Austin, El Paso, Tuscon, Phoenix

TyroneandGladys wrote:
FYI
It looks like you might have dogs so you need to be very aware of Cholla cactus. Cholla cactus spines become airborne very easy this is where the nickname jumping cactus comes from. The ground can be covered with them. The spine are very fine and can get in a dogs paw very easily and because they are so fine they cannot be totally removed ending up with festering sores sometime all the way up to the top of the foot. Since dogs try to clean themselves the spines also end up in there mouth.
There is Cholla almost everywhere but Lost Dutchman State Park does have a huge amount of Cholla. We do love that park but we are very careful when we walk our dog and closely exam the campsite ground.

Yikes! Thanks for the heads up! Yes we will be with dogs - we usually travel with those 'balloon' type dog shoes for areas with spurs - I wonder if those would help in that area

FYI
It looks like you might have dogs so you need to be very aware of Cholla cactus. Cholla cactus spines become airborne very easy this is where the nickname jumping cactus comes from. The ground can be covered with them. The spine are very fine and can get in a dogs paw very easily and because they are so fine they cannot be totally removed ending up with festering sores sometime all the way up to the top of the foot. Since dogs try to clean themselves the spines also end up in there mouth.
There is Cholla almost everywhere but Lost Dutchman State Park does have a huge amount of Cholla. We do love that park but we are very careful when we walk our dog and closely exam the campsite ground.

Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson is a winner! Big sites, nice scenery and a great cave tour. Do the Rotundra tour - we gave it! This is about 40 miles east of Tucson - an easy drive to Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction where volunteered there, too:))

Lost Dutchman is an awesome park. You'll enjoy it. Drive the Apache Trail with the Jeep - you won't believe the scenery and lakes. You can do a circular all-day drive to Roosevelt Lake then around to Globe, Superior and back to Lost Dutchman. Boyce Arboretum is another day trip to do.

In Texas, not far west from Austin is Fredericksburg a nice German town with plenty to explore in the area. Take the LBJ Ranch tour. Balmorhea State Park just off I-10 before El Paso is unique and nice. Fort Davis State Park nearby is another beauty.

Beyond El Paso and into New Mexico isn't much but a good stopping place is Deming, NM which has a lot of RV parks for a night. Then it's an easy drive to Benson, AZ.

Have a good trip!

Lauren wrote:
Catalina State Park is one of the best you will find. Just north of Tucson. Make reservations.

Looking at this one as well - so far all booked but still checking for any cancellations

OK I am booked every stop along the way west including French Quarter RV in NO, Pecan Grove in Austin and Lost Dutchman near Phoenix but not sure about stops between these two yet - its LONG days driving between NO and Austin then super long after that up towards Phoenix stopover...any ideas for the Texas stops west of Austin? All suggestions will be investigated. TIA

Pancho Villa State Park south of Deming in Columbus NM would be large enough for you. We have gone there several times and enjoyed it. The Pink House on the other side of the border is always a good time.

Catalina State Park is one of the best you will find. Just north of Tucson. Make reservations.

Lost Dutchman stays very busy this time of year. None reservable this weekend for example but a few open mid week. They have some non-electric first come.

We stayed at Lost Dutchman in Apache Junction a couple of years ago, very nice, big spaces, good views. In Tucson there is Catalina State Park that gets good reviews, that's on the north (or west) end of Tucson, there's also Pima County Fairgrounds on the south (or east) end of town. In Vegas we have stayed at Sam's Town (now a KOA), Oasis (pricey but nice, sites not that roomy and under the flight path for the airport), and Las Vegas RV Resort. Look at www.rvparkreviews.com for areas you are looking at