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Desert_Captain's avatar
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Sep 17, 2014

What's the best deal you've gotten on a campground?

We prefer campgrounds to RV Parks and travel extensively throughout the southwest and beyond in our 24' Class C. Armed with our Passport America, Good Sam and Geezer card discounts we frequently find amazing camping locations for ridiculously low fees. Here are our top three:

1. The Watchman CG inside of Zion National Park. Probably the most beautiful place on the planet their sites along the Virgin River come with 30 amps of electricity, water and flush toilet restrooms throughout the CG and a 2 lane dump station. Just a couple of hundred yards from the Parks visitor center where you can board the free shuttles that take you throughout the park. All of this for $18 a night and with the Geezer card it drops to just $9 a night (and yes you really will need reservations which can be made up to 6 months in advance).



2. Roosevelt Lake (east of Phoenix/north of Tucson). This huge series of CG's offer spectacular views of Roosevelt Lake (not to mention the ancient indian cliff dwellings), which at 26 miles long provides unlimited recreational possibilities. The large view sites come with ramada's, fire rings, tables etc., along with hot showers/flush toilet restrooms. At $6 a night it is a bargain but being in the Tonto National Forrest a Geezer card gets it down to $3 a night.



3. There are several very nice USFS CG's a few miles north of Sun Valley Idaho located on the Big Wood River at the foot of the 12,000' peaks that provide some of the best skiing in Idaho. Winter can come early here and in mid September we had the CG all to ourselves just steps from the river. Elk would come down to the river every evening to drink and we did see the occasional mountain lion track. Though a little primitive with vault toilets (there were dumpsters and water spigots), the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Most of the year the fees are $15 a night but after September 15th it drops to just $5 a night and you guessed it, a Geezer card knocks that back to $2.50!



On our cross country trip we took full advantage of the Passport America parks which typically (Sunday through Thursday and some 7 days a week), would get us full hookups for $15 or less and even GS will net you 10% off of the rack rate in many parks. So what are your favorites?

:B

40 Replies

  • Riana Campground (COE) at Abiquiu Lake, northern New Mexico in Georgia O'Keeffe country. $16 a night with electric, flush toilets, showers, very large RV parking pad sites with separate area for covered picnic table and fire ring. Reserve America books it.

    As card-carrying geezers, of course, we paid $8 a night last October.

    Love the views there of Mt Pedernal above the lake. O'Keeffe loved to hike and camp there and directed that her ashes be spread there. The countryside scenery is wonderful, and you can reserve ahead to tour the artist's two homes.
  • New Mexico State Parks. $10 boon docking, $14 electric and water, $18 includes sewer. $180 a year for the pass, which covers the $10 a night. So, $4 to $8 a night!!
  • At one time it was $3.00 per night. More now of course.
    However we are going to tom Johnson CG for free.
  • My 14 year old son has a medical diagnosis of autism, and qualifies for the disabled state and national park passes. We get 50% off camping like the senior pass. It's a great way to get him out of the house and out on a trail or lake at a lower cost to our family.

    This was us hiking in Glacier National park last Saturday. I was telling my boys about their grandfather (my dad) who served in the Army in WWII.

  • Tent camping on the Chippewa Flowage in Wisconsin for a week. Private island camping only accesible by boat, no facilities/services, no cell service.....I was able to hang up my hammock out over the water and just relax and listen to the loons. Perfect....and it's FREE!
  • I just sent away for the Geezer card.Back in the late 90's we stayed at the National park Campground at Canyon De Chelly and it was free.
  • Coleman Lake Campground in the Talladega National Forest. $14.00 a night, 50 amp service and water. Best part no cell phone service. 15 miles to nearest town. 2 beautiful lakes, great hiking and an area if you have horses.