Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah

[John in Santa Cruz]

this is easily one of the nicest campgorunds i've ever stayed in, in an incredible location.

for sure you want reservations in the Basin Campground, the other area is red clay, not paved.

this was our dry camping site, I think its space 017, full pullthrough, but no hookups. there's a dozen hookup sites out of the 45 or so total sites.

[thrifty bill]

+10 Utah State Parks are awesome. While they draw crowds, its nothing like the nearby National Parks.

Snow Canyon SP, dry site as well:

Snow Canyon by wrk101, on Flickr

[OCJohn]

You two inspired me. I just booked the first weekend in October.

Anyone have a (non-Vegas) recommendation for an overnight stay between SoCal and Kodachrome?

[Dave Fish]

Originally Posted by OCJohn

You two inspired me. I just booked the first weekend in October.

Anyone have a (non-Vegas) recommendation for an overnight stay between SoCal and Kodachrome?

Valley of Fire SP NE of Vegas is a great option. We stayed there one night a few years ago and would like go back to be able to explore.

We've also visited Kodachrome, but not camped. I agree that it's a very nice park and would go back.

[Jon Vermilye]

If it was me, I'd spend a couple of days at Valley of Fire State Park about 75 miles northeast of Vegas. Beautiful red rock formations, some great hikes. 2 campgrounds, one with water & electric (usually full be the end of the day) bathrooms with showers. The other is primitive with vault toilets.

Some photos from my visits.

On Edit - That's two recommendations!

[DavidJS]

We stayed in Kodachrome State Park in Site 33 with hookups. A really great campground! After our trip, I noted that sites 13,14, and 15, without hookups, were quite secluded and really nice.

OCJohn asked about a (non-Vegas) recommendation for an overnight stay between SoCal and Kodachrome?
Primm, NV is at the Calif-Nev border, and there are three casinos there. We stayed one night in the parking lot of the Buffalo Bill Casino. No hookups, but free. They had signs pointing out the RV parking lot.
Online I have read good things about Valley of Fire State Park, north of Las Vegas, but no reservations. I have also read on the Campendium web site about a BLM area called Valley of Fire West.

[Lee Senn]

John Thanks for this post. We are often in the area and were unaware of this place to camp. It is for sure on our list for our next outing in the area. Lee and Norma

[John in Santa Cruz]

as in between 'free' camps on that last road trip, we used...

1) pullout on side of "Extraterrestrial Highway" a bit north of Rachel, NV
2) FR090 in Dixie NF just outside of Bryce Canyon NP
3) Walmart Parking lot in Winslow, AZ
4) just off Kelbaker Rd ~3 miles north of I40 in Mojave NR

[CamperBill]

We visited Kodachrome SP UT last year while exploring, but did not camp there. Plan to camp there next time we're in UT. Camped at Valley of Fire SP NV and Snow Canyon SP UT last year, both fine parks, too!
It was raining when these shots were taken:

[CamperBill]

Originally Posted by OCJohn

You two inspired me. I just booked the first weekend in October.
Anyone have a (non-Vegas) recommendation for an overnight stay between SoCal and Kodachrome?

First photo taken while camping at Valley of Fire SP NV and next shot while camping at Snow Canyon SP UT, recommend both campgrounds:

[OCJohn]

Originally Posted by CamperBill

First photo taken while camping at Valley of Fire SP NV and next shot while camping at Snow Canyon SP UT, recommend both campgrounds:

Looks purty. Thanks.

[Jon Vermilye]

If you visit Kodachrome Basin on a moonless night, there are great night skies:

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye

If you visit Kodachrome Basin on a moonless night, there are great night skies:

How can we see the sky with all that light pollution? (The blinding-white Escape) LOL

[Al and Cindy K]

Without a doubt this place has the best shower facilities of anywhere we've ever camped and I'd put them over many of the hotels/motels I've stayed in.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by OCJohn

You two inspired me. I just booked the first weekend in October.

Anyone have a (non-Vegas) recommendation for an overnight stay between SoCal and Kodachrome?

found a nice freecamp off Kelbaker Rd in Mojave National Reserve, about 3 miles from I40. zero facilities, but great for an overnighter, and sufficient room to U turn our 21' trailer behind our 20' truck. We stopped there on our last night, heading home (Santa Cruz) in the AM.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/34...4d-115.6520267

Kelbaker is paved, the camp access is a hard pack sand road.

[EricAllyn]

If you can't get into the state park, there is BLM land off of 169 outside of Overton. It is really just a large area of gravel, with nothing there but lots of space. We stayed there a couple of days and went to see other things. Solar kept the batteries charged, and we are self contained, so worked for us.

[JOHN BUSCH]

Absolutely a wonderful state park... well off of the highway - if my memory is correct its about eight miles back off of Utah 12. Simply one of the nicest secluded state parks around. On a clear dark nights the stars are popping!!

No one mentioned the bathhouse -- great rainforest shower heads....

[John in Santa Cruz]

OH. If you stay at Kodachome Basin, plan on spending the better part of a day while there exploring the entire length of Cottonwood Canyon Rd in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. the start of this road is right outside KC Basin.

some pics from there, including the detour to Grosvenors Arch, which I also recommend as part of the full experience.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RE6NbQYRNuyxuAP8A

many of these pics are panoramas and photospheres. click on them, click again if it doesnt' go full screen, wait for it to load in full screen, then drag around with your mouse or touch to get the whole effect.

When we got to the far end, it was kinda late in the day because we got a late start. Google said it was almost exactly the same time to turn around and take the 38 mile dirt road back to camp, or to take US89 to Kanab, then whatever road back around to KC Basin, even tho it was over twice the mileage. I opted for plan B, and we had an amazing dinner at the Flying V Cafe in Kanab, I highly recommend it!

[Al and Cindy K]

John in Santa Clara - Thanks for the info and great photos. We ran out of time and missed the Cottonwood Canyon drive when we were there but plan on a return visit.

[thrifty bill]

The slot canyon off Burr Trail, which is a road off Highway 12, is a must see. Its almost 10 miles down the road (all paved to that point), on the left side of the road.

Continue north on highway 12 to Torrey. Camp at the Wonderland RV park there.

IMG_7926 by wrk101, on Flickr

IMG_7929 by wrk101, on Flickr