Camping Diary 2023

This year we planned our trips as a series of excursions, each having a different objective. The sections below describe each excursion and include a map. Sections are listed with the most recent on top. Listings of places stayed similarly have the most recent on top.

The maps below were created using RV Trip Wizard and may not reflect actual places we stayed. Exclamation Mark pins typically warn of dirt roads at park entrances. Mileages in the captions are rounded up from RV Trip Wizard to include minor detours. We towed our trailer over 8,400 miles this year as we visited 59 campsites.

Abbreviations: CG = Campground; SP = State Park; RV = Recreational Vehicle; MH = Mobile Home

New Mexico and Arizona

We explored several ancient villages in New Mexico and Arizona before settling down for the winter in Tucson.

The map shows where we parked our trailer. The green ring (100 miles) shows how far we could go for a day trip. Planning campgrounds between the yellow (150 miles) and red (220 miles) rings allows us to skip a stop due to weather or other events. The mountains complicate travel distances. Thus campgrounds that appear to be practically next door may require a circuitous route.

Arrival	Location	Notes
Wed. Nov 15	Rincon Country West RV Resort Tucson, AZ	We look forward to chatting with people we met last winter and making new friends. Elevation: 2426 ft
Sun. Nov 12	Catalina SP Oro Valley, AZ	This park has interesting places to hike. Elevation: 2714 ft
Thurs. Nov 9	Las Colinas RV Park Eloy, AZ	This park is near Casa Grande National Monument. Elevation: 1475 ft
Thurs. Nov 2	Verde River RV Resort and CG Camp Verde, AZ	Now that the snow and spring floods have abated we plan to return to this park to visit the nearby cliff dwellings. This campground was infested with a plant that produced a nasty burr that stuck to our shoes and fingers. Elevation: 3119 ft
Sunday Oct 29	Page Lake Powell CG	We successfully visited Antelope Canyon, the Rainbow Bridge, and saw a balloon festival. Elevation: 4263 ft
Wed. Oct 25	Cameron Trading Post	This RV Park will gave us easy access to the Grand Canyon and Wupatki National Monument. Elevation: 4223 ft
Sunday Oct 22	Homolovi SP Winslow, AZ	In addition to Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona we visited the Homolovi ruins. Elevation: 4888 ft
Friday Oct 20	Sky City RV Park Acoma, NM	Established in AD 1150, Acoma Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America! While here we visited a lava field. Elevation: 6127 ft
Sunday Oct 16	Roadrunner RV Park Pojoaque, NM	We made reservations on this Tewa Reservation so we might explore Santa Fe and Los Alamos. Elevation: 5916 ft
Depart Oct 16	Santa Rosa CG Santa Rosa, NM	We stayed here until the Albuquerque Balloon Festival ended emptying the parks west of here. Elevation: 4778 ft

Return to the Southwest

Before leaving Tucson we made reservations for the 2023-2024 winter. This allowed us to reserve a preferred site. The map below hypothesizes how we will head there from northern Indiana. Along the way I hope we will positioned to maximally experience the Annular Eclipse on October 14. Having previously taken the direct route through Oklahoma City, OK and Roswell, NM, this time we chose a middle route. Going via Denver, CO might allow us to tour the US Mint. This route also added two new states for us to have camped in.

Arrival	Location	Comments
Oct 12	Santa Rosa CG Santa Rosa, NM	We observed an annular eclipse on October 14th. Elevation: 4775 feet.
Oct 8	Trinidad Lake SP Trinidad, CO	I picked this State Park as a convenient point between Colorado Springs and Santa Rosa. Elevation: 6300 feet.
Oct 5	Foot of the Rockies RV Resort Colorado Springs, CO	We visited the Garden of the Gods and Florissant Fossil Bed National Monument. This campground is atop a hill on the west side of Colorado Springs at 6050 feet.
Oct 2	Chatfield SP Littleton, CO	We chose this park for its proximity to the Denver Mint. We enjoyed the spacious sites. Elevation: 5500 feet.
Oct 1	Burlington RV Park Burlington, CO	Colorado will be the 24th state we will have camped in. This overnight, park and pay. Elevation: 4150 feet.
Sept 30	Ellis Lakeside CG Ellis, KS	This is a nice quiet city owned park and pay facility. Elevation: 2150 feet.
Sept 27	Covered Wagon CG Abilene, KS	Abilene was the boyhood home and museum of former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Kansas is our 23rd state to have camped in. Elevation: 1150 feet.
Sept 24	Flemming Park Lees Summit, MO	We camped south of Independence, MO, which was the home of former US President Harry S. Truman. Elevation: 900 feet.
Sept 22	Lazy Day CG Danville, MO	After two travel days we planned a two night stop. This region has numerous wineries and distilleries.
Sept 21	Spring Creek CG Montrose, IL	This will be a one night stop.
Sept 14	Old Mill Run Park CG Thorntown, IN	We stopped here to take care of several errands and minor repairs. Most of the sites appear to be flat. Ours was bumpy and steep with the sewer connection on the higher end of the site.
Sept 11	Delaware County Fairgrounds Muncie, IN	We chose this place at the recommended by a neighbor for when we visit our daughter.
Depart Sept 11	Ceraland CG Columbus, OH	We came here to visit our son. This recreation area supports Cummins Engine. Full Hook Ups, partial shade, sites are near-by, but not tight.

Michigan Loop

Looking for cool weather this summer we will again explore Michigan and enjoy tasty fish from the lakes.

When we started on this trip we only knew where we would start and where we would end. When reservations for our next place to stay became difficult to find, we made the following reservations.

We made an additional stop (not shown) to have a tire replaced in Jackson. Plus numerous side trips while our trailer remained in a campground.

Arrival	Location	Comments
Sept 4	Ceraland CG Columbus, OH	Before heading south for the winter we wanted to spend a week or two near our children in Columbus and Muncie.
Aug 27	Woodland Village RV & MH Park Portage, IN	Occasionally we need to visit a dentist. This park is near a dentist we previously saw.
Aug 20	Baldwin Oaks CG Hudsonville, MI	We stayed here in 2022 and found it convenient to area attractions. We visited the museum dedicated to former US President Gerald Ford.
Aug 16	Kalkaska RV Park Kalkaska, MI	A nice family owned and operated campground that allowed us to visit Grand Rapids and the Old Mission Peninsula.
Aug 14	Wilderness SP Carp Lake, MI	I chose this place as far enough to travel after crossing the Mackinac Bridge. Electric ONLY. Picked up water on the way in, dumped sewage on the way out.
Aug 10	Chocolay River RV CG Marquette, MI	Arrived a day early to avoid the rain. Basic campground with Full Hookups. Sites are close. No table. No WiFi. No shade.
Aug 7	Hancock City Park Hancock, MI	We stayed here in 2022 and found it convenient to visit the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Aug 1	Manistique Lakeshore CG Manistique, MI	You get what you pay for at this campground. FHU, 50 Amps, a beach on Lake Michigan, concrete pad, paved internal roads and adequate WiFi. We spent here what we saved at Kinross and Hancock.
Jul 27	Kinross RV Park East Kincheloe, MI	There is nothing special about this park except Full Hookups, good WiFi, and easy access to visit the Soo Locks and a nearby State Park. All for $17/night! Wow!
Jul 23	Northern Nights Family CG Roscommon, MI	Northern Nights provided us with a quiet place to camp with great WiFi while we visited a State Park.
Jul 14	Hideaway RV Park Grass Lake, MI	Having decided to visit the Ann Arbor Arts Fair we moved across I-94. We had to change sites in the middle of our stay. Sites in the back were quiet and well separated. Pull through sites were paired.
Depart Jul 14	Holiday CG Grass Lake, MI

East Coast Loop

After seeing when my sister and her husband expected to be in southern Michigan we planned an excursion to visit other relatives and delay our arrival in Michigan to correspond with with my sister’s arrival in Michigan.

Arrival	Location	Comments
Jul 7	Holiday CG Grass Lake, MI	We connected with my siblings while at this park that we visited in 2022. Non-seasonal RV sites are in a large field. Each has a young tree, picnic table, and fire ring.
Jun 30	Arrowhead Lake CG Arlington, OH	Sites are difficult to find over major holidays. Fortunately we were able to make an extended reservation at this quiet park and took time to read, relax, and do laundry.
Jun 27	West Branch SP Ravenna, OH	We anticipate connecting with a cousin while here. Sites are generously spaced and well shaded. However several sites are very steep.
Jun 26	Seven Mountains CG Spring Mills, PA	We stopped here for only a night. Several camping websites showed mediocre reviews for this campground primarily due road noise. Park management recently installed a fence that attenuates the noise.
Jun 19	Pine Hill RV Park Kutztown, PA	We connected with cousins from both of our families while here. Although located between I-78 and Old Highway 22 this campground is relatively quiet and level. Our neighbors were friendly.
Jun 16	Harpers Ferry KOA Harpers Ferry, WV	While here we connected with a college classmate. This campground was expensive and noisy. Our site abutted the office parking lot, slopped steeply and the pedestal was in the middle of the adjacent site limiting our ability to use the sewer connection.
Jun 11	Natural Chimney Park & CG Mt Solon, VA	While here we connected with Lori’s cousins and a couple we met while camping in Florida. This campground is a large field with little shade. Regular guests parked parallel to the road to maximize their front yards.
Jun 5	Ridge Rider CG Little Orleans, MD	While here we connected with a college classmate. A long narrow winding road leads to this campground. The last half mile includes a 12% grade! Our site was delightful. The campground is largely filled with seasonal and long term residents.
Jun 3	Pine Cove Beach Resort Charleroi, PA	This is a HUGE pool with a campground, possibly two. The access roads within the facility are steep shared with a parking lot for the pool. Sites have full hookups with some shade and space.
May 30	Wolfie’s CG Zanesville, OH	Zanesville is on a river between several hills. Two roads lead to this campground. Both have sharp turns.
Depart May 30	Cornerstone CG New Castle, IN

Texas and Indiana

With our brakes adjusted properly and both our truck and trailer fully inspected we headed east to visit a nephew and his wife in Texas then visit our children in Indiana.

Arrival	Location	Comments
May 11	Cornerstone CG New Castle, IN	This campground is roughly equal travel time between our children allowing us to visit each of them separately and together.
May 10	Patoka Lake SP Birdseye, IN	This is a large state park campground with electricity at many of the sites. We had planned to stay for two nights, but rain encouraged us to leave early.
May 7	Tween the Lakes Grand River, KY	We returned here hoping to visit the adjacent National Forest. However due to rain we chose other activities.
May 5	Meeman-Shelby Forest SP Millington, TN	Although Memphis is only a few miles south of this campground there is no cell service. The sites are nicely spaced with water and electric connections.
May 4	Willow Beach CG Scott, AR	Our site at this small COE campground backed onto the Arkansas River. Concrete pad, water and electric. Some trees.
May 3	Rocky Point CG Queen City, TX	This Army Corp of Engineers Campground is perfect! We had a great view of the lake with water and electric at a paved pad.
May 2	Red Barn RV Park Nacogdoches, TX	This is a nice small private campground with comfortably spaced sites. Great for one night as it is located on US-59
Apr 28	Jetstream NASA Webster, TX	This resort is near the end of the runways at Ellington Field. The sites were nice but very close together.
Apr 28	San Antonio, TX	The campground called us an hour before we were to arrive warning us of a potential tornado and hail storm! We pressed on! Fortunately our next destination had space for us to arrive early.
Apr 26	Elite RV Park Sonora, TX	We stayed two nights here to facilitate visiting the Caverns at Sonora. This cave is spectacular! The “park” is a series of cement slabs with full hookups.
Apr 25	Saddleback Mountain RV Park Balmorhea, TX	This is the perfect spot for a one night stop. Level flat pull-through sites.
Apr 21	Hacienda RV Resort Las Cruces, NM	This clean well appointed park provided us with a comfortable place to stay while exploring Las Cruces.
Apr 20	Sagebrush Mobile Home and RV Park Wilcox, AZ	This park appeared to be our best option with easy access to Chiricahua National Monument. A large flat gravel area in the midst of of more permanent housing provided adequate amenities for overnight. The electric connection lacked a local breaker.
Depart Apr 20	Rincon Country West Tucson, AZ	After learning how to adjust our brakes and a month discerning our mission, we left a couple of days early.

Arizona and Return?

Our plan was to visit a few places in Arizona then head north. An issue with our trailer brakes prompted us to make a careful return.

Arrival	Location	Comments
Mar 21	Rincon Country West RV Resort Tucson, AZ	Because of snow further north we returned here to reconsider our vision, goals, and longer term plans. We also reconnected with friends we met during our previous stay.
Mar 20	Desert Aire RV Park Surprise, AZ	After spending a day getting our trailer’s brakes serviced, we sought a place that offered something better than a truck stop. Alas this was not it. No facilities other than potable water and a dump station. No electric. By not extending our slides nor stabilizers, and minimizing use of the our water pump and lights, our battery maintained our refrigerator through the night.
Mar 18	Sonoran Desert RV Park Gila Bend, AZ	This park offered widely spaced sites with full hookups with a tree on each site.
Mar 15	Coyote Howls RV Park WEST Why, AZ	We selected this park for its access to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and the dark skies. Coyote Howls has two sections. We stayed in the one with full hook ups. We did not hear any coyotes, however an Eurasian Collard Dove hooted nearby.
Depart Mar 15	Rincon Country West RV Resort Tucson, AZ