RVING AT MILITARY CAMPGROUNDS


I know many readers of this newsletter can’t access military installations because they’re not eligible, active-duty or retired military personnel. However, for those who can, I’d like to pass on information about some that we’ve stayed in recently. These campgrounds are usually located on a military installation, or next to one, and they’re most often located near major highways. Sometimes they’re located in remote recreational areas, or at military installations in the middle of nowhere, where you’d find it difficult to find other camping facilities.

Before I tell about the ones we’ve stayed in, I should mention that almost every military installation entry is now protected by an obstacle course. If you’re driving a car, it’s easy to wind between the concrete barricades that force you to take a zig-zag route. However, if you’re driving a large rig, you might find it difficult to maneuver through the barricades. Always call the installation in advance so you can get directions for entering. They may have a commercial entry for big trucks that you can use, but entry times to these gates will be limited to business hours.

Sometimes the obstacle course is unavoidable, so don’t try it during rush hour as you might hold up military personnel rushing to get to work. We had one guard offer to call for moving equipment to remove a couple of barriers when we entered, but my husband drove very slowly and took extreme measures to wiggle his way through, so the heavy equipment wasn’t necessary. You might not be so lucky!

Our favorite military campground is south of Tacoma, Washington, just off I-5 (exit 122), and is situated on the banks of American Lake in a beautiful setting. Camp Murray Beach Military FAMCAMP is often busy, especially in the summer, so if you fail to secure reservations, try Ft. Lewis next door, which is located on the same lake but lacks the spectacular views. Another nearby park is at McChord AFB, across the freeway and north about three miles from Camp Murray. Camp Murray closes from December to March (check your military RV & camping directory for details), but the other nearby FAMCAMPS may stay open year-round.

Ft. Lewis FAMCAMP is at exit 121 west has lovely wooded sites, and log cabins and bungalows are available for rent. Propane is sold within the campground and Ft. Lewis also has 30 additional rustic camper and tent sites that are free.

McChord AFB FAMCAMP is at exit 125 east, then follow road to the gate. The FAMCAMP is located in the woods among giant fir and pine trees, and is populated with wildlife. You will hear jets taking off and landing, but the thick woods help muffle the sound.

All three of these facilities are located near Mt. Rainier and only about 60 miles south of Seattle and its waterfront. There are many recreational opportunities available in the area, including boating, fishing, and swimming on American Lake. Prices are reasonable compared to commercial RV parks, which are few and far between in the metro-area of Seattle/Tacoma.

In Wyoming, we stayed for a few days at D.A. Russell FAMCAMP, which is at exit 11 on I-25 in Cheyenne, WY. One entrance to the campground has a low clearance, of 11’6” under a railroad trestle, but guards at the gate can tell you the best route to take to avoid this underpass. Speaking of the railroad, the tracks run right above the campground, but very few trains go through and they’re traveling extremely slow—especially when antelope are roaming the base during hunting season.

This is an area we would love to explore more someday, so may go back for a longer stay.

In Southern California, we stayed at March AFB FAMCAMP, which is on a former Air Force installation that now belongs to the National Guard and Reserves. It’s at the March exit on I-215 just south of CA-60. There’s nothing special about the campground, but does have a nice laundry room and restroom facility. And this park is located within easy driving distance of many Southern California attractions. No reservations—first come, first served, year-round.

We checked out the FAMCAMP at Nellis AFB, NV, but decided not to stay there. Somehow, having noisy jets taking off and landing overhead didn’t appeal to us. However, it does have nice, level RV sites and is convenient to on-base activities and Las Vegas casinos. It’s located north of Las Vegas, just off I-15 east.

Another beautiful FAMCAMP we’ve stayed in several times is at Little Rock Air Force Base, which is located in central Arkansas just off US67/167. It is an on-base park next to a lake. Some of the RV sites are paved back-in, tree-shaded, facing the park and lake; pull-thru’s and more back-ins are located in a clearing past the back-in spaces. The restrooms are nice, but you’ll have to go into Jacksonville, outside the base gate, to find laundry facilities. This FAMCAMP provides a central location for exploring Little Rock and the rivers, lakes, and tourist attractions the area offers. You can drop your payment in a drop box at the entry to the park, and a gas station with a mini-mart is located across the road from the park.

Just off I-40 and I-17 outside of Flagstaff, AZ at 7000-foot elevation is the Luke AFB FAMCAMP. It is called Ft. Tuthill Recreation Area and is in a beautiful wooded site that holds RV sites as well as yurts, cabins, multi-family cabins and a hotel. This is within easy driving distance (80 miles) to Grand Canyon, Skiing at Snowbowl, and about 20 miles, straight downhill through Oak Creek Canyon or by I-17, to beautiful Sedona and the Verde Valley. This area is cool in the summer and very cold and snowy in the winter.

We have stayed at numerous other FAMCAMPS overnight while traveling, including Gila Bend, AZ and Edwards AFB, CA, but haven’t had occasion to stay long enough to rate their quality.

Military campgrounds do offer an alternative to commercial parks, are usually cheaper, often nicer, certainly secure, and sometimes are located in areas where there are no other RV camping facilities. If you are eligible to use them, check http://www.RVBookstore.com for their current edition of U.S. Military Campgrounds Directory on CD.