Campgrounds All My Own

Nomad · September 2015

For the fifth time in the last few weeks I've had a campground all to myself. Since I do so much boondocking, that represents 50+%. It's partially that most aren't self contained but still.
1) NE SD - It was designated a state park, sat high on a bluff overlooking a reservoir. It had nice shade trees, central water and vault toilets. Nobody there.
2) NE SD - A Foerst Service site. Great views of huge rock formations. Had nice shade, vault toilets. No water but it did have a central electrical box so you could recharge things. Nobody there.
3) Hot Springs, SD area - COE site. Nice and clean but no shade, no water, just vault toilets. Nobody there.
4) Badlands, SD - BLM land just north of the Wall, SD entrance to Badlands Nat. Park - You open a barbed wire gate, drive up the hill and you're on the rim overlooking part of the badlands. I parked 20 ft from the edge (I don't drink/wobble or sleep walk). This is raw land, bring your own whatever so true "boondocking". No shade but always a nice breeze. Woke up to antelope grazing 100 yards away. - I'm somewhat cheating on this one as there was another camper but their rig was way north of where I was.
5) The Big Mo - COE site. Have a bunch of shooting I want to do not too Far East of the Missouri River in central SD but it's been too hot -103 today - to be out in the middle of nowhere with no shade so headed for campgrounds on the river. Nice clean, but older, campground on a high bluff overlooking the river. Nice long, level paved pads with small but effective shade trees. No water and just vault toilets. Nobody here.

There's another campground down river a short ways. Very busy. It's got electrical hookups. A lot more hookup jockeys camping than dry campers for sure. Good for me :-)

Edit-Add: And all but one were free sites :-)

Nomad · September 2015

Anyone else had a campground all to themselves? Other than boondocking that is. I've also had several where it was just the camp host and me.

ChanW · September 2015

PXL, can you specify the locations? They sound great!

We stopped at an out of the way empty CG, off Route 522 heading north out of Taos, NM, right on the Rio Grande.

We'd spotted the public land on a map, it turned out to be Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, and it was time for us to pull over for the day anyway, so we headed for it, toward Wild Rivers Visitor Center on the map.

We drove down a road just north of Questa, through Reservation land. Suddenly the road became nice, as soon as we hit the federal park land. We found Big Arsenic Springs Campground, which was self serve, and I think only $7 per night with the national parks pass.

Gorgeous spacious sites overlooking the river. There were three campgrounds of six or 8 sites each. Big Arsenic had six sites, I think.

Granted, it was March, so that would explain the quiet privacy, but the weather was perfect anyway, so we stayed a while, went down to the river, a good hike, and met the Ranger, a Native man who said he'd 'kept an eye on us from the rim of the canyon, while we climbed down to the river'. He knows his park.

The only amenities at the campsite were shaded picnic tables, but the Ranger let us use the dump facilities and water at the (empty) camp-host's campsite, and I think that was all we needed anyway, and then we were on our way later in the day.

Highly recommended spot.

Verna · September 2015

I'm jealous....I can't camp for about a month and that won't be in the middle of no where. I want to do that. I'll have to remember in the coming years that the end of August into the beginning of September appears to be a great time for an open spaces camping trip.

Kootenaigirl · September 2015

We have been to a couple,of National Forest ones where we were the only occupants. It actually made us a little nervous thinking what do others know that we don't! They were fine though, we were in a tent which probably didn't help with the safety fear. People would drive through but not stay for some reason.

Nomad · September 2015

People driving through - Yep, never understand that or in most cases even where they came from.

Lisa33 · September 2015

We've had a bunch of campgrounds to ourselves, too. Most recently, it was in North Carolina at Medoc Mountain State Park. It was a Monday night, but still--it is a short drive off of I-95, so I expected it to be busier. Love when that happens!!

kccate · September 2015

Well done, PXLated!

CanuckTabber · September 2015

Jealous of these epic spots to camp. I hate going back to work....I cannot believe how much I loved my (our) t@b and camping in it.

CCPICC · September 2015

We camp almost exclusively in Pennsylvania due to the short travel time from our home, the end of the season is a great time and if you go north to "Lands End" or "Wilderness" campgrounds you will be alone, it is scary but fun, it sure gets dark!

KyBawpaw · November 2015

I'd love to see some posts on sites in the SE . I live in Ky near Louisville. Our 4th month owning our T@B. We've camped twice now at nearby CGs. If this winter proves severe we want to head South especially during the rough times. My son and his fam live in Destin and I can snowbird in his yard but we want to experience some places between here and there. Love to find those free to cheap even boondock camps. Getting ready to install the twin 6volt batts. Got a 100 watt solar too. We're retired 65 +, AAA, Good Sam and have the Nat Park old folks card. Suggestions for Tn, Ala, Ga ?

Nomad · November 2015

I find them using the UltimateCG (campground) app on my iPhone & iPad - Don't really know you're going to have it to oneself until you get there. But if they're somewhat off the more heavily traveled roads there's a good chance.

jkjenn · November 2015

imhad OneMile in Almost, CO to myself, except for the hosts for 3 days. It was really pleasant.

Campgrounds All My Own

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