US Forest Service campgrounds - RV-Dreams Community Forum

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

US Forest Service campgrounds

Russ Ranger · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most of our favorite campgrounds such as National Parks, Forest Service and BLM land are dry camping. It seems that the older more established campsite were built before we RV'er came along. We like that the wilderness feel has not been turned into an RV park. With our inverters, generators, water tanks and holding tanks we aren't roughing it too much. I think that the lack of services keeps the availability of these locations to a level that we can still find a place to stay near amazing locations.

COE campgrounds are certainly the best for full service parks. As a government agency their income from power generation must allow them to provide these services. I only wish that the other federal parks had the budgets to keep up with their infrastructure. National Parks are facing another significant decrease in their budgets.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

We find one occasionally that has W/E and with spots big enough to accommodate today's large RV's, but choices are limited. We did have a spot with W/E (50 amp) in Red Bluff CA a few weeks ago. But, that's the exception rather than the rule.

Second Chance · RV-Dreams Family Member

There are several National Forest campgrounds in the Pisgah National Forest that have sites with water and electric. Lake Powhatan near Asheville has a loop with full hookup sites (W/50A/S).

Rob

Dutch · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Salt Springs Recreation Area campground in the Ocala National Forest in Florida has full hook ups, including sewer and 50 amp electric. They also have an uncommon 180 day stay limit.

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Except when it’s hot I pick campsites for their beauty and location. Requiring a plug-in makes an RVer miss so many wonderful places.

Gpndavid · RV-Dreams Family Member

We found some NPS campgrounds in UP Michigan that had about 5 out of 30 campsites with 30 amp only.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

How quickly plans change! When I started this thread, we were in the St. Louis area. The plan was to spend a week at Bennett Springs SP, then go to NW Arkansas and work our way back across the northern part of the State, bringing us back to St. Louis for Christmas and New Year. Instead, we are spending a month and a week at Turkey Creek SKP park in Hollister, MO, and then will go back to St. Louis as planned. Friends came down here to visit us, and next week we'll drive down to Arkansas to visit some other friends there. Oh well, those parks will still be there another day.

MAYBE2021 · RV-Dreams Family Member

The week before Thanksgiving my wife and I spent a few days at Mission Tejas State park in east Texas. This state park in within the Davy Crockett National Forest and while there we checked out the dispersed camping areas and the one established RV park in the national forest. To get to the dispersed camping areas you must traverse several small, but passible, dirt roads. The camp sites here are very secluded; almost spooky. It looks like they could accommodate most any size RV.

The established RV park is at the Ratcliff Recreation Area. ( https://www.recreation.gov/camping/ratcliff-lake-recreation-area/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=75227)

There are no full hook-up sites but there are some electric sites. There is also a bathroom/shower facility. This is a very old recreational area that was built by the CCC in the 30’s. Although the RV sites are dated, it is a very scenic area surrounded by a pine forested lake.

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Great information, Maybe.

MAYBE2021 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks. I don't know much, but I like to share what I know.

Steve

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

MAYBE2021 wrote:
Thanks. I don't know much, but I like to share what I know.

Steve

biggrin TY Steve, I bet some can use the information. We never know where we will be friends, breakdowns, etc!