juliaharris3

The restaurant and menu are standard, but the parking lot is huge with places away from the interstate. Plenty of grass for dog walking. As a solo traveler I felt safe.

Telephoned 3/18/2024. Employee confirmed that County does not allow overnight parking.

The biggest asset of this park is modern, clean showers that and maybe location, although I should have boondocked at Rest Area, Cracker Barrel, or Camping World. It was not worth $35. There are only 6 sites(all with 30amps, no water). Sites are all on top of each other—no privacy and no shade. Although there are hiking trails in the park, they can’t be accessed from campground unless you walk along busy road. Signage is poor for locating campground. Hours are not generous. Check-in 3:00pm; check out 11:00am. 4 hours to turn sites over? Picnic tables are warped and have fungus growing on them.

Setting is pleasant, but sites are on top of each other on grass. Shared utility poles and sewers next to each other, so that neighbors sewer hose had to go over or under my electric cord. Here seems to be little respect for privacy of sites. Others walked and drove thru my site.
For 97 sites there is one bath house with three shower/toilet combos. During my stay one was closed for repairs. There is no ventilation so it is stuffy and malodorous. Fortunately I was only there one night and could avoid taking a shower.
There are new washer and dryers in laundry with app to pay. The dog park has many tires where water sits. Not a healthy situation for dogs.
There are many long term campers and they may get a better price to make the deficiencies tolerable.

The beautiful setting is marred by the trash—at campsite, around dumpsters, and along shoreline. As a full-timer, I have never been to a camp with so much graffiti. Washer and dryers that are not “Out of Order” are rusty. Trails have been neglected for many years. Many sites are close together without shrubbery for privacy. Coarse gravel on paved roads make bike riding hazardous on the hilly terrain. Lots of gold carts. There is a resident chaplain and USFS campground amphitheater has a crucifix on podium. 1-2 bars Verizon. Some OTA tv—ABC and Public Television plus some other rerun-type stations.
It’s not a good value. Senior Access pass is not 50% discount; only $8.

This 29 site campground is forested, so shady, but only 1 intermittent bar Verizon. At site 2, I had some WiFi from Visitor Center. Some OTA tv. A good 15 mi hiking trail from campground, although some is on highway. Road biking is good on highway—no shoulder, but light traffic and relatively flat. Sites are paved and level. 2 stall shower is hot with good pressure.

Henderson Beach is a recent addition to the State Park system and is doing a commendable job protecting and restoring the natural environment on this small parcel surrounded by high rises and attractions. It’s a respite from the chock-a-block commercialism of US 98. The campground is well-designed with sites being nooks of privacy created by native shrubs. There is a quarter mile path and boardwalk to the white sand Gulf beach. Bathhouses are in good repair with hot water and good pressure. Coin operated laundromats in each of the two bath houses. There is free WiFi near bath houses and good OTA tv, but Verizon was weak. After a 1mile bike ride on the busy and fast US 98 bike lane, there is a 10+ mile bike path on Scenic 98.
While conveniently located off US 98, the highway noise pervades the camp. Other than the beach and a half mile nature trail (distant from camp), there are no hiking trails. Dogs are not allowed on beach nor boardwalk, so dog walks are limited to asphalt roads in camp and day use area and nature trail.

Site 52 not level but on lake. Unfortunately shoreline was full of litter. I picked up some, but avoided diapers and unknown objects. Women’s Bath house only has 1 shower and is dark and dated. Nice breeze off lake on a hot day.

More sites than initially meet the eye. There are two rows in the top section as you enter off US 95. If you continue down toward boat ramp there are more sites off paved road and even more on the gravel road that continues north. These are closer to lake and further from highway noise. Great place for self-contained rigs. No water. Pit toilets. No tent sites.

Easy to find and inexpensive with senior pass. Few sites and therefore quiet, altho speeding boats on weekend are loud. Dump station is very awkward as others have explained. Bath houses very dated, although vanity in women’s w/shower is granite. Seems odd way to update. None of the sites have water access. Lots of trash along shoreline. No trails from campground. Really nothing to do except enjoy view of speeding boats. Outdoor Laundry has been updated with new machines which are free.