Interstate Camping Guide

[DonnaR57]

Public campgrounds near I-70:
(within 20 miles, unless otherwise noted. Includes state and national parks, state and national forests)

UT

Goblin Valley State Park (about 30 miles from I-70, south at exit 149)

Note from user 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.

CO

Highline Lake State Park, Loma, CO
Colorado National Monument, Saddlehorn CG
James M Robb Colorado State Park, Island Acres Section
James M Robb Colorado State Park, Fruita Section



KS

Lake Scott State Park, north of Scott City, KS
Note: about 35 miles south of I-70
Sheridan State Fishing Lake, Hoxie, KS
Note: about 30 miles northeast of Grainfield
Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Ogallah, KS
Wilson State Park, Wilson, KS
Milford State Park, Junction City, KS
Tuttle Creek State Park, Manhattan, KS
Note: Wilson, Milford and Tuttle Creek attract Army personnel on weekends.
Clinton State Park, Lawrence, KS

MO

Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Blackwater, MO
Graham Cave State Park, New Florence, MO
NOTE: This park requires a two-night stay on weekends, for a reservation: FRI/SAT or SAT/SUN.
Cuivre River State Park, Troy, MO
NOTE: This park requires a two-night stay on weekends, for a reservation: FRI/SAT or SAT/SUN. About 30 miles from I-70

IL

Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area, Carlyle, IL
Fox Ridge State Park, Charleston, IL
Lincoln Trail State Park, Marshall IL 2 campgrounds just north of I-70

IN

Lieber State Recreation Area, Cloverdale, IN (western IN)
Note: One forum user highly recommends this campground!
Summit Lake State Park, New Castle, IN

OH

Buck Creek State Park, Harmony
Barkcamp State Park, Belmont


PA

Note: Much of Pennsylvania's I-70 is turnpike, some shared with the I-76 designation. Any listed mileages are from the nearest exit from the turnpike. Exits are few and far between on the turnpike.
Kooser State Park, Somerset, PA
Laurel Hill State Park, Trent, PA
Shawnee State Park, Bedford PA
about 25 miles off freeway

MD

Gambrill State Park, Frederick, MD
Patuxent River State Park, Brookville MD
Patapsco State Park, western edge of Baltimore
Note: this state park has 3 campgrounds. One is the Hollifield Area near Ellicott City. Another is the Hilton Area near Catonsville. The third is Avalon, near Halethorpe. All are on the very western edge of the Baltimore area and “the eastern end” of I-70.

Donna

For shorter breaks along this highway check HERE.