Best Campgrounds in the South West

Feb 9, 2015 | Best Campgrounds

Best Campgrounds in the South West

By Campendium

For our second post in the Best Campgrounds Series, we asked Maria from The Roaming Pint, Nan from Trippin With The Talleys and Roger from Casarodante to share with us their favorite campground in the South West. Be sure to check out their blogs!

Nevada Treasure RV Resort

IMG_3680My favorite campground in the Southwest is Nevada’s Treasure RV Resort found in Pahrump, Nevada. As my good friend Devi says, “Pahrump is a dump, but Nevada’s Treasure is a pleasure”. This resort has it all. Pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam room, the biggest, nicest gym I’ve ever seen at a RV park, a bar/grill with a bowling alley and one of my favorite touches, tiki huts at the premium sites.

There isn’t really anything around this campground, although Death Valley National Park is only an hour and a half away. I enjoyed many long walks with my dogs off leash in the open lot across the street and definitely took advantage of the gym, hot tub and steam room on a daily basis. The rates are very affordable too.

Both Verizon and AT&T were strong enough for me at this park.
– Maria, The Roaming Pint

Clark Dry Lake

clark-dry-lake1In San Diego County, bordered by highway S-22, Rockhouse Canyon Road, Coyote Mountain and Santa Ana Mountain range is a boondockers’s delight; Clark Dry Lake.

The state park is accessible from California highway 78, S 22 from the Salton Sea area and S2. When coming from the Salton Sea area, you might want to stop at the Arco Station to empty your black and grey tanks and take on fresh water. You might want to purchase fuel as it is much less than in Borrego Springs. Propane is also available.

If you desire solitude and do not care about cell and internet coverage, head closer to the lakebed area. For cell and internet service, make camp closer to S 22. Unlike many BLM areas, there is no time limit for your stay. In both places, you will find the usual, Ocotillo, various grasses, Palo Verde trees, Cactus, Desert Ironwood Trees, and Desert Scrub.

Please be sure to follow established roads in order to protect desert plants and wildlife homes. Camp in areas with existing fire rings. Minimizing your footprint on this lovely desert land.

Wildlife includes Coyotes, Kit Fox, Hummingbirds along with the usual lizards, and the “underground” wildlife.

Whether it is hiking, bike riding, and horseback riding, the Anza Borrego State Park and Clark Dry lake is the right place for you. – Nan, Trippin With The Talleys

Princess Campground

uploads_2F1414710289712-8vno3jo9mhsvpldi-10657a9ffb932e95a53df1d7dd0e6172_2F2011-07-23+14.07.54Our favorite campground in the SouthWest is Princess Campground in the Sequoia National Forest. It is only 90 miles from us but the elevation and environment makes it a world away.

This little jewel has the benefits of a National Park but with the flexibility of a National Forest. The proximity of places to visit adds to the appeal. It is close (longest distance is 50 miles) to Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP (both the trees and canyon), Hume Lake, Boyden Caverns, Crystal Cave and many other recreation opportunities.

The campground is very well maintained with modern pit toilets. During the summer they even have an amphitheater program some nights. They, unfortunately, have an extra charge for the dump station even if you are staying in the campground.

Another benefit of this campground is that they are part of ReserveAmerica and reservable. Perfect for a weekend getaway. Campsites are $24 per night. NO cell coverage of any type. You have to go back to Grants Grove for WiFi or catch a signal from the valley at a vista point on the road as it goes over a mountains saddle.

We are not yet full timing but were able to camp 55 nights in 2014. Local locations such as this make it possible for us to go for a weekend and avoid the heat and/or technology. Here are a couple blog posts where I talk about Princess: http://goo.gl/K9xWVq http://goo.gl/DPWjli – Roger and Roxie Smith, CasaRodante

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