My Favorite Campsites!

Darren

3 months ago

On the Odyssey Camper YouTube Channel, I am doing a series on my favorite campgrounds. These are actual campgrounds, not “stealth camping” spots. All are in the USA!

Any of these spots are suitable for van camping or tent camping and most are suitable for other RVs. If you are reading this post, before July 20th of 2024, it’s still in progress and you can follow at my channel link, above. You can also find additional photos at that link. I will periodically add new campgrounds here, as I find them in the future. Each has a Google Maps link and you can also go to Google Earth if you really want to investigate a spot.

You can see them all on a giant map, here:

Odyssey Camper Top Campsites – Google My Maps

Favorite Campsite Series #1

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FvWvmr9e6UnDdrtB6

Fisher Towers–Moab, UT

Located just before the trailhead, you can’t ask for anything closer to the magnificent geological feature. It’s also a great location for visiting Moab, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park (which I think is BETTER than Arches).

Pros:

Location, Location, Location
Dirt Cheap Price
Incredible Night Sky Views (satellites, shooting stars, Milky Way, horizon-to-horizon views)
150 feet from the trailhead and a toilet!

Cons:

Limited availability in peak seasons
Hotter than Satan’s toenails in the summer, until sunset, where it drops to the 40s or 50s

Pro/Con:

Bats!! A pro if you like them, a con if you don’t.

Favorite Campsite Series #2

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ycj73Eqn5wtx7doz5

Baby Doe Campground–Leadville, CO

As any good permaculture follower will tell you, the action happens at the edges. The places where two ecosystems or habitats meet are richer and more productive. I think this is also true of scenic places. Mountains are good, lakes are interesting, and who doesn’t like the woods? Combine all three and you have the view from one of my favorite campsites.

Pros:

Sites that are 40 feet from the waterline (I think I was in site #13)
Reasonable cost
Stunning views of the surrounding mountain peaks
15 min walk back from town

Cons:

Most of the sites are NOT on the water
That water was damn cold in June
You are at 10,000 feet of elevation, so it’s a bit harder to do physical activities for the first day or two. It’s also a bit more challenging to start a fire with flint and steel.
5 mile walk back from town 😉

Favorite Campsite Series #3

https://maps.app.goo.gl/D81aagZFNrFUuftW7

Sugar Loaf Campground II–Carroll, NH

This state campground can be found to the west of the Presidential Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The campground itself is in thick woods with both evergreens and deciduous trees and is located up a good-sized hill. At the entrance road is the Zeeland Campground, if you have a larger RV. Unfortunately, I did not take any photos of the site itself because I rolled in late. If you are planning a trip to the White Mountains, this is a good place to start from, with access to more hiking and sites than you could possibly do in a week. It’s also right down the road from Bretton Woods and the Mount Washington Omni hotel, an early 1900s resort. Walk through the lobby and onto the massive back porch and you’ll find one of the best views of this mountain range. I sometimes hear people who have never been to the White Mountains dismiss them, saying they “aren’t like the Mountains out west.” Nope, they are older and more worn down. But one thing people often miss is the prominence of Mt. Washington, or how high it protrudes from the surrounding area. At 6,148 feet, there are only 22 peaks with greater prominence in the lower 48. Only one of those 22 peaks is in Colorado, a state that people think of when they think of mountains. For comparison, Grand Teton is only 397 feet more prominent. If you squint, you can almost see the AT hikers who are hoping this is the last set of big mountains they have to cross.

Pros:

Clean but otherwise unremarkable campground.
Toilets, but I do not remember showers. However, the woods is pretty thick and you are in an area where nobody cares if you shower naked outside your van.
Close to the cog rail, the AT, spectacular mountain hikes, local antique shops, covered bridges, and some of the best fall foliage in the country.

Cons:

Naked people showering in the woods (careful what you wish for…)
EVERYTHING in this area is on a hill or mountain. If you have limited mobility, the hotel is a great way to see the Presidential Range.

Favorite Campsite Series #4

https://maps.app.goo.gl/h63dLEexFpmAG92F6

Aguirre Springs Campground~ White Sands, NM

Access is from Aguirre Springs road off of Route 70 (if you are going east, it’s on the right) just east of Las Cruces, NM. Unlike most BLM-managed land, Aguirre has 55 designated campsites for which you will pay $7 per night, but no dispersed camping. However, the fee includes the use of pit toilets located at the campground and there are refuse cans available. The campground is accessible by a windy road and sits at 5700 feet (although the prominence is much less). You’ll pay at the top by leaving an envelope in the slot.

Pros:

Amazing views of the Organ Mountains, White Sands Missle Range, and the night sky
Dirt Cheap Price (was $10 the last time I visited in 2023)
A couple of decent hiking trails right next to the camp
On the way to and from a number of things

Cons:

The gate closes at 6 pm in the winter.
It would be a challenge to get anything longer than a 23′ trailer up the switchbacks (I think they suggest 15′, but I know of at least one person who made it with a bigger trailer.
Watch the weather; I had to descend on an icy road one morning…

I have an extended write-up on my blog, here:

https://odysseycamper.com/trips-in-the-odyssey-van-camper/aguirre-spring-campground/

Favorite Campsite Series #5

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4K1gtPEDWKQqm1TV8

Horsethief Lake Campground~ Mt. Rushmore, SD

Located “behind” Mt. Rushmore National Monument, on State Road 244, is Horsethief Lake Campground. This is a very small campground that is about a 10-minute drive from Mt. Rushmore and is surrounded by some great Black Hills hiking trails. You can fish and paddle the lake, and I suppose you could swim it if you wanted too, but there is not a lot of sandy beach access. I’ve stayed here a couple of times and find that it’s a great location for feeling like you are in the woods, while still being close to all the attractions. There is also a nice walking trail and bridges around the lake if you don’t feel like hiking the 45-degree inclines that are common in this area.

Pros:

A very scenic lake surrounded by tall pines
Quiet after 10 pm
Fair price for the area
A couple of decent hiking trails right next to the camp
Close to almost everything you’ll want to see in and around Rushmore and Custer, SD
They have a campground host on site!

Cons:

Small and booked almost all season
Closes at the end of September
There is a main road on the other side of the lake but after the main events at Rushmore let out, it quiets down significantly.

Favorite Campsite Series #6

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q4oQtDE4g4Dqg…

Flowing Well Campground– Nahma Township, MI

This is a quiet little spot on a wooded stream, in Michigan’s upper peninsula. It’s also one of the first places I stayed in the “old” 2004 Odyssey Camper. I would call this a “travel stop” because unless you plan on fishing, there really isn’t much around here. HOWEVER, it is ideally positioned if you are crossing the U.P. on Rt. 2, or are heading up to the Keweenaw Peninsula, from lower Michigan. There are pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. Only a couple of spots can fit larger rigs, so plan accordingly. All spots are along a drive-through road, so you can scope out your spot without worrying about how you’ll get your rig back out. My site was the first or second if memory serves.

Pros:

Quiet, assuming that the other campers are quiet
A fishable river right behind your site
Toilets

Cons:

There is nothing around here, but maybe that’s what you are looking for Trees obscure the view of the night sky
Very buggy in the spring, but not too bad in September/October

I have a blog post for this one from 2017: https://odysseycamper.com/trips-in-th…

Favorite Campsite Series #7

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SpAepWVN9ejXkr2E9

Beach Camping–Padre Island, TX

Anyone who heads out for an extended trip in their RV has a bucket list. I’d bet that on that list is at least one oceanfront camping spot. Even better if it’s free! The trouble is, there aren’t a lot of places in the US where you can actually drive out onto a saltwater beach and camp for a few days for free. But I’m happy to say that Padre Island IS one such place. In fact, several areas along this 113-mile-long barrier island allow beach camping. But can you just “drive” onto the beach? What about the sand?

Since this blog is about camping in a minivan, I have to give a caveat. I stopped here while I was in my Nissan NV200, but I’m not sure I would attempt it in my Odyssey. As you enter the beach, there is a 50 ft. strip of soft dry sand. I made it over with front-wheel drive and larger-than-stock tires without too much trouble, but the Odyssey has less ground clearance and stock tires, so I’m not sure it would fare as well. It’s also a heavier vehicle, which wouldn’t help. That said, I saw an AWD Toyota Sienna on the beach and if I did get stuck there were plenty of jeeps around that could probably have helped me.

While there I saw pickup trucks (rear and 4-wheel drive), class C RVs, a Sprinter van conversion, and even a car! I did not see any Class As, or big fifth wheels. I’m not saying it can’t be done, just that I didn’t personally see the other types of vehicles. A heavier towed camper might need a 4WD to pull it through the entrance. From there, you can drive on the hard sand (best done at low tide). The good news is that there is a paved campground just north of here on the map (Malaquite Campground). You won’t be ON the beach, but the ocean is just on the other side of the dune. It might be a better option for the big busses or less adventurous.

Pros:

C’mon, it’s on the beach man!
Fairly dark night skies (are you starting to see that this is one of my key factors in picking campgrounds?)
Ocean birds (lots of protected wildlife areas in the vicinity)
Swimming and fishing

Cons:

Some of those fish are sharks. As I write this, a shark just attacked multiple swimmers just north of this location.
It’s HOT in the summer. I was there in mid-July and it was in the 90s by day and 80s at night. The gulf water keeps this area warm.
No toilets or showers on the beach, so plan accordingly. There are some showers at the public beach north of here, but it’s a bit far to walk to them.
Oceans have tides. There is a reason nobody is parked on the dark sand at night…

Pro/Con:

It’s windy here. But, it will keep the bugs off and make it feel a little cooler.

Favorite Campsite Series #8

https://maps.app.goo.gl/v956VfkgtXFJd…

Badlands National Park–Wall, SD

If you’ve watched virtually ANY YouTube videos about Badlands National Park, you’ve seen this spot. Everyone covers it for good reasons; it’s free, and the views are spectacular! You’ll be right at the entrance to the park and you can look over the cliff and see a lot of… well, badlands. Driving down from Wall, SD on rt 240 you will look for the cell tower on your left. There is a bumpy dirt road there. Follow it until you come to a tee in the road, then you can go right or left. I suggest going right and if you don’t find a spot, use the vantage point to look down to the left and pick out your place.

I’ve camped here on three different trips (it’s close to I-90) and have never had a problem getting a spot with a great view. But, if you pull and and don’t see one, you can always park on the left and walk to the rim. People leave every day and you can jump over to their spot. There is also a nice grassy field with cows if you keep going and it serves as an overflow area. Note that there are mice out here in the grasslands and I’ve read of people picking up extra passengers. There are also lots of rattlesnakes in the area, so watch where you step if you decide to walk through a field.

Pros:

Awesome view
Free
As close as you can camp to the park without being IN the park. (Don’t even bother with the area KOAs–trust me on that one).

Cons:

NO facilities, you are boondocking here
Rattlesnakes, but they won’t chase you, LOL
Wind. It’s always breezy but they also get crazy thunderstorms. Everyone parks lengthwise along the rim but if you have windows at one end of your rig, and storms are expected, you might want to park perpendicular to the rim (less wind noise and rocking).

I also did a blog post and video for this one. I think it was my third YouTube video and it’s awful. But here’s the link to the post: Free Boondocking Near Badlands National Park

Favorite Campsite Series #9

https://maps.app.goo.gl/M85jUhTSKs8nZCtJA

Meriwether Lewis Campground (Natchez Trace)–Hohenwald, TN

I’ve been traveling the Natchez Trace since 1990 and it’s one of my favorite ways to cross this part of Tennessee. The Natchez Trace, if you are unfamiliar, is a traditional road used by Native Americans in the area. It also happens to run near a lot of Civil War historical sites if that interests you (Corinth, Shiloh, and Vicksburg, to name a few). The trace is now a paved national parkway, meaning trucks are not allowed on it and access is limited.

Along the Trace are three campgrounds and the northernmost Meriwether Lewis Campground (of Lewis and Clark fame) is my favorite. There are no hook-ups but there are toilets and potable water on site. The sites are paved and level. The town of Hohenwald is 5 minutes away and it’s easy to go into town if you need something or feel like having someone else cook. The campground is surrounded by woods and though it’s not that deep, it is dense, making you feel like you are much farther from civilization than you actually are. I have a lot of customers around Nashville, Huntsville, and Corinth so I stay here at least once a year.

The Natchez Trace has no stoplights, few stop signs, and a 50 MPH speed limit. That may not sound very fast, but the lack of required stops makes it an enjoyable way to cover 444 miles. You’ll also get great fuel economy! The Trace provides fantastic access to dozens of areas of interest along the way. It would also be a fantastic ride on a bike or motorcycle, though I have not personally done that. In fact, I had never driven the Trace south of Corinth, MS until the great travel year of 2020!

It can be hard to escape the summer heat and humidity of central Tennessee and you aren’t going to do it here. But, the thick tree canopy definitely helps to keep the sun off. Near to the campground are the Meriweather Lewis monument (spoiler: it’s a sad story that you probably haven’t heard)and there are sections of the original trace path that you can still hike.

Pros:

Level sites
Thick woods
Amazing foliage in the autumn
Free!

Cons:

The sites are paved (not really a “con” if you have a bigger RV)
Mosquitos, just like everywhere east of the Mississippi in the summer
No electricity or water, but you’ll probably only stay for a night or two

Favorite Campsite Series #10

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WeDSESiXCongU…

Mammoth Cave NP Campground–KY

I travel I-65 between Louisville and Nashville a lot, and this has become one of my favorite campgrounds along the way. If you visit Mammoth, this is really the only decent place to stay, but I’ve stopped when just passing through. There is a camp store and the wooded lots are a nice place to spend the night. In the morning, you can get an hour of hiking in and then use the clean (when I’ve been) showers. Then, off to your business meeting! LOL

Mammoth Cave National Park, if you’ve never been, is located in a wooded park of Kentucky surrounded by good-sized hills. The cave itself is easily accessible by a short walk down a paved trail, to the historic entrance. I suggest the Mammoth Passage Tour if you aren’t a fan of tight spaces. One step up from that is the Historic Tour (or my suggestion, the Extended Historic Tour). Beyond that, you’ll be getting into dark, close spaces. If you think that might bother you, talk to a ranger about which tour is right for you. If you want a taste of PTSD and a lifelong case of claustrophobia, choose one of the crawling tours or exploration classes. (As an unrelated sidenote, I’m done with caves. Paths set by skinny people in their 20s, are not suitable for middle-aged fat guys…)

Pros:

Clean and ranger patrolled, so they don’t let it get too loud.
Proximity to I-65 without staying at a KOA .
A decent restaurant on location and a classic camp store.
Stuff to do!

Cons:

There is really nothing around here, so bring supplies if you won’t be using the restaurant.
You’ll run out of things to do after two nights (unless you get stuck in a cave passage, where you might be staying an extra night).

While you are here, be sure to do some of the beautiful trails just west of the cave and on the other side of the Green River. Bring some bug repellent and a hat.

Favorite Campsite Series #11

https://maps.app.goo.gl/j36z6yY5YiDdA3BK6

Craters of the Moon Lava Flow Campground– Arco, ID

Have you ever slept on a lava flow? Craters of the Moon National Monument is one GIANT lava flow and on the north side of the park, is a tiny campground. The campground itself has the basic things covered but you won’t find a swimming pool or camp store. However, I think it’s worth covering because the area is just so desolate, that they had to landscape it with lava rocks. Carry a flashlight because if you stumble and skin a knee on a lava flow… well, it’s something you won’t soon forget.

Craters of the Moon Lava Flow Campground is located just south of the Sawtooth National Forest. Also check out the town of Arco, the first town lit by “atomic power”.

Pros:

Everything you need, nothing you don’t.
It’s the only game in town (though there are other campgrounds within a short drive).
Horizon to Horizon night views over a treeless lava flow. This is my favorite feature, and why it’s on my list. Stay up for the Milky Way!
Some short and interesting hikes are just adjacent.

Cons:

The ground is essentially one of those stones you use to clean the grill.
You have to like rocks and the night sky, or there is nothing else to see here.
There aren’t a TON of campsites, but then, it’s not Yellowstone. You have to really like geology to be here at all.

“Don’t touch the ground, it’s lava!”

Favorite Campsite Series #12

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6guPeXicqW6zi3LP7

Camping in one of my minivan conversions, across from Grand Teton NP.

Shadow Mountain Road– Jackson, WY

The best view of Grand Teton’s east side that you are likely to get without an airplane. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve no doubt seen these photos, if not, go look. I pinned it to the top of my page. So far, my favorite “look at the view!” campsites and they’re FREE! Getting to the top with a trailer would be challenging, but it’s a great spot for vans, jeeps, and pickups. However, if you do have a larger camper, read on.

I first learned about this spot from Grand Adventure RV and you should really check out his video. Marc’s drone shots show this site in a way that my snapshots cannot. I made it to this spot almost 2 years to the day, later.

Marc’s camping spot was here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7vbjLqaEFL8Z7JR1A

The road that goes by here is probably your best bet for getting to the top. I went when it was dry, but it might be impassable if it’s wet (at least with a minivan). If so, there are places to park overnight at the road entrance.

Pros:

Um, the VIEW Lots of space between fire pits.
These spots are huge if you are the only one there.
A great place to meet up with other campers that are in the area

Cons:

It could be slippery when wet.
It’s probably crowded at peak season.
Grizzly bears. All around the camping areas are signs warning of Grizzly bears, especially in the fall. I went in September of 2020 and did not see any. I also did not see any bear spray because as a ranger told me, “the rioters bought up every can in the country.” This is funny to me because “bear” spray is actually weaker than the stuff meant for people, but that’s idiot kids for you. Anyhoo, I was not threatened by any bears, but those dang signs had me constantly looking over my shoulder while at camp.

Only one more favorite to go; my most unfavorite, favorite “camping” spot !

Favorite Campsite Series #13

(Lucky 13)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YgaUcGFj6xMFGKaLA

Boca Chica Road–Key West, FL

This one is for “van people” only. Maybe Class Bs as well, but you probably have better choices.

I’m going to say upfront that this is one of the grossest places I have ever overnighted. So why the heck is it in my “favorite campsite” list?? Because for people traveling in a van, it may be your ONLY choice in Key West (plus it gives me a dot in that corner of my Google places map!). Odyssey Camper Top Campsites – Google My Maps See!

It’s safe to say that I’ve traveled around the country a bit and have never had any legit campground stop me from van camping, though I know that some do. However, when I booked my trip to Everglades National Park and Key West, I could not find a campground that would take me anywhere near Key West. I understand if they don’t want “van people” in their “resort” campgrounds, but even if you have a full-sized RV, you may find that some camps have exclusions for the age of the rig. One of the ones I called did not allow anything towed. I guess they have so many people who visit the Keys, they can afford to be choosey. So, I started asking around the van groups and found this spot.

Located behind the Key West Naval Air Station is Boca Chica Park and a road that dead ends with some concrete pilings. The road is easy to get down with a van, but try it with a Class A and you’ll probably have to back up for a half-mile to get out. Along the road you will find “people” camping and doing who knows what. It seems to be the case that it is occasionally patrolled and overnights are allowed, but I’m not sure I’d send my daughter to this spot. That said, you are literally parked next to the ocean. But…

Pros:

Might be the only place you can find to overnight.
It’s right on the Gulf of Mexico and about the closest camping spot to Cuba.
There are some people like you!

Cons:

It’s right on the ocean and at low tide, the smell is… offputting
There are some people who are NOT like you. As Arlo Guthrie put it, “there was all kinds of mean nasty ugly looking people on the bench there. Mother rapers. Father stabbers. Father rapers! Father rapers sitting right there on the bench next to me!”
An onshore breeze brings the smell
An offshore breeze brings the bugs

So, there you have my “lucky 13 favorite”. Sometimes your favorite spot is the only spot.

Next up is my favorite campsite in the Black Hills. One that everyone can enjoy!

Favorite Campsite Series #14

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LHLgWqSAq7HPSMhn6

Here’s the reverse view of site 103. It’s quiet, yet close to the amenities. I didn’t even realize there was a bike path 25 feet away until I went for a walk and found myself back at camp.

KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch–Hill City, SD

“A KOA?!! The boy’s lost his damn mind!” Maybe, but hear me out.

Have you ever noticed that lots of campgrounds have the word “resort” in their name? That’s popular up here in Michigan, especially in the Upper Peninsula. Most of them never live up to the name. On the reverse side of the coin are KOA campgrounds. Many of them are no place that I look forward to staying at and though some are nicer than others, few are “nice”. Well, here is a campground that breaks both of those rules.

The Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch (there’s a mouthful) is amazing! I was so impressed on my first stay, I decided to stop again the next time through the area and again in 2020. What makes Palmer Gulch different is that it was a full family resort long before joining up with KOA and many of the traditions live on. Even though I normally like to stay at more rustic sites (like #5 in this series, which is just up the road) I try to spend one or two nights here whenever I’m in the Black Hills. I wrote a complete review about the KOA Palmer Gulch here. So for this post, I’ll tell you about it with the pros and cons:

Pros:

Extremely well run
Pizza Counter
Espresso cafe with pastries
Wine Bar
Steakhouse
Pub
Horseback riding
Family pancake breakfasts
Nightly fire and smores
Cabins and rooms if you want to meet up with friends that don’t have an RV
Multiple swimming pools, including a quiet adult one
Pull through sites aplenty (if you need those)
They allowed my van in the RV area. No van shaming that I encountered.
Exchange students do a lot of the work, so you’ll have plenty of chances for interesting conversations.
Bike paths for the kids
Spots for vans at the edge of the RV area (so you don’t feel like everyone in the resort can see you.

Cons:

The RV area is a large, flat, open area (like most RV resorts).
You’ll be missing the great rustic campgrounds in the national forest and near Custer State Park.

OK, that’s what I’ve got as of July 20th, 2024. I’ll add other sites that meet my “favorite” requirements as I find them!