What makes a campground memorable? Oftentimes it can be the simple yet magnificent grandeur of God’s handiwork that can be seen etched across a desert landscape. Other times it might be a special memory, like the unforgettable place I told my husband he would soon be a father.
Full-Timers
When you spend two years traveling across America (that’s 730 nights spent at a campground or boon-docking) your bound to come across some diamonds in the rough. While we often stayed a little further away from the popular sites to avoid crowds and overpaying; during our stint as full-timers we’ve managed to stay at some pretty striking locations. Today, I am sharing some of these lesser known yet noteworthy campgrounds. Enjoy!
These are the most memorable campgrounds that we have stayed at:
1. The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort - Orlando, FL
I’ve been to Disney World countless times and never knew they had a campground! My husband booked us a trip to Disney for my birthday and we stayed through Christmas. The campers had a Christmas decoration competition and the entire campground felt very festive!
We enjoyed breakfast and dinner at the Trail’s End Restaurant which was only a short walk from our campsite. There was a convenient bus stop located inside the campground. We shuttled into the various parks each day and after watching the fireworks at night we would hop on the bus back to our campground. We will never forget our magical stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort!
2. Tallulah Gorge State Park - Tallulah Falls, GA
This gorgeous state park features gushing waterfalls, a suspension bridge and the infamous Hurricane Falls Staircase. Those brave enough can venture down the 1250 steps and descend into the heart of the gorge. This campground is located in Tallulah Falls, Georgia.
This was the very first campground we ever stayed at. I remember my husband was a nervous wreck after driving that big rig all day. Now, he’s driven it all over the country and is a pro! Spending the first night in our motorhome coupled with this park’s grand beauty, makes this campground simply unforgettable!
3. Willard Bay Campground - Willard, UT
Picture this: The hot sun beating down on a dry, arid, dusty desert land. You peer out and to your left you see gigantic, brown, rugged mountaintops capped with late Spring’s snowfall. Your glance gazes to the right and before you stands a massive, crystal blue lake with a pristine, white sandy beach. Welcome to Willard Bay Campground: A little slice of campers paradise!
We rode bikes, grilled out, rented a jet ski and enjoyed the pretty blue water. That water was crystal clear, and I should know, because I spent most of the time flushing sunscreen out of my eye with it. And we’ll never forget being swarmed by tiny, black bugs. Those bugs were everywhere! We ended up throwing our floaties away because they were covered in those pesky bugs! I suppose memorable doesn’t always equate to pleasant. All in all, this place was a winner and definitely memorable.. but perhaps stay out of the water. 😬
4. Shoreline RV Campground - Crescent City, CA
This campground will be forever etched into my memory. Prior to arriving, we spent a couple of weeks traversing through California from the bottom to the top.
We snapped photos of stars on Hollywood Boulevard, walked through giant sequoias on The Avenue of the Giants, took entirely too many photos in front of the Golden Gate bridge, hiked through Yosemite and rode a ferry to Catalina Island.
As we were just about to exit California and enter Oregon, we stayed one last night at a quaint campground in Crescent City, CA. It was surrounded by the most serene scenery and I felt like I was in a Twilight movie. An eerie fog slowly rolled across moss covered mountains. Giant Redwood trees flanked our sides and a little red schoolhouse was nestled in the middle of a green pasture. Across the street our Winnebago was parked 50ft from the Pacific Ocean. Talk about an incredible view!
5. Cheyenne Mountain State Park - Colorado Springs, CO
This crown jewel is located in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. We enjoyed camping out in the wilderness with the luxury of the city being a mere ten minute drive away. Upon arriving, we checked in and toured their visitor’s center. I learned about the local wildlife and to be aware of mountain lions, bears and other potential predators living in the nearby hills.
Our campsite was perched atop a mountain that overlooked the entire city. The view was spectacular at nighttime with all the city lights shining!
Should you stay at Cheyenne Mountain then be sure to check out nearby Pikes Peak. It was one of my favorite sights of the entire trip!
6. Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park - Jacksonville, FL
Located along Florida’s Atlantic Coast in beautiful Jacksonville lies this secluded, tropical campground boasting 450 acres of park and beach.
Our ferocious cat, Santa, in his natural habitat. :-)
I recall being ill during this time and my husband found this peaceful campground for me to rest and recover. There was lush greenery surrounding us on all sides and I remember feeling like we were staying in a wild jungle! Once I started feeling better we were able to sit and relax on the secluded, sandy beach. It was the perfect place for a little R&R!
Find Your Park
This concludes our list of memorable campgrounds. I hope you enjoyed reading about our adventures! I encourage you to check out one of these campgrounds on the list or find a state park near you and get outdoors!
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