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?
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