Interstate Camping Guide

[DonnaR57]

This thread provides information about public campground found along Interstate Highways. Generally, all campgrounds are within 20 miles of the Interstate Highway unless otherwise noted. (This information was current as of April, 2019)

What I learned in creating this thread:

* Our interstate system is more extensive than I really realized.
* Our interstates follow a pretty strict guideline regarding their numbers, but it results in a lot of "split interstates" that are never going to be connected.
* There are more campgrounds close to the freeway than I thought there would be.
* Some campgrounds appear close, but the type of access road will slow down the traffic.
* Some states have a lot of state parks and national forests; others have very few.
* Some states put more into their state parks and recreation area websites than others.
* Many, many state park campgrounds are available through ReserveAmerica.
* Some national forest campgrounds can be reserved through ReserveAmerica; others are first-come, first-served.
* Quite a few state and national campgrounds have a 25' RV limit.
* Some state parks charge extra for non-resident campers. Camper beware!
* Some state parks, especially those in my state (California) can cost as much as a nice spot in a commercial park.
* There are probably many city parks with an RV area that are not listed. These are more difficult to find; inquire locally.

I hope that the information in this thread will be helpful to those who travel Interstate Highways and wish to camp out along the way.


Donna


List of the INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS reviewed in this thread

I-5
I-8
I-10
I-15
I-20
I-24
I-25
I-26
I-29
I-30
I-35
I-39
I-40
I-43
I-44
I-45
I-49
I-55/57
I-59
I-64
I-65
I-68
I-69
I-69 Kentucky
I-70
I-71
I-72/74
I-75
I-76
I-77
I-78
I-79
I-80
I-81
I-82
I-83
I-84 West
I-84 East
I-85
I-86
I-87
I-88
I-89
I-90
I-91
I-93
I-94
I-95
I-96

(I-70 information that used to be in this first post has been moved to the end of this thread)

[DonnaR57]

Public Camping, Interstate 5 (South to North)
All campsites 20 miles or less from the Interstate unless noted.


CA
Note: CA state beaches fill quickly. Reservations are highly recommended to avoid disappointment. This is especially true in summer and all weekends.

Sweetwater Summit Regional Park, Bonita
Silver Strand State Beach, Coronado
San Elijo State Beach, Solana Beach/Del Mar
South Carlsbad State Beach, Carlsbad
Guajome Regional Park
Note: Inland, for the campers who don't care for beach camping!
San Onofre State Beach, Oceanside
Note: Part of this beach is a non-sanctioned nude beach.
San Clemente State Beach, San Clemente
Doheny State Beach, Dana Point
Bolsa Chica State Beach, Orange County
Lake Castaic Campgrounds
Chuchapate Campground, Frazier Park
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
Caswell Memorial State Park, Manteca
Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area, Colusa
Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, Corning
Lake Shasta Campsites, Lakehead
Castle Crags State Park, Castella
Mount Shasta Campgrounds

OR Note: Oregon has a bunch of state parks and national forests, but most of the campsites are 30+ miles from I-5.

Valley of the Rogue State Park, Rogue River
Silver Falls State Park, Salem
Note: This is about 25 miles off the freeway.
Trout Creek Campground, Willamette NF, Cascadia
Note: This is about 35 miles off the freeway.
Champoeg State Heritage Area, St Paul
Ainsworth State Park, Cascade Locks
Note: This is about 32 miles down I-84 east, but near Multnomah Falls on the Columbia Gorge.

WA

Battle Ground Lake State Park, Battle Ground
Paradise Point State Park, Ridgefield
Seaquest State Park, Castle Rock
Note: This park has a close proximity to Mt St Helens and I-5.
Lewis & Clark State Park, Winlock
Millersylvania State Park, Olympia
Joemma Beach State Park, Lakebay
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, Palmer
Wenberg CountynPark, Stanwood
Larrabee State Park, Blanchard
Birch Bay State Park

More to come....stay tuned!

Donna

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.

[travelingman]

Goblin Valley is a wondrous park but it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. If all of their campsites are full when you arrive, which happened to me, there is an alternative.

There is a large dispersed BLM camping area on Temple Mountain Road just past Goblin Valley Road. You can see it clearly on a map with satellite view. Quite a few RVs were there. I don’t recall there being anything other than a dirt parking lot but it will do if you’re self contained.

Of course, other people were simply setting up camp by themselves in the desert, but my wife didn’t feel safe without others camping nearby.

[Moderators Note]: When "travelingman" first posted this comment, he was responding to information that was originally posted in the first post of this thread. His comments have now been copied to post #55 to make slightly more logical sense. This original post is retained to keep the original posting order correct.

[Mass Tim]

This is a great list and should be of great help the next time I get back on that highway!

[DonnaR57]

Public Camping, I-15 (south to north).
All campgrounds within 20 miles of the interstate, unless noted.

CA:

Santee Lakes Park, Santee
Dos Picos County Park, Ramona
Note: This park is about 25 miles from I-15.
Palomar Mountain State Park, Pauma Valley
Dripping Springs NF CG, Aguanga
Blue Jay NF CG, Lake Elsinore
Silverwood Lake SRA, Wrightwood

NV:

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, west of Las Vegas
Mount Charleston Wilderness, west of Las Vegas
Valley of Fire State Park, Overton
Echo Bay CG, Lake Mead

AZ:

Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area, BLM
Note: As of Jan 2023, this has 25 sites OPEN. Be aware that it gets HOT here during the days in summer and early fall!

UT:

Snow Canyon State Park, St George
Zion National Park CG's (3)
Note: These campgrounds fill quickly – reservations needed!
Cedar Breaks National Monument, Cedar City
Note: Cedar Breaks is 22 gorgeous miles east of Cedar City, but it takes 45 minutes to get there.
Dixie National Forest, 3 CG's
Minersville Lake Park, Beaver
Yuba State Park, Scipio
Utah Lake State Park, Provo
Note: Its proximity to SLC and Provo make this a very popular park. Reservations required!
Deer Creek State Park, Charleston
Willard Bay State Park, North Ogden
Hyrum State Park, Hyrum

MT:

Clark Canyon Reservoir Campgrounds
Note: Quite a few campgrounds, but be aware that one or two are “boat in” only.
Philipsburg Bay Campground, Georgetown Lake
Stuarts Mill Bay Campground, Georgetown Lake, has no website
Cromwell-Dixon Campground, Helena NF
Log Gulch Recreation Area, Holter Dam

More to come....

Donna

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.\

[DonnaR57]

Public Campgrounds along I-40, west to east.
All campgrounds within 20 miles unless otherwise noted.


CA:

Sorry, none within 20 miles of that road! This is the Mohave Desert. (Moderators Note: Actually in California, this region is spelled Mojave Desert.)

***But this highway does follow historic Route 66 and a couple of regional and national parks and there are certainly many RV parks along this highway, And there are several places with dispersed camping all through the desert within 20 miles of the highway.***

AZ:

Lake Mead Camping
Kaibab Lake Campground, Williams
Note: One of the closest public campgrounds to Grand Canyon, so it fills quickly!
Homolovi State Park, Winslow
NOTE: There are no campgrounds in Petrified Forest National Park. All camping is walk-in, backcountry only.

NM:

McGaffey Campground, NF
Note: This is a heavily used campground. Plan accordingly.
Bluewater Lake State Park, Prewitt
Villanueva State Park, Clines Corners
Santa Rosa Lake State Park, Santa Rosa
Conchas Lake State Park, Tucumcari
Ute Lake State Park, Logan
Note: This is about 26 miles.

TX:

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, SE of Amarillo
Note: This is about 27 miles from the heart of Amarillo.

OK:

Foss State Park, Foss
Red Rock Canyon State Park, Hinton – no longer a state park -- now under private ownership.
Okmulgee State Park, Okmulgee
Dripping Springs State Park, Henryetta
Lake Eufaula State Park, Checotah
Tenkiller State Park, Paradise Hill
Greenleaf State Park, Bragg
Brushy Lake City Park, Sallisaw


AR:

Redding Campground, Ozark NF
Note: About 23 miles, but may take 45 minutes one way.
Shores Lake Campground, Ozark NF
Lake Dardanelle State Park, Russellville
Village Creek State Park, Forrest City

TN:

Natchez Trace State Park, Yuma
Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns
Cedars of Lebanon, Bairds Mills
Edgar Evins State Park, Silver Point
Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville
Cosby Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hartford



NC:

Mills River, Pisgah National Forest, Avery Creek
Note: About 25 miles.
Lake James State Park, Nebo
Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle
Note: About 25 miles.
Carolina Beach State Park
Note: About 25 miles from the eastern terminus of I-40.

More to come!

Donna

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.

[DonnaR57]

Public Campgrounds Near Interstate 10, and Interstate 8. All campgrounds located within 20 miles, unless noted otherwise.

Note: Many of the campgrounds in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, along I-10, are located in desert areas. During the summer, that means it will probably be HOT, even at night. Desert camping means making sure you have plenty of water if the campsite does not provide it, especially if you are camping on some of the BLM lands.

CA:

Mount San Jacinto State Park, Banning
Mountain park at higher elevation.
Pinyon Flat, San Bernardino NF Campground, Palm Desert
Desert park
Joshua Tree National Park, Indio
Salton Sea State Recreation Area, North Shore


AZ:

Quartzsite BLM Camping
Picacho Peak State Park, Picacho
Gilbert Ray County Campground, near Saguaro National Park
Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson

NM:

Rockhound State Park, Deming
Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, Las Cruces (managed by BLM)

TX:

Balmorhea State Park, Balmorhea
South Llano River State Park, Junction
Palmetto State Park, Lulling
Stephen F Austin State Park, Sealy
Sea Rim State Park, Port Arthur
Village Creek State Park, Lumberton

LA:

Fairview-Riverside State Park, Madisonville
Fontainebleau State Park, Lacombe

MS:

Buccaneer State Park, Lakeshore
Shepard State Park, Gautier

AL:

Meaher State Park, Spanish Fort
Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores
Note: About 30 miles from I-10.

FL:

Big Lagoon State Park, Gulf Shores
Blackwater River State Park, Milton
Henderson Beach State Park, Fort Walton Beach
Note: About 30 miles.
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs
Ocean Pond Campground, Osceola National Forest
Little Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville
Note: About 25 miles from the eastern terminus of I-10. However, as of Feb 1, 2024, the campground is closed for construction.

More to come....

Donna

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.

[DonnaR57]

Public campgrounds along I-8 (alternative to I-10 in Southern California and Arizona, from San Diego). All campsites within 20 miles of the freeway, unless noted.


CA:

Campsites near the western terminus of I-8
Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego
Note: More details can be found on each campground through the links with I-5.
Santee Lakes Campground, Santee
Lake Jennings County Park, El Cajon/Lakeside
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Descanso
Note: The two Cuyamaca campgrounds fill quickly on weekends from May to October!
Boulder Oaks NF Campground, Pine Valley
Note: This campground is high desert, appeals to PCT hikers, and gets busy on weekends May to October.
Cibbets Flat NF Campground, Pine Valley
Note: This campground is high desert, and gets busy only on weekends.
Burnt Rancheria NF Campground, Laguna Highway
Note: This author's favorite NF campground! Located at about 5000 ft elevation so it is cooler than the campsites at Boulder Oaks or Cibbets Flat, in the summer. Not open in winter.
Laguna Campground, Mt Laguna
Note: A little further away from I-8 than Burnt Ranch.
Lake Morena County Park, Campo/Buckman Springs
Holtville Hot Springs Long Term Visitor Area, Holtville
Note: Located off Van der Linden Road exit from I-8. NOT free, but cheap enough.
BLM Pilot Knob Long Term Visitor Area, Winterhaven
Note: Located just west of the Imperial Sand Dunes.
Gray's Well Unit, Imperial Sand Dunes, Winterhavenl
Permits needed!
BLM Imperial Sand Dunes
Note: Same dunes, different website!

AZ:

Sonoran Desert BLM Lands, Gila Bend
Note: Though some dispersed camping appears to be accepted, there have been recent issues in the area with undocumented personnel. Between May 1 and November 1, the area gets extremely hot. In other areas, special permits are required to disperse camp, particularly in the “Barry Goldwater” area. A safer alternative:
West Pinal County Park, AKA Kortsen Park, Stanfield

More to come....

Donna

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.

[DonnaR57]

Note: These lists are not meant to be inclusive. Other camping areas may be available. Inquire locally.

Public campgrounds along Interstate 95, south to north. All campgrounds within 20 miles of the interstate, unless otherwise noted.

FL:

Everglades National Park, Homestead
Sebastian Inlet State Park, Sebastian
Faver-Dykes State Park, Marineland
Anastasia State Park, Augustine Beach
Little Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville
As of Feb, 2024, this campground is temporarily closed for construction.
Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach

GA:

Crooked River State Park, St Mary's
Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill
Skidaway Island, Savannah

SC:

Colleton State Park, Walterboro
Santee State Park, Santee
Poinsett State Park, Pinewood
Little Pee Dee State Park, Dillon

VA:

Note: I-95 from Richmond to Boston has horrible traffic. Camping is listed here, but alternative routes are suggested. There are no public parks listed on Rand McNally and AAA maps between Elk Neck MD and CT.

Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield
Prince William Forest Park, Triangle

MD:

Patapsco Valley State Park, Baltimore (see listing with I-70)
Susquehanna State Park, Perryville MD
Elk Neck State Park, Elk Neck

CT:

Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme

NH:
Note: NH is the next listed public campground after Rocky Neck.

Hampton Beach State Park, Hampton

ME:

Bradbury Mountain Park, Pownal
Lake St George State Park, Palermo
Note: About 25 miles from Augusta.
Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor
Note: Acadia is about 30 miles from I-95, but worth the drive. Three campgrounds, but all three fill quickly. Reservations highly suggested!


More coming.....

Donna

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.

[DonnaR57]

Public Camping along Interstate 80, west to east. All campgrounds within 20 miles of the freeway, unless otherwise noted.

CA:

Folsom Lake State Rec Area
Lake Spaulding Campground, Blue Canyon (PG&E)
Lodgepole Campground, Emigrant Gap (PG&E)
Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee
Logger Campground, Tahoe National Forest
Lake Tahoe Campgrounds
Note: It's 25 miles or more to some campgrounds, but it's a beautiful drive.

NV:

Washoe Lake State Park, Carson City
Note: About 30 miles.
Lahontan State Park, Silver Springs
Rye Patch State park, Lovelock
South Fork State Recreation Area, Spring Creek
Angel Lake Campground, Wells
Angel Creek Campground, Wells

UT:

Antelope Island State Park, West Valley City
East Canyon State Park, Porterville
Rockport State Park, Wanship (5 campgrounds)

WY:

Seminoe State Park, Sinclair
Meadows Camground, Routt National Forest, Laramie
Curt Gowdy State Park, Cheyenne

NE:

Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area, Ogallala
Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area, Ogallala
Buffalo Bill Ranch, North Platte
Lake Maloney State Recreation Area, North Platte
Johnson Lake State Recreation Area, Lexington
Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, Kearney
Mormon Island State Recreation Area, Grand Island
Pawnee State Recreation Area, Lincoln
Mahoney State Park, Ashland
Platte River State Park, Bend
Two Rivers State Recreation Area, Waterloo/Omaha

IA:

Prairie Rose State Park, Harlan
Lake Anita State Park, Anita
Rock Creek State Park, Newton
Lake MacBride State Park, North Liberty

IL:

Johnson-Sauk State Park, Annawah
Starved Rock State Park, Ottawa
Note: One of our family favorites, this park has everything!
Illini State Park, Marseilles

IN:
Note: At Portage, I-80 becomes the Indiana Turnpike, a toll road with limited access.

Potato Creek State Park, Lakeville
Pokagon State Park, Lake James, Angola

OH:
Note: I-80 is the Ohio Turnpike throughout the state, a toll road with limited access.

Harrison Lake State Park, Fayette
Maumee Bay State Park, Harbor View
30 miles from nearest exit from the toll road
West Branch State Park, Wayland
Note: 17 miles west on I-76

PA:

Shenango Lake, Sharpsville
Cook Forest State Park, Leeper
Note: 22 miles
Parker Dam State Park, Penfield
Bald Eagle State Park, Howard
Raymond B Winter State Park, Mifflinburg
Hickory Run State Park, White Haven

NJ:

Worthington State Forest, Delaware Water Gap
Jenny Jump State Forest, Hope

More to come...

Donna

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.