CampgroundCrazy

Icefields Centre RV, Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta

2026-07-28T10:06:29.734-07:00

Years ago on a trip along the Icefields Parkway through Jasper National Park, we passed by the Icefields Centre RV area and thought, "Hmmmmm." The day use parking lot for the Columbia Icefields converts to an RV parking lot at night, allowing travelers to park, pull out their chairs, and get a front row, uncrowded view of the Athabasca Glacier and mountain peaks. The set up here is simple and no frills, with about 100 parking spots in the sloped, asphalt parking lot. We jettisoned here and arrived mid afternoon, allowing us to park in the somewhat crowded parking lot full of campers and day users and enjoy the visitor's center exhibits and deck views while enjoying a Canadian brewed beverage. Once parked, you can obtain a camping permit at the kiosk in the parking lot, and for a minimal fee, secure a spot in 24 hour increments (no official check-in or check-out times here). There are lots of activities available here for a price, including exploring the glacier by foot with a guide or by crawler with a tour group. There is also a hiking trail to the toe of the glacier, but you are not permitted to touch the ice without a guide. We did none of these after careful consideration, feeling it was too touristy and too crowded. Instead we enjoyed our Canadian brewed beverage on the visitor center's deck while taking in the activity and views. As the afternoon closed, we saw the day use area empty out and only RVers remained. We pulled out our chairs and enjoyed the sunset behind the glacier. We loved this spot, despite the parking lot feel, because you just don't get views like this. I mean, how often do you get to sleep next to a glacier? Keep in mind there is no potable water, no dump, and no amenities other than food and drink available for purchase during operating hours at the visitor's center.

Best Sites: Find the most level spot you can
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: None
Potable Water: None
Dump Within Facility: None

Illecillewaet Campground, Glacier National Park, Glacier, British Columbia

2026-07-28T09:47:33.968-07:00

Not to be confused with Glacier National Park of the States, Canada's Glacier National Park is well into the province of British Columbia and is accessible directly off of Highway 1. The park is just west of the Banff/Jasper/Yoho/Kootenay bundle of national parks and has some stunning glacier views, incredible hikes, and lots of history and wildlife. We passed through this park on our journey a few years back, and my younger son looked at the window at the glaciers that felt like we could reach out a touch and said, "How come we aren't staying there?!" It is a beautiful, mountainous, forested area with lots of hikes to enjoy that will lead you to explore glacial moraines, raging rivers fed by glacial melt, and glaciers themselves. A few years back, this campground of 60 sites was completely non-reservable, but recently reservations were implemented for half of the sites, making trip planning a little less on the fly. Sites 1-26 remain first come, first served. The campground is primitive with no hookups, with several sites along the river. Although interior roads are paved, sites in the two loops are dirt pads, very private with shrubbery and trees abound, and offer picnic tables and fire pits. Choose your site carefully, as some sites are very unlevel, and with the abundance of trees and narrow interior roads, maneuvering to park your rig could be challenging. Potable water is available at spigots, but a formal water fill station and sanitation dump are not available here. There are food lockers at a central location (not at each campsite) and restrooms with flush toilets. We came prepared, full of freshwater and an empty black tank. Park rangers keep post at the trailheads, offering information about the latest trail conditions including closures and recent wildlife activity. Several trails, many challenging, lead right from camp. Day use is pretty active here, but day users do not impede the peaceful nature at camp.

Best Sites: 14, 16, 38, 40-43, 57, 60
Poor Sites: 48
Hookups: None
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: No

Millersylvania State Park, Olympia, Washington

2026-07-28T09:26:09.418-07:00

Located conveniently off Interstate 5, this state park offers about 200 sites in two main sections of the campground, offering slightly different settings. Sites 1-129 as you enter the campground are closest to the lake in a heavily wooded area of large, towering pines. Shade is abundant, as is space and privacy between most sites. Although sites here are closest to the lake, there are no lake views from any of the campsites. These sites are primitive, with a handful of the sites offering 20 amp hookups, helpful when inflating your air mattress or something of the like. Interior roads are paved, but site pads here are dirt, and often require a little bit of leveling. With no trailers over 18 feet permitted, sites cannot accommodate large rigs or even moderately sized motorhomes and the campground was full of mostly tent campers and a view van conversions. Larger rigs and moderately sized motorhomes are best suited in the second area, sites 201-248. This loop is vastly different with no pine trees (no shade) directly at these sites, with the exception of a handful of perimeter sites. Sites in this loop offer no privacy, lots of sunshine, open skies, views of the trees, and level site pads with electric and water hookups to accommodate motorhomes. All sites offer picnic tables.
The lake is a quick walk from either camp loop, easily accessible, and is often speckled with campers and day users swimming, fishing, or kayaking. There are kayak and stand up paddle board rentals available, a fishing dock, a nice kayak launch and a designated swimming area off the lake beach. Picnic tables are all along this area, as well as restrooms and our favorite amenity, the Lakeside Taphouse. Here you will find snacks, food, and locally brewed beverages and wines to enjoy on the patio of Adirondacks and tables while enjoying a view of the lake. There are a few walking trails from camp that meander around the lake and go further into the surrounding area. Overall, camp was pleasant, quiet, and provided a peaceful, but convenient stop along the interstate.

Best Sites: 204-206, 245-248, Most of 1-129
Poor Sites: 92, 118, 229-234
Hookups: Electric & Water at some
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Salish Seaside RV Resort & Marina, Victoria, British Columbia

2026-07-21T13:42:03.660-07:00

Wow, wow, wow! This might be my favorite urban RV resort of all time! When researching RV resorts and campground possibilities close to the heart of Victoria, I stumbled upon this resort. Tiny, but spectacular, this resort at the Salish marina hosts about 35 rigs, all of which will have a view of some combination of the marina floathomes, Victoria's skyline and the bay with its plethora of bustling activity including water taxis, yachts, seaplanes, cruise ships, wildlife, and people enjoying the water. The views from our site were unreal and we kept pinching ourselves as we enjoyed the late afternoon into evening hours watching the cruise ship dock, the seaplanes take off and land on the water runway, and a harbor seal and river otter play in the bay. T9 get from the resort to the heart of Victoria is a snap via either the Snoghees walkway along the bay (a little over 3kms to the city), the water taxi (for a nominal fee, a fun way to be a part of the bay's hustle and bustle), or bike lanes available on many of the city streets. We opted for both the walkway which allowed us to exercise, enjoy views, and catch a glimpse of some deer as well as the water taxi. The seasonal water taxis run regularly to a variety of the city hot spots, but only Pick up at the RV resort marina once an hour. The resort is pristine with paved interior roads, level cement pads with extra parking space available, and picnic tables. There are no fire rings. There are laundry facilities here are small, but spotless. Showers and restrooms are also available as well as complimentary wi-fi.

Best Sites: Thunderbird, Eagle or Hummingbird
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer
Potable Water: At each site
Dump Within Facility: At each site

Riverside - A Parkbridge Camping & RV Resort, Whistler, British Columbia

2026-07-21T13:22:20.371-07:00

Whistler is an outdoor enthusiast's playground with year round opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. All of this excitement, along with Whistler Village is easily accessible from Riverside Resort by foot, bike, or car, but my recommendation would be to walk or bike, as the area is beautiful and trails offer you the chance to exercise and enjoy wildlife and nature. Whistler is home to a pretty intertwined biking trail network, some paved, some not. The Valley Trail, a series of paved networks passes through the resort, making access excellent. We used the trail system for recreation and also to access The Village and all of its fun! The resort is nicely laid out with a variety of accommodations including cabins, hurts, tent sites and RV sites. Most sites have beautiful pines and landscaping with gravel site pads and paved interior roads. Tent sites are more primitive and private while offering easy access to the river passing through camp. Sites offer picnic tables and fire rings. The resort has excellent laundry facilities, helpful and friendly staff to help you maximize your time in Whistler, a top-rated café, playground, mini-putt, volleyball court, picnic areas, BBQs, wi-fi, and open spaces for kids and adults to play. You really can't go wrong with a site here, although sites are pricey. Reservations allow you to pick site type, but your specific site will be assigned at check-in. The park is quiet, convenient to Whistler, and clean. We loved this RV resort as well as the overall area, so we will be back!

Best Sites: All
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer at some
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Ucluelet Campground, Ucluelet, British Columbia

2026-07-16T14:24:17.223-07:00

The drive to the beautiful little town of Ucluelet is a beautiful, but windy and steep at times (up to 18% grades). Ucluelet Campground makes accessing the marina, Wild Pacific Trail, Ancient Cedars Loop, aquarium, and local beaches, shops and restaurants a snap! We walked several times from our pretty campsite overlooking the marina to town, as well as the area hiking trails. Although not within the perimeter of Pacific Rim National Park, the campground is just minutes away from the park and is abound with nature and scenery. The campground is very clean, full of friendly staff, and has information about the area's activities. Interior roads are gravel, as are site pads, all of which are level. A variety of walk-in primitive and full hookup sites are available. Pines and pretty landscaping make the RV park look sharp and scenic. I would highly recommend upgrading to the harbor view sites, which all have stunning views of the harbor and the tidal flats. Sites include fire pits and picnic tables. Firewood is available for purchase in the main office, and propane firepits are available for rent on a nightly basis. Laundry facilities, restrooms, showers, food storage lockers, a playground, and a kayak/boat launch are available on site. Extra overflow parking is also available. With over 100 sites to accommodate guests, we thought this RV park was fantastic!

Best Sites: E, F, G, H, L, M, N, S, T, U, V, 1-9, 17-22, 36-43
Poor Sites: A, B
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer at some
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Monarch Campground, Yoho National Park, British Columbia

2026-07-11T16:31:28.819-07:00

Monarch Campground sits along the kicking Horse River and is smaller than the neighboring Kicking Horse Campground. It, too, is primitive and offers little more than level a dirt pad site, potable water, a picnic table, firepit, and privacy between sites. It does offer stunning views of Yoho's peaks in all directions and a nearby waterfall. There are no hiking trails accessible from camp, and all park attractions must accessed by vehicle, including the Takakkaw Falls just up the road from camp-follow all road signage as the road has hairpin switchbacks that should not be attempted by vehicles longer than 23 feet. A shared RV dump and fill station with Kicking Horse Campground is found near the entrance of Monarch Campground. Highway 1 noise and vehicles can be seen and heard from camp, along with the trains accessing the spiral tunnels.

Best Sites: All
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: No
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: No

Kicking Horse Campground, Yoho National Park, Field, British Columbia

2026-07-11T16:23:10.611-07:00

Yoho National Park has been on my bucket list for years. Social media posts and friends who have visited touted its stunning mountain peaks vistas, waterfalls, and lake views. We finally got here in Summer 2026 and enjoyed it all. Different from some of the other big Canadian National Parks, the park does not have a central village. There are several campgrounds to choose from, all fairly close together, technically in the village of Field. We opted for Kicking Horse campground and upon arrival I was so happy we did over Monarch, which sits adjacent to Kicking Horse campground, but also, unfortunately, adjacent to Highway 1. Kicking Horse campground is set off the highway further between the raging Kicking Horse river and a smaller stream, Monarch Creek. Our campsite, number 19, was situated perfectly along the stream and provided peaceful views and white noise while we slept. The interior roads are mostly paved, however some off-shoots to the loops are not and neither are site pads. Most sites are unlevel, with the exception of the "trailer sites," sites 74-89, which accommodate larger rigs. These trailer sites offer no privacy, no shade, do not permit campfires, have little space between them, but do offer stunning views of the surrounding peaks. Some other sites near the Kicking Horse River offer views of a waterfall. Sites 1-39 are set among a more heavily forested area of pines, thus views of surrounding peaks are limited but shade is abundant. A small, easy hiking trail spans the perimeter of the park, but for all other hiking or biking you will need to drive to trailhead parking within the park; this was a bit frustrating for us, but we made it work. Yoho Valley Road leads right from the entrance of camp up to the Takakkaw Falls, a must see, but note that the road has extreme hairpin turns; obey all signage regarding vehicle length restrictions, which is 23 feet maximum. The campground itself is peaceful, except for the sounds of the waters surrounding. You will hear the sounds of the trains traveling over the pass through the spiral tunnels. All sites have picnic tables. The campground offers free firewood, potable water, restrooms, a playground, food storage lockers, and cooking shelters. A common dump station and RV water fill is shared with Monarch Campground, near the entrance.

Best Sites: 3,4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 18, 19, 41-48, 69-71.
Poor Sites: 50
Hookups: None
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Abundant Life RV Park, Caldwell, Idaho

2026-07-10T16:54:09.148-07:00

This tidy little RV park was a second choice after making some last minute itinerary changes to our trip. We had hoped to stay at the Boise KOA, but it was full, so we opted for this lovely RV park about 20 miles northwest, convenient to the interstate. Caldwell itself is nothing spectacular, but this welcoming RV park, which was also full, provided a quiet place to rest our weary heads, do some laundry, and take some casual strolls through the RV Park. Paved interior roads lead you to gravel sites which are nicely manicured. Common areas including the game room and laundry were nicely taken care of and host fun events such as 4th of July potluck and bingo night. Sites are spaced typical of an RV park providing guests with some grass and a picnic table, with interior pull through sites and perimeter back in sites. There was a playground for children in the center of the park.

Best Sites: Interior
Poor Sites: None
Potable Water: At each site
Dump Within Facility: At each site

Great Falls KOA, Great Falls, Montana

2026-07-04T19:05:58.270-07:00

KOA's are fairly consistent: higher prices, lots of amenities, tight spaces. This KOA falls in line with that, although it did offer a great realm of amenities for families including a splash pad, playground, petting zoo, bike rentals, free pancake breakfast, and live music nightly. Sites here are typical of a KOA, laid out in a very methodical way, with a series of KOA cabins available. We were assigned probably the nicest spot in our section, which appeared to be an older area of the campground. The newer section, sites 201-258, were cleaner, crisper, and offered beautiful, open views of the Great Falls rolling landscape. Interior roads and site pads throughout camp are a dirt/gravel mix. Sites are level and offer the usual picnic table and fire pit. In the area you will find independent minor league baseball games, historical landmarks, and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.

Best Sites: 117, 201-258
Poor Sites: All others
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer at most
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park, Baker, Nevada

2026-06-29T19:57:31.236-07:00

Years ago we stayed within Great Basin National Park at one of the Lehman Campgrounds. While staying at that campground at an elevation of close to 8,000 feet, we hiked to Wheeler Peak campground along the Lehman Creek, which tops out at 10,000 feet. When we reached the end of the strenuous trail, we were greeted with a stunning meadow and campground, studded with pines and spectacular views of Jeff Davis Peak. I told my hubby, "We will be back here," but knew out 30 footer RV at the time wouldn't be able to make it up the windy, steep mountain road. The park limits vehicles to a strict "less than 24 feet" with other restrictions for those towing - check the Great Basin National Park website for specifics. Well, we purchased our 20 footer, so off we went! The drive up the mountain is STEEP, WINDY, and has scary dropouts and few guardrails. But, it also has stunning views and a chance to see the high desert landscape shift to an alpine one. The campground is awesome, with private, tree studded sites. All sites have a picnic table, fire ring, paved pad and beautiful views of the peaks, and note that most will require significant leveling (you are on a mountainside after all). Afternoons often bring thunderstorms and evenings will bring you grazing deer, possibly turkeys, and beautiful star-studded skies at this designated Dark Sky Park. The park is lovely, with hikes right from camp to the protected Bristlecone Pine Grove, Alpine lakes, and Wheeler Peak itself, topping out at over 13,000 feet. Give yourself time to acclimate to this extreme altitude. We loved it here, but also encountered some issues with the extreme altitude camping including: difficulty lighting a campfire, difficulty running our generator, and our stovetop burners not lighting - all a result of the thin air at this campground, the highest in the National Park system. During our visit (summer 2026) there was NO potable water anywhere as spigots were dry, not even to fill your hiking pack, so bring all your water in. There are pit toilets and trash cans, but no other amenities.

Best Sites: All
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: None
Potable Water: None (summer 2026)
Dump Within Facility: No

Main Street Station RV Park, Las Vegas, Nevada

2026-04-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas is often either the first stop or the last stop on many of our RV adventures, being that we live in the SoCal area. It's an easy drive, and there's lots to do in Vegas. We have been loyal customers to Oasis RV Resort in Vegas for over 2o years, but stumbled upon Main Street Station RV Park when looking for something closer to the Fremont Street experience and the Stadium Swim located at Circa Hotel. So, we opted to give it a shot, with the hesitancy in our back pockets of very mixed reviews and concerns about safety and security. We pulled into the Main Street Station casino entrance and checked in. We had a minor issue as we had adjusted our reservation to arrive a day earlier. Despite me having an email confirmation of the previous cancellation and a rebooking reflecting an "updated reservation," staff could only see the cancelled reservation. This place doesn't sell out, so we weren't concerned, and staff was happy to help us pick a site in the park. We opted of for a back in site, knowing we weren't here for scenery, just a place to rest our heads after some fun. The park was clean and there were about a dozed other RVs parked, nicely spaced from each other in the privacy-less park. The previously read reviews about safety, stolen items, and homelessness were far from our minds as we left the park with our RV plugged in, bikes locked up, and A/C humming. We walked just a short walk under the freeway onramp, and saw no homeless encampments or anything to be concerned about. Before we knew it, we were off and having a great time. Upon returning to the park around 9pm (yes, early, but we were pooped), we were greeted by a massive group of people on illuminated bikes - the kinds of bikes that take people up and down roadways that have neon illumination. LOUD music was emanating from the group, and it made me a little uneasy the way the seemed to take over the parking lot and were surrounding some of the RVs. We didn't see these bikes earlier in the day. We opened up our RV, and were shocked that the temperature inside was stifling. The A/C was not on, and the power pedestal revealed a thrown breaker. We actually opted NOT to use our usual power surge protector as we were concerned we couldn't lock it up, so then we were starting to worry something bigger had happened. We threw the breaker, the air came back on, and then immediately clicked off. That was it, with the high temperatures, our pet with us, the sketchy crowd when we entered the park, we decided we were out of there. I was not willing to deal with a tripping breaker all night and no sleep due to high temperatures. We also didn't feel comfortable sleeping with windows open, which would have compromised security and permitted freeway noise to prevail. So, we packed up, and off we went.

We got home safely, thank goodness. I hate driving that late at night, tired. But we made it. The next morning, we discovered it was poor power supply at the park, as our A/C fired right up, no problems. We immediately cancelled a future stay at Main Street Station RV park, as the cheap price isn't worth potential costly electrical problems and compromised safety.

Hopefully someone will develop an RV resort somewhere closer to the strip to make Vegas more walkable to the RV community. Someday.

Good Sites: Interior
Poor Sites: Perimeter, especially those in the 160-180 range along the freeway onramp
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer
Potable Water: At Each Site
Dump Withing Facility: At Each Site

Morro Strand State Beach, Morro Bay, California

2026-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

Morro Strand State Beach is north of the town, as opposed to Morro Bay State Park which is just south of town. Not to be confused, Morro Strand is a beachfront primitive campground that resembles a converted parking lot. Sites here are simple and lacking space, but, like many of the California beachside state campgrounds, the access to the beach is top notch. A recent renovation converted the perimeter sites along the back of the park to 40 foot sites with electric hookups. Otherwise sites are small and can only accommodate RVs up to 24 feet in total length. The 40 foot sites are back in stalls that are pretty snug, while the smaller sites have you park nose-to-tail, which allows for more space and, if you've got a beachfront spot, views of the ocean. A small hill of dunes lies between campsites and the ocean, but most beachfront sites have a sliver of an ocean view. Sites have fire pits and picnic tables and there are restrooms in the campground. The campground is quiet, with the exception of the sound of the ocean, and provides easy access to Highway 1 and the coastal towns to the north and south. Morro Rock is in view of some sites and once you get out to the beach, dominates the view. Beachcombing here is a joy; during our visit we encountered thousands of sand dollars and some great tide pools on the north part of the beach that were littered with sea anemones and crabs! Surfing and sand play here are a plus, with wide open beaches.

Best Sites: 1-45 odds
Poor Sites: 2-46 evens
Hookups: Electricity at sites 47-81
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: No, must use Morro Bay State Park to the south

Oregon Inlet Campground, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina

2025-08-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Cape Hatteras is a spit of land in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina full of coastal breezes and beautiful sunsets. With a ton to do here, such as visit nearby Kitty Hawk where the Wright Brothers took their first flight, fish, beachcomb, or play in the sand, this is a delightful, peaceful stop. The campground is one of two major campgrounds in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore space. Two paved loops with paved spurs serve the campground. The campground is aside dunes that, when climbed over, allow you to access to the beach. Several trails lead from the campground to the beach. The beach here is wide, flat and beautiful with mild surf, great for those learning how to boogie board or those wishing to try their luck with a rod. The campground has little vegetation and is mostly grasses. Sites are spacious, but due to the lack of vegetation, have zero privacy from your neighbors. This posed a small problem when someone in our loop ran their generator all night long; there were no camp hosts during our visit either, so that wasn't a help. National Park rangers do check you in and during the daytime monitor the camp. Overall, we loved our stay here and enjoyed the beach. Note that most people (unlike on the west coast) access the beach via their vehicle, parking their car right along the surf line. So, if you're walking over the dunes from camp, get your spot early and note that you will be surrounded by cars. We didn't mind this and actually were mesmerized by the differences between west coast and east coast beach-going. Campsites have fire pits and picnic tables. The A loop is specifically for tents and the B loop is for RVers. There is no dump directly in the campground, but across the highway that leads down the cape, you will find a small harbor with a restaurant, well-appointed gift shop and some snacks (alcohol as well). If you plan on driving your vehicle onto the beach, you can also inflate/deflate your tires at the dump station.

Best Sites: B2, B4, B6, B8, B10, B12, B14, B16, B18, B20, B22, B24, C1, C3, C5, C7, C9, C11, C13, C15, C17, C19, C21
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: None
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Across the street at the harbor

James County Island Park, Charleston, South Carolina

2025-08-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

In trying to find the closest RV park or campground so we could easily explore the historic city of Charleston, I stumbled upon this county park. What a DELIGHT! Located on James Island, just a short drive from historic Charleston, this park is convenient and packed with amenities! We checked in early evening after a long drive from Tennessee and were greeted by friendly staff. When we confirmed we were only staying two nights, she responded with, "Jeez, that's too bad because that just isn't enough time to enjoy our entire park!" Feeling a little deflated about our brief stay, we were quick to park in our pond-side spot with hookups and hop on our bikes to explore the park. The park is quite expansive with access to the bay , crabbing and fishing holes, ponds, a fantastic water park, kayak rentals, climbing wall, challenge course (think ziplines and cable walks!), dog park, disc golf course, volleyball courts, all via the walking and biking paths. We biked around for about an hour as the sun began to set, enjoying the balmy evening of the South Carolina coast. When we returned to camp, we settled into our site, which was a level, dirt pad with an electric and water hookup. Most sites here have electricity and water hookups, and all sites have picnic tables and fire pits. The campground has a coastal woodsy feel with lots of trees providing shade. Wildlife can be found in camp (we saw a raccoon!) and in the water in camp (host said there are alligators - no swimming!). A nice surprise for us was the park shuttle that, for a nominal fee, transported us quickly downtown while filling us in on some history and hot spots to visit in historic Charleston. This worked well for us, and the office staff was friendly and helpful in helping us navigate the charming city. We loved our stay here and definitely enjoyed the convenient location, beautiful setting and opportunities for recreation. During the winter holidays, there is a massive Festival of Lights that takes place in the park and apparently is quite a sight to see; guess we'll be headed back to James Island again!

Best Sites: All
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: Electric & Water at most
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Seawall Campground, Acadia National Park, Maine

2025-07-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Acadia National Park is not a park that westerners easily get to. It's out there. We have visited almost all of the mainland National Parks, so this was one of the last ones to be marked off our list! The park has several sections along the eastern coast of Maine. We opted to stay at Seawall Campground, as we booked our trip last minute and that's what was available. Seawall Campground is one of several available in the park, and is the most southern campground. There are several loops here, some designated for tents only, and others allowing RVs and generator usage. Maximum RV length at Seawall Campground is 35 feet, and that can only be accommodated in Loop C. Interior roads are paved, but site pads are dirt. Sites have ample space and privacy at most, with fire pits and picnic tables. We loved the quiet, woodsy setting at camp, while also being able to quickly and easily walk out to the coastline and set up our chairs on the "seawall," a wall of boulders that run along this section of the coast. We found our time here along this seawall relaxing with lots of beachcombing for shells and sea life, and also watching the boats move in and out of the harbor. Seawall Campground is a bit remote from many of the hiking and biking trails in the park. The park does have a shuttle system that can take you from one part of the park to another, as well as different spots throughout the park that are points of interest. We opted not to take the convenient shuttle from camp, as we wanted to take our bikes to the carriage roads, famous for cycling in the park. This old system of roads, today, provides tourists miles and miles of ups and downs throughout the park where you can look for wildlife, see buildings and stone bridges funded by Rockefeller, and access vistas and trailheads. Carriage roads can be biked, walked, or there are horse and buggy rentals in the park that you can enjoy! We biked on these carriage roads with our mountain bikes, and some inclines were steep, but the roads themselves are wide, smooth, and easy to navigate. There are many, many outfits around the park that will rent electric bikes, making the biking much easier. We enjoyed the challenge, however, and felt exhausted, but satisfied with our efforts at the end of the day. Overall, we loved Seawall Campground and Acadia National Park, but we feel there is more here to explore on the Schoodic Peninsula and the other coastlines of the park. Guess we will have to head back again!

Best Sites: All
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: None
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Ausable Chasm Campground, Keeseville, New York

2025-07-31T09:41:00.000-07:00

This campground is a great little stop in upstate (and I mean UPSTATE) New York in the Adirondacks. Located near Lake Placid and just a short drive from the Canadian border, we had a great stay here. The campground appears to be a former KOA, based on the lodge. The park has several amenities including a small laundry room, pool, restrooms, volleyball and basketball courts, disc golf course, game room, small convenience store, dog park, playground, and over 30 miles of trail rated biking and hiking trails leading right from camp (the campground will provide a colorful, detailed map upon check in). We didn't use any of the amenities except the laundry, which had just a couple of washers and dryers, but was clean and tidy. Interior roads and site spurs are dirt here, which I hate. We had quite a thunderstorm roll through and it made a mess of our rig. Sites are fairly close together, much like you would find in a KOA, but overall the camp was quite and met our needs. The biggest perk of the campground is the location to the Ausable Chasm itself, which is a beautiful gorge coined as the "Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks!" Now, if you have been so lucky to see the Grand Canyon yourself, don't think this is even nearly as close in vastness. However, it is more beautiful and more fun than the Grand Canyon, in my opinion at least. Ausable Chasm has several different hiking trails and also a via ferrata. If you are not familiar with a via ferrata, it means "iron pathway" in Italian, and ferratas can be found all over the world. They are a great way for non-rock climbers to climb sheer cliffs and enjoy climbing in a safer way. We enjoyed our first via ferrata a summer ago in Ouray, and when I saw this one along our summer travel journey, I knew we had to try it! With cable crossings over the river and sheer cliffs to scale, we had a blast. The best part, is after the via ferrata, we walked a few, easy miles along the gorge and took in some beautiful scenery before hopping in our tube to river float down a calm and rapid filled section of the river. It was a fantastic way to spend the day and we loved every second of it! The via ferrata, trails and tube floating come as a package deal at the Ausable Chasm Adventure Park, or you can purchase each component separately based on your preferences. At the chasm headquarters, you can enjoy food, souvenir shopping, and sometimes, live music. Overall, this campground is a great spot to access the chasm and local trails.

Rifle Falls State Park, Rifle, Colorado

2025-07-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

We have had Rifle Falls State Park booked several times on our cross country adventures, but never made it there due to itinerary changes, weather, etc. So, when I booked it again, it almost felt like we wouldn't make it, again. But, to our surprise, we actually maintained our reservation and didn't have any detours and itinerary changes that impacted this stop! The park is adjacent and not to be confused with Rifle Gap State Park, which you will pass through on your way to Rifle Falls. Rifle Gap is also a pretty park with lakeside spots, but we were happy to keep on pressing a few miles north up the two lane road to Rifle Falls. I had discovered this spot years ago when reading something, somewhere, and was excited to see in person the three waterfalls that looked amazing! The state park campground is small, with just about 20 sites, and only the first 13 are available to RVs and offer electric hookups, which you will probably need throughout the summer and again in winter (yes, the park is open in winter, as it is at a lower elevation in central-west Colorado). Of those 20 or so sites, half sit alongside the creek and offer ample shade, while the other half are not along the creek and offer little to no shade. Depending on which season you visit, I can see perks to both sides. A handful of the sites are tent only campsites, so check carefully when making your reservation that your site accommodates your needs. All sites are level and have dirt/gravel pads. Some sites are pull through and others are back in, but all are lengthy and can accommodate a variety of rig sizes. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. During our summer 2025 stay, there was a fire ban, so check with the camp host for the latest fire restrictions. Rifle Falls themselves are less than a five minute walk from the campground. Note that day use visitors will walk or drive through the campground to access the falls as well, but we didn't notice any significant traffic. The falls are stunning and were more than I had imagined. Three beautiful falls cascade down into the river than then flows down alongside the campground. There are several trails that take you north of the falls as well as loop around the falls. The trail to the north takes you to a fish hatchery, offering free tours. The loop around the falls allows you to visit limestone caves, which are accessible. This trail was my favorite, as we enjoyed exploring the caves, looking for bats, and getting chance to enjoy the falls from behind and above at many vantage points. The falls are refreshing and relaxing, and the trails have several benches along them to stop and enjoy one of the many views.

Best Sites: 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: Electric at Sites 3-13
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: No, but available at Rifle Gap State Park

Vedauwoo Campground, Buford, Wyoming

2025-07-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

I have had Vedauwoo on my travel wish list for quite some time. Boy were we tickled by this camp! On our return from the east coast, we were delighted to settle into some midwest camping that has beautiful scenery. Vedauwoo lies just about half way between Laramie and Cheyenne, right off Interstate 80. This easily accessible campground is operated by the National Forest Service, which if you are an avid camper, you know that most of our US Forest Service campgrounds are well maintained and offer simple, but spacious campsites without a lot of amenities. The same is true here at Vedauwoo, with paved interior roads, paved spurs, fire pits, and picnic tables. Sites are spacious, are among pines and junipers, and all sites offer views of the stunning rock formations that draw dozens of climbers each week to explore. Vedauwoo does have restrooms for those camping in tents. There is potable water, but only by means of a hand pump, so fill your RV tanks prior to arrival. Likewise, there is no RV dump, so we headed to a Love's in Laramie to clean our tanks. During our visit, there was no camphost, but USFS rangers came by each day to monitor sites, perform maintenance and provide friendly waves. There are two main loops here in the campground for RVers with only about 20 sites, so book early. There is a separate tent campground only with about as many sites. IF you are unable to snag a site at Vedauwoo, you can take the well maintained dirt forest service roads that lead to the east from the entrance of Vedauwoo Campground and you will find many, many spectacular, primitive sites for camping. These sites are definitely RV accessible, but you will not have any amenities that the main campground provides.

Best Sites: All, but in particular 13 and 28
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: None
Potable Water: Via hand pump only
Dump within Facility: No

Detroit/Ann Arbor KOA Holiday, Ypsilanti, Michigan

2025-07-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

This KOA, initially had us excited with a lake front site reserved. Upon arrival, however, we were quickly awakened to how run down this KOA is, especially for a hefty price tag. Check in was lackluster and the usually friendly greeting from a KOA employee was void. The front office looked unkempt and unprofessional. We, atypical of the KOA system, navigated ourselves along pot holed dirt roads to our lake front site, which was a dirt pad squished between neighbors. Yes, it was on a lake, as promised, but it just felt dirty as we set up our chairs. Our site was riddled with either duck or dog feces and many of the neighbors had lots of junk stacked outside their rigs; signs of lengthy stays. As we tried to focus on the positive, a neighbor lit up a cigarette, something we just don't tolerate, and after realizing this was a chain smoking event, we decided to just pack up and stay inside. There are several activities here for families such as fishing, boat rentals, basketball courts, jumping pillow, an activity room, bean bag toss, and several water slides in the lake. There is also laundry and bathrooms in the main office, as well as propane fill. Most spots here are 30 amp, so RVers needing 50 amps may be out of luck. This KOA is smack between Detroit and Ann Arbor, but I would opt for a different park if visiting this area again.

Best Sites: 117-138, 24-38
Poor Sites: 139-211
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer
Potable Water: Yes
Dump within Facility: Yes

HTR Niagara, Grand Island, New York

2025-07-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

This beautiful, well appointed RV resort is one of two RV parks just a short drive from Niagara Falls. We opted to stay here due to the proximity to the falls, as well as the beautiful setting. The city of Niagara leaves a lot to be desired; air quality is terrible here, but at this RV resort, our eyes were pulled from the hazy skies to the beautiful lakefront. Sites here are level gravel pads. Interior roads are gravel as well, and sites are spacious and scenic with views of the lake, campfire pits, and picnic tables. on site there are two heated swimming pools, a playground, activity center with a variety of activities (check the schedule when you check in), bath houses, laundry, dog park, and a variety of options included in the price of your stay: boats, laser tag and pedal bikes. There are additional activities that cost a fee such as ziplining and mini golf. If you don't have an RV, yurts and cabins are also available for rental. There are several docks and fishing spots around the lake, as well as a small beach, and a kayak launch. We also loved that this was close enough to the highway for easy access, but far enough away that days and nights were quiet, unlike the other RV park nearby that borders the highway.

Best Sites: 61-69
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer
Potable Water: At Each Site
Dump within Facility: Yes

Idyllwild Campground, Mount San Jacinto State Park, Idyllwild, California

2025-04-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Located in a small bubble separate from the state park, Idyllwild Campground offers about 20 sites set among a pine forest just adjacent to the town of Idyllwild. The campground is best suited for tent campers in most of its sites, but its few available hookup sites are available for RVs 25 feet or less. The campground road is paved, but narrow, and site length restrictions should be strictly adhered to. Many of the sites are very unlevel, and I determined only sites 1, 4, 26 and 28 were really RV friendly with minimal leveling and adequate space. Sites pads are all dirt, with the exception of hookup sites which have a small cement pad, about 20 feet in length. Each site is equipped with a fire ring and picnic table and many have manzanita shrubs for privacy. There is potable water, showers, restrooms, and a state park ranger station on site, where you will need to obtain permits to hike any of the local trails. Almost all trails here somehow connect to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and PCT through hikers are abound in spring as hikers begin their journeys northbound. A hike/bike campsite area offers PCT hikers a severely discounted place to rest their head at night and also gives them a chance to rest, connect with other hikers, and enjoy the amenities of Idyllwild. The town itself is just a few steps away and easily accessible by foot. Lots of quirky artisans' shops speckle the town, along with breweries, pizza parlors and other good eateries. There are no direct trails that lead from camp, and to access other trails you will most likely need to drive to a trailhead, although I did manage to walk the 0.8 of a mile to the Deer Springs trailhead before embarking on my 10 mile hike. Spring and fall are the best times to visit, as summers can be dry and hot and winters are snowy, although the campground does stay open. This campground would not be suitable for large class A motorhomes.

Best Sites: 1, 4, 26, 28
Poor Sites: 12, 14, 15, 16
Hookups: 1-6, 26, 28
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Only at full hookup sites

Basin Campground, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Cannonville, Utah

2024-07-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

This park has been on my travel wish list for some time. We finally got here during summer of 2024! Wow, what a beautiful park, wonderfully equipped by the Utah State Parks system. The park is close to Bryce Canyon National Park, which on certain hikes, can be spotted in the distance. There are three campgrounds here, but Basin Campground, where we stayed, is the least primitive and largest. The campground offers about 35 sites, about half of which are hookups, and the other half primitive. ALL sites here are stunning with amazing views of the sandstone landscape and rock formations. Sites in the Basin Campground are all paved, level, and spacious. Almost all of the sites are pull-thru, making it easy to get in and out. Juniper bushes speckle the basin area, their low profile not impeding your views. Generator hours here are strict, so adhere to guidelines. About a half mile from camp, you will find the laundromat, which was large and accommodating. The visitor's center, about two miles from camp, offers simple foods (hot dogs, slushies, hand scooped ice cream), game and e-bike rentals, souvenirs, and lots of interesting information about the park and hikes in the area. We enjoyed the multi-use trails here and rode our mountain bikes all over the park to various viewpoints and notable rock formations. Trails here are rated, but even the "easy" trails seemed more difficult than that to us. Although challenging, we enjoyed the terrain and adventure. The park also offers horseback riding rentals, which is another way to see the formations in the park. The night skies here are phenomenal, with clear, crisp skies to find your favorite constellations. Reservations are recommended and encouraged, but a few sites here are listed as first come, first served.

Best Sites: All
Poor Sites: 24
Hookups: Electric at some
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: Yes

Ouray Riverside Resort, Ouray, Colorado

2024-07-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

At the southern part of the "Million Dollar Highway" in southwestern Colorado, you will find what has been nicknamed "Little Switzerland" due to its stunning mountain views, waterfalls, and outdoor activities in both summer and winter. Ouray is a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts, offering rock climbing and Jeeping in the summer, and ice climbing and cross country skiing in the winter. Ouray Riverside Resort is one of two RV parks in the area. They both have a similar setup, but we definitely were glad we had reserved at this one as it seemed to offer slightly wider sites, and more on site amenities such as The Smokehouse (an excellent restaurant with great breakfast and dinners), laundry, a bath house, and onsite cabins and Jeep rentals. Just about half a mile from the town center, this park provides easy access to Ouray and all it has to offer via the Riverwalk Trail. Along the way into town along the trail, you will not only be able to view the Uncompahgre River, but also stumble upon the Ouray Hot Springs, a popular place to soak and relax your muscles after a long day of physical adventures! Two waterfalls are in the town, and a small hike to each will reward you with stunning views. We enjoyed the Via Ferrata climb and we highly recommend using a guide from Basecamp Ouray, who will take you through one of the three ferratas sharing their expertise along the way. If all of that sounds too adventurous, the town of Ouray is a charming old mining town that has remained alive and healthy, full of shops and excellent restaurants. Be sure to check out one of the establishments that offers a rooftop bar where you can sit and stare in wonder at nature's work here in this beautiful mountain setting. Back at camp, you can continue to gaze at the mountains that surround you in this little canyon area. With about 70 sites available, reservations are a must here. Premium riverfront sites are nice, but actually seeing the river is a little tricky with the berm that separates you from the river. We had a simple site in the circle loop and found it to be perfect. All sites offer full hookups and a picnic table. Common areas provide fire pits throughout the resort. If you are in a larger rig or towing your Jeep/toys, the extra long pull-thrus are the sites you will want to reserve. Regardless of what site you can snag, all offer excellent views of the area. On the side of the resort that offers cabins for rent, you will find a self-service car wash (great for washing down your toys at the end of the day), a fuel station, and hot tubs. There is also propane fill here, a convenient perk. The park is open year round!

Best Sites: All
Poor Sites: None
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer
Potable Water: Yes
Dump Within Facility: At each site

Cloverleaf Campground, St. Charles, Idaho

2024-07-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

A small creek, the St. Charles Creek, meanders from the mountains down to Bear Lake, a hub of summertime activities on the lake. Just across the border from Utah, in southern Idaho, you will find the road leading away from the beautiful Bear Lake up into the mountains. The road is paved and curvy, and you will probably encounter roaming cattle on your drive in or out. Several miles in you will find the group camp and the family campground, both along the creek. It is heavily forested here with pines and aspen trees. This small campground with only a handful of sites (less than 20), offers a peaceful getaway from bustling, busy Bear Lake. Sites here are primitive with fairly level paved site pads, fire pits, and often ample tenting space. Most creekside sites have excellent access to the creek; inland sites will have to travel down the road to find access. Restrooms are available here. About few miles up the road from camp you will encounter Minnetonka Cave. You can tour this interesting limestone cave on a guided tour which will highlight many of the cave's formations. We have been in many caves, and although this one wasn't our favorite, it was still fun to head deep into the side of the mountain and explore this rarely seen world. The road to Minnetonka Cave is steep and winding, and parking is limited at the top. We were fine in our 30 footer, but I would not recommend anything larger heading up that way.

Best Sites: 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18
Poor Sites: 1, 2
Hookups: None
Potable Water: Yes, spigots, no fill
Dump Within Facility: No