Hi Everyone,
Does anyone have any favorite campgrounds they would recommend in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, or North Dakota? This will be our first getting to know the Barth and RV’ing summer and we will be trying to stay within a day or so driving distance from our stompin grounds due to work/time constraints.
Thanks,
Wally

I recommend getting the Trailer Life Campground Navigator software, available from Good Sams.

Farthest out your way I've been is Valentine and Grand Island, NE. I stayed at the Snake Campground at the Merrit Reservoir complex (there are several campgrounds) - no services at all, but there's a free dump station 7 miles toward Valentine. There are several commercial campgrounds in Valentine, but none is very scenic. Valentine does have a few decent restaurants.

The State Park in Grand Island is relatively nice.

Thanks Rusty,

We'll be sure to check it out. We went to the RV show a couple of weekends ago to look into what the camp grounds in and around our state have to offer. Having never been RV'ing before, we think we're looking more for nice natural and scenic locations than a lot of recreational activities but I do want to be able to ride my bike. It looks like finding the kinds of campgrounds and parks we're looking for will be part of this summer's adventure. How are your NOT spoiled friends?

Wally

Perhaps Lou will chime in; he knows quite a bit about campgrounds in MI (I don't know if he's cruised the UP).

I'd suggest short (weekend) trips until you're familiar with the coach.


Casey and Nelson are doing fine!

Hi Wally,

Good luck as you bond with your coach! Looks like Michigan might be a little further than you want to tackle this year, but when you do, let us know and we'll have some suggestions for you. In general, the U.P. is beautiful, as is the west side of the Lower Penninsula. There are many parks set up for less formal activity and many are close to town and therefore reachable by bike. We also have an ample supply of scenic views along Lake Michigan.

Rusty's suggestion for short trips to get familiar with your coach is on the mark, but when you think you want to head out for longer jaunts let us know. We'd love to tell you all about our beautiful state.

Hi Wally, we have a pretty nice park just outside of Aberdeen, really nice for kids or grandkids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkhe_4flDn0
Lot of nice state parks along the Missouri river. When your comfortable with your Barth the Black Hills/Mt Rushmore area is very nice. Probably a comfortable 2 day trip from Minnetonka. In your new Barth you will enjoy where ever you go!!

Something I don't recall seeing in these discussions is campground costs. In the beginning of our RVing it didn't seem to matter if it cost 20 bucks or 50. As trips get longer and you're spending more nights in campgrounds, the difference in cost per night becomes pretty significant. State Parks are usually a pretty good deal, but some [Georgia for instance], are overpriced and about as inviting as a cheap motel. If your budget doesn't care about spending a few hundred a week for a little piece of property, this will be a moot point, but most of us aren't so lucky.

Our yearly run to AZ means we spend about 2 weeks on the road to get there and back in December and March/April.
We use state parks and Walmarts often. We always will stay at the Family Motorcoach campground behind the head office in Cincinnati because it is open all year, about 8 hours from home and free for members.
Texas and NM state parks are the best!
After the 3rd or 4th day of driving we will usually pick a full service resort (with an indoor pool if possible) for a 2 night layover to rest up.
Just how we like to do it!
Don and Patty

Don't forget national fraternal & veteran's organizations.....Many allow members to RON free. (Hopefully, you'll spend some $$ in their bar and/or dining room)....Some even have electric/water hook-ups available. Not Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, but usually a WalMart upgrade.....Joining your local lodge/post gets you access nationwide....Always a friendly local group and a good source of info if you're going to be taking in the local sights......

We spent 20 years RVing out of Minneapolis.

Best place is Bayfield, WI on Lake Superior. Also city campgrounds in Two Harbors and Grand Marie.

MN has great state parks, but we didn't use them as I did not like their policy of requiring permits on each motorized vehicle. If you pull a trailer you need one. If you pull a car behind you RV you need two.

If you fish there are tons of campgrounds all over the state.

Have fun.

Thanks Everyone,

These are exactly the kinds insights we need to help with our mid-winter planning for when the snow finally melts and we can hit the open road for some weekend adventures.

For us everything will be new, fresh and exciting(even the first time we dump the holding tanks - well maybe not fresh). So many great places to see and visit and so few summer weekends. We've never been to the Black Hills or spent much time in the Dakota's or Wisconsin. The north shore, Grand Marais, Two Harbors, Bayfield and state parks along the Missouri all sound like great places to start. We can hardly wait to get going.

Wally

Black Hills So. Dakota- Custer State Park( Game Perserve Campgrounds) Buffalo will be outside of the fenced area, rock climbing,MT. Rushmore all in one day. Bayfield, Wis. Apple festival in the fall , see all of the sea caves and the Aposal Islands. side trip to old pier area of Daluth Minn. 1+ hour west. Root Valley in southeast corner of Minn. Camping ,bikingtrail along river, canoeing, on the Root River. side trip along the Mississippi from Iowa border to Red Wing along the west side of river. eagles, cliffs, fishing , food Grump Old Men movie sites,food, food, food, antiques. Yellowstone State Park in southwest Wisconsin, fishing, peaceful weekend. Enjoy

Thanks JKB,
Sounds like a plan.
Wally

Explore Minnesota will be a great resource for the entire state. Minnesnowta has an abundance of State Parks. Get a permit and it is good for the whole year and have fun exploring. I am just down the road at Waseca so maybe we can hit the same place and BS over a cold one. I have planned my trip down to get my Coach for the end of the month so my shake out trip will be the 2000 trip home. Being one of the tightest folks on the planet I sure hope fuel goes back down so we can make the rounds without breaking the bank. PM anytime and we can exchange info. I fish Minnetonka sometime and was on the lake last Thursday.

Several years ago we took a Non-Barth trip to Ely for some fishing...stopped at the Greyhound Bus Museum in Hibbing (where Greyhound started)....Enjoyable visit. This year, they are having a Bus Gathering in August.....For gearheads, it might be a fun couple days......Dry camping available.....

FMI: http://www.greyhoundbusmuseum.org/bus2011.html