West | Campground of the Week

08 Dec

Campground Review #58 Cheyenne State Park outside Colorado Springs, Colorado

Cheyenne State Park

On Campground of the Week podcast episode #58, Scott Elias reviews Cheyenne State Park near Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is just over an hours drive from the Denver area, making it a great weekend getaway, or a good base camp if you are passing through the area. Listen to hear why Scott gives this campground a glowing review, and looks forward to returning soon with his family…

Cheyenne State Park campground is not very big, with just about 50 RV sites and 10 walk-in tent sites. That means Cheyenne State Park fills up fast, so if you want your choice of sites and dates, book six months in advance at ReserveAmerica.com. That’s not surprising considering the full-hook up sites are an affordable $28/night. You will have to purchase a daily Colorado State Park Pass however, so consider getting an annual pass if you will be doing a lot of Colorado state park camping over the course of the year.

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10 Nov

Campground Review #54 Devils Tower KOA in Devils Tower, Wyoming

On this episode of Campground of the Week, Kerri Cox reviews Devils Tower KOA in Devils Tower, Wyoming. Kerri was unsure if the stop would be a hit or a disappointment when they planned their epic summer trip to Yellowstone in 2016. They decided to visit Devils Tower anyway, and stayed in the area for two nights.

They really enjoyed the experience, and think you will, too.

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Devils Tower KOA is unique in that it boasts a fantastic view of the National Monument from most of the sites in the campground. If you are going to take the time to visit, than this is the definitely the campground that will help you capitalize on the experience.

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03 Nov

Campground Review #53 Mosca Campground in San Luis State Park, Colorado

On this episode of Campground of the Week, we welcome guest correspondent Scott Elias to review Mosca Campground at San Luis State Park in the great state of Colorado. Scott Elias is a former educator who now works for Apple. He grew up camping, but his wife didn’t so it took some convincing to get her and the family on board with the RV dream. Scott must be convincing, though, because now they have a brand new Jayco Whitehawk and are spending as many weekends as possible exploring their beautiful home state.

Mosca Campground is located in the high mountain valley between the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges. It is only 15 miles west of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, so it makes a perfect base camp for exploring that NPS site.

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19 Oct

Campground Review #51 Buffalo Campground in Island Park, Idaho outside the West Gate of Yellowstone National Park

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On this episode of Campground of the Week, Brett Neilson of OurCampingAdventures.com reviews Buffalo Campground in Island Park, Idaho. This campground is a favorite for the Neilson family, and they use it as a base camp for exploring Yellowstone National Park, since it is just 30 minutes from the West Gate.

Natural beauty and affordability are the stars of the show at Buffalo Campground. Campsites are surrounded by a dense forest of lodgepole pines, and the beautiful Buffalo River runs through the park. Fishing is said to be great here, but Brett can’t attest to that himself.

Ahem.

Individual sites are a bargain, running from $15-$20. There are a variety of configurations–pull thrus, back ins, double sites, and group camping areas. In this episode, Brett lays out the pros and cons of all of them.

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If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park, you should definitely listen to this episode of Campground of the Week, along with our other Yellowstone episodes: Campground of the Week #39 and RV Family Travel Atlas #100. Both will offer fantastic help for your bucket list trip.

In this episode Brett also lets us know that there is a lot more to this area than *just* the well known beauty of Yellowstone. Here are the activities, attractions, and dining mentioned:

Island Park Reservoir
Macs Inn Playhouse
Eagle Ridge Ranch
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway
Trout Hunter
Frostop

Thanks so much to our sponsors for supporting weekly content for all our camping fools!

Interested in other RV and camping content? The RVFTA Podcast Network produces three weekly podcasts: RV Family Travel Atlas, Girl Camper, and Campground of the Week. They are all available in iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite podcatcher. You can also listen right from the website, if you prefer!

Not sure what this whole “podcast thing is about? Find out here!

Enjoy listening, and we will see you at the campground!

06 Oct

Campground Review #49 Rafter J Bar Ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota near Mount Rushmore

rafter-j-bar-ranchthe-black-hills-of-south-dakota

On this podcast episode of Campground of the Week, we are so excited to share Kerri Cox’s review of Rafter J Bar Ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota, just minutes away from Mount Rushmore.

Kerri explains why Rafter J Bar Ranch might just be her favorite campground ever. Yes, that’s right…EVER. The tall pine trees, scenic views, and lovely amenities won her family over during their stay in the Black Hills.

This campground has an unusual feature though–there are 6 distinct campsite areas, and it is important to know the differences so you chose the best one for your family. Kerri describes all the areas in detail, so listen before you book:

Main Camp
Base Camp
Line Camp
Ranch Camp
The Island
Lower Ranch Camp

Kerri also discusses some of the highlights of the grounds, including the hiking and biking trail that runs adjacent to the campground. Add in a lovely pool, solid bathhouses, and full hook ups and we understand why Kerri is gaga for the Rafter J Bar Ranch.

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Even though you could while away your days at Rafter J Bar Ranch, this campground is located in the heart of a bucket-list RV destination, the Black Hills of South Dakota. Guests are within minutes of:

If you are planning a trip to Mount Rushmore (now or in the distant future) you have to listen to this review of the Rafter J Bar Ranch in South Dakota. It may just become your favorite campground ever as well.

Also head over to travelswithbirdy.com and check out Kerri’s blog posts on the campground and surrounding region!

Thanks to our sponsors for supporting weekly content for all our camping fools!

08 Sep

Campground #45 Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale, Texas

Balmorhea State ParkToyahvale, Texas

On this week’s episode of Campground of the Week, we are so excited to welcome Kate Dunbar with our very first review of a Texas campground. Kate takes us to Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale, Texas.

This unique state park was first constructed during the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The crew of unemployed young men built the San Solomon Springs pool, which covers over two acres of land and is home to a variety of aquatic species. Over 26 million gallons of pure artesian water flows through the pool every day, and the water is a constant 74 to 76 degrees. This is truly an oasis of a state park during the hot Texas summers.

Kate provides all the details you need to know about camping at this State Park, including her pick of sites and how much you can expect to pay. In addition to swimming, expect your activity’s calendar to be scheduled with star gazing, hiking, and photography. Oh, and you could also get scuba certified during your visit!

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11 Aug

Campground #40 Jellystone Park of Estes near Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Jellystone of Estes ParkRocky Mountain National ParkColorado

On episode #40 of Campground of the Week, Brett Neilson reviews his base camp for exploring Rocky Mountain National Park–Jellystone Park of Estes. Rocky Mountain National Park is the 3rd most visited national park in the country, but surprisingly enough, people have some difficulty finding a great campground with reasonable access to the park.

Jellystone Park of Estes stands out for its combination of location and amenities. Listen to hear Brett’s review of his family’s first Jellystone Camp Resorts experience. We’ll give you a hint…we think another visit with Yogi might be in their future!

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04 Aug

Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone, Montana

On this week’s episode of Campground of the Week, Kerri Cox of travelswithbirdy.com reviews Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone, Montana. If this bucket list destination is on your future road trip list, you have to listen to this episode.

Kerri’s family loved staying at this campground while they explored Yellowstone National Park, and she’ll explain why it was the perfect place to unwind and enjoy downtime when they weren’t busy photographing geysers and hiking to epic vistas.

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23 Jun

Campground #33 Devil’s Garden in Arches National Park, Utah

On this week’s episode of Campground of the Week, correspondent Brett Neilson takes us to Devils Garden, a peaceful and remote campground in Arches National Park, Utah.

Devils Garden has no hook ups, no activities, and no amenities, but the location in one of Utah’s most iconic national parks more than makes up for it. Brett prefers the back in sites, and even shares his favorite one in the campground. He also talks about the amazing access to bouldering and rock scrambling that guests have when staying at Devils Garden.

Brett shares his favorite hikes, highlighting some of the easier ones with big payoffs:

Balanced Rock
Double Arch
Sand Dune Arch
Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Fiery Furnance–book online for ranger led hike

Moab is also a great place to visit while staying at Devils Garden in Arches National Park. There you will also find Deadhorse Point State Park and Canyonlands. There are also dozens of outdoor adventures to be found there, including rafting, 4-wheeling, and mountain biking.

A special thanks to Jayco and Progressive, sponsors of Campground of the Week!

26 May

Campground #29 Fish Creek Campground in Glacier National Park, Montana

Fish Creek CampgroundGlacier National Park, Montana

On this episode of Campground of the Week, our western correspondent Brett Neilson takes us all the way north reviewing Fish Creek Campground in Glacier National Park, Montana. Fish Creek Campground is one of only two reservable campgrounds in Glacier National Park, so it is a great option when visiting this popular bucket list destination.

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