roadtripper7781302

Easy access, great playground for the kids while you dump grey/black

Drove in and it took forever because the roads as so torn up!!! Only perk was see the cows and calf’s crossing

We were looking for a campsite close to Guadalupe + Carlsbad Caverns and came across Camp Washington Ranch on the Airstream Addicts FB page and Campendium. Only to read that they were closed due to CV restrictions. I figured I would still try to call and ask directly and a kind gentleman by the name of Kelly answered the phone and made our day when he said they are just now starting to open up their property to the public. We were thankful to be their 1st guests after quite some time. He made me aware that they only had 3 sites with electric and water and the one to the far left had a hook up for sewer.

Camp Washington Ranch, NM is NOW OPEN as of Feb 2, 2022! ( they give you a print out with great history of the land and how they came about)

•20 min from Carlsbad Caverns, NM/ Slaughter Cavern (reservation only ranger guided tour 10min away), 25 from Guadalupe National Park 🏞 , TX. 3 Rustic Sites, Verizon cell phone service and peaceful glorious views. No bathhouse (updating soon) but they will be adding and updating their 3 current sites (electric + water and one dump site, this didn’t bother us;) + 3 more in the future.

It’s been a marvelous snowy 3 days….

We are traveling thru to see the next national park but wanted full hookups from boondocking and they have it all, right at your site. We were here in the winter, so many sites are closed and the upper bathhouse is as well. I loved how you could walk across and grab a coffee, browse through the great gift shop and enjoy the breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe just steps away from your campsite. $2.00 w/d laundry facilities (only missing a quarter machine, so bring plenty). The showers had great water pressure and temperature, the bathhouse was a bit dirty because I think they cut staff or lack there of during this season.

We pretty much had a clear view down to the water BUT remember, winter season. I could see how this place could get tight come summertime. Our pull thru site made it a breeze to hook up on the paved site. You will hear some road noise but honestly it wasn’t a bother. HEADS UP to make it easier on yourself and your partner, read the reviews prior to and note that CHECK IN is across the street. Park at the campground (go around by the bathhouse on the right) and have one person go check in, easy when you know;) feel free to check out my Instagram stories for Lake Tahoe. Cave rock is 5 minutes up the road and a 15min hike (kid/pet friendly) , Nevada Beach to play on is the opposite direction 8 min towards town and is a wonderful beach to enjoy as well as walk/run the trails.

We were leaving Mesa verde NP and heading to gooseneck Stpk and needed water and a dump station. $6 Great clean pit stop to let the dog and kids stretch their legs.
Peaceful area, cool backdrop by the Casio

Our 1st choice would be Rancho Sedona RV Park , pricey for our FT traveling budget @ $83 per night FULL hookups + bathhouse, Site #11 (27ft + F250 fit perfectly).
Yes🙌🏻 we do love our State Parks + Nat’l Parks but “this location,” within Sedona, checked all of the boxes.
*close to devils bridge, Mesa airport Sunset, birthing cave (15min)
*walking distance to dwtn Sedona (this is key, so you don’t have to drive, saves in many ways;)
*15min from slide rock ($20 per car, up to 4 ppl)
* the campground is pristine, YES, Rancho does have a lot of rules but honestly, we read thru all of them and agree many listed are necessary and many we already do abide by in a campground anyway…they are just in print, so don’t let one Campendium review change your views of this wonderful place. We wished we would’ve booked here our entire time here in Sedona, which was not 3 days!!!! We checked out dead horse ranch state park, great views of cottonwood but 20 min from Sedona and awful restrooms. 525c boondocking road was too rough even with a lift, so we found elsewhere.
*We had such an amazing experience at Rancho Sedona RV, the people, the creek to play in, the walking distance to the restaurants, the hikes, Slide Rock State Park , biking…this campground fulfilled our expectations!

Overall, our opinion, if you want to experience Sedona in less that 1-3 days and get all the perks of power + water + dump (only dump station is in cottonwood at galvin RV no potable water/DHR $15 to dump /fresh fill), super close to all of the hikes book at Rancho, you will spend so much in diesel going back n forth to town that this is a savings.

Highly Recommend Zion National Park Watchman Campground, being flexible and Site jumping (to what’s available;) we hopped our 27ft airstream, to 4 different sites, we prefer LOOP A, closer to the Zion Visitors Center, shuttles, showers and narrows gear rentals. Staying INside Zion is key, it’s the secret to a less stressful vacation getaway. Plus you don’t have to pay for parking each day! We have the Golden Access Pass for the National Parks, which made staying here even better, for $15 per night. Normally $30 per night.

We are here during “prime” time (March 2022 / spring break @ 85*), the rangers say it’s crazy busy but you really don’t feel that at the campsite. When people say wake up early to catch the first bus, we beg to differ, jumped on the shuttle @ 11am and headed out to the narrows with less crowds overall.

Loop A Site # A13 was the best in our opinion, honestly anything backed up the the river my kids (6 + 9 loved playing in it) but avoid sites A1-A5 (if you can)…those campsites are backed up to the Zion visitors center parking lot, which is packed.

We Disliked B51, under a tree that would shed in the evening and lodged a few seedings in the AC. Causing a loud clanking noise, oh the whoa’s to our home on wheels, it’s always something 🤪 it seems.

Places to eat: (we eat early 5:30 was no problem walking in, no reservations)
The spotted dog - trout was amazing !
Zion Brewery - the MEATLOAF
Whiptail Grill - we loved the SaltFire Brewing Co beer and the whiptail burrito and the spaghetti squash goat cheese enchiladas

I hope this helps other families, I’ve added a few videos here but you can find more on our Instagram page.
@arrowstreamlife

Some of campground sites are very secluded, ours was great. Walking distance from the bathrooms, which were clean but dated. The hikes had wonderful well written placards to learn along the trails. Clean area but the waterfalls to chill with the family. Dog friendly paths. Playground is fun for the kids (only swings), along with the Junior ranger activity booklet. Their favorite campgrounds because they found friends right off the bat;) great camping memories made.

We did not stay here but drove thru after visiting Ocqueoc across the road. Nice large woodsy sites, vault toilets and garbage dumpster. Primitive camping, fresh water across from vault

I am a huge believer in a true review here on Campendium, that being said just read the titles of the reviews, its such a WOW factor when you arrive at Meadow Lake Campground. There’s 8 sites, we got here on a Wednesday June 2022 and we had 1st pick, we choose site 2! 3 bars of Verizon, we’ve been days without service in big sky forest camping (but totally loved red Cliff Campground too!) Vault toilet, nearest dump location is in ennis is for $10 at RV village. We stayed there one night as well and enjoyed the full hookups.

FYI the road you turn onto for a mile, is a bumpy dirt road but totally doable, just take it slow.