Camping Along Historic and Scenic Highways of the US and Canada

[DonnaR57]

Added them, thank for the suggestions. I believe three out of the four were included with I-87, but should have been linked to I-87 or included in here.


Donna

[DonnaR57]

Public campgrounds along the Natchez Trace Parkway, which goes from Natchez MS to Nashville TN, are a mixture of NPS, state parks, Army Corps of Engineers, and USFS entities. The parkway itself is about 444 miles and should be done in 2 or more days. It is a historical as well as a scenic highway. As always, most campgrounds are less than 20 miles from the highway unless otherwise mentioned.

MP=Milepost from Natchez.

MS:

Natchez Trace State Park
Note: Located at MP 8.1.

Rocky Springs Campground, Natchez Trace Parkway NPS, Rocky Springs
Note: Located at MP 54.8.

Jeff Busby Campground, Natchez Trace Parkway NPS, Ackerman
Note: Located at MP 193.1.

Davis Lake Campground, USFS, New Houlka
Note: Located at MP 243.1.

Trace State Park, Belden
Note: Located at MP 259.1.

Tombigbee State Park, Tupelo
Note: Located at MP 263.6. If you're going to catch the Elvis Presley history at Tupelo, you can't get much closer.

Piney Grove Campground, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (Army Corps of Engineers), New Site
Note: Located at MP 293.5

Tishomingo State Park
Note: Located at MP 303.9


TN:

David Crockett State Park, Lawrenceburg
Note: Located at MP 369.9

Meriweather Lewis Campground, Natchez Trace Parkway NPS, Hohenwald
Note: Located at MP 385.9.

[DonnaR57]

Public campgrounds along the Outer Banks Scenic Byway, in North Carolina, are few, along a road of about 131 miles in length (but very picturesque). Visitors should travel with the knowledge that two ferry rides are necessary in order to fully enjoy the Byway. Though it technically can take only 6 hours to “see” the Byway, you can enjoy the scenery and a more relaxing trip if you can camp overnight and extend the trip a bit. The whole Byway is located within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore campgrounds
Note: (N to S)
Oregon Inlet CG
Cape Point CG
Frisco CG
Ocracoke CG


There will be more scenic and historical drives with camping added....

[DonnaR57]

Public campgrounds along the San Juan Scenic Skyway in Colorado, are plentiful. This gorgeous byway includes the famous “Million Dollar Highway”, AKA US-550.

For the purpose of this campground guide, will start the loop at Ridgway, CO, head south to Durango, west to Cortez (past Mesa Verde National Park), north to Dolores, then northeast again to Ridgway. Travelers should be advised of four mountain passes (of about 10,000 ft elevation), and another around 8900 ft., as well as the opportunity to take in some hot springs. The highways accommodate larger rigs; just take it easy, they're not high speed interstates!

Ridgway State Park, Ridgway
Note: About 4 miles north of Ridgway. Bear in mind that all CO state parks have gone to an all-reservations/no drop-ins campground system, so make plans in advance and call ahead!

A short stop: Orvis Hot Springs, Ridgway
Note: It has camping available but it is not publicly owned.

A short stop (but no camping): Ouray Hot Springs, City of Ouray

Amphitheater Campground, Gunnison NF, Ouray
Note: Better for tents and smaller units (less than 35' total length) due to size of campsites. This is bear country, keep a clean site!

Angel Creek Campground, Gunnison NF, Ouray
Note: Very primitive, no water, practice bear protection, keep all food in a hard-sided vehicle.

Thistledown Campground, Lincoln NF, Ouray
Note: Mostly for tents. No Water.

Sig Creek Campground, San Juan NF, Hermosa

Haviland Lake Campground, San Juan NF, Hermosa

Lower Hermosa Campground, San Juan NF, Hermosa
Note: No water at this campground.

Junction Creek Campground, San Juan NF, Durango
Note: Located 5 miles north of Durango, this could be a good base camp for Durango based activities! But not in winter, as it is closed.

Target Tree Campground, San Juan NF, Hesperus

Mancos State Park, Mancos
Note: Bear in mind that all CO state parks have gone to an all-reservations/no drop-ins campground system, so make plans in advance and call ahead!

Mesa Verde National Park Campground: Morefield
Note: Campground is 5 miles up the road from the entrance kiosk. Yup: up a mountain!

McPhee Recreation Area, Dolores


Mavreeso Campground, San Juan NF, northeast of Dolores
Note: Inquire at Dolores about road conditions.

West Dolores Campground, San Juan NF, northeast of Dolores
Note: Inquire at Dolores about road conditions. About a mile further on a gravel forest service road from Mavreeso Campground.

Burro Bridge Campground, San Juan NF, northeast of Dolores
Note: Once again, inquire at Dolores about road conditions! This is very primitive – no services, no water.

Cayton Campground, San Juan NF, Rico
Note: A better bet probably than the previous 3, as this one does not require miles on a gravel road!

Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area, Gunnison NF, Telluride
Note: Tents only due to parking space limitations. NO RV's.

Matterhorn Campground, Gunnison NF, Telluride

Sunshine Campground, Gunnison NF, Telluride

Keystone Hill Interpretive Site, Telluride
Note: Other sites have mentioned dispersed camping, AKA “boondocking” areas near this site. Inquire locally.

Caddis Flats Campground, BLM, Placerville

That brings you back to Ridgway. The entire distance is about 233 miles, which could be driven in a day, but why drive it in one day if you can enjoy more stops and an overnight someplace (or a few)?

[DonnaR57]

On a recent trip, my husband and I traveled the entire length of Utah's Scenic Route 12 (UT-12) from its junction with US-89 near Panguitch, all the way to its end at the junction of UT-24 in Torrey. While this 122 mile road is easily driven in a half day, even with multiple stops to get out of your car and take in the view, it also has a number of opportunities to camp overnight, and see a couple of the Utah “Mighty Five” National Parks as well. All campgrounds listed here are within 20 miles of the highway, unless otherwise noted. There are some BLM lands that have camping opportunities, as well. If you can get AAA's Indian Country map (AZ/CO/NM/UT), it shows all the camping opportunities along UT-12 and other places in these four states. I highly recommend this map for the detail it has! Also, due to the higher elevations in this area, bear in mind that not all the campgrounds are open year-round, and UT-12 is subject to closure for weather conditions and bad accidents.

Here is the direct link to the portion of UT-12 from Bryce Canyon NP up to Torrey, including photos.

Red Canyon Campground, Dixie National Forest, Bryce

Tom's Best Spring Road, Dixie NF, Bryce
Note: This is a boondocking spot mentioned on a number of websites. This is one man's experience. Inquire locally.

Bryce Canyon National Park Campgrounds:
Note: North Campground, and Sunset Campground.

Kodachrome Basin State Park, Cannonville
Note: Three campgrounds: Basin, Bryce View, and Arch! Arch is limited to small units. None are open year-round.

Note: Be careful when driving through the town of Escalante, and other small towns along UT-12. These are locally well-known speed traps.

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Escalante

Barker Recreation Area, Dixie National Forest, Escalante
Note: Please note that this campground is about 16 miles up a dirt road. It does take awhile to get there!

Posey Lake Campground, Dixie NF, Escalante
Note: About 14 miles up a dirt road from Escalante. Takes awhile to get there!

Blue Spruce Campground, Dixie NF, Escalante
Note: About 18 miles up a dirt road from Escalante. Takes awhile to get there!

Calf Creek Recreation Area, BLM, Escalante

Deer Creek Campground, BLM Grand Staircase, Boulder
Note: Tents only. No tow-ables. The sites are small! About 7 miles from the highway. BYO Water.

Oak Creek Campground, Fishlake NF, Grover
Note: Not advised for RV's over 25'.

Upper Pleasant Creek Campground, Fishlake NF, Teasdale
Note: Not advised for RV's over 25'.

Lower Bowns Campground, Fishlake NF, Torrey
Note: No water. BYOW!

Singletree Campground, Fishlake NF, Torrey

Sunglow Campground, Fishlake NF, Bicknell
Note: This campground is not on UT-12, but would make a good camping spot for Capitol Reef if their Fruita Campground is full.

Capitol Reef National Park Camping
Note: On UT-24, not on UT-12, but it's included because many folks (including us) continue their trip on UT-24. One campground, a very pretty one called Fruita. I've camped there, albeit years ago when the scenic view drive through the park was still dirt and gravel. No hookups, but it's surrounded by fruit trees.

[DonnaR57]

There are public campgrounds all along Montana's Scenic Loop, that includes MT-83, MT-35, MT-206, US-2, US-89, US-298, and back to MT-83. For the purposes of this post, we will start in West Riverside MT, loop around clockwise, and return to West Riverside, which is easily accessible from I-90 in Missoula. Unless otherwise indicated, all campgrounds are within 20 miles of the scenic loop.

For more information about this scenic loop, please go to the National Geographic Crown of the Continent website


Harpers Lake Campground, MtFWP, Greenough

Salmon Lake State Park, Clearwater River, Seeley Lake

Placid Lake State Park, Seeley Lake

Big Larch Campground, Lolo National Forest, Seeley Lake

Seeley Lake Campground, Lolo National Forest, Seeley Lake

Lake Inez Campground, Lolo NF, Seeley Lake

Lake Alva Campground, Lolo NF, Seeley Lake

Rainy Lake Campground, Lolo NF
Note: Located just north of Lake Inez and Lake Alva campgrounds.

Lindbergh Lake Campground, Flathead NF

Holland Lake Campground, Flathead NF, Condon

Swan Lake Campground, Flathead NF, 14 mi from Bigfork

Yellow Bay State Park, north of Bigfork

See US-2 western portion listings Columbia Falls to Browning.

Bean Lake Campground, MtFWP, Augusta

Copper Creek Campground, Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, Lincoln

Browns Lake Campground, MtFWP, Helmsville

Harry Morgan Campground Fishing Access Site, MtFWP
Note: Inquire locally.

Monture Creek Campground, Lolo NF, Seeley Lake

Upsata Lake Fishing Access Site Campground, MtFWP, Ovando

Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site, Bonner
Note: Please camp only in designated spaces. Located 35 miles east of Bonner on Hwy 200, at MP 35.

And now you're back at the intersection!

[DonnaR57]

Though not a designated scenic loop, travelers might find that taking this loop will show them some of what Nevada has to offer within a 2-day round trip out of Las Vegas.

Though this could be taken in either direction, the route has us leaving Las Vegas on I-15 north and taking exit 64 for US-93 north. Take that to Major Place, where you can pick up US-6/50 West to Ely, then continue down US-6 to Warm Springs. There, you could take a shorter route back to Las Vegas and see what the “ET Highway” (NV-375) has to offer, down to Ash Springs, then back to Las Vegas via US-93 South and I-15 south. Or, if the “ET Highway” doesn't interest you, continue on US-6 west to Tonopah. There, take US-95 back to Las Vegas, which will put you within an hour's drive from Death Valley National Park along the way.

This campground guide will offer both options, though there are no camping options on NV-375 “ET Highway”. The land is owned by the military!

For a description of this scenic drive, please click here.
Here's the rest of the trip.

Valley of Fire State Park, Overton
Note: This camping option is located a little further north from the junction of I-15 and US-93. In the summer, it can be very hot out there.

Cathedral Gorge State Park, Panaca

Spring Valley State Park, Pioche
Note: Located 20 miles from Pioche. Has two campgrounds, Horsethief Gulch and Ranch.

Great Basin National Park
Note: Five campgrounds to choose from. It can be hot in this park in summer!

This loop now takes you west on US-6.

Choice A: ET Highway
No known legal campgrounds or campsites. This is a military area.

Choice B: US-6 to US-95.

Death Valley National Park, California
Note: Not all campgrounds are open year-round, some are not open in summer due to the obsessive heat. Check this website for NPS commentary regarding reservations and seasonal availability.

And this brings us back to glitz and glamour in Las Vegas...

[glc]

In Nevada, note that gas stations are few and far between. On US-6, there is no fuel between Ely and Tonopah, and there is no fuel on NV-375. If you take the NV-318 "shortcut" from Ash Springs to Ely, there is no fuel. Plan wisely.

Note that there is *private* camping at the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel on NV-375. There are RV pads with water and 30 amp service, no dump station. $20. They also have tent camping with fire pits and porta-potty. $5.

[DonnaR57]

A few public campgrounds along the historic Cariboo Highway in British Columbia, are available, especially considering the highway goes from Yale (just north of Hope) to Barkerville. Most of the time, the highway is TCH-1 or BC-97, until it turns east to the historic town of Barkerville. As usual, all campgrounds are within 20 miles of the highway, unless otherwise noted. Also, there may be campgrounds not listed; inquire locally.

Here's a little history of the Cariboo.


Emory Creek Provincial Park, north of Hope

Skihist Provincial Park, Lytton

Goldpan Provincial Park, Shaw Springs

Downing Provincial Park, Clinton
Note: About 18.6 km (11.5 mi) from Clinton.

Green Lake Provincial Park, 70 Mile House
Note: About 20.3 km (12.6 mi) from 70 Mile House

Big Bar Lake Provincial Park, north of Clinton
Note: About 34 km (21 miles) down a gravel road to the park.

Lac La Hache Provincial Park, Lac La Hache

Dugan Lake Recreation Site, 100 Mile House

Forest Lake Recreation Site, 100 Mile House
Note: BC Site states that at this time, this is a free campsite. Very popular with fishermen, especially in early summer.

Blue Lake North Recreation Site, 100 Mile House
Note: Another freebie site. These are rare!

Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park, north of Quesnel
Note: Located 10 miles north of Quesnel.

Barkerville Historic Town, Barkerville (end of the Cariboo Road)
Note: There are three campgrounds run by the privately owned Barkerville Historic Town. Otherwise, the nearest publicly owned campground is just north of Quesnel, Ten Mile Lake PP.

[DonnaR57]

The scenic Sea to Sky Highway, which runs from Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver, BC, northeast past Whistler, has a few campgrounds to choose from. However, for the purposes of this listing, we will take the campground listings past Whistler all the way up to Cache Creek, where a traveler may catch the Cariboo (separate listing) and points beyond. This could serve as an approach to the Alaska Highway at Dawson Creek, BC. As usual, all campgrounds are within 20 miles of the highway, unless noted, and that other campsites may exist. (Inquire locally.)

Description of the Sea to Sky Highway, click here.


Porteau Cove Provincial Park, Vancouver

Alice Lake Provincial Park, Squamish

Nairn Falls Provincial Park, Pemberton

Marble Canyon Provincial Park, Lillooet