recommend hiking the Petrified Dunes trail! The short trail to Jenny Cave was also nice.

The campground was full on a Tuesday in April; I recall that when we made reservations a few months in advance we snagged the only site available. However, if I had known the layout, I’m not sure we would have stayed. The only saving grace is that Site 1 is at the end of the row so aside from the road, we had privacy on one side. If you are lucky enough to snag Sites 19-22 (especially 22), they are the most private sites in the park and 22 has the longest driveway (could easily have fit four of our vans with room leftover). The trails were beautiful but the campground could definitely  have a better layout. If we had one of these four sites, my rating definitely would have been higher.

Still a favorite!

General: Two loops with a mix of electric and non-electric sites plus cabins. 

Site Quality: All sites have paved, level camper pads, a picnic table, and a fire ring. Reasonable separation/privacy between sites, although you will see and hear your neighbors. 

Bath/Shower House: Bathrooms have been updated since our last visit six years ago. Automatic flush toilets and sinks. Soap dispensers and air dryers. They were clean. Showers are individual stalls with a bench and hooks for toiletries. The only thing missing was a garbage receptacle and there were signs indicating you needed to take your garbage out. I can only guess that previous campers abused the bathroom garbage, thus taking away the convenience for everyone else! 

Activities: Highlight for us is the Trail of Ten Falls which, as the name suggests, takes you past ten waterfalls. The entire trail is just over seven miles but there are shorter loop options. The best access is from the day-use area but you can get there from the campground to add mileage. Pets are not allowed on this trail. There are paved bike trails and other backcountry trails that allow dogs and horses. 

Our first visit to this state park was in 1990, and we returned in 1997 and 2017. We have loved it every time, even when it rains, as it does almost every time we visit!

Small campground, very popular day-use park

General: Very small (7-site) campground. One site is ADA-accessible and paved (the rest are gravel) but there are no hookups at any site. 

Site Quality: Generous-sized gravel driveways; Site D sloped uphill slightly. A concrete picnic table, BBQ grill, and fire pit complete the site. I was a little surprised that the picnic tables did not have shelters as it gets quite hot in Arizona (the day-use pavilions were covered). 

Restroom: Two-stall, one-sink restroom. No showers. This restroom is also used by the day-use area so by the end of the day, it looks like it has been well-used. It was cleaned at night. It looked like the sink was clogged, but it was just slow draining. 

Activities: Hiking! There are several hiking trails directly accessible from the campground and all the trails are well-marked. There is a short (.6 mile) ADA-accessible trail. Horseback riding and mountain biking are also activities although we saw neither in our two days at this park. There was also a wildly popular star-gazing event while we were there. 

Final thoughts: IMO, the best sites are B, C, and D. Site D especially has no visible neighbors on either side. Kudos to the city of Buckeye – they could have easily crammed a half-dozen more campsites in this area, but I am glad they did not! As I mentioned, this is a popular day-use area and by 7 am on a weekend in early April, the day-use parking lot was completely full. Despite this, we did not see too many people on the trails.

Perfect if you score an oceanfront site but $$$!

General: 223 sites; most have no hookups but there are a handful of sites that are FHU. Prices range from $50 for a no-hookup site that backs up to the road to $140 for a double hook-up oceanfront site. 

Site Quality: All sites are gravel (except the ADA-accessible ones) and generous in size so that you can park your rig in different configurations. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Some have better privacy separation with foliage, but some don’t. You will hear some road noise if your site is backed up to the highway.

Bath/shower house: Nine bathhouses are sprinkled throughout the campground; each has a mixture of toilets and showers. Showers require tokens (four minutes per $ 1) Some have toilets/sinks while others just have a toilet (there is a sink outside of the bathhouse). The only thing that confused me was that the ones with sinks did not have soap dispensers. 

Activities/Amenities: There is a small camp store/restaurant on-site. Although we did not eat there, we saw many people bringing pizzas back to their sites. The store also rents items such as surfboards and bodyboards. Live entertainment from 5-7 pm most nights. The campground stretches about a mile and a half along Highway 101 and is fairly level so many people (including us) were able to get in a decent run. There are several entry points to the beach via stairs. 

We were pleasantly surprised to snag a reservation for an oceanfront site which made our stay very pleasant.

Beautiful CoE campground with many activity options

General: 67-site US Army Corps of Engineers campground in two loops along the Pend Oreille River. All sites are water and electric and have gravel driveways. 

Site Quality: All sites were nicely wooded, level and spacious. The roads are paved but the sites themselves are gravel. A BBQ grill/fire pit and large picnic table complete each site. 

Bath/shower house: There is one ADA-accessible all-in-one bath/shower plus regular restrooms. Clean if a little dated. I don’t take long showers but in the middle of mine, the water turned ice cold for the remainder of my shower, however, hubby did not have the same experience! 

Activities/Amenities: Water activities including boating, fishing, and swimming. Non-water activities include paths, including one around the campground that is approximately 1.4 miles, nice for walking, running, or biking. Partially paved and partially gravel. Other activities include two playgrounds (one for younger children, one for older), volleyball, horseshoes, sport court, and a “doggie island” (pet area). Between the restrooms are two dishwashing sinks with hot water, a nice amenity. There is also a dump station. 

We were still setting up when the host came by to give us a map, remind us there was a fire ban, and see if we had any questions or concerns. We stay at many CoE campgrounds and this one certainly measures up!

Camping heaven!

General: Smallish (approx. 50-site) campground that does not take reservations. No hookups, one walk-in tent site, and the others are either back-in or pull-through. Some are “double” sites that would be ideal for sharing. 

Site Quality: Varies. All sites (except four, three of which are designated handicap sites) are a mixture of sand/gravel. Not all are completely level, and some accommodate larger vehicles than others. 

Bathhouse: Pit toilets only. Some are open air and some are enclosed; the one closest to our site was clean. 

Activities: hiking, photography. Good night sky area. The nature trail is accessible directly from the campground and the Hagen Canyon trail is ¾ mile from the campground. Red Cliffs is another short trail across the highway; these are the most popular (and short) hikes in the park but there are others. The views are jaw-dropping and well worth exploring. 

Note that although there is a dump station, there is a $20 charge to use it. 

We arrived around 1 pm on a Sunday in late March and had our pick of sites, however, the campground filled in to about ¾ full by the end of the day.

Hard to believe how close to Las Vegas this campground is!

This campground is open September through June and all sites are dry camping. There is a separate area for RVs, trailers, and vans but many camper vans (including ours) were in the tent section. The camper pads in this area are dirt/gravel and not all of them are level but we made it work. Each site has a fire ring, BBQ grill, and picnic table. Some of the sites (but not all) have a covered picnic table and the table is located on a cement pad. 

There are more than sufficient vault toilets sprinkled throughout the campground and all the ones we used were clean. No showers. No dump station.

The hosts were great – they are from Minnesota, and it is their third year at this campground. They made daily rounds and were very friendly. 

This campground is located just outside the park and therefore not subject to the park fees. You will need a timed entry for the 13-mile scenic drive from October through May (but if you enter before 8 am, you will not need it). We had only a fleeting one bar of Verizon cell service. Make sure you make reservations as the campground was full on a Monday night in mid-November.

HUGE RV Park with many (in-season) amenities

We ended up here after a futile search for an affordable hotel in the area. Even though it was not inexpensive, we secured a beachfront site. The sites are in three sections: standard, deluxe, and premium. There are also cabins and a group tent area (on the public beach). 

The reservation process was not easy – you cannot make same-day online reservations and have to navigate a detailed menu on the phone to finally get to the reservation desk.

We arrived after dark, just as the office was closing but were able to get our information packet. Payment is in full when you make the reservation. As we expected, the sites are stacked up next to each other like dominoes with minimal foliage/fencing to separate the sites. The beachfront and preferred sites have a concrete and sand pad while some less expensive sites have just sand. 

There are codes to enter the restrooms, the bike path, and the pool. The restrooms were clean as were the showers, with good hot water and decent water pressure. 

In season, there are many activities and amenities offered including a water park, water sports rentals, a bistro, a snack bar, movies on the beach, and a swimming beach. About the only amenities available in November were the pool, two hot tubs (although one was not working when we were there), and the .75-mile concrete path around the lake. A gentle water aerobics class is offered three times a week. There is also a marina, but we don’t have a boat so we did not explore this. In season, you can rent pavilions, and pool or beach cabanas, all for an additional cost. 

Although this is a fully contained resort, it is not quiet. You will hear road noise and at certain times of the day, near constant noise from planes at nearby John Wayne airport. 

This was an affordable respite for us on a long road trip, but it is VERY expensive in season (about three times the price of “winter” rates). Also, it would be an entirely different experience when fully booked!

Bleak in the off-season - better for summer

General: Smallish campground but expansion is in progress. 

Site Quality: Some are back-in, some are pull-through. All are paved. Some have electricity and water and some do not have hookups. All have a tent pad, covered picnic table, and BBQ. Not all are level. Many sites have a view of the lake, but some are close to the road. Our site (14) had a nice lake view and was a pull-through but not level. In order to find the most level spot, we were far away from the electric hookup so chose not to use it. IMO, the best sites are 18, 20, and 22. They looked level and had the best views. 

Bath/shower house: The bathroom was very basic (two stalls, one sink). I had planned to take a shower here and read that there was one so imagine my disappointment when I discovered there was only an outdoor shower. Since it was in the 40s, I chose not to use it! 

Activities/Amenities: About the only one I could take advantage of was a path that appears to (hopefully) be in progress. Along some sections, there was a lot of debris. In season, you can rent kayaks, SUPS, OHVs, and there are tours. There is a large day-use pavilion that can be rented. Alas, on a cold, windy day at the end of March, none of these were available. Despite that, the campground was almost entirely full (but quiet). 

My rating is based solely on our off-season stay and the fact that there was no indoor shower. While we would have liked to take advantage of lake activities, it would have made for a much noisier campground. Also, Utah state parks are becoming increasingly expensive – for some, I think it is worth it but not for this one (especially in the off-season).

Peaceful and private

If you want a private and peaceful camping experience, this is a perfect place for tents, campervans, or small RVs (up to 30 feet, although it would be a tight fit for anything larger than 20 feet IMO). The access drive is gravel and somewhat steep but once at the site, the gravel pad is flat and accommodated our 18-foot campervan. You could also put a tent here or in the area a few steps down. 

This area has a picnic table, wicker bench, and fire ring. No wood or charcoal fires were allowed, but propane is available for an extra $5 charge. A few more steps down is the creek with a view of the covered bridge and an additional bench. Both benches were very nice to sit and relax, read, etc. There is a covered bridge that leads to a short dirt walking path. 

The vault toilet was spotless and there was a propane-heated outdoor shower (although I did not use it). Lights on the bridge and a few other places in the site added ambiance.

Marcus, the host, was not home during our stay (his home is on the property but a good distance away) but communication was excellent, and we had a wonderful stay. We would absolutely return!

Good for a night passing through

We booked a view site at this campground after reading about the incredible views but unfortunately, when we arrived, it was completely socked in, and we could not see a thing! Views the next morning were much better but although we had a view of the mountains, we also had a view of Highway 25 (and could hear highway noise). It was considered spring slow and there were only two other campers there besides us (and I believe one of them was the workamper), so it was quiet. In high season, however, there is no separation/privacy between sites. All sites are gravel, and each site has a picnic table. 

The office was closed (as was the café) but we received a text message the morning of our arrival confirming our stay (it was pre-paid) and giving us directions to the campground, the bathhouse code, and the WiFi code. The bath/shower house was very clean and there was laundry available for a very reasonable price of $1 for the washer and $ 1 for the dryer. The showers looked very clean as well but did not use them as it was below freezing during our stay (late April). 

Sorry to be the one to harsh the mellow of all the five-star reviews but for us, even though our stay was quiet and uneventful (and the amenities were clean), the proximity to the highway and closeness of the sites are generally not our preferred type of camping.

Clean well-laid out CoE campground

General: 54-site campground in four loops; the Pedernal Loop has water and electric hookups, the Chama and Puerco Loops do not and there is a walk-in tent site loop. There is also overflow camping. 

Site Quality: Sites appeared to be mostly level (at least in the Pedernal loop); most were paved but a few were gravel. Most were back in, but some were pull-through. There are two ADA-accessible sites in the Pedernal Loop. Many have reservoir views. Site 14 has a generous-sized paved driveway. Completing the site is a lantern hook, BBQ, and covered picnic table. Too bad it was so darn windy that we could not enjoy these amenities. There was also a garbage can at the end of each site but no recycling that I saw. If you do not need hookups, sites 34 and 39 (in the Puerco loop) provide excellent water views. 

Bath/Shower House: Basic with two shower stalls, two toilets, and one sink. Very clean. There are also very clean vault toilets located throughout the campground. Did not use the shower so cannot comment on how well it works. 

Activities: The Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail is a 4-mile hike and bike stacked-looped trail (so you can add or duplicate interconnected loops). Boating access is one mile away. Fishing is also popular. There is also a volleyball net and a very nice modern playground. We were there at the end of April, so it was very quiet (which is the way we like it). Shout out to great camp hosts – we were greeted upon arrival and they made sure we didn’t have any questions or concerns. For $16, this is affordable but with the senior pass, $8 is a bonafide bargain!

Explore the hoodoos!

General: Small campground with 24 sites, and two yurts. Sites are designated as RV or tent with the main difference being that the tent sites have multiple vehicle pads right next to each other. We did see some vans in the tent sites and in November, that was not a problem. All camping is dry camping. Each site has a covered picnic table with side shelters, not needed when we were there in November but a necessity in the warmer months, and a fire pit. 

Site Quality: All camper pads are paved and level. Some were pull-thru and others back-in. The ones on the exterior of the loop have the best views IMO. 

Bathhouse: (automatic) flush toilets, two sinks, paper towels, and soap. There were showers but they were closed for the season as of November 6. 

Activities: There are three valleys filled with hoodoos. No distinct trails so you can wander freely among the hoodoos. Several moderately challenging hiking trails, including one directly from the campground (Entrada). We did the Caramel Canyon Loop which included several scrambles in narrow canyons (but doable for two seniors – 65 and 71 years old in good physical shape). There are also designated biking trails and horseback riding is allowed in the Red Canyon Primitive area. 

We were last here 35 years ago, but it was so much fun to explore the area again. Utah State Parks are getting pricey (not the only expensive state) but this one is worth it IMO. It is a photographer's dream!

Convenient but not our vibe

When we visited, there were three sections to this facility: an RV Park, an annex, and a dry camping area with plans to expand in the future. When we first pulled in and I saw the price of $31.96 per night, I thought it was very reasonable but then I discovered that was for the dry camping area, which was a paved parking lot, so you are paying for a parking space; depending on how crowded this gets, there is NO privacy or separation. Note - I believe these rates have increased since our visit.

The rates for the Marina RV Park are $72.64 per day (including full hookups). The discounted rate for the annex is $53.28 per night. There are discounts for Good Sam and veterans. No tents are allowed. 

The staff person in the office was very friendly and answered all my questions. The restrooms and laundry room were exceptionally clean. After the office is closed (or if you do not want to walk through the office), entry is via a keypad. There is also a public restroom nearby. 

There are great views of the marina and the Yaquina Bay Bridge and Rogue Ale’s Brewery and Restaurant is right next door. There is also a public fishing pier, but WiFi is limited. The beach is nearby. At the end of April, there were many open spots, but I was told that the place completely fills up in July and August. We passed on this one but it would be convenient for area activities.

You'd better like trains!

General: A mix of FHU RV sites tent sites, group sites around Horseshoe Lake and some additional dry camping and equestrian sites around Pelican Lake. There are also four RVs you can “rent” in the Horseshoe Lake area. The sites around Horseshoe Lake are close to an active rail line. And by active, I mean really active – I stopped counting after I counted 24 trains lumbering by during our short overnight stay. 

Site Quality: IMO the waterfront tent sites are the nicest. They are farthest away from the trains (but not far enough!) The other dry sites have paved camper pads; some are “doubles” which would kind of suck if both sites were occupied by people who did not know each other! (Ours was one but fortunately, this was not the case for us on a Sunday in November). 

Bath/Shower House: There were two restrooms about equidistant from our campsite, but both were very basic– no soap, hooks or shelves and no mirrors (it looked like they had been ripped off the wall). The floors were concrete, and the entire appearance was very drab. I did not use the shower. 

This was an overnight stop for us, so we did not take advantage of any of the activities (horseback riding, hiking, disc golf, fishing). There was a very nice playground in the day-use area, a reasonable walking distance from the Horseshoe Lake sites. I had called about a week ahead of time to make a reservation (the online reservation system has been down for quite some time) and was assured would not need a reservation. However, there is a gate that is locked at 4 pm and we knew we would not arrive in time, so we called and were able to make a phone reservation when our site was assigned. We were a little concerned when we saw a security guard making rounds around 10 pm (and this combined with the locked gate), we wondered if we were in a safe environment, although we did not encounter any problems. Make sure you know that the park is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (which seems a bit bizarre) so you will need to know the gate code after 4 pm and on those days (the code seems to change daily). Also, I read that seniors (62 and older), active duty military, and veterans receive a $5 discount Sundays through Thursdays but you have to go to the office and show proof and then you will receive a “rebate” a few days later (which we did). This was just an overnight for us as we worked our way back home but we would likely not stay here again.

Spectacular sunsets!

General: Privately owned campground just outside Canyonlands National Park. Caleb and Amber purchased the campground in 2017 and are working to keep it maintained and update it as time and funds allow. You can reserve and pay ahead of time, but site selection is first come, first served, starting at 11 am. We arrived at 3:30 pm and there were about four sites left to choose from. Small and large group sites are available as well as a couple of teepees. No hookups at all. 

Site Quality: All are red clay dirt and of varying levelness and length. Sites come with a picnic table and a fire ring. IMO, even though our site was not completely level, we ended up with a great site as we could sit up on the rocks above our campsite and watch the spectacular sunsets. I would definitely choose this site again! 

Bath/Shower house: Flush toilets and running water. Soap and paper towels were provided. Showers are $3 for 5 minutes for campers ($10 for non-campers). Didn’t use the shower so cannot comment on how well they work. 

Activities/Amenities: Enjoy spectacular sunsets. Caleb encouraged us to climb up on the rocks. Site 12 had a nice flat spot that was easy to climb (we easily brought our camp chairs) and great for viewing the sunsets and also for yoga. WiFi is available for $10 per device per day but we didn't take advantage of this. Other than that, there is zero cell service. There is a small store that has ice cream, a welcome treat after a Canyonlands hike! It is a short drive to the visitor center and to various trailheads. You are closer to the Needles District. 

It had been 35 years since we had been at Canyonlands, so we looked forward to returning. Caleb and Amber’s warm welcome, the fabulous sunsets, and the quiet vibe of the campground quickly won us over. Just make sure you look out for red ants; we had an industrious group in a large ant hill at our site. We would definitely return!