If you MUST car camp, here's some good i deas!

“Iowa has some wonderful state parks for day hikes. I've been car camping, and I recall a situation with some drunks when my son was only 7 or 8. Here's a few ideas for avoiding the idiots:
1. Camp where there's no electricity.
2. Put extra USMC stickers on your vehicle.
3. Stay North of I-80, and west of the Mississippi (with an exception for Wisconsin and Michigan if two hours away from major metro areas).
4. Avoid the weekends from Memorial Day thru Labor Day.
5. Avoid state parks within 30 minutes drive of a stock car track.

Best car camping in Iowa: Pike's Peak State Park along the Mississippi River... in March, April, October, or November.

Also, Springbrook State Park which has a large hiking area.”

“Florida State Parks kick a$$!

Georgia SP's suk! Except for the fact that EVERY FREAKIN PARK EMPLOYEE PACKS HEAT, which translates to a police-like state, which means that riffraff are quickly booted out...”

“Some Florida State Parks are better than others. The best I've been to is Torreya in the panhandle. It hardly even looks like Florida, and it's got some real nice trails.”

“Hey Rick, where ya been hiding?

Grand Saint Mary in Ohio was real nice the one time I was there as was Lake Mississenawa in Indiana. Gold Bluff Beach, a California S.P. (right on the beach) was spectacular.”

“Long Key SP, Florida. The high tide trickles into yer tent if yer not careful.

Custer SP, ND. The gateway to Harney Peak.”

“Isn't Custer in SD?”

“Yeah. Cali has awesome state parks. I've really never had too much problem when car camping. I like to do it from time to time if I want luxury in the outdoors. Definitely do it off season or you get a nightmare RV scene. Having walk-in sites or tent only sites can help. My most recent trip was to Machester State Beach. It was a really nice campsite with dunes in between many of the sites that lended to privacy. I find the real benefit is in the cooking. It's always a treat to have a cooler full of goodies, a two burner stove, all the pots and pans you need, a cutting board with full sized knives, a fire grill, etc. Oh yeah. And running water to clean it all off with. I still prefer backpacking but car camping can have its merits, too.”

“Do not go to the AEP Park Lands in McConnelsville, Ohio (formerly Ohio Power), unless, of course you plan on bringing a trailer, back up generator, chain saw and a bitchin' mullett.”

“Yeah, that's a pretty bad place there. Trailbuddy, do you fish? If ya really want, I kin tell ya where one of the greatest parks for camping is in Ohio. The place hardly sees any campers except for the big holiday weekends, it has a beautiful clean trout lake, and a few camp spots that can only be reached by trail or boat. It's a largely mullet-free zone too. It is such a cherry place I refuse to reveal it's location here.

Dirtbaggersdeluxe@Yahoo.com”

“As another Iowan, I can attest to the rare sweet spots. I suggest looking into county conservation areas as well. There is a lovely 1500+ acre park in Johnson county with nice tent sites and it's easy to escape the other humans just by walking AWAY from the lake and into the forest. Just plain pretty in the spring.”

“Bummer. I really need to move west.”

“I guess I have taken these wild open spaces for granted.”

“flyguy6x... thanks for askin' -- but it's a long story... thanks too for the tips...

heathad... you're right about the county parks!”

“We got some great state parks. The North Country trail goes through many. The place we stayed last wknd was a state park campground. Its attached to over 36 miles of trail.”

“Custer SP is in South Dakota, there may be one in North Dakota too, but Harney Peak is in SD.”