Most of the campgrounds in and around the Badlands are so stark--sites right along the road and no trees/shade. We stayed at the Badlands KOA in nearby (Interior) and it was like an oasis in the desert-like region. Shady sites, refreshing pool, mini-golf for the kids, pancake breakfast, really nice staff. We would definitely stay there again.
Badlands Campground review
I agree.
Were were there early July with daytime temps in the 100%26#39;s yet we were cold waking up in the morning.
Clean place and helpful staff.
Has pool, laundry facilites, clean showers, supplies and served... for small fee, dinner.
Badlands Campground review
To each his own, I guess. We stayed at the Cedar Pass campground within the park a few years back in September. Loved waking up to colorful starkness of the park. But one can certainly understand staying where you stayed while traveling with children.
We also stayed at the KOA - rented a cabin (less than $50) with air conditioning and electricity. I know the kids and I would have died in our tent as it was SO hot in July when we were there. The pool was awesome, and only a few miles from the entrance to the Badlands.
I camped at the National Park campground too. The sunrise and sunset were beautiful. The rate was also fantastic. Only $ 10.00 per night.
I agree that the KOA has the best location w/trees to help shade and some grass, but we had a terrible experience there and wouldn%26#39;t go back, unless new owners took over. It was our first time camping in our new camper and very excited to finally get to our destination. Someone escorted us to our site to show us were to park. My husband spent about 30 minutes trying to level the camper and when getting ready to open the slide outs, realized a tree branch was in the way. It would have broke out our window. The branch was practically dead, as was the tree, the branch had about 3 leaves on it, so my husband got his saw out and trimmed the tree branch down. Meanwhile, my kids were across the road shooting their new sling shots we just bought them from the gas station. Aiming at the river. The owner of the KOA came over practically yelling at us telling us we were vandalizing his property. We told him that the branch was dead and it was obvious that others had trimmed branches off that same tree. He told us we should have moved the camper over. As it was, when we were sitting at our campfire, our chairs were inches away from the next site%26#39;s black water drain. If we would have moved over anymore, we would have literally been sitting on it. Thank Goodness no one was at the next site over. Plus, we wouldn%26#39;t have been able to put our awning down, because the fire would have been underneath. Then the owner told us our 5 %26amp; 7 year old couldn%26#39;t have the slingshots, that they were weapons. We put them away. Ten minutes later he was back accusing us of vandalizism and wanted to confiscate the slingshots. We apologized again to him about the dead branch (about 2.5 to 3 feet long) and told him that we took the slingshots away AGAIN! Mind you, we are fairly new to camping. My husband then decides to put his truck horizontally in front of our camper because he was sticking out on the road a little. Five minutes later, the owner%26#39;s wife came over reprimanding my husband for having this front tires on what little grass there was. He told them that he didn%26#39;t know he wasn%26#39;t supposed to park like that, that the site was very small and he didn%26#39;t want to stick out in the road. She told him to move it and gave him a nasty look. This was our first hour at the KOA in the Badlands. Also, the food isn%26#39;t that cheap and they were rude at the concession stand too. I guess they think they can be like that because their campground is the nicest of the three and you might argue that it%26#39;s that nice because of their strictness. These are the type of people that probably have plastic covering on their furniture. If you don%26#39;t mind that type of scrutiny when you are there, stay at this KOA. The Badlands are a definite ';must see'; and you should plan to stay at least one night somewhere so you can enjoy some of the trails and the absolute beauty of this place. The Badlands are one of my favorite places in the country.
We stayed in the KOA campground in September of 2008. Having free internet access was a treat for us. It was only a few miles past the other campgrounds in the area and worth the few extra minutes. Enjoy your time in the Badlands.
Wow, you had a bad experience camping for the first time with your new camper! That KOA is nice and is in a great location. However, we all have bad experiences and I notice you have not written anything else about your trip. Also, with a new camper, you must be using it in the great state from which you and I are from. So, no comments on camping up north? State Parks in MI? Come on now. You must have had a lot of experience by now doing so. We could always use another poster in MI doing campground reviews. Please join us. And I hope that this experience has not deterred you from enjoying your new camper.
Badlands has two drive-in campgrounds in the park! They are very nice (one is really remote and quiet). You can see them here:
parkcamper.com/Badlands-National-Park/Badlan鈥?/a>
They are Sage Creek and Cedar Pass. Sage Creek is very remote and quiet, borderinga wilderness area. Cedar Pass is more popular and easy to get to.
No comments:
Post a Comment