What makes a campground a gem? The answer is obvious; it depends on who you ask. Some like all the amenities of a 5-star resort, others like to be totally off the grid. The Wanderer seems to be the happiest when parked in nature with at least some creature comforts, especially fast WiFi. We have had a few disappointing and a lot of mundane experiences, but let us talk about the gems. (Okay, maybe not all listed below are “campgrounds” but that is because we are adventurers.)
You will notice we stay in a lot of national and state parks; we really like the Corps of Engineers (COE) as well. Most of these do not have full hook-ups and the national parks are often dry camping. We tend to find more like-minded adventurers in these campgrounds than in the commercial RV parks.
If you have found some gems, we would like to hear about them. Please tell in the comment section below. Who knows, we may add a "Recommended by Friends" group.
If you have found some gems, we would like to hear about them. Please tell in the comment section below. Who knows, we may add a "Recommended by Friends" group.
Arkansas
Recommendations from Brett
We don’t have an RV, but my son and I have tent camped a lot with the Boy Scouts. We usually camp at primitive campsites. But some include RV spots as well. Some of our favorites that do have such spots include:
Tyler Bend or Steel Creek Campgrounds at Buffalo National River, Arkansa (We have not stayed here.)
Arizona
We have stayed in many of the Arizona States Parks and have not found any that disappointed. The ones listed are the ones we especially liked. Note, stays are limited to 14 days in a 30 day period.
Oro Valley (near Tucson)
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| Catalina State Park, and yes, the campground is full. Very spacious sites. |
Water and electricity at site, dump station
Spacious and very clean showers and restrooms
Spacious and very clean showers and restrooms
Free and fast WiFi
Located in southern Arizona
Very friendly staff and camp host
The park is clean and tidy with spacious sites.
Water and electricity at site, dump station
Free fast WiFi
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| Queen Mine RV Park |
Location! Location! Location! Is what makes this park a gem. Situated on a hill overlooking a copper mine pit on one side and the picturesque little town of Old Bisbee on the other side, it is a short walk into town. The park itself is just ordinary; gravel surface, small sites, no tables at most sites.
Full hook-ups, cable, laundry and adequate WiFi.
California
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| Eldorado County Fairground |
Placerville
Not a campground, not a pretty setting, electricity and water only but we will stay there again. Conveniently located near one of our favorite towns in wine country, we liked it much better than the KOA. Especially with a $35/day vs $65/day.
Amador County
Great value for California, very clean and tidy, friendly staff and located in a lesser known wine region.
Full hook-ups, cable, laundry, fast speed internet.
Niceville
Spacious, quiet, very clean airconditioned bath house
Water and electricity, dump station
Less than $20 per day (a bargain for the Florida Gulf Coast
Georgia
Savannah
Spacious, pretty, very quiet, convenient
Full hook-ups
Full hook-ups
Iowa
Iowa City
Small, pretty, inexpensive ($13/night, summer 2017), near Herbert Hoover
Library
Library
Full hook-ups available
Kansas
Wilson
Beautiful, spacious and very affordable. Located nearby in Lucas is The Grassroots Art Center; definitely a “must see.”
Water, electricity and dump station.
Montana
We are not typically fans of KOAs; most of the time we find them to be worn and deteriorating. While visiting family in the summer of 2017 we found the very “first KOA ever” in Billings to be convenient, well maintained and with a lovely view.
Full and partial hook-ups, laundry, cafe, ice cream shop and very nice showers.
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| Sleepy Sunflower RV Park |
Nebraska
Ogallala
What we liked about this park
is convenience. Located right off I-80 with pull-through sites, full hook-ups,
& laundry facility; throw in the extra friendly staff and it is a gem!
Nevada
This RV park is a gem because it is located out in the middle of nowhere Nevada. Basically it is a gravel parking lot with about a dozen easy access, pull through sites.
Full hook-ups, laundry, WiFi
Near Alamo,
Nevada
Beautiful setting, quiet, no amenities, free, first come,
first served
North Carolina
 |
| Jordan Lake State Recreation Area |
Near Raleigh
Beautiful, quiet
Water, electricity and dump station
Oklahoma
Recommended by Brett
We don’t have an RV, but my son and I have tent camped a lot with the Boy Scouts. We usually camp at primitive campsites. But some include RV spots as well. One of our favorites that do have such spots include:
Beavers Bend Park, Broken Bow Oklahoma (We have not stayed at this campground)
South Carolina
Near Charleston
Beautiful, spacious, friendly and conveniently located with hiking trails.
Full hook-ups
Rapid City
Small, private owned, friendly
Near Mt. Rushmore
Full hook-ups, laundry
Tennessee
Little Arrow
Townsend
Located just outside The Smoky Mountain National Park makes it a gem.
Full hook-ups, swimming pool, laundry
More expensive than we like to pay; actually we bought the convenient
location.
Texas
For the most part, this is probably useless information as most of you will never find yourselves in Andrews, Texas. However, if you do, the Chamber of Commerce has five RV sites in their parking lot; what makes it a gem is it is free!
Water, electricity, dump station
Free, first come basis, no reservations
Free, first come basis, no reservations
Palo Duro Canyon StatePark
Near Amarillo
What makes this a gem is location, the views and the many hiking trails in the park. Also, it is a "dark sky" park and is very quiet.
Water, electricity, dump station
(We can’t really comment on the restrooms and showers as they were closed while we were there.)
Utah
Capitol Reef National Park
Small,
intimate, deer roaming freely, convenient to hiking trails, complimentary fruit
from the orchards (we were there during apple season) and a quick walk to Gifford House for wonderful fruit pies.
No amenities,
inexpensive (especially with National Park Senior Pass)
Note: Reservations are required, cannot be made more than 6 months in advance, fills up immediately.
Moab Utah
Not a campground but a terrific deal. Free and best designed
dump station and fresh water system we
have found. Useful if staying in Arches
or Canyonlands National Parks. The convenience store and restrooms are very
clean
Recommendations from Brett
We don’t have an RV, but my son and I have tent camped a lot with the Boy Scouts. We usually camp at primitive campsites. But some include RV spots as well. Some of our favorites that do have such spots include:
(We have not stayed at the campsites listed below but they are on our list to check out)
Tyler State Park, north of Tyler Texas
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area at Davy Crockett National Forest, near Alto Texas
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