Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas near Amarillo?? Suppose to be the second largest canyon in the US. Sounds like a great destination spot. Wife and I already requested 2 weeks vacation time for March 2015 (our 30th anniversary). She picked this location. After looking at some of photos on the park web site, yea! ... I'm ready to go.So thought I throw out the question to everyone since we have about a year to plan, has anyone stayed there in the campground? What can we expect? What's your thoughts for March? (weather wise), and what did you like or not like about your stay? What kind of availability will we have for a campsite in March? Will sites accommodate a 30 plus foot TT? Most important, if you have been there once, would you go back again for another visit?Any and all thoughts welcome! Thanks everyone!

We have spent four Spring Breaks (mid-March) at Palo Duro, and no two have had the same weather. I recommend the Mesquite camping area; they have quite a few long sites down there. The Juniper area is the first loop, and though it also has 50 amp and large campsites, I prefer the Mesquite loop. That is where we stayed last month; it is the best camping area for scenery, though you can't go wrong anywhere in the canyon. Just specify your length when you make your reservation. All the campsites are on the canyon floor, which is why I prefer staying here as opposed to Caprock Canyon State park. Get reservations EARLY because Texas parks fill up for spring break season.If you are going to spend two weeks in March there, be prepared for four seasons. Weather on the High Plains is interesting and can change on a dime. Also, get your reservations early. We had the pleasure of snow for two of those trips. As long as you don't have to drive up out of the canyon during winter precipitation, snow there is a real treat! This past march we had a cold front blast through with gusts over 50 mph, so that was interesting as well. The very next day I sat outside with just jeans and a t-shirt and enjoyed the view.There are plenty of sights to see in the area, such as the Panhandle Plains Museum nearby in canyon, and of course in Amarillo there are museums and the Big Texan Steak Ranch.

Does look like a great getaway spot... Have never been there... Might just add this to my bucket list of places to go check out.Roy Ken

I've read on other posts the drive DOWN into the canyon is quite an adventure on its own. Steep & winding.

Stayed in PD Canyon on the way to Grand Canyon some years ago. It is well worth the visit but I don't think I could do two weeks there.Highlights include VERY tame deer, turkeys wandering through the CG, unusual rock formations. Panhandle weather in March can be highly variable- it's anyone's guess.Be aware that cell coverage on the canyon floor is mostly non-existent, at least it was three years ago. Best get an update. We were amazed to be able to receive local TV signals through the antenna.Lastly and MOST important. Check the Texas school calendars and AVOID the spring break week. Site availability will increase 3x.

One of the nicest things about Palo Duro is TEXAS, the outdoor musical play that is put on with the canyon wall as a backdrop. Unfortunately, it's only there from June through August.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Texas | Good Sam Community

mockturtle
Explorer II
May 07, 2014
Looking at my old RV trip logs, I find the record of my late husband's and my visit to Palo Duro Canyon in 1996. We were in a 36' DP with a Blazer toad and, while my notes mention that the entrance road was 'steep and winding', there are no comments that it was difficult. Enjoy your visit!
DutchmenSport
Explorer
May 07, 2014
Wow! Thank-you everyone. This is definitely the "clincher!" We're going! Will make reservations in September for March and take everyone advise and try to get into the Mesquite camping area.

Trirboy ... loved the photos ... see why you suggested to bring spray paint! And glad to see you had a dog in some of the photos. We're taking our dachshund with us. He's such a fun little dog. He snorts and roots under every twig and leaf and rock he can find!

And BB_Texas ... I saved off the park map!

And will begin to research all these other places in the area too! We've got several trips planned before this one, but we're both very excited about this one!
Trlrboy
Explorer
May 07, 2014
I have a full album of pictures of Palo Duro Canyon SP. Click on my PHOTOLINK and scroll through the places we've been to find Palo Duro. I would think a week there is be enough to see everything in the area. I would highly recommend the Mesquite camping area as to a good view from campsites and be sure to take the 3 mile hike out to the lighthouse formation.

Be sure to take a ride out to Cadillac Ranch. Bring spray paint. :)
ryanb-72
Explorer
May 07, 2014
We stayed in late June a few years back. The park is very nice although we were passing through and only stayed 2 nights. We did see the show TEXAS and it was great. I would love to go back at a different time of year. It was so hot the thermometers on the trail were reading close to 120 degrees. We ended up having to sit in the warm air conditioning of the camper most of the day.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
May 07, 2014
We've stayed in Mesquite campground - beautiful. March will be cool/cold/windy. I think two weeks is much too long to stay in the park. Pick a couple other stops, too. Have a good one.
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
May 07, 2014
Been there done that and will be there again and do it again. We also like the Mesquite Loop.
southtexas
Explorer
May 06, 2014
Well there take a day to see the Panhandle Plains museum in nearby Canyon, its worth the visit

site (but not a link) http://panhandleplains.org/pages/home.asp
BB_TX
Nomad
May 06, 2014
Palo Duro is a large park with relatively few full hookup RV sites. That is why you need reservations in advance, and why it is not crowded even if all RV sites are taken.
There are 3 areas with full hookups, 2 with 50 amp and 1 with 30 amp. In March 30 amp would be adequate.
Check the Park map
And yes, I would go again.
Wadcutter
Nomad
May 06, 2014
PD is a nice visit but don't get your expectations too high that it's going to be anything like the Grand Canyon. It is a canyon and it does run for a distance but it's nothing close to being the Grand Canyon. The area in that part of Texas is flat(!) so when driving across the flatness and coming upon the canyon it is an impressive view. But as with a lot of things in Texas the stories are bigger than reality.
kellertx5er
Explorer
May 06, 2014
Major Dad wrote:
... but you'll need get reservations a good six months ahead of time. We're veterans of four Spring Break trips and have never felt like the park was packed.

Spread out or not, it sounds like a packed house if you need reservations 6 mo. in advance. Guess I'm an old !@#$%!, but if I had a choice knowing that a week earlier or later the park would only be 50% full I know what I would do.