As many of you know by now we will be visiting Overland Expo in AZ in May. However, we are not going directly there, we are flying into Denver a week before, then flying out a week after, and in between travelling in a small class B camper van.Of course, we camp a lot in Europe in our truck camper; I have driven many miles in the US; but strangely to date we have never camped in the US :R.So I need some help when it comes to locating campgrounds. My GPS shows campgrounds near our route, but on investigating on the internet many appear to cater to those who want to turn up in a 40ft coach and park up for 3 months.As a couple in our 40s without children and who like nature we are looking more for campgrounds (whether commercial or national park) with the following features:1) Scenic.2) Quiet.3) Just staying 1 night at each location.4) Somewhere we don't have to book - i.e. we can just turn up one evening in May.5) Electric hook-up would be nice.6) Ideally somewhere nearby we can fill up with water / dump tanks.7) Ideally a shower / toilet block nearby5,6 and 7 are nice to haves, but not necessary everywhere.Because this is a compact vehicle (E-series van) then some boondocking might be possible (e.g. on forestry land, I don't mean Walmart), but I wouldn't know where we could do that.So, are there any good resources for searching for campgrounds that match the above criteria? E.g. websites, books.The rough route we will take will be from Denver South past Great Sand Dunes to White sands, West to Tucson, then North to Expo near Flagstaff, then returning North East via Mesa Verde and maybe Rocky Mountain NP. So if anyone has any specific recommendations on that route they would be most appreciated.Thanks in advance guys,Steve.

Do you have an iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, or one of the Android devices of that ilk? If so, there are apps for that. One of the is from Allstays, another from Woodalls, and there are others. I recommend the Allstays one in combination with Woodalls, or the Good Sam on from Trailer Life. There is also a good one called RecGovCamp which is specific to National Parks. Do be aware that the last weekend in May is likely going to require a reservation as EVERYBODY goes camping then.

Hey guys, as they say "there's an app for that" We've always had good luck with this....https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/camp-rv-tent-camping-to-rv/id370820516?mt=8Good luckRick and Kim

Offer stands for Nathrop Colo. IF you're coming down Colo 285 out of Denver. It's roughly 3-3.5 hours down the road from DIA (airport). Up to 28' length. OR if you prefer, there's 2 campgrounds there, one is at the turn off to my park, the other is at Johnson's Village 6miles north of me (KOA). I also know of several spots to Boondock if you are interested. Places I could take my 28' class C if I wanted. Here's a link to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I haven't been there in several year, however. clicky

Many of the states have state park apps. Pocket Ranger and Oh! Ranger are coming out with new ones all the time - check google play or the apple store.Additionally, there are three decent campgrounds around Great Sand dunes plus boondocking if you have 4 wheel drive. Check Sand Dunes National park, San Luis State Park (which is across a lake from the dunes and has electric and larger spread out sites), and Zapata Falls (BLM land).Check BLM and forest service sites for each state as well as state parks. New Mexico and Arizona have some great ones.

To get what you want look to the State, County and City parks. The State and County Parks are on most GPS road maps. The City Campgrounds you have to stop in the City and ask. We do that often and find most City Campgrounds really nice.

Resources for locating campgrounds | Good Sam Community

GoinThisAway
Explorer
May 04, 2013
Steve and Sally,

First, I hope ya'll have a great time. Two weeks in the west would be great about now. Looks like you'll be going through an area I visited in 2011. You might get some ideas for places to camp or visit from my trip report here. Part 1 (link included in Part 2) includes sites in northeast New Mexico and Part 2 includes sites close to Santa Fe.

Also, I don't believe anyone has mentioned the website www.freecampsites.net.

Have a great trip. I'll be looking forward to your trip report. Based on your past trip reports it'll almost be as good as being there ... almost!

Phyllis
rehoppe
Explorer
May 04, 2013
Got up here today about 11:00. Dry roads all the way, but still a 'winter wonderland' in the higher elevations.

Lows are KKKKKold, I'm told. We'll see tonight.

Almost no snow left here in the valley however. It was hot here this afternoon. Hopefully spring has sprung, now.

Now to get this joint organized and cleaned up a bit. lol I left it in a bit of a mess when I left before. Have a good flight.
sabconsulting
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Thanks for the ideas guys.

Plus, glad the weather is improving Robert.

Steve.
GpnAZ
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Hi Steve - I have a couple suggestions, places I have camped recently.

Santa Fe - Hyde Memorial State Park www.emnrd.state.nm.us/spd/hydememorialstatepark - about 8 miles northeast of Santa Fe - high elevation so could be cooler then you want

Kartchner Caverns State Park www.azstateparks.com/parks/kaca - East of Tucson, you can walk to the caverns from the park

Catalina State Park www.azstateparks.com/parks/cata - North Tucson

These are all nice campgrounds, but I would call if possible for openings. Good luck and happy camping and we will see you at the OX.

Mark
rehoppe
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Steve
The weather got nice yesterday, actually got into the 60s F., so most of the snow melted.

The PU is loaded for my seasonal 'move'. I don't know why I'm taking so much stuff with me, but the truck is full. lol I'll be heading up later this morning.... it's still the middle of the night here. So the next time I'm on RV.net, I'll be up there, and hopefully settled for part of the summer.

I'm hoping this is the last of the winter for us. I've had enough snow and cold for this year!

Hope everybody is done with the 'polar camping'.
Enjoy.
hedgehopper
Explorer
May 03, 2013
You mention going to Santa Fe. On a recent trip to New Mexico, we did not go that far south. But we did spend several days in Taos at Taos Valley RV Park and Campground and found it satisfactory. In the evening, though the power dropped to 94 volts, that was not a real problem. I suspect the low voltage was caused by the water-line heaters in use at night. If so, that should disappear because now with the warmer weather the heaters would not be needed.

If you stop in Taos, you might enjoy visiting the pueblo. We did. It is said to have been occupied for 1000 years (and still is). Taos has inexpensive shuttle-bus service.

Southwest of Taos and just northwest of Santa Fe, the town of White Rock had free camping next to the visitors' center. The camping area is essentially a parking lot but an OK place to spend a night. It had electrical hookups but no restrooms when the visitors' center was closed.
hedgehopper
Explorer
May 03, 2013
When we travel, we wouldn't be without the latest issue of the Good Sam RV Travel Guide & Campground Directory Campground Directory (formerly the Trailer Life Directory) and the accompanying RV Road Atlas. The latter does not come out every year. The most recent one I have is from 2011.
wintersun
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2013
There are public lands administered by the US National Forest Service (a dept. under the US Dept. Agriculture) and the Bureau of Land Management, and the Reclamation Dept. and the National Parks (part of the Interior Dept.) and state parks and sometimes even county parks with camping facilities or at least designated areas where camping is permitted, though often requiring a "self-contained" RV.

The US Forestry Service and the National Parks publish maps that you can get my mail for the areas they manage. Both are very useful, especially the USFS ones which include both paved and unpaved roads. These will work well for much of Colorado. Snow is a possibility in some parts of the state in May.

For Arizona the BLM may cover more areas and is another resource. With Arizona I would exercise caution in the forested areas as there have been an ever increasing amount of forest fires in the state even though global climate change is considered a myth by one of our major political parties.

For restaurants while traveling we use yelp.com and find that most of he time the reviews are reasonably accurate and helpful. Gasbuddy.com helps to find the cheapest gas along your route.

I found the Woodalls guide to be worthless with its limited information and poor organization and this was for areas where I am fairly familiar with the geography. The RV camping websites are usually much better though neither are going to be 100% accurate. Some campgrounds may be closed and others may have new facilities that are not noted on the websites.

Recommend a Western USA road atlas, a GPS, and government maps, which will help with route planning and when you are actually traveling in the USA.
whizbang
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2013
We full timed for 2 years. By far the best resource is:

rvparkreviews.com
River_Sand
Explorer
Apr 03, 2013
I don't have any additional info on finding campsites, there have been some really good ones. I do have a few suggestions while in AZ, of couse there is the Grand Canyon either rim, the tourist usually go to the South rim. Then there is Prescott Valley, Jerome an old copper mining town, and Sedona.