Category: State Parks

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Boiling Springs State Park, OK

Location & Map

  • When – July 2019
  • Weather – Warm

Facilities

  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes:
    • This is a very clean state park!
    • It is a good sized park with trails, pool, lake and a golf course near by.
    • There are a lot of trees, however, little camp site shade!
    • The pads are level and concrete with many pull through sites.
    • There is a small general store at office.
    • The trails are seasonally groomed and there is access to the North Canadian River.
    • Restroom and shower area are clean, however, the showers offer minimal privacy!
    • The park was fairly quiet… until you notice the trains… every 3-5 minutes it seemed, all night long!

Photos

  • Our site
  • Group service building
  • Trails
  • Playground
  • An ePro in the wild!

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West Overlook Campground, IA

Location & Map

  • When – July 2019 (second visit in Sept 2020)
  • Weather – Warm (2020 visit very comfortable)

Facilities

  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes:
    • Pads are relatively level, some are quite short so hopefully your assignment will be sized right for you.
    • The pads are gravel, but stable and packed.
    • Showers are clean and some have fans to move the air around.
    • Several camping areas in the park and 6 separate camping loops in our area.
    • Sites 1-38 are up the bluff from the lake numbers 40 and up are closer to the water level. The upper area has less noise from the water.
    • Activities:
      • Playgrounds
      • Horse shoe pits
      • Sand volleyball area separate from the beach
      • Swimming area
      • Sand beach
    • There is an automated Day Use pay station, recycling, fish cleaning area and dump station all at the park entry.
    • Not far off the interstate 80, but no noise from the traffic
    • It looked like there was a trail or bike path into the city.
    • About a 20 min. drive to the Amana Colonies.
    • Update:
      • We stopped through this park for a second time in Sept. of 2020 and entered from the east side.
      • We camped closer to the lake and had good weather for our stay.

Photos

  • Our site
  • Our Site
  • Our loop
  • Another camp loop
  • Loved the sign!
  • Horseshoe and playground
  • Another camp loop
  • Life Jacket – Free use
  • Volleyball
  • Sand Beach
  • Dam and trailer parking
  • Firewood
  • 2020 Site – Closer to the lake.
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Maumee Bay State Park, OH

Location & Map

  • When – July 2019
  • Weather – Hot! Rained and cooled down 20 degrees… but warmed to 95 degrees the next day

Facilities

  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes:
    • This park is on Lake Erie and is a wonderful facility!
    • One point of concern:
      • The signage does not lead you to camp registration building… and
      • Google leads you to the lodge
      • Here is the link to the store/registration building.
    • Most pads are semi private with trees and bushes separating the areas.
    • Everything around us was level and had easy access.
    • Clean showers and plenty of hot water in the restroom/shower buildings.
    • Laundry facilities were located throughout the park.
    • This is a big park with a lot to do!
      • A golf course and other amenities
      • Activities listed for every day.
      • Huge trail system!  
      • Great for biking, hiking and birding
      • There were Gold Finches everywhere…
    • It was Hot! 

Photos

  • Our site
  • Our site
  • Trail System
  • Wildlife
  • Our little camper
  • Lots of activities
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Cedars of Lebanon State Park, TN

Location & Map

  • When – July 2019
  • Weather – Warm

Facilities

  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes:
    • This park is just east of the Nashville metro area.
    • The spaces are narrow for big rigs, although most are long enough for anything.
    • The camp area is clean and simple.
    • Most pads were shaded and level
    • The pads are pull through which is handy.
    • See brochure for amenities 
    • A pool and the pool area is huge, however it is closed for reconstruction! 
    • The deer seemed to be everywhere and were not bothered by the campers.
    • The park is quiet and off major highways.
    • The sites are small and close to your neighbors.
    • Trails are available in the park and at least one Eagle Scout marked trail that we hiked.
    • Hot water was available in the showers!!! Yeah!
    • This was a quiet park and even at dusk, most campers were in for the night.
    • We noticed a large laundry area and all machines appeared to be in working order.
    • There is a small general store in campground that is opened late and accommodates late check ins.
    • There is a gas station at entrance of park as some routes to/from this park had no services available.

Photos

  • Camp area
  • Our site
  • Trailhead
  • Shuttle stop
  • Trail area
  • Trail
  • Interesting
  • CLOSED pool
  • Nice poolside area
  • Wildlife
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Lake Catherine State Park, AR

Location & Map

  • When – July 2019
  • Weather – Warm

Facilities

  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes:
    • This park covers large area outside Hot Springs, AR.
    • There are numerous water activities and trails through the trees and near the lake.
    • We saw yurts and tent rentals available. See the state park website for info.
    • The bath and showers units are modern with  3 or 4 units all in walking distance in the park. 
      • However, the showers were lukewarm…
    • Most sites seemed fairly level and could accommodate most rigs.
      • Large pads are available for big rigs.
      • Some pads are all completely asphalted, however, some are partially covered in crushed rock.
    • There are shaded sites off the water and waterside sites with few trees.
    • The park is not near the highways  and is very quiet
    • Raccoons! Keep your gear stored and protected!

Photos

  • Bathhouse
  • Trails available
  • Ready for anything…
  • Our site
  • Tents for rent
  • A Teardrop neighbor
  • Some of the sites
  • Boating
  • Geese… watch your step!
  • The shaded areas.
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Caprock Canyons State Park

Location & Map

  • When – June, 2019
  • Weather – AC needed… hot!

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • Restrooms in disrepair, but showers were hot!!
    • Some sites have privacy with brush and small trees
    • Bike and horse trails available.
    • All sites have sheltered picnic tables
    • Lake accessible from camp sites
    • Very quiet
    • Pads are level
    • Visitor center allows an up close view to a mounted bison
    • Trails are available However, Bison have right of way!
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes:
    • Dump station closed
    • Restrooms in disrepair, but showers were hot!!
    • Minimal shade
  • Wildlife
    • Bison and prairie dogs
  • Media
    • No TV and Minimal cell service

Photos

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Sugarite State Park – NM

Location & Map

  • When – June, 2019
  • Weather – Nice! – Shower in the evening knocked down some dust

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • Full service campsites in the Alice Lake area.
    • Gravel drives – dusty no hard pack pads
    • Nice camp host!
    • It seems to have a lot of ‘perma-campers’
  • Park Map
  • Showers
    • Only showers at visitor center with 7a-7p hrs.

What we liked / disliked

  • †Wildlife
    • Bears were active and bear boxes were recommended for non-hard-side campers and tents.
    • Deer were at the camp site
    • Hummingbirds everywhere
  • Media
    • No TV and No cell service

Photos

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Bear Creek State Park – CO

Location & Map

  • When – June, 2019
  • Weather – Excellent

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • After hrs entry requires a phone call prior to 3pm. This information is only posted on their web site. Not the reservation email!!!
    • Enter via Morrison Road
    • Great camp host who was very helpful.
    • This park is tucked against foothills and a a great launching point into the city or the mountains.
    • Only 47 camp sites in a huge park… however, no shaded slots.
    • Beautiful area and quiet.
    • Great walking and biking trails. Paved and dirt for miles!
    • Pay showers
    • Bring bug spray
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes:
    • Small campsites with gravel base and close to neighbors
  • Wildlife
    • Limited, but found a gopher snake!
  • Media
    • Full TV and Excellent cell service

Photos

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Custer State Park – SD

Location & Map

  • When – June, 2019
  • Weather – Generally good! Rain in the evening

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • We stayed in the Sylvan Lake area, (note map below)
    • This camp area has a narrow one-way drive with limited maneuvering room.
    • It has a fairly new and clean restroom building, However hot water was variable. We spoke to the camp host and they indicated repairs are due the day we left!
    • There is a nice walking trail to Sylvan lake and the general store. The trail is off the road and safe.
    • Easy mountain drives to Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse memorials.
    • One dump station in entire state park by the Visitor Center!
    • The Wildlife loop had nice scenery.
  • Park Maps (Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park)

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • ONE dump station in the entire park!
    • Water not on site, only community spigots.
    • The parking pads are not level. Or only small portion of our assigned pad was level for the trailer.
    • No trash receptacle at dump station.
    • As mentioned, big rigs will have a problem in the narrow one-way drive in this camp ground.
    • The General Store is limited in product selection and pricey… more like what you would expect in a tourist destination than a State Park.
  • Wildlife
    • Yes! Marmot, Bison, Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Deer…
  • Media
    • No TV and NO cell service

Photos

Badlands Photos

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Chadron State Park – NE

Location & Map

  • When – June, 2019
  • Weather – Beautiful!

Facilities

  • Notes
    • Hiking trails available throughout the park.
    • Clean restrooms and showers.
    • Cabins are available if you are not in a travel trailer, RV or tent.
    • A lot of amenities: swimming pool; disc golf; tennis courts; horse stables and more.
    • The park hosts were great!
    • Sites are large. Although pads are shorter than some camp areas we have visited.
    • Really quiet! Just off the highway but the trees provide a nice buffer.
    • This park is a hidden gem in the NE state park system
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • Water not at every site so you need to fill before parking.
  • Wildlife
    • Deer and turkeys everywhere!
  • Media
    • Better bring a movie for the evening!
    • Cell service was limited

Photos

  • Shower building
  • Turkeys
  • playground
  • Beautiful!
  • Cabins
  • Nice Trails