Car Camping Across America

Hovenweep NM (UT)

What's not to enjoy when this is your view?  Hovenweep National Monument is a NPS site with a small 30 unit campground in the high (5,300 ft) Colorado Plateau on the UT/CO border.  It was one of the few campgrounds I could book rather last minute, largely in part to its remote location.

Hovenweep like all of the US National Park Service campgrounds I stayed at, provides guests with the Senior or Access Pass a 50% discount on camp fees.  Many require advance booking online at www.recreation.gov.  This particular site was just $10 since there are no hook-ups or showers at Hovenweep.  There was, however running water and flushing toilets so it wasn't totally roughing it while camping there.

Joshua Tree NP - Jumbo Rocks CG (CA)

Zion NP - Watchman CG (UT)

Arches NP - Devil's Garden CG (UT)

 

 

 

These three national park campgrounds are situated within the park boundaries, and provide well maintained restrooms (with flush toilets) and picnic areas. At Zion NP sites with electric hook-ups are available for an added fee.

Perhaps the best thing of all are the very dark skies!  This was sunrise over Arches National Park . . . simply amazing as first light silhouettes the surrounding mountains.

Also booked on Recreation.gov was Big Bend Park in Canton, OK which I believe is administered by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. This was a random "find" when researching campgrounds along my route in Oklahoma.  I wasn't sure what to expect when I read this was generally an area known for fishing and hunting . . . but boy was I pleasantly pleased when I arrived and realized I had my end of the campground (away from the fishing boat launch area) all to myself.  And what a great view too!  This campground provides an exceptional value at just $9/night (non-electric site w/ Access Pass) although I booked a site with electric hook-ups ($12.50/night w/Access Pass) mainly to be right next to the bathrooms which also had nice showers.

Another campground I had all to myself was Park Pawnee in Larned, KS.  The early part of my road trip was easy to plan for especially being set to visit several national parks.  After the third week, however, most of my trip was sorta winging it without reservations booked for campgrounds after leaving New Mexico.  Having run into a challenge in La Junta, CO the night before, the day I was heading for Fort Larned National Historic Site I felt some pressure to find a convenient campground for the following morning's visit at Fort Larned.  With only 14 full hook-up sites @ $20/night, I feared spaces would go quickly . . . so I made sure to arrive well before nightfall.  I couldn't believe the park was open and that other than day visitors enjoying a warm spring evening, the place was deserted.  With a decent bathroom with running water, what more could I want?  I've stayed in local county and municipal campgrounds before with mixed reviews . . . but this one was exceptional.

The only "commercial" campgrounds I stayed in were two KOAs . . . one prebooked for two nights in Santa Fe, NM and the other in the aforementioned La Junta, CO.  KOAs are generally well regarded among the RV community, especially if you are a member of their reward program.  For no more camping than I do in any given year, it doesn't make sense for me to pay a membership fee for the nominal discount received.  I can remember when really nice tent sites could be had for around $20 to $25 at just about any KOA in the country.  But like everything else, prices have been steadily climbing.  I paid $48/night in Santa Fe a just a little under that in La Juanta . . . but only because the night clerk apparently quoted me the wrong price.  To be honest . . . upwards of $50 for a dry tent site, even if there are nice showers, feels like highway robbery.  My favorite KOA of all time is in Cody, WY where at least they provide guests with a complimentary made-to-order pancake breakfast each morning.  I just love that KOA!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the nice amenities provided by Xanterra for guests staying at their Fiddler's Campground in Death Valley National Park.  As the official concessionaire operating the two resort properties in Death Valley, having access to the swimming pools at either resort was a nice bonus, specially since they have a wonderful pool house with showers available to all guests.

While the rack rate for the campground was a pricey $59/night (for full hook-ups, no dry/tent sites available), I did score a 50% off internet special.  So at just $29/night . . . this was a very fair price especially since the Furnace Creek Campground operated by the National Park Service was going to be $15 for a dry site (with the 50% off Access Pass rate), PLUS I was planning to pay the $10-$15 for a "day pass" to have access to the pool and showers at the nearby Oasis Inn Resort (photo to left).  I loved my early morning swim followed by a relaxing shower before heading on Utah.  And extra added bonus . . . free WiFi on the grounds at the resort.  I was able to log-in from their main property parking lot as well as out by the swimming pool.  It was nice to catch up with David by text after being off the grid for the better part of the afternoon and evening before.

Just a couple more camping photos!

Early morning view out the back of my SUV - Arches NP

  

Movie Time @ Joshua Tree NP