tinaolivercaparella

We chose this brand new (1 year old) park for its proximity to explore Kemah Boardwalk, Johnson Space Center, and Galveston, along with 50% off with Passport America (normal rate $50). Nice, clean amenities (although pool is not heated and no hot tub) with wide roads. Sites are all back-in and configured so tow vehicle/toad is parked right next to RV so not much area for sitting outside. WiFi was free and worked well.

Many RVers here are long-term so quite a few early morning (5-6 am) vehicles leaving for work. Our site 2 was up front so we heard them all. Our site also backed up to a residential neighborhood and the home behind us was quite noisy at times (dog barking, kids yelling, loud music). Perhaps a site in the back of the park would be quieter.

Easily accessible off main highway. LOTS of road construction in downtown Kemah so be prepared for delays, but cute town and worth a trip even if you don't ride the rides.

We are full time RVers and chose this lake so we could kayak, which was full in late March due to the rainy and snowy winter! Made reservations online a few weeks prior in Desert Tortoise campground (only available) where we paid an $8 reservation fee that is reflected in the nightly rate (otherwise our site is $22 night for dry camping, no hookups). Lake is easy to find and upon arriving 40 mins before 1:00 check in the girl at the gate said we owed $8. We asked for what (she was handed a copy of our paid reservation). She said it’s $2/day for a kayak and we had 2 of them on our roof. Wow ok. Thankfully we didn’t get charged for our dog too but what about those people with blowup kayaks and rafts we saw on the lake? Did they pay the $2 fee as well? Highly unlikely’(and we launched from our campsite not a boat ramp).

I had to ask for some park maps and how to get to our site. Just as we started to make our last turn we were greeted with a closed gate arm to the campground loop. What do we do now? Sign said enter code so I frantically looked on the vehicle tag given to us at the front gate for a code. Seeing nothing I then looked on our printed reservation form and finally found a code that said for “after hours use”! Would have been nice to be told this at the front gate! Now I know why I always print out my reservations! LOL

We stayed Wed-Fri and it was peaceful in our little cove. A little buggy and the water had a little bit of an odor but it was very pretty terrain. When we kayaked we could see lots of RVs camping on the shore which looked inviting until a few parked in front of others or in the “path” to get in/out or were running their VERY loud generators all day (witnessed this at the spillway parking area with a group).

Talked to one person who was here the Sunday before and she said the lake/camping was VERY crowded.

Our loop had nice and clean bathrooms with running water.

Easily accessible with large turnaround. Dump on both sides but non-potable water only on one side so if need to flush tanks go past dump entrance and turn around so hose is on correct side.

Dumped here on a Monday evening after calling ahead to confirm it was available after hours. Gates to the parking area where dump is located are open overnight for access. Dump is in front of main building to the north side next to a large light standard. If parking lot is busy might need patience to access and get out, but at 7:30 pm after store closed we had no trouble.

Accessibility from highway heading east will involve making several turns for about 2 miles on various frontage roads.

This card room casino that has a full bar and restaurant allows free overnight RV parking in their large dirt lot in front of parking lot along West Ave A. Fairly level, some large shallow ruts that were filled with water from rain a few days prior, a bit of road noise from hwy 14, and train tracks 1/2 mile NE but only heard one train horn in the late evening.

Enter from just before the fence surrounding the parking lot/casino carefully as there is a bit of a dip. Only one other RV stayed with us Christmas night.

Security and casino staff were very friendly! We would stay here again!

Didn’t stay here as there was already a large rig parked with several dogs. Space could fit 2, maybe 3 RVs but only if you’re all buddies! Also, very busy road and wind direction had dust blow straight into site. We stayed further up on FR272.

Free dump behind truck lanes. Easy access, clean, but no potable water (water for flushing only), and fuel is great price compared to other locations. Appreciate Sinclair providing this amenity.

One of only 2 dump stations we could find heading north on 395 from I-15 (the other is at Arco further south but more expensive). There are 2 dumps but you are trapped from exiting forward in one if a larger rig is dumping at the other (see pic). The water spigot is new but no hose is provided (we always carry our own). Unlocked so payment of $10 is on honor system inside gas station. No discount if you buy fuel. Lots of room to turn rig on approach toward dirt area (do not enter into gas station).

Our site overlooked the meandering Niangua River and was so peaceful during our Sunday-Thursday stay, especially at night. Most RV sites are large concrete+gravel pads with grass yards, water/electric, picnic tables, and fire rings with plenty of space in between. Some sites overlook the river (and are shadier in the afternoon), while others back up to the woods. Several RV sites at the top of the hill before coming down into the campground offer more privacy (but no views of the river) and large enough for big rigs. The road in is gravel/dirt and goes down several hills before reaching the river level. The office is about mid-level with lots of room for parking/driving. The campground also has cabins available to rent and bathroom/showers near the office with portable toilets scattered throughout the campground. Very clean property all around. Dump on site.

The rest of the 200 acres is wide open grass available for primitive (tent) camping, whether in an open field, under a tree, or along the river. The campground also offers canoe/raft/kayak rentals for floating down river and they will bring you back. We had our own kayaks but no extra vehicle to bring us back so we just paddled up river from our RV site until a small rapid area forced us to turn around and leisurely float back. Lots of birds and turtles enjoy the river.

Campground is near Bennett Spring State Park that is beautiful to explore and popular among trout fishermen (it's basically a trout farm). Lebanon is about 20-25 minutes away for groceries and other incidentals. Only complaint was LOTS OF FLIES! The area has had lots of rain this year so perhaps that caused the fly explosion? And the only trash cans were at the office meaning a bit of a walk (or drive) to dump trash.

Easy in/out/roomy access, clean, and FREE on Route 66! Thanks Dave’s. Enter at second driveway and dump is on left.