Edgewater RV Resort and Motel, Lakeside MT

Stay Date:  June 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 9

We stayed here based on internet reviews and were not disappointed. Fast, friendly check-in (make sure you pet the cat), large, level concrete pads, and spacious, all-concrete sites. Although along the highway, there was no significant noise and the park was quiet and dark at night. OK cable, no obstructions to the satellites, but little OTA TV. The park WiFi worked well during our one-week stay regardless of the time of day. Verizon cell/data were also very good. The hosts are veteran professionals who excel at making this a great stay, and we'll be back. Reasonable at Passport America’s rate of $30/night.  Edgewater RV Resort and Motel

Area Tips:  Located right on the shore of Flathead Lake and a little over an hour to Glacier National Park.  Good shopping and dining just North of Kalispell.

Sula Country Store and RV Park, Sula MT

Stay Date:  June 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 7

Calling this a "resort" may be a bit of a stretch, but it's a great little park under tall pines and next to a stream. Only a few sites, and only one with 50A, but they're fairly level gravel pull-thrus with adequate spacing. No cable or WiFi, but surprisingly a few OTA stations. Lots of trees, but a few holes for a tripod satellite mount. Verizon cell/data worked well. Some truck noise from the highway, but fairly quiet at night. The store has basic items but the restaurant wasn't open this early in the year.  A great value at $25/night.  Sula Country Store and RV Park

Countryside RV Park, Dillon, MT

Stay Date:  June 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 9

I wish RV park owners all over the country would visit this park to see how a park should be designed. Long, level gravel pull-thrus are staggered so that the nose of your neighbors rig is aligned with the back of yours. Lots of grass, good hookups, and quiet and dark at night. Good Verizon cell/data, and solid park WiFi. No cable or OTA TV here, but the office has a library of DVDs and there are no obstructions to the satellites. Easy access to the interstate but far enough that there's no road noise. Nice views of the mountains and close to Dillon for shopping and dining. Well worth the $35/night.  Countryside RV Park

Area Tips:  Dillon doesn’t offer much in the way of dining, but Sparky’s Garage was very good.  Don’t miss a visit to Bannack State Park, the best-preserved ghost town you’ll ever see.

Ennis RV Village, Ennis, MT

Stay Date:  June 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 9

A great park in the beautiful Madison Valley.  Interior roads and sites are hard-packed gravel and level, with better than average space between.  Nicely maintained green grass and a small tree at each site.  Friendly office staff and hands-on owner who will go out of his way to be helpful.  Easy to find and access from the main highway.  Quiet and dark at night. No cable TV or OTA here, but no obstructions to the satellites.  WiFi was unusable during our stay, but Verizon cell/data were strong.  Located just outside of Ennis, a neat little town with adequate shopping and dining, and an hour from West Yellowstone.  A big trout fishing area, so make reservations in the summer.  Reasonable at $36/night.  Ennis RV Village

Peter D’s RV Park, Sheridan WY

Stay Date:  May 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 8

We love visiting Sheridan, and Peter D’s is our preferred stay.  The sites are painfully close together, the WiFi doesn’t work all that well, and there’s no pool or miniature golf, but who cares when you have an owner like Peter D?  He’s a delight – informative, funny, and caring of how you’re enjoying your stay.  Sites are level gravel, long enough to keep the tow attached, and although the OTA TV is limited, there’s 12-channel analog cable TV. Verizon cell/data were strong, and there are no obstructions to the TV Satellite.  Pete knows everything about Sheridan, and will happily spend an hour or so handing out maps and telling stories.  Easy access to I-90 and only a few blocks from town.  We’ll stay here again, even at $40/night.  Peter D’s RV Park

 

Area Tips:  The Rib and Chop House down the street has great food and reasonable prices.  The downtown area is vibrant has great shopping and cafe’s.  The “Trail End” museum is one of the best examples of restored mansions you’ll ever see.  And the drive on highway 14 into the Big Horn Mountains is an experience not to be missed!

Spearfish City Campground, Spearfish SD

Stay Date:  May 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 9

Spearfish City Campground is a large park with separate camping area, all beautifully tree-covered with a stocked stream and paved walking paths.  Unfortunately I neglected to take pictures, but trust me, it’s a beautiful place.  Located across the street from the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery where we volunteered two summers, the sites vary from tent sites to short RV sites, to “premium sites”; long, wide sites with 50A power.  We had a premium site, large with table and fire ring, and it backed up to the creek.  This is a popular and busy park with lots of families, so while it’s not particularly quiet, it’s worth a visit if you’re in the area.  No satellite ability due to the trees, but most sites have cable TV, and the channel list is extensive.  The park WiFi worked fairly well, but when the park is crowded it fades quickly.  Verizon Cell/data were strong.  Spearfish is a remarkably friendly small town, and Spearfish Canyon is nearby and a must-see.  Reservations are a must.  $39/night for the premium sites.  Spearfish City Campground

Ellsworth AFB, Box Elder SD

Stay Date:  Apr-May 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 7

We’ve stayed here often; it’s convenient to Rapid City (8 miles), reasonably priced, and we like the commissary.  Along with some improvements have come a significant rise in prices.  Formerly $21/night with a $108 weekly rate, the prices have risen to $23/night with no weekly rate, and rates climb to $28/night from July thru October.  Seven additional pull thru sites have been added for a total of 21 pull-thrus, with the original area having 30 back-ins.  All sites are level concrete with integrated patio and too-close imbedded table.  The new sites have small trees, some grass/weeds, and muddy access roads.  We never saw the camp host in three weeks, although he was helpful over the phone.  The WiFi was unusable throughout our stay, in spite of claims that it had been improved.  Verizon cell/data was strong, and there are no obstructions to TV satellites and ample OTA channels.  Ellsworth has little flying, so it’s fairly quiet except at 0700 each weekday morning when “reveille” is blasted from loudspeakers.  The commissary is excellent; full service and seldom crowded, but the BX is a sad example of overpriced goods and is usually empty.  Not much in the way of restaurants on base; the food court only has a Burger King, the club is seldom open, and there’s nothing in Box Elder except a Pizza Hut.  We’ll probably stay here again, but will look hard at area RV parks in the future.  Ellsworth AFB Famcamp