My 5 Favorite Campsites for 2014

I  just reviewed all my 2014 camp reviews.....man I did a lot of boondocking this year, especially when I compare this year to 2013 when I was "learning the ropes" about full-timing and depended much more on pay-RV parks with full hookups.  I camped at some really nice parks throughout the US and tough as it may be chose the 5 camping areas I found the best for varying reasons.  Here they are from fifth to overall number 1.

Number 5:  Brazoria County Free Beach  Surfside, TX

I'm a sucker for two things Brazoria County Free Beach provides:  camping on the Gulf Coast beach and no camping fee.  You can read my review here:  Brazoria County Free Beach Review

The Tank's campsite at high tide.

Number 4:  Kartchner Caverns State Park  Benson, AZ

The only pay campsite in the 2014 top 5, Kartchner Caverns State Park simply has to be experienced to appreciate the "it factor" of the extensive cavern system it encompasses.  It is truly unique and worth the trip to Benson, AZ.  Here's my two part reviews:  Kartchner Caverns State Park Review Part 1  Kartchner Caverns State Park Review Part 2

The trail head for the Guindani Trail hike.

Number 3:  Coyote Ridge Long Term Visitors Area (LTVA) Yuma, AZ

I lied earlier, you have to buy a camp permit from the BLM ($45 for 2 weeks) to camp at Coyote Ridge so this is the second pay campsite on my top 5 list, although the $3/day fee is pretty minimal.

No doubt named after the noisy nocturnal packs.

My review of the LTVA site is here:  Coyote Ridge LTVA Review .

Number 2:  Spring Creek Park  Tomball, TX 

Normally when you boondock you have no electrical or water hookups so you have to be self-contained in those departments, either with solar panels or a generator and a big fresh water tank.  When you "boondock" at beautiful Spring Creek Park the county provides you with free electric hookups along with water an sewer for up to 7 days!  That's what I call roughing it.

A few miles west of 249 in Tomball, TX.

Here's the review I wrote:  Spring Creek Park Review .

Number 1:  Sweet Briar Recreation Area  Mandan, ND

The county of Morton in North Dakota has set up an almost perfect boondocking situation around Sweet Briar Lake with incredibly spacious campsites that are available free for up to 14 days.  I stayed there in July of this year and the weather was perfect, the fish in the lake were biting, kayaking on the calm lake couldn't have been better, and as a bonus Verizon reception was great!  This is a real gem of a campsite and, truthfully, I'd never have thought a site in North Dakota of all states would be my favorite for this year but there you have it.  Sweet Briar wins!  Sweet Briar Recreation Area Review

A gravel road runs along the west side of the lake providing site access.

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!