roadtripper8060181

This park has permanently closed for real estate redevelopment as of Jan 2022.

Please remove it from the listings.

Pros - Campground is in secluded area on mountain away from I-25, highway 24
Friendly owners and staff - always willing to help
You can get packages sent to the main office
Several hiking trails within the park with elevation
Fishing pond
Reasonable prices
Project in progress to cover internal dirt roads with asphalt crumble top

Cons - Some noise from Fort Carson army base training
Campground is on a hill so sites must be leveled in both directions

Tip - Every site is different - Some sites are flatter than others
Call to reserve instead of booking online - staff will help you choose the best site for your rig

The newer upper sites are the ones to get. Spacious, 50 amp, cell service.
The lower sites are arranged in an odd herringbone pattern and your neighbors truck may block part of your site. All lower sites are close together.

The park is a mile from the main road so there is no road noise. Very quiet.

They converted an rv storage yard into the biggest fenced rv dog park you have ever seen. Very nice.

Radio controlled airplanes and car fans will love the land rc car track and the rc airport on the campground property.

The park has several nice trails and you can hike in the Verde river flood zone when it is dry.

Reasonable drive to Sedona for the day.

Pros:

Lots of activities for kids.
Large park, 3 pools, 2 lakes.
New RV section has nice wide, long sites.
General store with basics.
Snack shop.
Dirt roads under trees for walking.

Cons:

Weekends are party central for adults.
Lots of loud music, golf carts.
No rules enforcement whatsoever by staff.
Water has iron in it - it stains containers red.

How to be a cool uber bear at this campground:

1) Rent or bring a golf cart.
2) Hold a cigarette and beer in one hand.
3) Hold your cell phone in the other hand.
4) Drive all over the park for no reason.
5) Men - no shirt needed.
6) Drive at least double the speed limit.
7) Do not look up from texting on your cell phone.
8) Blast your music as loud as possible.
9) Other people want to hear your music.
10) Pay no attention to pedestrians.
11) Congrats! You are an official uber bear.

What a nice state park - the campground guests are very quiet and polite, no permanent residents.
The excellent staff is friendly, and the desert setting is beautiful.

There is some noise from traffic on I-10 and some trains but they are a ways off and become background noise while inside the rv. There are no cars drag racing or playing their car stereo at 11 near the campground.

The campground loop roads are one way and there is plenty of space to back up your rv or choose a pull through site. Some sites have a slight slope, you may need to use blocks.

The sites are electricity only, no water or sewer at the sites.
You need to arrive with a full fresh water tank.
The park is really in the middle of nowhere between Casa Grande and Tuscon.

Pros:

Sites are all pull-through, sites are long, lanes are wide.
Easy to maneuver a big rig.
Sites are alternating direction to your neighbor.
There are trees and grass between every two sites.
Laundromat - 3 washers, 3 dryers - takes quarters.
Friendly staff.
Propane refills available on-site.
Montrose Walmart, stores, restaurants are 9 miles away.
Ouray is 26 miles away.
There is a horse farm next door - you can look at the horses.

Cons:

Some sites are right next to highway 550, but the noise is not that bad.

It is worth the money to camp with your rv in the park.
It is walking distance to the food market, and a park shuttle bus stops at the front.
Every evening the mule deer visit the campground to eat the trees and are not afraid of people.

Pro Tips:

1) Check in at the campground booth before it closes, after-hours check-in at the lodge is a mile away and is a big hassle with an rv.

2) Pull the rv forward way past the check in booth past the school bus stop - the reason is that the rv's at the booth will block the park shuttle bus.

3) Enter the park gate before 10 am - it backs up quickly after that.

4) If you park in parking lot A, B, C, or D get there before 10 am. The lots are full from 10 am to 3 pm.

5) The south rim is at 7000 feet, your water hose might freeze. Possibly use the fresh water tank with your water pump.

6) All food is expensive at the national park restaurants, pubs, and markets. Stock up before you arrive. The beer prices are almost reasonable at the bars.

7) Get your propane refilled at "Grand Canyon Camper Village" in Tusayan, just outside the park. There is enough room for an rv to park next to the fill-up station.

Nice free overnight camping on Tatum city parking lot with Free electricity and Water hookups.

Great for 1 or 2 nights, very quiet at night.

Tip - You can stay hooked up and walk a half mile to the Steakhouse cafe (recommended !).

Pros - $30 for full hookups.
Access from both I-5 and I-215.
Short Drive to Glen Helen Park.
Security gate with keypad provides some security.
Within driving distance to mountains or inland empire cities.

Cons - Campground is covered in glass shards -
The county will not clean up the glass.
There is no pedestrian access to the campground - auto only.
Sites are dirt - get very muddy in rain.
Close enough to I-5 to hear loud vehicles without mufflers.

The close location to San Diego is Pio Pico's best feature.

Pros - Close to San Diego - Short drive to Chula Vista and the rest of San Diego.
Almost always has availability.
North side has a lot of pull-thru sites.
Good snack bar on premise with hot food - don't miss (south side)
Large indoor activity center (south side)
Honey wagon service for sites with no sewer (for a fee).
Two good hiking trails (Dirt roads) that start from the campground (south side).
Chula Vista has all the usual stores and restaurants.

Cons - Noise - The highway runs between the north and south sides so noise is very high.
The road is popular with motorcycles with no mufflers - can be hear 1 mile away.
Occasional border patrol helicopters fly overhead.
North side has no sewer hookups.
The G section was just rehabbed in 2022 however some sites are still 30 amp.
Some sites are very close together.
During winter monsoons the road to the campground may be flooded and closed for a while.