roadtripper583046

We parked in the car parking to catch a few hours of sleep in our truck camper. If I had to do it all over, we would’ve parked in the first RV/Truck parking that’s to the right as you exit off. It would be the furthest from the road. There is an additional RV/truck parking on the other side of the rest area. The car parking was next to the freeway and very noisy. There were lots of other cars pulling off to sleep so we didn’t feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

We didn’t use the dump station. We pulled in around midnight just to sleep. We parked in the last spot for cars. It was very quiet. Other RVs were parked in the truck parking area so we felt safe.

We arrived on a Thursday night around 6. Several sites were still open. We chose one almost at the end of the road in the meadow. By nightfall, all the sites were taken. It was super quiet and relaxing. Our truck camper had no issues navigating the road. There was a fifth wheel parked at the very end.

We booked the last site right at 4:00 pm on a Saturday. We’d hiked a 14er that day and were exhausted. The online booking process was a breeze. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a friendly welcome and escorted to our site. Needless to say, we plugged in, took showers, and crashed. Looked like a fun place for families with lots of activities. Hubby enjoyed the pancake breakfast the next morning.

We stayed in site 11. It was very quiet and you could hear the creek across the road. I think sites 8-11 at Mulky are the best if you have a van/small rig. They are on the road but we saw very little traffic after 7 pm. There was a prescribed burn March 2023 so the area around the site was slightly charred. Saw some trash too, which is unfortunate. No hookups, but there are water spigots, bear proof trash receptacles, and vault toilets.

We stayed in site 20 for two nights in our truck camper. Site 20 has no designated “parking pad”. You parallel park along the main road. It was one of the few level sites we saw as we walked around. The hosts were directly across the road from us and were very welcoming. Pay close to site lengths and driveway grade before you book. We saw a small RV parked in a site with a severe grade and there was no way to level it. The road to the campground is tight with hairpin curves. We were okay in our truck camper but met another large vehicle in a curve and we had to stop. If you have the right setup for this campground, it’s amazing.

We stayed here for one night before heading into the national park. The campground was only 25% full for a Sunday in July. We quickly chose site 24 as we were tired and hungry. It was close to the water and extremely buggy. We chose not to sit outside because of the bugs. If we had to do it again, we’d pick a site further from the water. The sites are not paved and not clearly distinguished so you are free to park anyway you see fit. Once we got settled, it was a long walk back to the fee station to pay. There were no amenities. $20 a night for this location seemed a little high after paying less at other campgrounds with amenities. If we had paddle boards or kayaks, it would’ve been more enjoyable.

We decided to stop here for a night between Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend National Parks. We were dry camping in those places so we figured a night to recharge batteries, refill water tank, and dump our tanks would be needed. We’re so glad we did. The state park was great and the hosts were above and beyond friendly. It was so quiet and peaceful. We didn’t realize we would be so close to the McDonald Observatory. We would’ve booked a night star viewing if we’d known. We also visited the historic Fort Davis while we were there, which was awesome. This is a great state park and would go back again if we’re ever near there.

We snagged a last minute, one night reservation. We’d been dispersed camping and needed a night of electric to recharge everything. The campground was small but well maintained. The camp host was so friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed the easy biking access from the campground to the Lake Dillon Recreation Trail.

Yes, it’s a parking lot with no amenities. RVs must come prepared. We stayed two nights in site 33. We were there to hike and the proximity to the trailhead made this “campground” worth it. The sites are unconventional for a campground but the views and trails were the highlights. The rangers in the visitors center were helpful with hiking tips. The sites are next to the regular trailhead parking so there was traffic throughout the day and night. We were never bothered by anyone coming or going. If you want easy access to Guadalupe Peak Trail or the other hikes, it’s worth it. If you have a taller vehicle, just know there are trees along the outside of the lot that hang over the sites. There was a tree on site 33 that would rub our camper roof in the wind.