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7/26/24
Park National du Mont-Orford, Quebec, Canada Rating:
A
Very nice park with lake with beach front. Hiking trail we did not have time to take.
6/2/24
Santee SP, SC Rating:
A
Stayed at the Cypress View Campground Spot 43 on lake which is far enough away to not hear highway noise. Internet. 7 mile Bike/hike trail through woods is nice but a little boring. There is a pickleball court. Can call direct for single night reservation 803 854-2408. Very hot for July 30 stay with lots of little bugs.
5/30/24
Big Meadows Campground, Shenandoah NP, VA Rating:
B+
Nice trails. We went on Appalachian Trail and Lewis Springs Falls Trail. Campsites were small. We were next to tent camping and to dumpster in spot 78.
5/21-22/24
Hickory Run SP, PA Rating:
B+
Nicely wooded. Campground was huge and largely empty right before labor day. Spot 111 private and spacious but near dog area reasonably close to bathroom. Internet. Boulder field interesting. Did Hawk Falls and Shades of Death trails which were short.
5/19-20/24
Ricketts Glen SP, PA Rating:
B+
Spot 57 on lake. Spacious. A little local road noise quiet at night. Did very nice falls trail which was quite challenging. Beach trail easy walk. CCC dam. No internet.
4/8/24
Cedar Lake, Ouachita NF, OK Rating:
B+
Pretty Lake. We stayed at North Shore spot 54 which was a little further than South Shore and the spot although on lake was sort of in parking lot.
B+
Pretty Lake. We stayed at North Shore spot 54 which was a little further than South Shore and the spot although on lake was sort of in parking lot.
4/7/24
Charleton Recreation Area, Ouachita NF, AK Rating:
A-
Nice site backs on forest. Short Interpretive trail. Spot 17B. Saw eclipse at nearby Ouachita Vista Point which was near a small first come first serve campground , hiking,and many places to Boondock.
4/6/24
Coleman Lake Recreation Area, Talladega NF, AL Rating:
B+
Very nice but cannot reserve in advance. Okay on an off season Saturday but probably not good on weekend in season. There was overflow camping. Also some hunting camps. Nice walk around the lake.
2/3-5/24
Hunting Island SP, NC Rating:
A
2 day minimum. Lighthouse was closed. Coastal Expeditions-Beaufort may be possible. Very close to beach on island totally occupied by state park. Spots 167, 158, 91-95 look good. 162,156,97,89 look okay.
10/4/23
Indian Springs SP, GA Rating:
B+
Pretty isolated spots by lake. Spot 50. Quiet but train nearby. Long walk to 1.5 mile loop trail thru woods. Very far from bathroom.
10/3/23
Trace SP, MS Rating:
B+
On lake spot 4. Very nice restful. Bathroom clean. Forested. Nature trails didn't have time to checkout. Road noise in morning.
10/2/23
Lake Eufaula State Park, OK Rating:
B
Big lake with some I-40 noise. Bathrooms old "semi-modern" No trails. In an oak forest.
10/1/23
Conchas Lake SP, NM Rating:
B+
Huge army core of engineers project. Nice campsite overlooking lake with covered picnic table. No trails. The lake was very low. In the middle of nowhere.
8/20/23
Cave Spring Campground, Coconino NF, AR Rating:
B+
One of few campgrounds as state parks did not have camping. Started in spot E9 which was much too steep. Many spots seemed too close to highway. Near recommended trail which we did not take because many stream crossings.
7/2-3/23
Two Jack Main Campground, AB Rating:
A-
Very dense forest
with very tall Lodgepole Pines. A short drive to Two Jack Lake. Took a Lake Minnewanka cruise and
short Stewart Canyon Bridge hike. Also visited Two Jack and Johnson Lakes.
6/27-28/23
Lake Louise Hard Sided Campground, AB Rating:
C
Not very private. Horrible road and train noise.
Went to Sunwapta Falls and Columbia Icefield Adventure. Took the bus to Lake Louise and
did the trail to Lake Agnes and took the bus to see Moraine Lake.
6/25-26/23
Wapiti Campground, Jasper, AB Rating:
A-
Many Trees Cut down because of Pine Beetles
but pretty nice campground with little road noise. Close to Athabasca River. Valley of Five Lakes Trail.
5/8/23
Ferne Clyffe SP, IL Rating:
B+
Spot 55 was very private. Waterfall beautiful. Park was very pretty but signage and upkeep of trails pretty poor. Bathroom really far away. 4/19/23
Lake Norman SP, NC Rating:
A-
Many hiking trails. Wooded well maintained park. A little far from I-77.
4/23/23
Medoc Mountain SP, NC Rating:
A-
Pleasant wooded state park. Well maintained. Took Bluff Loop trail along Little Fishing Creek.
2/19/23
Reedy Creek I Campground, Lake Wales Ridge SF, FL Rating:
A-
Almost no amenities except portapotty and dumpster. Great isolated hiking trails along creek and to lake (we didn't make it to lake). Private peaceful campsite (006). Really inexpensive.
11/9-10/22
Meaher SP, AL Rating:
B-
Just east of Mobile on Mobile Bay. Worst was very bad road noise not just from visible I-10 but also adjacent Highway 90. Campsites okay. First night in RV site on the bay, second in tent site 7 which had electric. Trip was to avoid Hurricane/Tropical Storm Nicole. Rented a canoe and saw alligator. Nice walk on boardwalk Canecutter Trail. Great Sunset over bay.
10/20/22
Reed Bingham SP, GA Rating:
B
Bad very exposed campsite close to bathrooms. There are better sites. Pretty nice hike on Little River trail and Birdwalk Trail.
10/19/22
Cheaha SP, AL Rating:
A-
Pretty Private campsites. Highest point in Alabama in foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Took a little walk on boardwalk to Bald Rock. There is a hotel and another venue which would be great for a party.
10/18/22
Gulpha Gorge Campground, Hot Springs NP, AR Rating:
B
Nice trail to Hot Springs which is an urban NP. Campground okay but not great. Got to town a little too late to see visitor center.
10/6/22
Whitney Portal Campground, CA Rating:
B+
Gateway to climbing Mt. Whitney but hiked only a little way up. Better to park at trailhead rather than campground for hike (save about a mile). Road up was very steep and a bit scary. Campground was also very steep. Not too private. Bear Boxes.
10/5/22
June Lake Campground, CA Rating:
B-
Not to much to do here except Lake Activities. Spots were very crowded but surrounded by Aspens which were changing color. Bear Boxes.
10/4/22
Manzanita Lake Campground, Lassen Volcanic NP, CA Rating:
B+
Wooded campground with not too widely spaced sites and bear boxes. Didn't see a bear in any of California campgrounds. Pretty far drive to other side of National Park to see the thermal features.
10/2/22
Cape Lookout SP, OR Rating:
A-
Was right adjacent to beach with decent campsites. Camped in tent area which was considered okay for van. Nice walk on beach. Did not do entire hike through impressive temperate rain forest to Cape Lookout because of no visibility due to fog and muddy trail.
9/25/22
Deshutes River State Recreation Area, OR Rating:
C-
Being on the river (spot A19) and hike along the Deshutes River were nice, BUT campsites crowded together (smelled their cigarette smoke), highway noise, and extremely loud train. Camp area T without electric might be better as was much further from I-84.
9/24/22
Bruneau Dunes SP, ID Rating:
B
Campsites a little crowded together without tree coverage. Dunes were impressive and hard to climb. They also have an observatory.
9/23/22
Price Canyon BLM Recreation Area, UT Rating:
B
Difficult left turn from highway to get to the access road which was long, narrow, steep, poorly paved. Very private campsites. Outhouse only. BLM. Nature Trail okay view and showed devastation from recent forest fire.
8/6/22
Old Logging Trail Camprground at St. Croix SP, MN Rating:
A-
Pretty nice wooded campground with hikes along the St. Croix River which forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin.
8/4/22
Canisbay Lake Campground at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario Rating:
A
Very nice wooded campground with short walk to lake. Would have liked to do more hiking in this park.
8/1/22
Grand Lac Touladi Campground at Parc National du Lac-Temiscouata, Quebec Rating:
A-
Excellent wooded campsite but very far from bathroom. On a beautiful lake. The problem was that this campground required a very large detour.
7/30-31/22
Stanhope Campground, Prince Edward Island NP of Canada, PEI Rating:
A-
Nice wooded campsite across the road from Stanhope Beach. Cavendish Campground looks better but was completely booked. Local singers gave a country music concert with Cajun and Irish influences.
7/28-29/22
Cheticamp Campground, Cape Breton Highlands NP of Canada, Nova Scotia Rating:
A-
Not very private campsite close to bathroom. Went to ranger talk on maple syrup given by Native American.
7/26-27/22
Point Wolfe Campground, Fundy National Park of Canada, New Brunswick Rating:
A
Nice wooded campground with lots of hiking trails.
7/7/22
Dunewood Campground, Indiana Dunes NP, IN Rating:
B-
Campground was nice but far from dunes and dunes were nothing special.
5/16-20/22
Superbowl BLM Group Campground near the Needles in Canyonlands NP, UT Rating: A-
Spectacular views in very private group campground. Just a foul smelling outhouse and no other amenities. On UT211 the campground is 13.5 miles past Newspaper Rock and then 6.5 miles to the NP. All daily hikes were in the National Park. Slickrock and Cave Spring short hikes. Took hikes from NP campground to Squaw Flat and Lost Canyon and back on river wash. From Elephant Hill hiked up through the Needles into Chesler Park and on Joint Trail.
5/8/22
Ojo Caliente, NM Rating: A-
Okay campground but could walk to hot springs (8 pools) and pretty good restaurant. Stayed in spot 26. 25 and 26 are best. 21 is okay. 29 private but right by road.
4/27/22
Wilson Lake SP, KS Rating: A-
Spacious campsite on lake with a few trees.
Spot 42 was good but electric didn't work. Was too windy to cook outside. En route Missouri and Kansas
had beautiful purple blossoms which we thought were Eastern Redbud. Also visited 4/9/24 spot Grama Loop 30. Spot is right on lake with great sunset views. Far from bathroom.
4/20-25/22
Greenbrier Campground, Gatlinburg, TN Rating: A-
Pricey campground with close together spots
but had firepit, grill, on river, no road noise, excellent bathrooms, good internet. Spot 19. We hiked in Great Smoky Mountains
National Park: Gatlinburg Trail was easy along river. Pretty white Dogwood trees. Charlies Bunion was on Appalachian Trail strenous 8 miles but
good view.
2/22/22
Little Manatee River SP, FL Rating: A+
Great campsites. Excellent bathroom. Spot 23 was good. 1/2 hour to Bradenton area convention center. Should rent canoe or kayak for pickup downstream (vendor outside of park). Trails okay but short.
2/21/22
Highlands Hammock SP, FL Rating: B+
Campsites were crowded but quiet. Very nice short trails of hammock and swamp. CCC park with museum. Check for music nights
11/15/21
Blackwater River SP, FL Rating: A-
Nice forested area with sandy beach along a river. Very peaceful. Campsites okay but inside of loop a little close to loop behind it. Outer side of loop would be better. Excellent bathroom.
11/14/21
Sea Rim SP, TX Rating: B
Need to go through unbelievable refinery area. Very isolated spot with no gas station near by. Miles of empty gulf coast beach to walk on. Kayak trails are about a mile away on other side of road. Campsites not very private but just off beach. They rent Kayaks 1 mile up road. Reserve night before.
11/12/21
San Angelo SP, TX Rating: C
Fairly desolate area with prickly pear. Needed to go to South Entrance and drive back 8 miles to North Entrance for campsite with entrance code. Very few campsites taken and reasonable private. Some road noise.
10/21/21
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness SP, MI Rating: A
Best
campsite ever, right on Lake Superior which looks like
ocean. Lots of hiking opportunities. Lake of the Clouds is
very beautiful. Turning leaves a little past their prime
but still good.
10/20/21
Tahquamenon Falls SP, MI Rating:
B+
Campsites
nothing special. Outhouse only this time of year.
Short hike to lower and upper falls.
10/19/21
Point Beach State Forest, WE Rating: A-
Campsites are very close to Lake
Michigan and you can walk along the sandy beach.
Many hiking trail options through conifer and
deciduous forest.
10/13/21 Eugene
Mahoney SP, NE Rating: B
Campsites are just off I-80
with lots of highway noise. There is a hotel
overlooking Platte River which looks nice. It
can be booked for single night off season
during the week. Scary observation tower over
Platte. Hiking is only on concrete trails. May 2024 stayed at lakeside campground spot 106. This had a little less noise. Could try campsite adjacent to lake.
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11/18/20 McLeod
Park, MI Rating: B-
Campsites by river.
Bathrooms too far to use. Local airfield
with a lot of airplane noise.
1/5/21 Grayton
Beach State Park, FL Rating:
A
Sand Dunes and Beach.
Dune hiking trail. Also Florida forest
trail.
1/6/21 Tickfaw
State Park, LA Rating:
A
Swamp and river
trails.
1/7/21 Caddo
Lake State Park, TX Rating:
A-
Bayou and
Lake. Good trails. Not the
best bathroom. Stay at
Squirrel Haven.
1/8/21 Caprock
Canyons State Park, TX Rating: A
Nice
canyons with many trails.
Buffalo everywhere.
Prairie dogs.
2/3/21
Palo
Duro State Park, TX Rating:
A+
Beautiful
canyon with many
trails. Spacious
campsites. We stayed
in Sagebrush. 11/11/21 stayed in
Hackberry. Did the Lighthouse
trail which was nice.
2/5/21
Buccaneer
State Park, MS Rating:
B
Across
the street from
gulf but no beach
there. Short drive
to Bay St. Louis
with excellent
choice of
restaurants. Ate
at "Cuz" which had
good gumbo. Pretty
far from casinos
and not built up
like Biloxi.
Campsites are
close together. We
stayed Treasure
Cove #140 which
seemed to be best
camping area. Did
not explore nature
trail due to rain.
2/6/21
Ochlockonee
River State
Park, FL Rating:
B+
By
Ochlockonee
River.
Campsites are
close
together. Nice
but not
extensive
trails, saw
deer. Also
went to Bald
Point SP which
was not worth
it.
4/4/21
Brazos Bend
State Park, TX
Rating:
A-
Loads
of trails
around swamp
land and lakes
with lookout
tower.
Alligators and
many birds.
Stayed at Red
Buckeye
Camping area.
4/5/21
South Llano
River State
Park, TX Rating:
B+
Hiking
and biking
trails to
river and to
lookout.
Desert
environment.
4/6/21
Guadalupe
Mountains
National Park,
TX Rating:
B
Guadalupe
Mountain is
highest spot
in Texas. We
hiked up a
river bed to
Devil's Hall.
Many other
hikes
available.
Very windy
site. The Pine
Springs
Campground was
just a parking
lot.
6/3/21
Clinton SP, KS
Rating:
A-
Very
peaceful
setting nice
campsites.
Stayed at spot
411 in
Coneflower
which was
short walk
through woods
to lake.
Basically on
the route.
6/4/21
Summit Lake
SP, IN Rating:
B+
Nice.
A little off
the route.
Spots 42, 44,
and 46 were on
the lake.
6/7/21
Lake Norman
SP, NC Rating:
B+
Spots
19,21 flatter.
Really nice
bathroom.
Large towering
trees. Long
drive to
campground to
and within park.
7/12/21 High
Falls SP, GA Rating:
A
Many Chanterelles!! Took
Tranquil Trail and also saw river and
falls. Stayed at River Campground spot
2--was quiet and nice. Also visited May 7,2023 and no chanterelles. Had spot 59, but 60-61 would be flatter. Discovered Merlin birding app. Tufted Titmouse most distinctive.
7/13/21 Rock
Island SP, TN Rating:
C-
Impressive waterfall but
far from campsite. Campsite crowded and
some local car noise at night.
7/14/21 Hawn
SP, MO Rating: B+
By river. Nice hikes
through woodland.
9/14/21 Sully
SP, ND Rating: B
By river. Couldn't get
spot at Theodore Roosevelt NP (badlands
and T. Roosevelt cabin)
9/15/21 Wind
Cave NP, SD Rating:
B+
Very interesting cave.
Campground nice but no showers or
electrical hookups. Easy to get spot with
no reservation.
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