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

Douglas KOA, Douglas WY

Stay Date:  April 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 6

We seldom stay at KOAs, but this is a convenient location during our travels. Very friendly lady at check in, led us to our pull-thru site which was long enough to leave the tow vehicle attached. Very close to neighbor, gravel and dirt, and this time of year lots of mud. The usual KOA aggravating add-on charges, $2 for cable which was good, free WiFi was adequate, and Verizon cell/data was strong. Some long-term residents with outside items, but it appears they're in a separate area from campers. Probably a nice place in the summer, hard to tell this time of year, so we gave them the benefit with a “6” rating.  Far out of town, it's a place where we pay a premium price just for the convenience of an overnight stay along the interstate.  Overpriced, like all KOAs at $39/night.  Douglas KOA