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Padlin's avatar
Padlin
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014

Municipal Park Camping

While attempting to plan an off interstate trip to Yellowstone I have noticed many towns in the Midwest have small campgrounds in their parks, has anyone had any experience with any of these? What's your take? Info on them is very limited, they do however provide a phone number which I have yet to try calling.

Examples: Not looking for comments on these in particular, just this type of campground.

Burwell, Ne.

O'Neill, Ne.
  • Thanks all, as mentioned by some of you, I really like the idea of checking out some of the small towns, eating at local restaurants and such. I will take your advise and make sure there is a plan B.
  • We have used them with our 40' motorhome but only in the western states and Nebraska has a wonderful selection of them. We have found them quiet and policed. Some even have 50A.
  • I've had mixed results with this type of place in the western states. Some are very poorly maintained, some have noisy drive-through traffic day and night. I'd say consider them, but as the poster above said have a Plan B.
  • We actively look for this type of campgrond. Gives us a nice feel for the local community. Sure beats the KOA type junk in our minds.

    Here is our source of public campgrounds.

    Public campgrounds

    A lot of the city campgrounds are in nice parks, near to the downtown area, etc.

    Enjoy your travels. Get off the Interstate, drive the back roads, try the local campgrounds and restaurants. Avoid the chains. I bet you'll like it.

    Ed
  • We have had pretty good luck with city and county parks. A couple that we like:
    Berryville City Park in Berryville Arkansas. $15 per night full hookups including cable TV. Scott County Parks, Bald Eagle Campground, Eldridge Iowa. Long paved sites with full hookups.
    Of the 2 you mentioned the 2nd one looks better. Worth a look. Always have plan B with another park nearby in case you don't like it.
  • I think they are inconsistent. We have stayed in some really nice ones, sometimes even free with hook-ups. However others have had things like the bathroom being accessable to anyone and poorly maintained and some have actually been overpriced. Some have only 3 or 4 sites. But I would definitely check one out if you just need a 1 night stay and have a back-up plan if you really don't like it.We enjoy taking a walk around the town also.
  • (May not fit your route to Yellowstone, but...on this topic, FYI) Little Rock, Arkansas has a municipal campground right on the river just across from the city. Great views of the lights at night, and river boats by day. Just across from the Clinton Library. Right off the Interstate.

    edit: here's the clicky

    We've found county parks close to Interstates that were quiet and had full services. Weekends definitely noisier, though.
  • My limited experience in municipal parks was kinda lousy. On the plus side they are inexpensive - the negative side was that they are really setup for tents, attract young/noisy crowd - and I remember several loud/drunk parties. Have no experience with the ones your looking at.
  • We've stayed in one or two of them. They are a mixed bag. We've also found campgrounds at county fairgrounds, and stayed in at lest one of them. These tend to be less park like, but tolerable.

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