ANTELOPE RESERVOIR, Jordan Valley, OR

Antelope Reservoir,  
Jordan Valley, 0R

RUN BY:   County

LOCATION:  42.908678  -117.236973

Last Visit:  4/26/2018

UTILITIES:  None

COST:  Free

DISCOUNTS:  N/A

OUR RATING (1-5): Category II. Score 4.

NOTES:   A very nice spot just off the highway between Rome and Jordan Valley, OR.  The campground is very level and sites are room. There were only two of there on our visit.

Environment:  Open high prairie

Amenities:  None

Dump:  No

Public Water: No 

Toilets: No

Showers:  No

Laundry:  No

Phone Service: very poor Verizon 

Nearest Propane: My best guess would be Jordan Valley. It isn’t very big, but it’s the biggest town around and it is in the middle of farming country.

Location:  Turn south off US-95 11.8 miles west of Jordan Valley onto Antelope Reservoir Rd.  The reservoir is marked. The coordinates to the campground are above.  Just follow the road. You will see the campground on your left. 

Proximity to shopping: Jordan Valley

Camping Population: Guessing mostly local fishers

Sites:   room and level

=======================================================================

RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

FROG HOLLOW, Mariposa, CA

Frog Hollow,  Mariposa, CA  

RUN BY:   Private

LOCATION:  37.483575  -120.021079

UTILITIES:  None

COST:  $10

DISCOUNTS:  none

OUR RATING (1-5):  Category II. Score 3+

NOTES:  Frog Hollow is a “hip camp”; i.e. a place where private individuals permit one or more people to camp on their property for a nominal fee. These folks were very close to Yosemite. To get to their place we drove up a dirty road for a short distance. I had to back from the dirt road to their dirt drive between two stone pillars about 10-12 feet apart. A wee bit tight if you don’t have a lot of experience with your unit. The people were very nice and friendly. We spent the evening with them and some of their friends.  They are wanting to develop more of a campground. BE SURE TO CALL AHEAD TO ARRANGE TO STAY. 

Environment:  Mountains of central California.

Amenities:  None

Dump:  No

Public Water:  No 

Toilets: No

Showers:  No

Laundry:  No

Phone Service: poor Verizon 

Nearest Propane: (sorry. I have no idea.)

Location:  On the north side of CA State Hwy 140 just west of Mariposa.

Proximity to shopping: Mariposa is just a few miles away.

Camping Population:   N/A  only room for one.

Sites: N/A just in their meadow.

=======================================================================

RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

PINNACLES NAT'L PARK, Pinnacles, CA

Pinnacles Nat’l Park,  Pinnacles, CA

RUN BY:   Nat’l Park Service

LOCATION:  36.490927   -121.146752

Last visited:  4/15/2018

UTILITIES:  None

COST:  $23

DISCOUNTS:  50% with Senior Pass 

OUR RATING (1-5): Category I. Score 4+

NOTES:  Pinnacles is another one of those hidden gems.  It is beautiful country, has some great trails and we saw the Condors!  Our boss’ boss at Glacier worked here some years ago and they still remember him. Because of our size we were actually in an area dominated by tents, but it was sweet. You do have to make reservation through Reserve America. Yuck!  We did it because we really wanted to see this park. It is worth the effort.

Environment:  Southern California coastal mountains

Amenities:  None

Dump:  Yes

Public Water: Yes 

Toilets: Yes

Showers: At the camp store

Laundry:  At the camp store

Phone Service:  none

Nearest Propane: (sorry. No idea.)

Location:  Enter from CA State Hwy 25 on the west side of the park.  The park is south of Hollister, CA.

Proximity to shopping: Any shopping beyond what can be done at a camp store will require a 30 mile drive. I would go to Hollister. 

Camping Population:  Typical NPS population . . . from everywhere. 

Sites:  I think our area was nicer than where the large rigs that wanted to use generators were staying, but they were all nice and roomy.

=======================================================================

RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

AZALEA CG, Kings Canyon NP, CA

Azalea CG, Kings Canyon NP  

RUN BY:   Nat’l Park Service

LOCATION:  36.740795  -118.96813

Last Visit: 4/9/2018

UTILITIES:  None

COST: $18

DISCOUNTS:  50% with Senior Pass

OUR RATING (1-5): Category I. Score 3+

NOTES:  A rather typical National Park campground in a beautiful setting. We did have a nice site. Kings Canyon is something to see and this is probably the most economic way to do it. Many of the roads were still closed due to snow.  We had one day there that we received 2-3” of snow and the night-time temperature dropped to 24. You’re at around 6,540 ft elevation, so it’s still winter in April.

Environment:  Beautiful mountains.  Around 6540 ft elevation.

Amenities:  None

Dump:  Yes

Public Water: Yes 

Toilets: Yes

Showers:  No

Laundry:  No (but available across the road at camp store, etc.)

Phone Service:  none

Nearest Propane: (sorry. No idea)

Location:  We entered the park on State Hwy 180 because that is supposed to be the best and easiest for pulling a trailer.  There was also snow at elevation.

Proximity to shopping:  There is a camp store nearby. For any more you are going to have to go down the mountain to either Squaw Valley on 180 or Three Rivers on State 198.

Camping Population:  Normal NPS population. From everywhere.

Sites:   Typical of NPS. They were nice but NPS campgrounds were not made for anything much bigger than us, and we’re only 20 ft.

=======================================================================

RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.   

FERN RIVER CG, Bakersfield, CA

Fern River CG, Bakersfield, CA  

RUN BY:   County

LOCATION:  35.436820  -118.876716

Last visit: 4/5/2018

UTILITIES:  None

COST:  $22 plus $5 for a dog

DISCOUNTS:  none

OUR RATING (1-5): Category I. Score 5

NOTES:  This is another county campground that really raises the bar for all others. It is in a beautiful grove of trees along the lovely Fern River.  We got a spot right on the river. The host has been there for years. He didn’t charge us for Atilla. It was peaceful, beautiful and well cared for.

Environment:  A green southern California valley.

Amenities:  None

Dump:  Yes

Public Water: Yes 

Toilets: Yes

Showers:  No

Laundry:  No

Phone Service:  4G3+ (Verizon)

Nearest Propane: Bakersfield.

Location:  North west of Bakersfield on Lake Ming north of State Hwy 178.

Proximity to shopping: Bakersfield. Maybe 20 minutes or so to a mall.

Camping Population: Mostly locals.

Sites: beautiful and roomy.

=======================================================================

RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.  

SUNSET CG, Death Valley, CA

SUNSET CAMPGROUND, Furnace Creek, Death Valley, CA

RUN BY:  Nat’l Park Service 

LOCATION:  36.458157  -116.862595

Last Visit:  4/4/2018

UTILITIES:  None

COST: $14

DISCOUNTS:  50% with Senior Pass

OUR RATING (1-5): Category I. Score 2

NOTES:  A lot of people love Death Valley. We are not among them, so remember that as you read. We found that it is a geological wonder with some really beautiful places. We arrived on April 4^th and the temperature was still 100 degrees at sunset. The drive in and out of the valley is interesting and picturesque but we felt that it was an undue strain on our truck and trailer.  The only campground open when we were there was literally a parking lot. We have a senior pass, but we felt that even $7 was too much. We explored the area after sunset and left the next morning before it got too hot.

Environment:  desert

Amenities:  None. 

Dump:  Yes

Public Water: Yes

Toilets: Yes

Showers:  No

Laundry: No

Phone Service: none 

Nearest Propane: (sorry. No idea)

Location: US-95 north out of LasVegas and follow the signs. 

Proximity to shopping: (sorry. No idea)

Camping Population:   National Park mix.

Sites:  a parking space.

=======================================================================

RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.   

BURRO CREEK REC AREA, Wikieup,AZ

Burro Creek Rec Area, 
Wikieup, AZ 

RUN BY:  State of Arizona

LOCATION:  34.538063 -113.450788

Last Visit: 4/3/2018

UTILITIES:  None

COST:  $7

DISCOUNTS: none 

OUR RATING (1-5): Category I. Score 4

NOTES:  This is one of those places out miles from anywhere and anything. We would probably have missed it if one of our full-timing friends hadn’t mentioned it. If you look at an Arizona map you will see that Wikieup is the only thing listed between Wickenburg and I-40. Look for Burro Creek on the map. The campground is just off the highway on Burro Creek. If you love the desert you are going to love this place.

Environment:  Desert

Amenities:  None

Dump:  No

Public Water: Yes 

Toilets: Yes (Pit)

Showers:  No

Laundry:  No

Phone Service: None 

Nearest Propane: Wickenburg, AZ to the south or Kingman to the north. Both quite a long distance.

Location: Turn west (left) off of US-93 about half way between Merritt Pass and I-40, a short distance south of the town of Wikieup. It is marked.

Proximity to shopping:  Nothing close.

Camping Population:  Mixed. Most travelers and full-timers

Sites:  Nice.

=========================================================================

RATING KEY:    category - score 

Categories:  I - established campgrounds where one might spend a vacation or several days

                    II -  boondocking, dry camping where there are no designated sites and no amenities but

                               one might choose to stay for more than a night.

                    III - over-night areas 

You must remember that we are scoring 1 thru 5 according to things which are important to us: the environment, cost, amenities, location, safety, camping population, site, phone service 

* There are people who are not full-timers and van-dwellers by choice. We try hard not to be demeaning or assume that they are bad people but sadly, as you find in the poorer parts of a city, there seems to be more crime. Many call these people van-dwellers. That isn’t really accurate even though they do often live in vans. We know quite a few van-dwellers who have good incomes, are full-timers by choice and prefer a van to other types of vehicles. To try to show some respect for people who have a difficult lot in life, I’m calling them ‘residential campers’.  It is only when you get a high proportion of residential campers in an area that you find an increase in petty theft, etc.