Or, were we?
We both longed to see the beauty of Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton mountains. Little did we know we would end up staying in 9 different RV parks in 16 days. We came home exhausted, having stood in awe at the beauty provided by God in the states of Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado, but also having experienced some of the worst and best RV sites available in that part of the country.
We prefer parks with full hook-ups. I'm a city girl, bred and born in Dallas, Texas. I don't do camping unless it's the easy way. Still, we love to be out with nature and sit near our trailer soaking in the closeness of God while amongst His wonders.
In case you're planning a trip with an RV to that part of the country this summer or fall, or even next summer, I thought it might be helpful to post my list, to give recognition where it's due and to warn future RVers of difficulties in some places.
I divided the list into 1)good 2)Great 3)Necessity only and claimed one park as 4) the worst. Here's my list:
the good
Summerlan RV Park in Raton, New Mexico
Our GPS got us lost by sending us in the wrong direction for this park, but the lady there
guided us safely over the phone to the right spot. She was friendly and kind.
Not fancy, but it had wide lots where you could sit outside, and it had nice showers. We got in
only 3 TV stations and we did have WiFi.
An unexpected bonus - on the back of the receipt was the salvation message. I thought that
was unique and sweet.
Loveland RV Park, Loveland, Colorado
Very nice park, new club house, grassy area for tents, big trees
They were surrounded by many nice restaurant choices which was helpful at that time.
Cable TV, WiFi
The biggest problem was the RVs were jammed in there. We did sit outside but the lot
was small; only had a view of roadway with many people passing
Okay, drum roll please, my choices for the GREAT ones
Sleeping Bear RV Park, Landers, Wyoming
The first place we stayed that we loved was Landers, Wy. The strange thing was we thought it would be a quick stop-off because online it didn't look like much, but the view was super. We were on top of a mountain looking down on the city. The area had several things to do, and it's only 200 miles from Yellowstone, if you're headed there.
Wide lots, cable TV, WiFi
\Montpelier, Idaho KOA Campground
This is a view from the Montpelier nature hike, which we liked and walked along twice while were there. We looked out over a mountain.
This was another wonderful, unexpected pleasure with large lots, the gravel was heavy and even for easy parking. The pool enticed many to swim. Cable TV, WiFi (You can tell that was important to us.)
The friendly staff gave us free hash browns to try. This was the only place where we could have a campfire or grill easily which was good because there's few restaurants in the town 2 miles away, mostly just Subway. There was a nice grocery store where we could refill our supplies. Bear Lake is a huge, blue lake nearby which is super for fishing.
United Campground, Durango, Colo.
Wide lots, big trees, nice view of Animas River and Silverton train comes through the park.
Nice pool, good club house
Cable TV, good WiFi reception, fair cell service
A note of my own: If you have several days to spend in this area, we loved the Blue Spruce RV Campground up above Vallecito Lake, which is up the mountain and to the northeast of Durango. The cool air and gorgeous scenery is worth the trip up, but only if you stay several days.
KOA Campground, Amarillo, Texas
Cool nights for sitting outside even in summer
View of gorgeous sunsets over flat plains that stretch for miles
Pool and showers are new/nice
WiFi, cable, good cell service
Wide lots, plenty of gravel
Nightly tractor/hay wagon rides for kids/ Very friendly but professional staff
and the Necessity Only, as needed, for camping
KOA Campground, Green River Utah
Nice pool, Fair restaurant within walking distance
Very limited WiFi, 3 local TV stations only/no view
Little gravel, some patches of grass, mostly sand (that gets in your sandals when you walk)
Nice pool
Note: If you go Green River in the summer, buy one of their local, delicious watermelons
Fishing Bridge RV Park, Yellowstone National Park
This picture shows how our trailer was crammed into a pine tree where we couldn't see out. The trailer on the other side, we could reach and touch. The view from our doorway was our neighbor's truck.
This is the only campground in the park with electricity, water, & sewer hook-ups
Staying outside the park might be advisable if you need cell service because there is none at all
at the RV Park. They tell you in case of emergency to come to the office about 1/2 mile away
and dial 911 on the pay phone, but we, most times, were not able to get the pay phones to
work. (Thankfully, we never had to try the 911).You still have a long way to drive to see any
of the sites in the park because they're so spread out and it's a big park. We could get to the
Yellowstone Lake and Yellowstone River quickly, but that was all. That would be important if
you want to fish.
No internet, no TV, no radio, no outside communication.
RVs are crammed into tiny spaces
The only place we could sit outside was almost on the roadway. A pine tree blocked our big
window which made our trailer dark.
One nice touch was wooded areas were interspersed between every 2 rows of RVs which helped
a little & gave kids a place to play.
That brings me to my vote for worst of the 9 ****WORST***
Golden Eagle RV Park, Eagles' Nest, New Mexico
Trailers jammed on small lots. Our back view was a mud hill.
Though it wasn't their fault that we arrived in a rain storm, the campground should be
manageable in all kinds of weather. The only gravel was where you drove down to your
site, but we backed into boggy mud. My husband's tennis shoes sunk into the mud just
to get us hooked to electricity and water. My sandals were coated with mud to walk into
our front door. We slipped in, took off our muddy shoes, and didn't leave until the next
morning when we got muddy all over again leaving.
They had a planned event that night but we didn't go because of mud.
Limited WiFi, 2 TV stations, PBS & CBS
No sewer and dump station was difficult to get to & very muddy around it.
I hope my list helps you, or at least gives you food for thought. If not, I hope you found the article entertaining.
Do you have any kudos for RV parks you'd like to offer us?
Do you have any horror stories?
Leave a comment. I, for one, would like the info for our next trip.
Where are you going this summer?