Central States

Arkansas

We haven’t stayed in this state yet. Check back in awhile.

Iowa

Interstate RV Park, Davenport, IA

A modern RV park right off of I-80, the Interstate RV Park was another good place to stay on the road. In season, they have a pool. Out of season it covers all the basics.

Kansas

Coffeyville Municipal Campgrounds, Coffeyville, KS

This was our home base while we worked for Amazon in 2008. This is a municipal campground located on the fairgrounds next to a little park and the community center. Coffeyville suffered a major flood in 2007, so the facilities were either new or renovated. About the only reason you would come here is to workamp, in which case they give you enough extras to make it livable, or for a fair, in which case you won’t be here long enough to miss facilities. Each site had power. Some sites had water, but most had to fill up freshwater tanks from a communal spigot. There is a dump station.

High Plains Campground near Oakley, KS

Located off  I-40 and US-83, this place was a welcome stop along the Road to Nowhere. Great facilities, a good view and nice people made this place a favorite for us.

Minnesota

Crookston Municipal Campground, Crookston, MN

When we did the sugar beet harvest in Minnesota, this park was our home. It is a nice municipal campground with 15/30 amp hookups at each site. There is no water or dump station, but there is a bathroom with showers (get key when you check in). The river borders the park on two sides and there is a small boat launch and nice banks for fishing. The park is open from the end of May to the beginning of October.

Red River State Park, East Grand Forks, MN

So technically this park is in Minnesota, but that is only by a matter of feet. Really it is in the heart of Grand Forks on the eastern boarder of North Dakota. The park was created after the Red River of the North flooded in the Nineties destroying the low-income housing that bordered the river. Instead of chancing more floods the city built this campground in the lowlands. It is a nice park with modern facilities, large pull through sites with FHU and nearby restaurants. But for a state park they are pretty pricey, charging $30 per night when we stayed in 2008.

Missouri

Oak Hill Campground, Lebanon, MO*

We stayed here during the off season and they put us in one of the only spots with FHU. The facilities were minimal, but they did have a camp store and restrooms. During the season they say they have a pool and recreation facilities as well. The manager was a big help when we found our slide was stuck out. He lent us tools and offered to call a repair service. A little off the beaten path, but not a bad place to stay for a night.

Nebraska

Valentine Motel & RV Park

We wish we had a picture of this place. It feels just like a 1950's roadside stop. Located on US-83 this little place is a good one to pull in for the night. It doesn't have many facilities, but it covers the basics: bathrooms, cable, 50amp service. And the atmosphere was unique. From Olga, the manager(?) who checked us in in her PJs, to the large old trees that overshadow each site, to the town itself, the place makes you feel like you stepped back in time.

North Dakota

Red River State Park, East Grand Forks, MN

So technically this park is in Minnesota, but that is only by a matter of feet. Really it is in the heart of Grand Forks on the eastern boarder of North Dakota. The park was created after the Red River of the North flooded in the Nineties destroying the low-income housing that bordered the river. Instead of chancing more floods, the city built this campground in the lowlands. It is a nice park with modern facilities, large pull through sites with FHU and nearby restaurants. But for a state park, they are pretty pricey, charging $30 per night when we stayed in 2008.

Oklahoma

Checotah / Lake Eufaula West KOA Kampground, Checotah, OK

Like most KOAs, this is a nice, well-kept campground with good facilities and plenty of extras. And like most KOAs, it is fairly pricy. But we pulled in because we felt like a little luxury after being without many services for several months. The manager was very friendly and fun to talk with.

South Dakota

Yogi Bear Campground in Sioux Falls, SD

Have you ever tried to find a campground in Sioux Falls after November 1st? Apparently until this year it was a non-existent thing. Now the Yogi Bear Campground on the east side of town stays open in the winter. This place has nice, level gravel sites and good facilities, but the high tension lines running next to it detract from the park's overall appearance. Still, if you are looking for a place around Sioux Falls, you could do a lot worse.