Shea M.

Birmingham , AL

Joined April 2020

32/58 National Parks

Guadalupe

Primitive campground inside Guadalupe National Park. It's first come, first serve. The sites offer a gravel tent pad and a picnic table! There's also restrooms and water! It's really all you need if you're not too high maintenance!

Big Bend

We literally had the best time staying at site #3!! When you arrive, you can pick any spot that's open! It's primitive but the views of the desert and mountains are incredible!!! The location was great too (it's right outside the entrance to Big Bend National Park), the porta house was clean and had a view (and I mean it was awesome with woodchips and all) Rob is the camp host and he was fantastic!!!! I have nothing negative to say at all!!! Highly recommended and would stay here again if we came back to Big Bend!!! Plus the price is extremely fair for what you get!

Badlands

I gave this five stars because it's one of the only campgrounds within the National Park boundaries and it has really amazing views! There isn't much privacy, as it is flat with no trees, but you have a picnic table with a canopy at each site. The campground is a little rugged but has flush toilets and showers (used quarters). It was very close to the NP visitor center and is VERY WINDY! Make sure to secure your tent and belongings down really good or you will see them flying across the desert.

Mount Rushmore

This campground was a relatively small loop with primitive amenities. The host was friendly, but make sure you follow all the rules. His camper is on the right when you enter and that's where you check in. We were able to visit several places while camping here because it is very close to Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park and the The Black Hills National Forest. The campground offers many trees for shade and for hanging hammocks, a picnic table, firepit with grill, vault toilet (extremely foul odor in the summer), clean water spout, and firewood for sale. We even had access to Grizzly Creek at our site on the left, which was a nice place to cool off in July. We would stay here again, the only negative is that you can hear helicopter tours throughout the day.

Wyoming Weather

First off, amazing location and easy travel between Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. We visited June 2020 (snowed our first day) and stayed at spot #521. It's the only location you can see the Tetons from your campsite! You can also take a trail down to the Snake River. We saw a fox run through our first day (see video)! Probably the most we've paid to tent camp but well worth it! The campground offers amenities such as laundry and a bathhouse with hot water! Everything was very clean too. There was a gas station/store on property and a restaurant. Water and propane filling stations. Firewood for sale. The campsite itself offered full hookups, picnic table, bear box and a firepit/grill. Would stay here again but wouldn't mind checking out Jenny Lake campground!

Coosa River

This is actually a really good location for fishing on Lake Mitchell. It is close to Lay Lake Dam. You can stay for $25 a night or $220 a month. The boat launch is $5 and located directly beside the campground. The sites are mostly filled with RV's but there were a few tent campers. They offer some picnic tables and a pier to hookup your boat. Sites are close together and the bathrooms (only 2) are very close to all sites. The campground could use some TLC but still good for lake camping!

Sand Surfing

This was a great place to stop on our roadtrip out West! We have actually been here twice, it's so convenient and right off I20 near Odessa! The workers are so friendly and we all five loved sand surfing!! There are pull through sites with electric/water hookups, picnic table, fire ring, grill and a shade shelter! There is also a bathhouse with showers and restrooms! So much fun, don't pass it by!

**UPDATE: We have been here 4 times now! Always great!!!

Perfect Shade

Wonderful campground with all amenities! I have nothing negative to say, everything is clean and nice! We usually choose primitive tent camping for more privacy since we have three littles and the price is lower. Always a great time and there's plenty of hiking and a short walk to the waterfalls!

Little River Canyon

Your average campground. You can get all the information from the bio. Closest place to camp if you're wanting to explore Little River Canyon! It's beautiful and features many waterfalls and hiking!

Cherokee Falls

We have been here many times, it's one of our favorite state parks! The hiking and scenery is one you don't want to miss! If you can, make the hike down to Cherokee Falls and pack your swimsuit and a picnic! As far as camping, they have literally everything a camper needs and more!! RV, hookups, tent, picnic tables, grills, firepit, yurts, cabins, restrooms, bathhouse, laundry, group lodging, etc. Super friendly and pretty clean!

Cascading Waterfall

This was our second visit, we always stop here when we are traveling between North Carolina and Alabama. This particular day it was super foggy and sprinkling (nothing to stop us though) and it turned out really great because we got to see a completely different scene from our last summer, sunny day visit. Short walk to the overlook, we took our 3 children; ages 7, 5 and 2. The view shows a beautiful cascading waterfall. To get to the bridge and bottom there are a good many steep steps, but worth it if you're able. There are about 50 campsites, some RV with hookups and some tent! Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. If you have kids the visitor center is really cool and they have a playground!

Spanish Moss

Good place for boating, fishing and kayaking! The campground offers hookups, a table and grill. There is also a restroom and bathhouse that was very clean. It was a really pretty place! As far as hiking, I would visit Providence Canyon nearby!

Little Grand Canyon

Beautiful, rich colors in the canyon! It is a beautiful place to hike! Make sure you wear appropriate shoes, the canyon floor usually has a little stream running through it and is quite sandy! There is only backcountry camping here, which is perfect for us! We tent camp only and need no amenities! It also typically insures for a quiet and peaceful experience. There are restrooms by the gift shop and a playground down the road. All three kids make the canyon trail 1-9!

The Gorge

The park offers several campgrounds than can accommodate RV's, tent camping and primitive campsites. There are water and electrical hookups at all sites except the primitive. There are bathhouses and even cabin rentals for those who prefer that. You can purchase ice, firewood and food at the camp store on property and there is also a place to do your laundry for a small fee. Each site offers a table and grill. All are drive up except the primitive sites. This park has the highest free falling waterfall (256 feet) East of the Mississippi River! There are plenty of activities and hiking to explore just visit the parks website for more information!

Chasing Waterfalls

I would give this place 10 stars if I could!! Probably my favorite state park to date. It's absolutely breathtaking!!! The park features several waterfalls, swimming, rock jumping and plenty of hiking!!! We had the best time!! The campgrounds were very clean and had showers and restrooms! Each site offers a picnic table, fire pit and gravel area for your tent! There are also hookups for RVs. Would also reccomend Fall Creek Falls State Park and Cloudland Canyon State Park!

Lake Front

The state park is located on Table Rock Lake and offers 2 campgrounds. RV hookups and tent camping available. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit with grill cover and a paved area. Some of the spots are rocky so keep that in mind. There is also a bathhouse, fairly clean. While we were there we went to the Dewey Short Visitor Center which was really neat. There is also some hiking and a playground for the kids! Close to Branson, MO. I would highly recommend a tour of Dogwood Canyons while in the area!

Rock Climbing

This is a really great place to rock climb! They have RV hookups, tent camping and primitive camping! I reccomend to try and camp under an overhang! It's just really cool. There's also a really easy climb to overlook Weiss Lake! We were literally among the clouds! The park also offers a bath house which was very clean and even heated in the winter! There is a really nice park and pavillion with picnic tables too that the kids played in and we had lunch!

Bouldering

HP 40 offers tent camping, RV hookups and cabin rentals. Mostly known for it's amazing boulders and bluegrass festivals! There is also plenty of hiking and sightseeing. The welcome center has food and equipment to rent. Really great, clean place!

Higher Elevation

This rating is based solely on the beauty of this place. Coffe Pot Road is located near Dotsero, CO. We were looking for a place to set up and a ranger at Hanging Lake told us about this place and the locals agreed! The scenic drive up is very narrow, some places only one car can pass at a time, so drive slow and be careful. It includes several types of trees, rock formations, wildlife, wild flowers and vast mountain views! If you want to feel like you are really camping in the wilderness (which you kinda are) then don't pass this place up! The road itself goes up about 10,500 feet in elevation ending in Deep Lake then decenends down. Coffe Pot Springs Campground is about 16 miles up in the White River National Forest and features large, very secluded sites with a rock made fire pit. We did see a porta house down the gravel road a little ways, no other amenities that we saw. We set up our tent at around 8,000 ft in elevation and enjoyed the view, it was literally what dreams are made of! During the night we heard Elk and it was so dark that we saw the milky way!!!

Cave Camping

We really enjoyed this place! It's located on the green river and has very spacious campsites. Plenty of room for the kids or dogs to run around. Very secluded. There is a concrete picnic table, pole and fire pit at each spot. Across the road to the ferry is a large pavillion with several more picnic tables for bigger gatherings. There are a few porta potties and no water or hookups. Primitive camping only. We tent camped here in July and saw hundreds of lightning bugs (see video)! It was magical, that really made the experience so much better for us!

Highly recommend a cave tour as well at Mammoth Cave National Park. You will not be disappointed!! Can't wait to go back!