roadtripper1821121

I have read the previous reviews, and they are pretty much spot on. There are actually several separate areas where you can camp/park, each with their own plusses/minuses. As you first come off the exit ramp, crossing the first cattleguard, there is a dirt parking lot to the left, used by truckers (they also overnight right on the on/off ramps, as traffic is minimal). To the right is a paved road, the original Rt 66, which leads to the actual "Two Guns", which was a combination zoo and wild west theme park (sort of). There are several dirt lots near the site, all large enough for large rigs towing to turn around. Although there were many curiosity seekers driving down to there, I saw MANY old nails scattered around here, and broken glass, so I don't recommend here.
Crossing the second cattle guard, there is an abandoned gas station to the left, with a large paved lot, and a gravel lot to the left. The building is actually in pretty good shape, and people often park inside the service bays while exploring. It is literally the only shade in the area. To the right is an old convenience store/trading post, with a large gravel lot in front, and another around back to the right. Nice and level, if you don't mind the highway noise.
Passing the station, you go through small stone posts and follow the dirt road up the hill you come to a fork. To the right, at the top of the hill, is the old KOA campground. It is overgrown, with a few dilapidated buildings, but there are many level sites here. One thing to note is that local kids often come up here to skateboard in and around the pool. There appeared to be one semi-permanent resident camped here. The left fork takes you around to a large gravel pit. There appeared to be a couple of semi-permanent campers set up here. Piles of gravel/sand offer some buffer from the highway noise, which isn't really bad anyways.
Although there were many tourists/ curiosity seekers during the days I was here, there was never an overabundance of them, just a constant flow. There really isn't that much to see, just a few ruined stone buildings and the "death cave". It was a great place to park after I had used up my 14 days in the Coconino, waiting for the Nat. Park and Forest Service campgrounds to open up. Verizon was great here 29.5 MPS download. Free dump and fill at the Maverik station near Wally in Winslow.

Pulled in today, it is open, and nearly full. The camp host says that the city is going to start charging soon, probably $15 a night. It's a nice campground, on the lake, but no shade in the lower (lake shore) area, and no cover between sites. No OTA television, but 4 bars Verizon. Toilets and dumpsters, but no dump or water.

Canyonlands Nat. Park is much less crowded than the other four Utah parks, owing to the remoteness. It was nearly deserted in August heat, getting a site was no problem. I took several hikes of 7++miles, and didn.t see a soul. Just a few tips: the sites are all paved now, some have multiple tent pads (sand). Although the NPS says 28 foot max, the ranger at the entrance station told me that was because of tight turns in the campground loops. My 31 footer fit easily into site 26, and I noticed some sites that would accommodate much longer units, particularly in "A" loop. No cell service, but wi-fi available at the visitor center.

Let me start by saying this is a nice enough campground. The sites are close, but not stacked right on top of each other. It is convenient to the main attraction, only 7 miles from the lake and accompanying visitor center. The problem is, the new concessionaire is completely incompetent who has unnecessarily complicated which should normally be a simple procedure. First, don't bother even trying to book a site online, the link provided is ONLY for reserving a room at the inn. You have to call. When you do, you get a site, but you can't pick one. It will be assigned to you when you check in. And, you can't book a site with hookups. You can request one when you check in, and hope that one is still available.
As for "walk-ins" here is where it gets REALLY frustrating. What is normally a simple process at a park service location becomes a maddeningly frustrating experience! When you arrive, you get in a line at the side door, and wait. And wait. AND wait some more. They claim they start processing people at noon, but it was more like 12:45. Campers are processed two at a time, explained the regulations and procedures, and assigned a site based upon their particular needs. There are three choices; tent sites, 28 or 55 foot rv sites. No hookups are allowed to walk-ins. When they run out of tent sites, tent campers take rv sites. You can only get the site for ONE night. If you plan on staying more, you must repeat the ordeal again (and again, and again). One reason is, although the website SAYS 25% of sites are kept for walk-ins (LIKE EVERY OTHER NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUND). this is false. So I got there on Thursday, got a site, but on Friday (labor day weekend) they only had 18 sites available. I was #19 in line. It took them TWO and a HALF HOURS to process 18 people !! They told me there were several alternative campgrounds just outside the park, but they were out of the printed handouts showing where they are. Even more frustrating, they invited me to come back on Saturday and try again, when they had...…...SIX sites available !!!! Didn't bother. As I had spent 26 hours in the campground (four of them standing in line in the 90 degree sunshine) I had had enough. I went up to Rim Village to see the crater and the museum, went down the East Rim Drive to an overlook and a waterfall, stopped at the lower visitor center to hike a short trail and see a video (nothing else to do there, it is basically a gift shop), and headed out. The Williamson River Forest Service Campground down on 97 was less than half full, was actually nicer than Mazama (without flush toilets, of course) for $5 a night ! Aramark should stick to selling $8 hot dogs to drunks at Fenway Park, they don't have a clue about campgrounds management.

It is a beautiful area. Good hiking and a great beach Clean restrooms and showers. Sites are close together, no real privacy. Right off 101, lots of road noise (though not a busy road). No cell reception in the actual campground, you either have to go out to the beach (dang!!) or take the Oregon Coast trail up to the old 101 where there are picnic tables located and scenic vista points with good reception.

It is a beautiful area. Good hiking and a great beach Clean restrooms and showers. Sites are close together, no real privacy. Right off 101, lots of road noise (though not a busy road). No cell reception in the actual campground, you either have to go out to the beach (dang!!) or take the Oregon Coast trail up to the old 101 where there are picnic tables located and scenic vista points with good reception.