Need advice on campgrounds and rate - have 33'fifth wheel

[tgpilot]

Hey all, I've been out of RVing for about ten years, and in my search for campgrounds and prices I am getting sticker shock on nightly rates.

I have a 33' 5th wheel and I need to find sites that will handle her. I thought I had done my research etc. but, at nearly 70 years of age and a dis-abled Viet Nam Vet, I guess I am just not as prepared as I thought I was. Being on a limited income, I need to find the best prices out there.

The following is the info I need, plus anything that I may have forgotten that you guys can throw in:

1. Campgrounds that are decent or as low priced as possible in the Kalispell, MT area for the last week of this month and through the fifth of July

2. Best places to stay including inside Yellowstone and the Teton's NP. Including their prices. Also, will consider outside of the parks nearby.

3. Jackson Hole, WY. for a few days around the 15th of July.

4. Then onto Moab, UT and some of the nearby NP's.

5. Then Las Vegas, maybe some Casino parking lot's whatever I can find for three or four days. What about a genset in their parking lot?

6. After that, will try and head to Yosemite NP, for a few days then home. Though, I would like to try and take the wife to SF and the wharf. I know I would need to park some where East of Oakland to find a safe, cheap as possible place to launch from.

I do have an older Honda 3K genset that I checked out and it still runs. Hopefully it will work at alt. Taking a ten foot chain to chain her to the RV, hope that works. Will put it inside when ever I am out for the day.

For the most part when we camp, I hope to get by with the basics. Water, elect. maybe sewer and cable if available. I am taking an old Direct TV dish that I hope I can get to work and I still remember how...lol.

I am mainly looking for a clean safe place to camp at night. Can I use a generator at Wal-Marts and other places if needed? I've not stayed in a state or BLM campground in years. What are the average prices in them? I know I have to watch my size limit. I do have an Oregon BLM and a state parks pass. I am sure no other state will honor it. What recommendations do you have for parking at a Wally World?


I will be going through: Oregon, WA, ID, MT,WY, UT, AZ, NM NV and CA. Thanks everyone for your advice, I need it, so, throw everything at me please. Plan to leave next Saturday the 20th.

Tom

[rbev2308]

If you have some time to spend on the computer, the site that aids me a lot is

http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/campgroundsandrvparks/


Once there you can search by city, zip or within so many miles and it will give you all the campgrounds and the users ratings for things like appearance, amenities, etc...You can even select features you want and it will filter out the things that do not have such as if you need internet and refuse to go without, etc. It will show Good Sams affiliation and non- Good Sams. I think Woodalls has something similar. It gives the park layouts, the pricing, etc. Then on each campground, it will have a link to that campgrounds website from that you can search availability or call. As for state parks, that will take even more time as you gotta search more for that info. I don't even try because my camper is 40 ft long and I just try and stay near a state park and drive my tow vehicle from there..

I did a search for Kalispell and there are 27 campgrounds within 25 miles of that city to include that city

The rest of your questions you are just going to have to do some digging or rely on last min planning just such a long list. If you are not into digging around all the websites, the same info is in one big book you can buy from local camping world or order online as I have as a backup with me to do searches if I have no access to a computer. Good luck..

[bsmith0404]

If you're trying to save as much money as possible, state parks are probably your best solution. I know NM charges $14 a night. Although your 5er is a little bit long at 33', it's not overly large. When I call around, most places have no problem accommodating up to 35' a 40' can sometimes be a squeeze. Every state has a website for their state park campgrounds, I'd start checking there and figure out how many are on your route or if you can adjust your route.

Another option may be famcamps. As a Vietnam Vet, do you have access to bases?

I've seen some casinos that have an area for RV parking, you would have to call ahead and ask.

As for using a generator in Walmart parking lots, I've seen people do it. I've also been to Walmarts that do not allow overnight parking. The best bet is to call ahead and ask.

Finally, things around Yellowstone are a bit expensive. We enjoy staying at Flagg Ranch. It is only a couple miles outside the south entrance and less than an hour to Jackson, WY. It's an easy drive into Jackson with beautiful scenery. We see wildlife every time we make the drive, moose, deer, bear, etc. It's still a little pricey at $70 per night for full hookups, but it's reasonable for the area.

[Rex1vt]

1. Campgrounds that are decent or as low priced as possible .
I will be going through: Oregon, WA, ID, MT,WY, UT, AZ, NM NV and CA.
Tom

www.rvparkreviews.com will give you a lot of what you are looking for.

[mazboy123]

vietnam vet??? me too.

are you 100%? if you are then the world is open to you.....military bases.


drop me a note if interested in talking.

[sourdough]

A couple of sites that may be of help to you are passportamerica.com and rvparky.com Hope they can help you out. With such a long trip and so many locations there is a lot of internet digging to be done. Be sure and either call ahead or reserve your spot to eliminate an unwanted surprise far from home since you are trying to go to some very popular places during the high time of the season.....good luck. During your research look for military discounts or DAV discounts.

[notanlines]

Many thanks for your service from a Marine Corps family. Hope this gives you a great amount of help. Other vet's might want to make note of this site.
http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/jreviews/campgrounds_d1

[tgpilot]

Thanks guy/gals for the info. I've saved all the links and will check them out. Yes, I am a hundred per cent dis-abled and I do have the national park pass to get into all of them. I also have both the state and BLM passes for Oregon.

I do plan to carry a gun with me, will that cause a problem getting onto the military bases in a camper? I've never tried that before. Thanks to all for the welcome home and thank those of you for your service.

As mentioned, I plan to leave next Saturday and head up the I-5 to Portland, then up 84 to cut over to Spokane, WA, them Coeur D. Alene, ID, then onto Missoula, MT and then up 93 where I will stay in the big Fork and Kalispell area until the 5th or 6th of July. Then onto Browning, MT for a few days to see the Blackfoot Indian days.

After that we plan to head South to Yellowstone and the Teton's. After that towards Jackson Hole for to or three days. Then, onto Moab, UT where we plan to stay a few days in that area seeing Arches' NP and others in that area. Then, onto Gallup, NM and to Window Rock, AZ for a day, maybe two.

From there The Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, then Prescott, AZ before heading to Las Vegas, NV for a few days if we can find a cheap place there to camp. Then, onto Yosemite NP. The few times I have been there, I always entered from the West side. I will have to see what I need to do to go in from the East side and the road conditions there of. After all that lol....Straight up 99 and I-5 to home. Almost four thousand miles.

A few years ago, I married a young gal who is 44 years younger than me and we have a four year old now. I want to try and make as many trips as possible to give them memories of me and good family times.

Again, thanks all for your help, please keep it coming, I've been researching for a month or more, just not happy with what I found. Gone are the days of $10 and $20 a night camping....lol.

Tom

[rbev2308]

Do not even attempt to carry a gun on to federal property especially military bases...I do know that some bases have different policies as I had heard from family members that USAF would allow on some bases as long as they were checked and no ammo...pretty stupid as gun serves no purpose without the ammo. I do know you better not try doing this on any Navy base and given all the issues we have had recently with base shootings, etc...I do not believe any base will tolerate someone bringing a weapon thru the gate.

[sourdough]

Look into the Passport America site to see what you can find. They have a 50% discount at many locations which equates many times to $12-20 night. Just look the info on the sites over pretty well. We've stayed at some that are pretty good and one that was OK but not really developed well.

[tgpilot]

Thanks guys, that's what I thought about the military bases, NO guns. Oh well.

Tom

[SkiSmuggs]

We stayed 3 days in one of the NP campgrounds (Gros Ventre) in Grand Teton which is adjacent to Yellowstone. With our NP pass, it was $11 a night two years ago. Prior to the trip, I changed the lights to LED and upgraded my battery from a Group 24 to a Grp 27. We did not watch TV, set the furnace thermostat at 55, added a comforter, and at the end of 3 days, had battery power to bring in the slides and raise the stabilizers and landing gear without having used a generator.
We were able to see both Grand Teton and Yellowstone from there.

1/77 Armor, 1/5 Mechanized Infantry, I Corps

[sw342]

Not sure if you were planning on staying in Yosemite park, but if you didn't make reservations 6 months to the day you were to arrive, then you won't be staying in the park. If you check everyday for cancellations you might get lucky. The summer is a zoo there and as a semi local never go there(the valley floor) in the summer. Besides the waterfalls are going full force in the spring and by mid to late summer some are a trickle.

Going to Tuolumne Meadows would be the exception to the rule. I believe they even hold a few first come first serve sites, but reservations would be encouraged. Not many sites there for your sized trailer vs tent sites and it is a 2 hour drive to the valley floor.

Don't waste dragging you trailer into Yosemite unless you have a confirmed site. If you are staying outside the park you would probably have better luck, but better start checking now.

[Barbell]

Re guns on military bases: Ross is right; we have been on a number of bases, Army, Navy, AF and Marine Corps and most do not allow guns at all and those that do require the guns to be deposited in their armory until you leave. No point in having a gun if it is in the armory. We leave ours at home now.

[tgpilot]

Thanks for those replies guy's. Keeping notes on all info received. Sadly, I did not make reservations for Yosemite NP, as it was a late add on.

Doe's anyone know how the roads are and the best route in from the East side dragging a 33' fifth wheel? Or, will it be best to get on the West side and go in from the Fresno area? What commercial parks are located near Yosemite and any known prices?

Tom

[chuckster57]

JMO, but if I was yanking a big trailer like yours I would come into Yosemite from the Fresno side. Coming in the other way (Groveland) involves navigating Priest Grade. Not fun even in a car without any trailer.

If memory serves me correct, 30' trailer length is the limit in the park, and o can say that roads in the park aren't the widest. May be better to look for a park outside the gates and just drive I'm for the day.

[tgpilot]

Thanks Chuck, that is what I figured. Will probably drop down from Las Vegas to Barstow and then cut over to Bakersfield to Fresno. Where do you guys recommend staying that is not too far from the park and that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

Also, still looking for advice on staying in in state and national parks now days. Haven't done that in 15 years or so. Also, especially around Yellowstone and the Teton's. I would hate to stay at the Grizzly as high as it is.

Again, much thanks for all the help from everyone.

[sw342]

JMO, but if I was yanking a big trailer like yours I would come into Yosemite from the Fresno side. Coming in the other way (Groveland) involves navigating Priest Grade. Not fun even in a car without any trailer.

If memory serves me correct, 30' trailer length is the limit in the park, and o can say that roads in the park aren't the widest. May be better to look for a park outside the gates and just drive I'm for the day.

You are thinking of Old Priest Grade(road). Not RV friendly at all. Just stay on 120 and it bypasses Old Priest Road. Easy drive. The bypass has been there for quite some time now.

My parents have been going to Yosemite every spring for 30 years. They have been using their 32' Aplenlite the last 8. Before that was a 29'. My pop know the sites pretty well and what ones he will get into. There are ones I could get my 38' hauler into if I wanted. Your 33' would be fine if you have the right site. You could come in the East side through Tioga pass, but once you get in the park its a lot of winding roads until you get out again. Its doable with your size trailer, but certainly not a time saver.

There are campgrounds in the park between the Valley and Tuolumne Meadows. Not sure of amenities and size limitations in them. Could be something to check into.

[bobbecky]

For Las Vegas, the Clark County Shooting Complex's RV Park is $20 per night, and of course, guns are welcome.

[tgpilot]

Thanks to both of you for that info, good to have. Do you have a contact number or address for the gun club?

Please keep the info coming guys, it's all helpful. I've made changes because of great info you all have provided.

Tom

[Desert185]

For Las Vegas, the Clark County Shooting Complex's RV Park is $20 per night, and of course, guns are welcome.

There is also a Desert Eagle RV Park for the military in Vegas.

702-643-3060

[Jim & DJ]

I was told this morn. that Yellowstone Grizzly is booked till Aug. 15.....:(

[chuckster57]

Stay outside of Yelliwstone and just drive in for the day.

[tgpilot]

I did get one night at Colterbay, after that will be looking at those first come first served camp grounds and hope.

If that doesn't work out will try outside the park, hopefully, Bakers Hole will work about eighty miles away I think.

[Cougar1957]

Do not even attempt to carry a gun on to federal property especially military bases...
Not sure if you are including National Parks as federal property, but this actually changed in 2010. It is kind of shocking that they allow firearms in national parks now given all the anti-gunners in Wash DC. Unfortunately this doesn't apply to Wildlife Management Areas like Kentucky's Land Between the Lakes, which I frequent.

[tgpilot]

Good to know, yes, we plan on a lot of NP's etc. Hopefully we can stay out of trouble....lol

[gearhead]

Try these websites for US Army Corps of Engineers park info...they're usually priced pretty good.

http://www.rv-camping.org/COECampgrounds.html

http://www.recreation.gov/campgroundDirectoryListByAgencyID.do?contractCode= NRSO&agencyID=70902

http://camping.about.com/cs/campgrounds/a/public04.htm