roadtripper6507852

Incredibly easy access into the hustle and bustle of West Yellowstone Park Village (loads of gas stations, restaurants, and tourist shops) but you feel perfectly far removed from it in these 5 or so spots. The dirt road in isn’t bad: a few potholes but overall pretty easily accessed by most rigs. We’re a 25 ft ‘17 Navion and had zero issues. The sites themselves are not very level, so be warned. A Class A or a huge toy hauler might have some issues, and the only spots for larger rigs to fit in is the first 1-2 you come across (and even then since it is heavily tree’d there could be height issues) so this is really better for mid-to-small sized rigs.

Almost all sites are nestled against the Denny Creek that even in July was full and made the most serene sounds to fall asleep to. Sites 1-4 each had man-made fire pits. As mentioned, there are about 4 spots total that were set against the meadow covered in wildflowers: this is a plant lovers paradise! There was a 5th site up a steep & rocky dirt road that forked off to the left, but this is only good for tent/car campers as there is a gate at the end of that fork of the road and very little turn-around options. Tiny fire pit was there. A small truck camper might be able to work it. We didn’t walk up the road to the right of the fork, so not sure what that was like but it was also steeper and there were only a few ATV’s we saw headed up that way. We would definitely stay here again, and we think sites 3 & 4 were the best as they were shaded and right next to the flowing creek!

NOTE: get here as early as possible, as we headed in around 10 pm on a Sunday night in early July and were able to get a spot next to the creek but technically we should’ve been further away from the other campers. We felt badly but we had been driving for 9 + hours and were EXHAUSTED. Every single available spot was taken already + it was pitch black and we couldn’t really decipher where to park or how level the ground was.

NOTE: we deeply regretted not purchasing a cell booster before our trip to both Teton and Yellowstone. Cell signal is literally non-existent...which makes it nearly impossible for BLMers to find a location to camp unless you have various options and GPS/Garmin app noted ahead of time. We were also pretty shocked at how utterly jam-packed both parks were, even given Covid. Almost no one was wearing masks and all sights were absolutely full of people. So, we decided to just drive through. Will save both parks in their full splendor for another trip in the future, hopefully post-pandemic.

BLM Perfection, friends. It’ll take you about 2 hours down a pot-holed + washboard gravel road (19 miles took us 2 hours in our ‘17 Navion) but it’s worth it. NOTE: this is NOT big rig friendly, nor are the sites!
Nestled amongst the Wind River Mountains outside Cora, WY, there are what seems like endless BLM options either right next to the Green River or cradled up against the opposite mountainside. The view from our spot had the Green River on one side and stunning Square Top Mountain on the other. Yosemite-worthy views! This area is located at 8,000’ elevation, so even in July the weather was lovely. They don’t call these mountains the Windy’s for nothin’: we broke our awning in the flash of a second when a super strong gust came outta nowhere (it wasn’t even out halfway!) and our water heater broke on this trip but I tell ya we’d do it all over again. Our rig took a beating on that road - but after you’ve survived the drive you really ought to make it worth it and stay awhile.

We stayed 5 nights after the July 4th holiday and were lucky enough to nab the best site (in our opinion) that is the last site at the end of the road and closest to the Green River Lakes Campground (and closest to the hiking trails!) -- the first night we cheekily drove down and asked the lovely couple (Hi, Stan and Lara!) if they’d be willing to share (as the site is large) and they were so sweet to oblige us! Interestingly, after they left on the 4th day (Friday) we were fully expecting someone else to do the same which we would have happily shared the site. But no one came! We noticed that the seeming popularity of this place was really the after-effect of the 4th holiday weekend, and we were relieved to know that even on the weekends it has plenty of sites to enjoy. By day 6 we decided to leave - mostly run out by the mosquitoes if we're honest. Otherwise I think we might have seriously considered staying the entire 14 day limit! Wildlife sightings included many a Pronghorn, ducks, 2 female moose, 3 river otters, heron, many many white-tailed prairie dogs, and of course the fly-fishermen/women were a’ plenty! Fishing is good here, supposedly. Be warned: there are LOTS of mosquitoes and flies in summer. Like, A LOT.

My husband enjoyed hiking most days and the landscape is technically the CDT - exciting! Most hikes are flat, so easily enjoyable for most! Immensely scenic. He was especially thrilled that he was even able to hike a pass at OVER 10,000 ft! The Green River Lakes Campground seemed to be dry (there are toilets and one water spigot to refill our water, which was great) and there was a host on-site there with wood for sale. Interestingly, the campground sites didn’t have the views as wonderfully as us BLMers did. You would be hard-pressed to find scenery anywhere else in the nation, friends. It’s a brutal trek to get there - but we promise you it’ll be worth all the hassle.

*Note: we DID see a road grader parked outside the Green River Lakes Campground - but we almost hope they don’t grade the road regularly - because if they did so this place would be accessible to too many people! ;)

So, although we enjoyed our son riding an ATV for the first time (great memory), I would NOT stay here unless you enjoy OHV and all their engine noise! Not our scene whatsoever! We should have researched more, too: this KOA has VERY LITTLE AMENITIES. It's ALLLL about riding your OWN ATV's or dune buggy's/side by side's. Most everyone who stayed here owned their own OHV and the crowd was fine but there's A LOT of smoking, vaping, and engines. The KOA website was also misleading: it made it seem like they now had a zip line available - but it is not available yet as of this writing (July 2022). So, that was a MAJOR bummer and our son was super upset. The jumping pad is not great, either. Playground REALLY small, and although our son enjoyed the games room with another couple of boys his age, it was a mess and all the equipment/games were REALLY dirty. Kinda gross. Felt the need to wash our hands immediately afterwards! There is a dog park. Gravel lot. Just NOT WORTH THE PRICE unless you are an avid OHV driver/rider and appreciate the easy access to the dunes. Our son rented an ATV from Steve's ATV Rentals just right next to the KOA, and they DO have a really lovely beginners track for kids who have never experienced ATV riding. Rental wasn't cheap, about $50/hour. But, we don't regret that since it is most likely a memory our son won't soon forget! Just know, if you aren't into riding the dunes - this KOA is NOT for you!

The subject line says it all. Again, I should have researched each KOA more thoroughly before we left on our summer trip with our 10 yr old son in mind. We almost never stay at KOA's b/c of the price - but our son has been so patient about always "staying in nature" and this summer we decided to spoil our son with a (mostly) KOA experience. So, we were SUPER bummed to learn that this KOA has a playground....and that's about it! But, we were lucky enough to have gotten Site 21, which did have a peek-a-boo view of the Alsea Bridge! So, that was VERY cool! Sites 21-28/29 (can't remember) have THE VIEWS OF THE BRIDGE! No other sites do. The staff was SUPER friendly and they do offer free movie/DVD rental - so we took advantage of that! The store is also very cute and very well stocked! Checking in was super easy, the entire facility was VERY clean, and many sites have tall hedges providing privacy between sites. We would definitely stay here again, just know if you have kids: THERE AREN'T AMENITIES besides a playground.

Overall, great experience. We don't normally stay at KOA's, but with a 10 year old son we decided it was high time he had a camping trip more geared to entertaining him. The amenities at this KOA are fabulous: petting zoo (only in the mornings can you go in with the goats), jumping pillow (available all the time), basketball hoop/small court, swimming pool and (small) hot tub, kamping kitchen area, large playground, wagon rides around the campground where everyone waves at each other (cute), corn hole, tie dye t-shirt making, movie night in a REALLY lovely sitting area with wine barrels, mining for kids, and so much more! There are two VERY impressive stores there as well (although I wish they carried liquid coffee creamer, lol). Checking in was effortless and most of the staff was very friendly (some younger staff seemed less than thrilled to be there). It IS expensive, and yes - overpriced for the actual site you get....BUT, who can honestly complain with all those amenities? Our son was thrilled overall. Something else to be noted about KOA's for those who might not consider this: since it is so family focused, it is certainly not quiet during the daytime...BUT, I couldn't believe how quiet it was at nighttime!!! You could hear a pin drop! So, for those older folks who miss their grandchildren far away, it might be worth the splurge to watch the kids having fun and enjoy peace and quiet in the evenings. Lastly, the setting is FABULOUS! You could see some cows and horses in the field from the H loop section! All in all, would definitely stay again!

We love Redcrest Resort! Yes, you are paying more than the state parks, but considering getting into any state park around this area is nearly impossible unless you booked 6 months ago on the dot with multiple browsers open (lol) - our family has ALWAYS been so happy to be able to RELY on Redrest Resort! Here's the thing: you are actually getting something for the $50/night: shady RV sites, a large park-like setting for our dogs to potty on, lots of amenities including corn hole, volleyball, etc, a lovely shaded swing in which to watch the redwoods and cars go by, a communal fire pit with wood, hiking trails behind the resort, and the lovely store/gift shop where everyone is super friendly! The town of Redcrest is SMALL, but we LOVE the Burlwood Gallery (AHMAZING woodworker ware - he/she is an ARTIST!!!), the tiny restaurant across the street (limited fare, but good), and the cute little house/shop across the street that is open randomly. Easy access off the highway, friendly staff, and beautifully shaded sites. Regarding amentities, you have to just walk around the center of the resort in order to utilize them! Near the office, there are all the equipment you need! We will always come back for another stay!

We absolutely LOVED this park! Beautiful sites. We stayed in Site 4 and think it was one of the BEST. Also, sites 26 and up have peek-a-boo Chetco River views! The park is EXTREMELY quiet!!! You can paddle board, kayak, etc , up the Chetco River! There was a rental place on the road in (Loeb Park is 7-8 miles from Brookings). The hosts were kind, wood is $5/bundle, and most sites are good sizes. Some are a bit narrow and small, though. Definitely A sized rig could fit in most sites. The only negative to this park is MOSQUITOES. There are two trails right out of the park: Riverview Trail - which at the end features the northernmost Redwood grove! So cool! That hike is about a mile, the other trail was just over 2 miles. So, good for most! But did I mention mosquitoes??? My gawd there were A LOT of them!!!!! So definitely be prepared with mosquito spray. We didn't have any so couldn't really enjoy our beautiful site! :(

What’s NOT to love about this campground??? Stayed (sadly) only 1 night in Site 131 (24.5 ft Winnebago Navion 24J) with views through the lodgepole pines and red cedars of Chatcolet Lake (which is technically connected to both Lake Coeur d’Alene and Round Lake) in mid July and there were only 4 other sites filled! If you prefer a quiet and serene campground - this is it! Only 10 or so miles of Hwy 95 and about an hour and then some from Coeur d’Alene. The lower loop is better because of lake views (Sites 128, 129, 130, 131 Best!) but no rig longer than 25 ft will fit comfortably at this campground. Not sure if we were technically supposed to stay in the aforementioned site(s) but we didn’t notice the sign about site requirements until AFTER we’d spent considerable time leveling our rig....the host was extremely friendly and didn’t say anything to us - probably because she saw us having some issues getting our leveling right AND there was literally no one in any of The aforementioned sites. So just know if you’re in a smaller trailer or rig you should probably ask IF you are even allowed to be in the lake view sites. A fair amount of the other sites have peek-a-boo lake views, too! You have a plethora of hiking and biking trail options as well as a few equestrian trails. The trails map gives well-detailed and lovely descriptions of all trails. The glorious 72-mile ‘Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes’ is accessible FROM the campground, too! There are several other campground options very nearby that also have lake views. Our host informed us that the nearby marsh is also sometimes inhabited by moose! We will DEFINITELY be back and hopefully will eventually Camp Host here!

Pine and Cottonwood covered 14-site campground charmingly rests beside the crystal clear Beaver River. We arrived after an 11-hour drive from our Central Coast, CA home base tired and ready for an adult beverage. This campground was easily accessed 6-7 miles outside of the wee town of Beaver. We stayed in Site 10, which was a nice size and all sites are incredibly level! It included a picnic table, fire ring, and a lovely framed/level gravel pad for any tent campers! We were impressed! The site clearly hadn’t been picked clean, as there were lots of cigarette butts, popsicle sticks, and wipes in the fire ring. What is lovely about this site is it extends beyond with small trails that lead to nowhere, but our 2 dogs appreciated a little more room to sniff and relieve themselves. Sadly, though, there was even more trash beyond the site on said walkways. Clearly the sites aren’t being cleaned daily as we didn’t arrive until 9 pm Utah time.

From all sites you can hear the relaxing lull of the Beaver River, and seeing as we were here in July it was incredibly peaceful to fall asleep with open windows. It gets immensely hot here in the daytime in summer (temps were over 100 degrees according to our iPhones!) which is why we just kept driving until evening time. What is most beneficial about this campground is 1) the sound of the river, and 2) all the trees that provide for LOTS of shade. The road is right across from the campground (the river divides the two) but cars only went by every once in a while, so we would definitely stay here again! Next time, we will visit in cooler months so the daytime temps are manageable. Two handicap sites provided with wonderful level concrete pads.

We stopped by this spot on our way towards Teton and Yellowstone NP. Was a perfect spot for just an overnight. On 7/6/20, we were the ONLY ones in the lower campground besides a teardrop! Incredible for us Californians! Here are some facts:

1) Access of the road is INCREDIBLY easy! Good for all sized rigs! Larger rigs would do better in the upper campground area, though. Sites are asphalt and pretty level. We did need to do some leveling, but that's mostly just because I have a perfectionist husband. ;)

2) There is a self-service pay station: select the campsite you want, note it's number, obtain envelope at pay station, fill it out, tear off stub and place in envelope with money and place in deposit box @ self service pay station, display recept on rig/car dash **There is a 14 day limit for camping**

3) If you are a member of the Golden Age or Golden Access Passport, you will be charged half price

4) This area is INCREDIBLY windy - I imagine ALL times of year! So be prepared for this! Although there are very cool looking arched metal picnic table covers, even in early July they didn't totally protect us from wind when attempting to use our portable bbq -- although we WERE thankful for such covers!

5) The view of the Fontanelle Reservoir is lovely! We enjoyed sightings of pelicans, seagulls of some kind (?), lots of White-Tailed Prairie Dogs ("Chiselers"), and ducks during our evening overlooking the reservoir. For a one nighter with a water view, this is amazing! We predict this campground is empty most of the year with the wind-factor, but we would totally stay here again for simply a lovely spot to hang out for a one-nighter!

6) Since the place was so empty, we didn't even note our site #! But we stayed in the lower campground area closer to the reservoir. The higher up you go, the more highway noise you will hear. But honestly it is so windy you might not even notice!

7) There IS a dump and trash located closer to the waterfront and boat landing. We found this to be incredibly handy!

8) Favorite thing about this campground is EASY ACCESS from highway!

9) Least favorite thing about this campground is VERY WINDY!

10) PERFECT for just one nighter with ZERO issues getting a spot! Even in summer!