Camping Along Historic and Scenic Highways of the US and Canada

[DonnaR57]

Poking around the Amish Country of Ohio, you might come across the Amish Country Scenic Byway and some of its off-shoots. Leaving from Loudonville, for instance, you'll head towards Millersburg on OH-39/60. From Millersburg, you can go to Wilmot on US-62, or down to Danville in the other direction on US-62. Also on the route would be the scenic drive from Berlin to Dover on OH-39.

A few words of caution about the Amish culture. Amish folks do not wish to have their photographs taken. So if you are wishing for some scenic photos, make sure that any Amish faces are turned away or that the people are not going to be in your photo. Also, when you are driving, slow down! They usually drive a horse and buggy, or an open cart, and horses can be easily spooked by a motor. Whatever you do, do NOT honk.

Be sure to stop in some of the towns along the way – Millersburg, Berlin and Sugarcreek are well-known places for good old-fashioned Amish cooking, and often the shoppes are run by Amish. Baked goods, candy, and quilts are among some of the purchases that friends of ours have made. Also keep your eye out, in summer and fall, for the old-fashioned produce stand.

Here is a general website about the area.


Mohican State Park, Loudonville

Other than Mohican SP, most of the campgrounds in this area are privately owned. However, for a camping experience that might be similar to the Amish lifestyle, one could camp at
Turkey Hollow Campground.
Note: This campground only accepts tents. There is one running water spigot on the property, but there are no other hookups. It should be noted that the rates are in line with public camping, but only cash or PayPal is accepted.

A few miles down the road in Warsaw, there's a little known campground next to a little waterfall. Check out:
Magical Waterfall Campground, Warsaw
Note: There is no other website for this campground.

There are any number of private RV parks in the area.

[DonnaR57]

The Ohio River Scenic Byway is a 950 mile long drive that begins in East Liverpool, OH (on OH-7) and ends in Cairo, IL. Along the way are a number of public campgrounds and any number of private RV parks and campgrounds. Unless otherwise noted, all campsites are within 20 miles one way of the byway. Inquire locally for others that may exist. Realize, too, that when traveling along a river, sometimes the campsite is on the other side of the river, so have a good map with you in order to find the bridge.

If a traveler is hoping to use this to extend the Lewis and Clark National Trail from points further east, this byway can be connected with the LCNT via the Great River Road.

OH:

Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool

Paden City Park Campground, Paden City (WV)

Leith Run Recreation Area Campground, Wayne NF, New Matamoros (OH)

Forked Run State Park, Reedsville

Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area, Wayne NF, Ironton
Note: Three Campgrounds: Iron Ridge, Oak Hill and Pine Knob.

Shawnee State Park, West Portsmouth


East Fork State Park, Bethel
Note: 17 miles from the byway.

Steamboat Bend County Park, Cincinnati
Note: This website is maintained by the users. User beware.


IN:

Madison City Campground, Madison

Clifty Falls State Park, Madison

Charlestown State Park, Charlestown

O'Bannon Woods State Park, Corydon
Note: The campground is listed as closed until further notice. Please call the state park for current status.

Harrison County Parks, Corydon
Note: Inquire locally. It's a large county.

German Ridge Campground, Hoosier NF, Tell City

Harmonie State Park, New Harmony
Note: 12.5 miles up the road from Mount Vernon.


IL:

Pine Ridge Campground, Pounds Hollow Recreation Area, Shawnee NF, Karbers Ridge

Cave-in-Rock State Park, Cave-in-Rock

Tower Rock Campground, Shawnee NF, Elizabethtown

Dixon Springs State Park, Golconda

Lake Glendale Recreation Area, Shawnee NF, Vienna/Eddyville

Ferne Clyffe State Park, Goreville

Now, if you are connecting this scenic byway with the Lewis & Clark National Trail, please see the Great River Road in southern IL.

[DonnaR57]

The Bicentennial Highway, which is UT-95 between Hanksville and Blanding, is a beautiful way to connect a trip from Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Park, with Canyonlands and Arches NP. In so doing, you can drive through the northeastern end of the Lake Powell region at Hite, and do a short stop at Natural Bridges National Monument. The drive is easily done in a few hours but if connecting those dots, you may want to stop and camp somewhere. Here are some ideas.

Trip report from July, 2019, about the Bicentennial Highway

Goblin Valley State Park, north of Hanksville

An RTA forum regular's comment on camping outside of Goblin Valley:
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.

Starr Springs Campground, BLM, Mount Hillers

Hite Dispersed Camping, Lake Powell, near Hite Marina

Natural Bridges National Monument Campground
Note: No running water at the site. BYOW!

Devil's Canyon Campground, Manti-La Sal National Forest
Note: Located between Blanding and Monticello, north on US-191.

[DonnaR57]

The Connecticut River Byway, which runs 490 miles from South Hadley, MA to the NH/Quebec border, follows the river. In the fall, it passes through some lovely places to go “Leaf Peeping”. There are some lovely places to camp; however, do be aware of their closing dates and the facilities offered. This list is not all-inclusive; inquire locally for those elusive places known only to the locals!

MA:

DAR State Forest Campground, Goshen


VT/NH:

Fort Dummer State Park, Brattleboro (VT)

Surry Mountain Lake Campground, Army Corps Of Engineers, Surry (NH)

Wilgus State Park, Ascutney (VT)

Mount Ascutney State Park, Windsor (VT)

Quechee State Park, Hartford (VT)


NH:

Storrs Pond Recreation Area, Hanover

Coleman State Park, Stewartstown

Lake Francis State Park, Pittsburg

[DonnaR57]

The Santa Fe Trail goes from New Franklin, MO (near Boonville) to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Alignments of the state, US, and interstate highways don't allow one to follow the route used by traders and settlers exactly. However, there are museums, trail sites, and even places where the ruts of wagons are permanently ingrained into the soil. Those interested in history/historic sites and in early “road trips” can make this trip either state by state, or as a longer present day road trip.

Public campgrounds along the route exist, though in some cases you may have to go a few miles off the “trail”. There are also a number of private campgrounds and RV parks along the route.

The Santa Fe Trail NPS website

One guidebook to the Santa Fe Trail: William E Hill's Santa Fe Trail: Yesterday and Today.


MO:
Note: Sites in bold indicate sites of interest to the trail. Campgrounds are not listed in bold unless they are also sites of interest to the trail, and camping is noted.

Museum at the Gateway Arch, St Louis
Note: The museum underneath the Arch goes into much detail about westward exploration and expansion. Any pioneer trail buff should consider this a “must see”. The nearest public camping is at Lewis & Clark State Park, Hartford, IL.

Franklin Site, Old Franklin
Note: Nearest public camping is at Arrow Rock or Van Meter.

Boone's Lick State Historic Site, east of Arrow Rock
Note: Nearest public camping is at Arrow Rock or Van Meter.

Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Arrow Rock
Note: Not only is this a historic spot, it offers camping as well. Historic items from Trail days include the Landing, Santa Fe Springs, and Huston Tavern.

Van Meter State Park, Miami
Note: Camping spot.

Harvey Spring/Weinrich Ruts, north of Marshall

Fort Osage National Historic Landmark, Sibley

Jackson County Courthouse, Kansas City

Sites in Independence, MO
Note: Many places to see in Independence: the Jackson County Truman Log Courthouse, Kritser House, Lewis-Webb House, Woodlawn Cemetery, Waggoner House, Lower Dependence (Blue Mills) Landing, Upper Independence (Wayne City) Landing, Independence Square, and the Santa Fe Trail Park Ruts. Also Brady Cabin, and Independence Spring. Camping can be had in 3 Jackson County campgrounds, listed below.

National Frontier Trails Center, Independence
Note: This is a fantastic museum that combines the three trails that started in Independence (Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails) plus the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Camping nearby is in Jackson County campgrounds, listed below.

Jacomo Campground, Jackson County, Lee's Summit
Longview Campground, Jackson County, Lee's Summit
Fleming Park, Jackson County, Blue Springs

Sites in Kansas City MO
Note: Of interest to the history buff are the Harmon Park Ruts, Shawnee Mission, Grinter House and Ferry, Mahaffie Farmstead, Westport Landing, Harris House, Jim Bridger Store, Big Blue River Crossing, Red Bridge Crossing, and Gum Springs. Camping listed previously in Jackson County, MO.

KS:

Fort Leavenworth, The Rookery
Note: Of interest for the history, not for camping!

Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Park, Fairway

Douglas County Santa Fe Trail Information
Note: Website full of information.

Turkey Point Park, US Army Corps of Engineers, Osage Lake
Note: Camping.

Eisenhower State Park, Osage County
Note: Camping.

Douglas State Fishing Lake, Edgerton
Note: Site notes that a camping spot or two is available. Inquire locally.

Council Grove Trail Sites
Note: Sites include the Conn Store, Hays Tavern and House, Kaw Mission, Last Chance Store, Hermit's Cave, the Council Oak and the Post Office Oak.

Hillsdale State Park, Paola
Note: Camping.

Council Grove Lake Recreation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Council Grove
Note: Three campgrounds.

Marion Reservoir, US Army Corps of Engineer, Marion
Note: Campground.

Sand Hills State Park, Hutchinson
Note: Years ago, we camped here. What do I remember? Flies!

Note: At this point, in Cimarron KS, the Santa Fe Trail splits. Part goes through “The Mountain Route”, which is following US-50 to US-350 to I-25 at Trinidad CO, then US-64 in NM to Santa Fe. The camping opportunities will be listed here. See below, if you wish to follow “The Cimarron Route”, which goes south on US-56 through OK's panhandle and meets with the “Mountain Route” on I-25 at Watrous, NM.

The Northern, “Mountain Route”:

KS:

Beymer Park, Kearny County, Lakin
Note: Camping, county park.

Hamilton State Fishing Lake, Syracuse
Note: As with all Kansas state fishing lakes, inquire locally about the advisability and availability of camping.

CO:
Note: Both listings are camping opportunities. CO State Parks require reservations. A previous listing is no longer allowing camping, so it was removed.

John Martin Reservoir State Recreation Area, CO

Trinidad Lake State Park, Trinidad

NM:

Sugarite Canyon State Park, Raton

Cimarron Canyon State Park, Maverick Campground, Ute Park

Eagle Nest Lake State Park, Eagle Nest
Note: About 30 miles east of Taos.

La Sombra Campground, Carson NF, Taos
Note: About 8 miles east of Taos. BYO Water.

Las Patecas Campground, Carson NF, Taos
Note: About 4 miles east of Taos. BYO Water.

Orilla Verde Recreation Area, BLM, Carson
Note: Rio Bravo Campground and Pilar Campground are both near Pilar.

Hyde Memorial State Park, Santa Fe
Note: Park elevations are above 8400 ft. It keeps you cool in summer and can make you cold in the “shoulder seasons”.

The Cimarron (southern) Route:

KS:

Cimarron River Campground, Cimarron National Grassland, Elkhart

OK:

The nearest public campgrounds from US-56 in OK are actually along US-54 (see listings for US-54)

NM:

Clayton Lake State Park, Clayton

Mills Canyon Campground, Cibola NF, Roy
Note: One of the access roads, Mills Canyon Road, is not recommended for vehicles pulling trailers. This appears to be a campground for tenters that use a high clearance vehicle. BYO Water.

Conchas Lake State Park

[DonnaR57]

PUBLIC CAMPING AND SITES – OREGON TRAIL

The Oregon Trail is a historic trail, undertaken by many thousands of pioneers in the mid 1800s. Its official starting place was Independence, MO, and went from there out to its end in Oregon. Along the way, the Santa Fe and California Trails both branched off toward those destinations.

This post will include not only current-day public campgrounds (state, county and city run), but will also include some of the more pertinent historic sites. One of the most commonly seen sites are ruts from the wagons, which have been preserved. However, many of these are also located on private property.

For the sake of those who are traveling by modern vehicle, this post will include ONLY those historic sites that are easily reached by modern highways or a short hiking trail.

Note that sites in bold are museums and other areas of sightseeing/historical interest. Those with camping available will be noted. Non-historical campgrounds will be listed in regular type.


Map of the Oregon Trail Online

Main NPS Site, Oregon Trail


MO:

Sites in Independence, MO
Note: Many places to see in Independence. Camping can be had in 3 Jackson County campgrounds (See later listings in MO.)

National Frontier Trails Center, Independence
Note: This is a fantastic museum that combines the three trails that started in Independence (Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails) plus the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Camping nearby is in Jackson County campgrounds.

Jacomo Campground, Jackson County, Lee's Summit
Longview Campground, Jackson County, Lee's Summit
Fleming Park, Jackson County, Blue Springs

KS:

On the St Joseph Road (US-36):
Brown County Agricultural Museum, Hiawatha

Pony Creek Lake Campground, City of Sabetha

Back on the Main Trail:

Lone Elm Campground
Note: Despite its name, there is no camping currently available here. This is a historic site where the pioneers camped.

Kansas River Crossing/Pappin's Ferry

Lake Shawnee Campground, Shawnee County Parks & Recreation, Topeka

Vieux Cemetery/Red Vermillion Crossing, St Mary's

Riverside Park, City of St Mary's

Scott Spring, Westmoreland

Hollenberg Station, Hanover


NE:

Rock Creek Station National Historic Site, Fairbury
Note: It has camping available! It is also an Equine Park, for those that might be traveling with horses.

Thirty-Two Mile Station, 32 miles from Fort Kearny
Note: It's just a marker.

Susan Hail Grave and Ruts, Lowell

Fort Kearny State Historical Park, Kearney
Note: No camping here, but it's available at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area.

Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, Kearney
Note: Camping here.

Holdrege City Campground, Holdrege

Fort McPherson National Cemetery (near North Platte)

Buffalo Bill Ranch Historic Park and State Recreation Area, North Platte
Note: Campground.

Lake Maloney State Recreation Area, North Platte

Johnson Lake State Recreation Area, Lexington

Midway Pony Express and Gothenburg Pony Express Stations, Gothenburg

O'Fallon's Bluff, Sutherland
Note: It's a rest area on I-80. No overnight camping.

California Hill
Note: Currently fenced off, it's got a historical marker.

Ash Hollow State Historic Park, Lewellen
Note: No camping here. See the next two listings for nearby places to camp.

Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area
Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area
Note: Camping here at these two State Recreation Areas.

Amanda Lamme Grave
Note: A historical marker.

Scotts Bluff National Monument
Note: No camping here.

Riverside Campground, City of Scottsbluff
Note:Camp here if seeing Scotts Bluff National Monument.

Chimney Rock National Historic Site

WY:

Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Fort Laramie
Note: No camping.

Ayres Natural Bridge County Park, Douglas
Note: No camping.

Riverside Park Campground, City of Douglas
Note: Camping here.

Hembree Grave, west of Douglas

Register Cliffs, south of Guernsey on US-26

Fort Caspar Museum and Mormon Ferry, Casper

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
Trails Interpretive Center Foundation site
Note: Two websites for the same place.

Casper Mountain Park, Natrona County
Note: Camping, but BYO Water.
Bear Trap County Park, Natrona County
Note: Only county campground with water.
Black Beach Park, Natrona County
Note: BYO Water.

Independence Rock State Historic Site, Alcova

To be continued....

[DonnaR57]

WY: (Continued)

Devil's Gate,southwest of Casper
Note: This is the NPS site.
Devil's Gate/Martin's Cove, southwest of Casper
Note: This is a site that talks about the controversy of renaming the Devil's Gate site (a massacre site) to Martin's Cove.

Split Rock

South Pass National Historic Landmark, South Pass

Atlantic City Campground, BLM, South Pass City
Louis Lake Campground, Shoshone NF, South Pass City
Note: BYO Water.

Dry Sandy Crossing

Big Sandy Crossing

]Lombard Ferry Crossing[/B]

Church Butte

Fort Bridger State Historic Site
Note: Sorry, no camping.

ID:

National Oregon/California Trail Center, Montpelier
Note: Sites near this center include Thomas Fork Crossing, Big Hill,Peg Leg Smith's Trading Post, Bear River, Clover Creek, Soda Springs, Steamboat Spring, Oregon Trail Public. Park wagon ruts, Wagon Box Grave, Sheep Rock (now called Soda Point), Pioneer Cemetery, Hudspeth Cutoff.
More information on the Oregon Trail Landmarks here.

Montpelier Canyon Campground, Caribou-Targee NF, Montpelier
Emigration Campground, Caribou-Targee NF, Montpelier

Fort Hall Replica, near Pocatello
Note: This is definitely a replica. Not a government owned site. The real one is located on private reservation land, and not open for tours.

Massacre Rocks State Park, American Falls
Note: This is both a historic site and a modern-day campground! Non-state residents can expect an extra fee to be added to the overnight fee.

Register Rock State Historic Park, American Falls
Note: No camping here. Try Massacre Rocks SP, above.

Coldwater Hill Rest Area
Note: This is a rest area along the eastbound section of I-86. No camping.

California Trail Junction/Raft River Crossing

Milner Historic Recreation Area and Ruts, near Burley
Note: The Milner Ruts are visible by an interpretive trail. Also, a BLM primitive camping area is there.

Caldron Linn Canyon, Murtaugh

Murtaugh Lake Park, Twin Falls County, Murtaugh
Note: Campground.

Three Island Crossing State Park, Glenn's Ferry
Note: Historical AND campground! It's a state park – expect non-resident fees if you don't live in Idaho.

Stricker Store/Rock Creek Station, Hansen

Schipper Campground, Sawtooth NF, 18 mi south of Hansen
Note: Camping, but temporarily closed due to fire damage. Check before arriving. BYO Water.

Ward Massacre Site Marker

Fort Boise Replica, Parma
Note: Like Fort Hall, it's just a replica. The real one is long gone, burned out.

OR:

Farewell Bend State Park, south of Huntington OR on US-30
Note: Historical and campground.

Keeney Pass Interpretive Site, Vale

Baker Heritage Museum, Baker City

National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City
Note: BLM Camping nearby, see 2 next listings.

Spring Recreation Campground, BLM, Vale
Hilgard Junction State Park

Oregon Trail Interpretive Park at Blue Mountain Crossing

Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, Meachum

Emigrant Hill, on I-84
Note: Do not try this if you are driving a covered wagon. :-)
This is the description of the road.

Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Walla Walla WA
Note: No camping available.

Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, near Pendleton OR

Echo Meadows National Historic Site, Echo
Note: No campground.

Fort Henrietta Historic Park and Campground , Echo
Note: As the name says, it's both a historical park and a campground.


Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, The Dalles

Memaloose State Park, The Dalles

Taking the southern Barlow Route here; the northern route basically follows I-84.


Wildwood Recreation Site, Welches
Note: Surprisingly, no campground here. Next listing has the nearest campground.

Green Canyon Campground, Mt Hood NF, Welches
Note: BYO Water.
Philip Foster Farm, Eagle Creek
Note: Privately owned.

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Oregon City

WA:

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver

Books that were of assistance in preparing this post:

Hill, William E., The Oregon Trail: Yesterday and Today, 1986, Caxton Printers, Caldwell ID

Buck, Rinker, The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey, 2015, Simon & Schuster. This is an account of the author and his brother who took a covered wagon, 3 mules and a lot of courage to try to follow the Oregon Trail tracks in 2011. A must-read for the Oregon Trail history buff, but also a lesson in road trip stamina! However, folks sensitive to bad language may want to avoid this book.