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Chadron State Park – NE – 2

Location and Map

  • July 2022
  • Warm but comfortable evenings

Facilities

Nice big playground, stables and pool.  Pool only open on weekends due to staffing.

Level pads in the upper camping area. We had previously stayed in the lower area. Many pads are in full sun!

Worth the drive to the Black Hills Overlook

Clean restrooms and showers, however, only one of the four showers was functional!!

Ft Robinson!!

Map

Visit Fort Robinson a short drive from Chadron.

Crazy Horse marker
Mammoths locked in battle

What we didn’t like:

  • Don’t eat at Country Kitchen in Chadron!
  • No TV Service and limited LTE wireless.
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Niobrara State Park – NE

Location and Map

  • July 2022
  • Hot

Facilities

The asphalt pads are fairly level and you are close to neighbors and no privacy.

RV area has a playground area, however, no trails to hike to the river(s). Trails are accessible via drive to upper section of park where cabins and the pool are located.

“Electric plus” service is just power only with community water. Plan on hauling water to fill your tank or if you are lucky, a long hose will do. 

The west side of the camping area is shaded and the center pads are more open to the sun.

Things that we didn’t like:

  • Burn ban -no fires
  • No ice at the office
  • Pool only open on weekends and limited hours, cash only
  • No TV service. Wireless is LTE only
  • Two shower areas with one that is pay per use… and the only one working!

Not worth the $30 rate

Laundry available and reasonably priced.

Our site
Bugs on entry hut!
Beautiful hills
Missouri River
Missouri and Niobrara Rivers

AshFall Fossil Beds

Plan a trip to see this State Historical Park a few miles from Niobrara State Park. The site is an active dig exposing animals that were buried in ash from a volcano in the southwest Idaho area 12 Million years ago!

We were able to watch and speak with students from the University of Nebraska summer programs as they worked to uncover these treasures.

Short drive
The barn
Up Close
Talk to the researchers
Great displays
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Kepler – Palisades state park – IA

Location and Map

  • July 2022
  • Warm but comfortable in the evening

Facilities

Pads are rock and not too level.

Clean restroom and showers.

Water not at every site.

Limited activities.

Pads are close to neighbors and on weekends it could be noisy.

Sites are shaded.

Quiet with few campers here.

Our site
Trails
Paved roads
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Sam Parr State Park – IL

Location and Map

  • July 2022
  • Hot! Trees helped a bit! 🙂

Facillities

This park is off the beaten path… We found it as a stopping point when we were planning a trip.

Vault toilets and no showers

Playground available and kids of all ages were enjoying it!

There is shade EVERYWHERE, so this could be a nice refuge from the sunny days.

Not all pads are concrete and not very level, plan on working to find a ‘sweet spot’.

No access to the lake from the campground, although there might be a path, there were no maps available and no attendant / host.

The boat ramp is on the opposite side of the road from the campground which might keep some of the boat noise away.

FYI, Illinois gas taxes are HIGH, fill up before entering the state!

Quiet and limited traffic
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Lake Catherine State Park – AR -2

See previous post on this park

Location and Map

  • July 2022
  • Hot – summery!

Facillities

The swimming area is OK, although we recommend surf-socks to protect your feet.

There is a good deal of space between pads and most pads are not too level so plan ahead.

Choose one of the lakeside pads if available, the interior pads are cut between the trees and fully shaded.

A burn ban was in effect so no campfires.

One of our grandsons exploring the lake!
Grandson approval!
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Palo Dura Canyon State Park – TX – 2

Location & Map

  • July – 2021
  • Weather – Hot and flash-flood rains!

Facilities

  • Notes:
  • Hot! And no shade…
    • Our trip was cut short because of torrential rains and a campground power outage following a lightning storm… 2.5 inches of rain had mud across the roads and navigation was challenging.
  • The pads are fairly level and easy access for back-in and drive-thru sites.
  • We had expected a longer stay, however with the power out due to a blown transformer we opted not to stay.
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • During the overnight storm we realized that there was no way for park staff to communicate with campers at the base of the park and to communicate road conditions, etc. We actually wondered if we were safe?
    • No cellphone or amateur radio service

Photos

  • The Canyon
  • Our site
  • Stay on the trails!
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Cheyenne Mountain State Park – CO

Location & Map

  • When – July – 2021
  • Weather – Warm

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • This is a super clean park, just up in the hills above Colorado Springs.
    • The pads are level for a short rig and looked to be all concrete pads throughout the park.
      • Some pads are sloped from the road and longer rigs may not be able to level.
    • The park is built on a ‘ledge’ just below Cheyenne Mountain and below the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. Because of the elevation, there are beautiful views of the plains!
    • Dog friendly trails.
    • Laundry and playground.
    • A large visitor center.
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • Some shaded areas.
    • Lots of group activity sites.
    • Easy access from I-25.
  • TV and cell service available.

Photos

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Estes Park Campgrouind at Mary’s Lake – CO – 2

Location & Map

  • When – July 2021
  • Weather – Warm but comfortable evenings

Facilities

  • Notes:
  • Minimal shade, however, sites 129 and 131 have a bit of afternoon shade.
  • Dirt roads so plan on dust!
  • Big rigs only in parking area, trailers and tent space are being expanding
  • Most pads are somewhat level – all gravel
  • Close to Estes Park and easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Plan on multiple visits to RMNP, there is so much to see.
  • Changing weather at 12,000 ft is something to have in mind as you plan your travels and hikes.
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • 5G service Verizon!
    • No TV service
  • Wildlife – only in the park

Photos

  • Elk on Trail Ridge Rd
  • Marmot on Trail Ridge Rd
  • Posing
  • Mom… taking her kids home.
  • Beautiful Colors

Rocky Mountain National Park Views and Hikes

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Golden Gate Canyon State Park – CO

Location & Map

  • When – July 2021
  • Weather – Comfortable

Facilities

  • Notes
    • Pads asphalt but not level, bring your blocks!
    • Rain water rushes down hills and across many pads
    • No real paths to shower building (One shower facility to service all sites)
    • No road  markers for campground Reverend Ridge Campground. Google Maps & Ford Nav directed us to the visitor center which is 7 miles from our campground.
    • Laundry and kitchen wash area available.
    • Small amphitheater behind office building.
  • Park Map
  • Area Map
  • Area Map
  • Campground
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • No cell service.
    • Showers are coin.
    • Chip rock / mountain gravel road from Hwy 119.
    • Library about 3 miles away for internet.
    • Close to historic Central City and BlackHawk casinos.

Photos

  • Central City
  • Central City
  • yOre Cart
  • Winning!
  • Amphitheater
  • ONLY local communications
  • 2020 Must have been worse than we thought! Lock it down!
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James A Robb – Colorado River State Park – CO

Location & Map

  • When – July – 2021
  • Weather – Warm but comfortable evening

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • This is a small park / camping area. The ‘park’ is actually three separated parks all with different facilities and amenities. This is a camping area directly off I-70 and along the Colorado River.
    • Vault toilets and flush available at camper service center.
    • Pads are gravel but level.
    • Some shade in some areas.
    • Colorado River right in camp ground! There is a berm that separates the campground from the river.
    • Amphitheater and playground area.
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • Loops D and C are closer to I70 so more traffic noise.
    • Water not at sites but in loops.
    • Gas station at I70 exit.

Photos