Camping Along the Great US Highways

[DonnaR57]

Public campgrounds along US-20, which runs from the west coast in Oregon out to Boston, Massachusetts, are plentiful. Unless otherwise noted, all campgrounds are within 20 miles of the highway, one way. Some campgrounds may not be listed; please inquire locally.


OR:

South Beach State Park, Newport
Mary's Peak Campground, Suislaw National Forest
Waterloo County Park Campground, Waterloo
Trout Creek Campground, Willamette NF, Cascadia
Lost Prairie Campground, Willamette NF, along US-20
Note: This is really a group campground. But if the place is not reserved by a group, the individual sites are up for renting. Managed by Linn County.
Suttle Lake, Sisters
Note: The Three Sisters area is gorgeous. But be advised that some of the campgrounds that show up on Rand McNally's maps are walk-in only, and it's a good hike to get to them. They're backpacker's campsites. But this link takes you to two campgrounds that are car campgrounds.
Allen Springs Campground, Camp Sherman
Note: Though it looks a bit far on some maps, it's just 12 miles from Santiam Pass.
Tumalo State Park, Tumalo



ID:

Note: The first few miles take US-20 concurrently and/or parallel to I-84. Please see those listings through Mountain Home.


Craters of the Moon National Monument, Arco
Warm River Campground, Caribou-Targhee NF, Ashton
Grandview Campground, Caribou-Targhee NF, Ashton
Henry's Lake State Park, Island Park


MT:

Lonesomehurst Campground, Custer-Gallatin NF, West Yellowstone
Cherry Creek Campground, Custer-Gallatin NF, West Yellowstone
Baker's Hole Campground, Custer-Gallatin NF, West Yellowstone
Beaver Creek Campground, Custer-Gallatin NF, West Yellowstone
Note: 14 miles north of US-20, but total mileage from YNP is 24 miles.


WY:

Yellowstone National Park Campgrounds near US-20, which goes through the park:
Note: Madison Campground, Norris Campground, Canyon Campground, Fishing Bridge RV & Campround.
Rex Hale Campground, Shoshone NF
Note: About 18 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone.
Clearwater Campground, Shoshone NF
Note: About 21 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone.
Elk Fork Campground, Shoshone NF
Note: No water! About 25 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone
Big Game Campground, Shoshone NF
Note: About 25 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone.
Wapiti Campground, Shoshone NF
Note: About 25 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone.
Buffalo Bill State Park, Cody
Note: Two campgrounds.
Boysen State Park, Shoshoni
Riverside Park, City of Douglas, Douglas


NE:

Toadstool Geological Park and Campground, Nebraska NF
Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford
Chadron State Park, Chadron
Red Cloud Campground, Nebraska NF, Chadron
Note: No water.
Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, Valentine
Note: 26 miles south of Valentine, and 34 miles from Nenzel.
Smith Falls State Park, Valentine
Note: 19 miles from US-20.
Wood Lake City Park Campground, Wood Lake
Note: This is one where you should inquire locally. Several websites mention its location, and this one is the most reliable, but there is no website for the park itself. It is a very tiny town (population under 100).
Long Pine State Recreation Area, Long Pine
Atkinson Lake State Recreation Area, Atkinson
Carney City Park, O'Neill
Note: no direct website, only this one. For more information, inquire locally.
Bruce Park Campground, City Park, Creighton
Note: This is another where you should inquire locally. Several websites mention its location, and this is the most reliable one, but there is no website for the park itself. It is about 10 miles from Plainview on US-20
Willow Creek Recreation Area, Pierce
Scenic Park Campground, City of South Sioux City


To be continued in the next post....

[DonnaR57]

IA:

Little Sioux Park, Correctionville
Sac City Park/Riverview Park, Sac City, IA
Note: This is another place where you need to inquire locally. Park is mentioned by some websites and a short phrase on the city's website. About 4 miles off US-20.
Black Hawk State Park, Lake View
Note: About 20 miles south of US-20.
Dolliver State Park, Otho
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, Lehigh
Briggs Woods County Campground, Webster City
Pine Lake State Park, Eldora
George Wyth Memorial State Park, Waterloo
Backbone State Park, Dundee
Note: About 15 miles north of US-20.


IL:

Blanding Landing Recreation Area, Corps of Engineers, Hanover
Note: About 13 miles south of Galena.
Apple River Canyon State Park, Apple River
Note: About 6 miles north of US-20.
Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, Lena
Rock Cut State Park, Rockford



IN:

Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton


OH:

Harrison Lake State Park, Fayette
Geneva State Park, Geneva

NY:

Lake Erie State Park, Brocton

US-20 parallels or rides concurrently with I-90 for a few miles.

US-20 Regular:

Darien Lakes State Park, Darien Center

US-20 Alternate:

Letchworth State Park, Castile

Back together now:

Thompson's Lake Campground, Thacher State Park, East Berne


MA:

Pittsfield State Forest, Pittsfield
October Mountain State Forest Campground, Lee
Wells State Park, Sturbridge
Massasoit State Park, East Taunton


You have reached Boston.....

[DonnaR57]

Public campgrounds along US-12, which runs from Aberdeen Washington to Detroit Michigan, are plentiful and mostly close to the highway. All campgrounds are within 20 miles of the highway, one way, unless noted. Other campsites may exist; inquire locally.


WA:

Lake Sylvia State Park, Montesano
Lewis and Clark State Park, Toledo
Ike Kinswa State Park, Silver Creek
Iron Creek Campground, Gifford-Pinchot NF, Randle/Packwood
Tower Rock Campground, Gifford-Pinchot NF, Randle/Packwood
Mt Rainier National Park Campgrounds
Note: Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh are the campgrounds in the southern section of the park, closest to US-12. Watch out for tent sites at Cougar Rock, as many are reported to be laden with tree roots. We experienced that, years ago, and it appears that things have not changed!
Clear Lake South Campground, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, Natches
Clear Lake North Campground, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, Natches
Yakima Sportsman State Park, Yakima

US-12 runs concurrently with I-82 to Kennewich.

Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, Dayton
Tucannon Campground, Umatilla NF, Pomeroy
Note: About 22 miles from Pomeroy, but even the NF says it will take 50 minutes.
Fields Spring State Park, Anatone
Note: About 30 miles, 40 minutes, from Clarkston.


ID:

Hells Gate State Park, southern edge of Lewiston
Winchester Lake State Park, Winchester
Note: About 27 miles south of US-12.
Dworshak State Park, Lenore
Jerry Johnson Campground, Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Lowell
Wendover Campground, Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Lolo
Powell Campground, Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Lolo


MT:

Lee Creek Campground, Lolo National Forest, Lolo
Lolo Creek Campground, Lolo National Forest, Lolo

US-12 now runs concurrently with I-90 from Missoula to Garrison

White Earth Campground, Bureau of Reclamation, Canyon Ferry Lake, Townsend
Silos Campground, Bureau of Reclamation, Canyon Ferry Lake, Townsend
Cottonwood Recreation Area, Bureau of Reclamation, Canyon Ferry Lake, Townsend
Indian Road Campground, Bureau of Reclamation, Canyon Ferry Lake, Townsend
Map of the Canyon Ferry Lake Area for Download (a PDF)
Skidway Campground, Helena-Lewis and Clark NF, Melstone/Townsend
York's Islands Fishing Access Site, Missouri River, Townsend
Note: My husband and I drove into this one hoping for a good place to sit by the Missouri River for a bit, while enroute between Three Forks and Helena. We were surprised at the numbers of RV's and tents in this little spot, but it was quiet -- except when the train went by (about a mile from the river).
Grasshopper Campground, White Sulphur Springs
Spring Creek Campground, Helena-Lewis and Clark NF, Checkerboard



ND:

Public Campgrounds in Bowman, ND
Note: There are 3 public campgrounds listed on this page, along with some other privately-owned RV parks.
Mirror Lake Campground, City of Hettinger, Hettinger


SD:

Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area, Shadehill
Note: About 12.6 miles down SD-73, about 20 minutes.
Shadehill State Recreation Area, Shadehill
Note: About 16.6 miles down SD-73, about 25 minutes.
Indian Creek State Recreation Area, Mobridge
Mina Lake Recreation Area, Mina
Richmond Lake State Recreation Area, Aberdeen
Pickerel Lake State Recreation Area, Grenville
Lake Farley Park, City of Milbank, Milbank


MN:

Big Stone Lake State Park, Ortonville
Monson Lake State Park, Sunburg
Note: About 10 miles, 20 minutes, from US-12.
Sibley State Park, New London
Note: About 16 miles, around 20 minutes, from US-12.
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Campground, Apple Valley

US-12 runs parallel to I-94 through Eau Clair, WI.


WI:

Willow River State Park, Hudson
Black River State Forest, Black River Falls

US-12 runs parallel again to I-90 to the Wisconsin Dells

Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo
Lake Kegonsa State Park, Stoughton
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Palmyra
Note: Two campgrounds!


IN:

Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton


MI:

Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer
Note: About 9 miles northeast of US-12.
W. J. Hayes State Park, Onsted


Now we have reached the eastern terminus of US-12!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Another amazing resource thread

[DonnaR57]

For US-40, which is also known as The National Road (a historical highway), please click here. It is posted in the National Historic and Scenic Highways thread.

[DonnaR57]

Public campgrounds along US-93, which runs from Wickenburg, AZ to the Canadian border in MT, do exist, though it may mean some trekking down a dirt road. All campgrounds are within 20 miles of the highway, one way, unless noted. Other campsites may exist; inquire locally.

AZ:

Lake Mead Camping


NV:

Valley of Fire State Park, Overton
Note: Visitors should note that this is in the desert. It gets HOT in summer! It's also a little more than 20 miles from US-93.

Cathedral Gorge State Park, Panaca

Spring Valley State Park, Pioche

Great Basin National Park
Note: Included because it may be a destination. It's not particularly close to US-93.

Cave Lake State Park, Ely

Timber Creek Campground, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF

Bird Creek Campground, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF

East Creek Campground, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF

Angel Lake Campground, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, Wells


ID:

Craters of the Moon National Monument, Arco

Mill Creek Campground, Salmon-Challis NF, Challis

Mosquito Flat Reservoir Campground, S-CNF, Challis
Note: 17 miles down a dirt road. Nothing longer than 32 ft total length. BYO Water!


MT:

Indian Trees CG Bitterroot NF, Sula

Alta Campground, Bitterroot NF, Darby

Lake Como Campground, Bitterroot NF, Darby

Black Bear Campground, Bitterroot NF, Hamilton

Charles Waters Campground, Bitterroot NF, Stevensville

Finley Point State Park, Flathead Lake, Polson

Big Arm State Park, Flathead Lake, Big Arm

Wayfarers State Park, Flathead Lake, Big Fork

Glacier National Park
Note: Campgrounds on the western side of the park are Apgar, Fish Creek, Sprague Creek, Logging Creek, Quartz Creek, Bowman Lake, and Kintla Lake. Bear in mind that if you are towing, and wish to camp on the eastern side of the park, you will need to utilize US-2 for the purpose. Large rigs are not authorized on Going to the Sun Road.

Whitefish Lake State Park, Whitefish

Les Mason State Park, Whitefish

Tally Lake Campground, Flathead NF, Whitefish

North Dickey Lake Campground, Kootenai NF, Libby

Rexford Bench Campground, Kootenai NF, Rexford


You have reached the Canadian border!

[Rick Quinn]

Good one, Donna! Have you considered doing one of these for US 89 (one of my personal favorites)? It starts and ends in about the same places as US 93, but goes through some very different country on the way.

Rick

[DonnaR57]

Already done, Rick: it was the 6th one in this series


Donna

[Rick Quinn]

Whoops--my bad. As usual, Donna, you were way ahead of me! Thanks again for putting this together. I'd really love to try some of these on for size, the further north, the better! Here's hoping that next year will be a better year for road trips in general, and camping trips in particular!

Rick
aka: Stir-Crazy in Phoenix!, (where, on top of the pandemic, we're having the hottest, driest summer in our history, with no relief in sight)!

[DonnaR57]

A friend of mine in Maricopa posted a photo of her vehicle's dashboard....120! Now I know those are notoriously a little hotter, but really?

I had to run to work today. It was 104 at 11 am there. It was about 6 degrees cooler at our house. Still too hot.


Donna