The Ultimate Tri ppers' Road National Park Resource Guide ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, MAINE Covering most of Mount Desert Island and other coastal islands, Acadia features the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the United States, granite peaks, ocean shoreline, woodlands, and lakes. There are freshwater, estuary, forest, and intertidal habitats Campgrounds around Acadia National Park ** If you’re looking for boondocking options any of the parks pullouts can be used for ​ overnighting. ​ BOONDOCKING OPTIONS Blackwoods Campground Blackwoods Campground is located on the east side of Mount Desert Island, off Maine State Route 3 in Acadia National Park. Address: 155 Blackwoods Drive, Otter Creek, ME 04660 Area: 160 acres Phone: (207) 288-3274 Mount Desert Campground Address: 516 Sound Dr, Mt Desert, ME 04660 Phone: (207) 244-3710 Somes Sound View Campground Address: 5 Spinnaker Way, Mt Desert, ME 04660 Phone: (207) 244-3890 Seawall Campground Seawall Campground is a campground in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. The campground offers four loops of campsites, including "drive-up" sites suitable for RVs and trailers, as well as walk-in tent-only campsites, and is open from late May into October. Address: 668 Seawall Rd, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 Area: 120 acres Phone: (207) 244-3600 Smugglers’ Den Campground Address: 20 Main St, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 Phone: (207) 244-3944 Schoodic Woods Campground Address: 54 Far View Dr, Winter Harbor, ME 04693 Phone: (207) 288-3338 Quietside Campground Address: 397 Tremont Rd, Bernard, ME 04612 Phone: (207) 244-0566 Arches National Park, Utah Arches National Park lies north of Moab in the state of Utah. Bordered by the Colorado River in the southeast, it’s known as the site of more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, such as the massive, red-hued Delicate Arch in the east. Long, thin Landscape Arch stands in Devils Garden to the north. Other geological formations include Balanced Rock, towering over the desert landscape in the middle of the park. Address: Utah Phone: (435) 719-2299 Nearest town: Moab For free dry camping (aka boondocking) just outside of Arches National Park, Willow ​ Springs Trail is ranked #8 on the Campendium.com 2018 Best Overall camping list. BOONDOCKING OPTIONS Devil’s Garden Campground Devils Garden Campground is the only campground at Arches National Park. You can reserve campsites for nights between March 1 and October 31. During this busy season, the campground is usually full every night. If you're arriving at Arches without a reservation, you'll probably have to look for a campsite outside the park. Between November and February, campsites are first-come, first-served. No RV hookups – No showers – Reservations required from March 1st-October 31st End of 18 mile paved scenic drive Info: 435-719-2299 Reservations: 877-444-6777 or visit recreation.gov ​ Camgrounds outside of the national park https://www.discovermoab.com/park-campgrounds/ ​ Badlands National Park, South Dakota The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today. BOONDOCKING OPTIONS Cedar Pass Campground Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the Cedar Pass Campground has 96 level sites with scenic views of the badlands formations. Forever Resorts manages the campground. For additional information, including questions about reservations, contact the Cedar Pass Lodge. 2019 Rates: Camping fees for up to two people are $22 per night per campsite, or $37 per night for campsites with electrical hook-ups. Each additional person is $4 per night. A dump station is available for a $1.00 per use fee. Cold running water, flush toilets, and covered picnic tables are available. A limited section of the campground is open during the winter months. Sage Creek Campground The popularity of Sage Creek Campground is causing overcrowding. Park staff are working on implementing new management strategies to help reduce the impact on visitors and on park resources. Bison often wander through this primitive campground, located on the west side of the park's North Unit, near the Badlands Wilderness Area. Access is located off of the Sage Creek Road, an unpaved road that may temporarily close after winter storms and spring rains. Motor homes, pull behind trailers, and other recreational vehicles greater than 18 feet in length are prohibited. This limitation does not apply to horse trailers. Camping is free of ​ ​ charge. Pit toilets and covered picnic tables are available, but not water. Potable water is available near the Pinnacles Entrance Station. Sites at the Sage Creek Campground are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A portion of the Sage Creek Campground is designated for horse use. Generators and ground fires are not permitted. Big Ben National Park, Texas There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and diversity of species is the best in the country. This magical place is Big Bend. BOONDOCKING OPTIONS Chisos Basin Campground The Chisos Basin Campground is surrounded by tall, rocky cliffs and conveniently located near some of the park's most spectacular and popular trails. Download Chisos Basin Open Year-round 60-site campground (no hook-ups). $14 per night ($7 per night with a Senior or Access pass). Flush toilets, running water, grills, picnic tables, and dump station. Trailers over 20' and RV's over 24' are not recommended due to narrow, winding road to the Basin and small campsites at this campground. Biscayne National Park, Florida The park is a special place where glittering waters meet emerald shorelines. Its rich history is revealed in legends, shipwrecks, and the stories of people who helped to shape this unique area. We are home to four distinct yet interconnected ecosystems. These resources, combined with the closeness of Miami, make the park an ideal location for a variety of special activity requests. Each event, activity, research project and commercial operation in the park requires a permit. Permits are issued and approved after National Park Service employees follow required steps for environmental compliance. This includes reviews to determine that activities will not impair park values, resources or visitor enjoyment. NO BOONDOCKING OPTIONS FOUND Boca Chita Key Campground the park's most popular island. It features beatiful waterfront views, a grassy camping area, picnic tables and grills. Toilets are available, but there are no showers, sinks or drinking water. The harbor entrance at low tide is approximately four feet. $25 per night including tent site and boat docking ($12.50 per night with senior pass and $15 per night for tenting only).CASH ONLY ​ Elliott Key Campground the park's largest island. Restrooms with sinks and cold water showers, picnic tables and grills are available. Drinking water is available, but bring water as a precaution if the system goes down. Elliott Key harbor is approximately 2 ½ feet at low tide. There are 33 boat slips in the marina. Fees: $25 per night including tent site and boat docking ($12.50 per night with senior pass and $15 per night for tenting only). CASH ONLY ​ Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, Colorado Big enough to be overwhelming, still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time, Black Canyon of the Gunnison exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. With two million years to work, the Gunnison River, along with the forces of weathering, has sculpted this vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky. BOONDOCKING OPTIONS South Rim Canyon Campground The South Rim Campground is located just one mile from the South Rim Visitor Center and is in close proximity to the amphitheater, where ranger programs take place during the summer season. The Night Sky Viewing & Telescope site is also nearby. Sites are fairly close together, and are partially shielded by Gambel Oak and Serviceberry bushes. In the summer, loops A and B may be reserved through recreation.gov. In the Spring, Fall, and Winter, all sites are first-come, first-served. Loop C is always first-come, first-served. Sites Reservable: 56Sites First Come / First Serve: 32 Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) exist on every continent, but here is the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Situated along a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase, the park's high elevations include numerous life communities, fantastic dark skies, and geological wonders that defy description. Bryce Canyon National Park has two campgrounds, North and Sunset, located in close proximity to the Visitor Center, Bryce Canyon Lodge and the main Bryce Amphitheater. Sites fill by early afternoon during the summer months. BOONDOCKING OPTIONS North Campground North Campground is located across the road to the east of the Visitor Center and contains 99 sites in 4 Loops: A, B, C, and D. Loops A & B are for RV campers. Loops C & D are for tent campers. 13 RV sites (by reservation) 86 RV & tent sites (first-come, first-served) Restrooms with flush toilets Picnic tables Drinking water Fire grates Quick access to the Shared-Use Path All sites are limited to 10 people, with no more than six adults (adult = ages 16 and up), three tents and two vehicles.