Crystal Forest Campground | Established Campground

United States

Details

Verified:
about 2 months ago
Altitude:
1614.0 masl
Website:
None
Phone:
None

Amenities

Electricity:
Yes - Not at Sites
Wifi:
No
Kitchen:
No
Restaurant:
No
Showers:
No
Water:
No
Toilets:
No
Big Rig Friendly:
Yes
Tent Friendly:
Yes
Pet Friendly:
Yes
Sanitation Dump Station:
No

Something not right?

Description

Great access to Petrified Forest National Park. Lots of places to park. Some with picnic tables. Some with shade structures. There are power posts but no power. This is dry camping with level sites and some tables. Quiet at night.

Current Details: free, 15 sites, All Year, Self-Contained Units Only, All ages, Tents, 45 ft max RV length, Accepts Big Rigs, pull thrus, electric ($16), tables, pet friendly, store.

Total number of sites:
18 free RV sites on East side (museum lot). 10 30-Amp RV sites on West side (gift shop lot) but only 8 outlets are operational so the other 2 sites are free.

Open all year.

8 sites $16/night+tax for 30 amp hookup. 20 free sites.
RV sites: 28

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Latest Check-Ins

Excellent free camping, very quiet.
Unfortunately very windy the two days we stayed. 3 day limit for free camping.

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Stopped here for two nights while we visited the NP. Quite and would certainly use again

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crossed our fingers and arrived here just before sunset, mid week, late October so not quite high season. 8 or 10 slots available in the free parking in the back. quiet, level. VERY FEW choices around Petrified Forest National Park, this is a gem

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Update price info for electric: 25 plus tax. Across the street dry docking free.

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Just by the petrified forest ntlpark
One side is free , no service , we are totally autonomous , no problem ,
We bought some souvenirs good prices , lots of choice ,
Quiet at night , good cell service,
"……………
Juste a coté du parc national petrified forest
Un coté est gratuit ,sans services , nous sommes totalement autonomes,
Nous avons acheté quelques souvenirs ds belle boutique pour les remercier
Autre coté est $25 pour avoir électricité ,
Silencieux la nuit, bon service cellulaire
Je recommande

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Went to check in at the gift shop. Lady Was nice. Said one side was the free side (dry camping) other side is the electric only (fee side). We stayed on the free side. Was told to “park anywhere we want, just not along the fence”. Was not given a reason as to why. Not a problem for us. We got here early and had our pick of spots. But this place is filling up fast. So I would recommend if your interested in this place to get here early as well to secure a spot.

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Very windy night tonight and light shower! The wind made it feel much colder! Many vans, campers, a schoolie, RVs here. We arrived around 5:30 and many were already here. Get here early, it fills up by 7:30 pm. Nice for one night for us!
We were in our PJs by 6:30! 😀

The giant billboard says “clean restrooms” but go inside and they are all out of order! Signs look permanent to us! Both sides are out of order. The staff could be more welcoming and friendly! 🙂

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spent one night here (on the free side). Nice quiet night and verify convenient for a morning in Petrified Forest. Would stay here again.

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Asked if I was allowed to just sleep in my car or tent it in the free area. Lady said it’s for RVs only but she’d allow it as long as I clean up after myself. Other information - free on one side with no hookups on and I don’t know what the cost was on the other side with hookups. I don’t think there’s restrooms… there was a sign at the gift shop saying no public bathrooms. Didn’t see any others around the camping area.

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Spent 3 nights on East side (free part). Good experience overall. Traffic on highway is minimal and not an issue. Occupancy varied, but when I left there was about 6 of us (most ever seen by me). All the other guests were courteous and no issues with anything. Of course very convenient to visit Petrified Forest.

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Now $26.63 ($25 plus tax) for electric sites on the west side. Had I known that I would have probably opted for the free side. It's okay, but not a spectacular deal like $10 would have been. Electric sites are all back in and 30 amp

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à côté du magasin de souvenirs, des tables, endroit calme et très agréable. plusieurs vr . parfait pour la visite du parc

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Got there late at night, nobody at the store so we just parked and slept. In the morning still no one at the shop so we just left to do the park tour. The place was nice with picnic tables and level parking. Very calm

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Very nice place to free parking overnight, quiet and clean. Beautiful Scenic. Dry camping

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Very nice place to free parking overnight, quiet and clean. ,beautiful Scenic

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Nice place, very quiet. No service but it's free. Most of the sites can accomodate big rigs.

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Looks nice, but no tent sites. RVs only.

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Free campground outside the southern entrance to petrified national Forrest national park. Sign says clean restrooms, looks like a decent spot, hikes and par are worth it. park is dog friendly!!

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Free campsite suitable for tents as well. Also some stoned tents in which you could technically sleep. Picnic tables with roof, very quiet place. Literally next to the entrance of Petrified Forest/Painted Desert. Next to a small store with bathroom. Beautiful night sky.

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Still free for dry camping. No services except trash. Cell service is wonky here. It shows bars but can't connect (Tmobile and GoogleFi).

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Perfect for quiet night. No services. Just near the gate to petrified forest.

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paved campground, just for fully self contained RV. Officially, because there were two small cars too. At the other side of the road RV campground with electricity. We were there with 27ft long RV. Quite big place.

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Quiet spot for a night or 2. Location is great for Petrified Forest. No amenities unless you stay on the museum side with power. No water, no dump station, no dumpster for garbage.

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Good sites, inexpensive with electrical. $15 per night, no length of stay limit. Close to highway with traffic but pretty quiet at night. Beside state park entrance. Stayed three nights with 38ft and toad. Lots of room and level. Owner is strict as to what type of vehicle can stay in the electrical area. In appears vans are not permitted in pay side. Units must have a washroom. Free dry camping across the road. We have seen vehicles sent to dry camping that we not self sustaining. We would stay here again.

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Stayed on the Museum side (west) with power. location ok, handy for petrified forest visit. picnic tables. all the sites on this side are back-in

if you want power you need to arrive before location closes because boxes are padlocked with no way to self pay.

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free, but not nice, nobody there, ok for 1 night for visiting the forest

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Found it to be as described by others. Quiet, flat, free.

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FREE, QUIET, And located right at the southern entrance. Minimal Service even with cell booster.

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Stayed here last night and it was quiet and peaceful! The paid sites across the street for electric hook up are $16 and then the other side where we stayed are free. Sites are in a gravel lot and are relatively level. The gate into the national park is 200 yards from the sites. Excellent place to spend the night!!

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Right side is self contained dry camping only, but free! Left side offers electric hookups for $16 a day, must also be self contained. No water, no dump, no bathrooms. Fairly quiet, okay reception for Verizon. Very close to park entrance, but for from town.

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Great for a overnight while on the road.

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Stayed here 2 nights. The first night, the owner just asked if I was fully self-contained, which I am, and left it at that. The second night, after telling a minivan that they couldn’t stay because they weren’t self-contained, she came over to me and told me I also couldn’t stay. When I asked, “why?” she got angry and told me it was private property and then read me the posted sign. When I showed her my toilet to prove that I’m self-contained, she questioned if I use it but eventually left me alone. If you’re in an older model van, expect to be questioned if you’re self-contained. She left the newer model vans alone. The nights were totally quiet, there were 9 campers the first night, 8 the second, and the convenience to the park was worth it.

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I went inside before I parked to check-in. The woman In the store just said park anywhere you like, please no generators and be self contained. Quite a few people pull in after the store is closed and leave before they open. Good place to overnight or drop your rig and explore the Petrified Forest National Park. I Had planned to stay the two nights, but ATT data signal was weak and spotty, so I left the next day.

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Only for RVs and trailers NO VANS, vehicles, or tents

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as described. the spots are very close together and there is a dumpster there. it's right at the entrance to the park, very convenient.

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As described. Manager said 2 nights max. There is a trash dumpster on-site.

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Not the most scenic spot but it’s quiet, free and just outside the national park. We got there after the shops closed so we just found a spot and no one bothered us. You must be self contained and no generator use outside of certain hours. The hours change depending on time of year so check with the store.

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Free! Gonna buy somthing to say thanks but no one bothered us, came in late super quite night next to forest

Follow my buslife insta @capics

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FULLY CONTAINED CAMPERS ONLY
No vans!!!
Could not stay here in my van.

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Such a cute little place by the entrance of the park! Can’t believe it’s free! Good cell reception (Verizon 2-3 LTE bars). Amazing sunrise! Unfortunately made it here past sunset but the sunrise did not disappoint. Very quiet at night although there’s about 6-7 other campers.

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FREE but not quite, but I if you want power (30 amp) you need to pay for it. You can $12.00 per night. You can Other than that it's at the park entrance and it's a parking lot with some trees. I suppose if it was a little cooler you could go without power if you wanted.

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Gift shop parking lot with tables and concrete pads. Owner asked us to use the ones on the west side of the road.no electrical hookups (padlocked)seems safe, pretty isolated and empty on a weekday night

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Museum closed presumably as virus measures but parking OK. Road north south through park closed 7 miles from Southern end for bridge repairs and is posted as being that way for most of the year. Main tree area is south of blockage.

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Perfect spot to pull in for a night (or four, it seems from other reviews). I pulled in late ~12am and there were about 5 or 6 other rigs. Woke up ~7 to only 2. Looks to be space for about 10 smaller, self-contained vehicles. Can’t beat the price tag, though. FREE

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Spent one quiet night here. Good for an early start to go and explore the petrified forest NP.

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Highly recommend for fully contained rigs.

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As described. Perfect place to stay on the south entrance when visiting Petrified Forest NP. Fully contained campers only. No car or tent camping allowed. Very quiet, safe & still free.

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Stayed here last night . As previously stated no issues as peaceful. Great for the park. Some polished petrified stone may well be cheaper in the park. Shop around.

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Both gift shops on either side of the road, at the entrance to the park, offer overnight camping in their parking lots

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Large gravel lot with concrete pads to designate spots. Some areas have picnic tables. Max stay of 4 days, good to place to station if exploring the park. Must have toilet to stay here.

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Came at night, so couldn’t quite see the surroundings well. Only a few RV’s and us and another van lifer. Pulled up to a slab ( picnic area) in lot marked for RV camping. Quiet and near park. Free. Good place.

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Quiet place at the entrance of the Petrified Forest. Électricity valable at 10 dollars a night. Ask and pay in the shop.

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Still free. Just a quiet, safe spot to park for the night.

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As said before, it's a FREE campground, but they said us we must have toilets to stay.

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great free spot to camp. super dark getting in at night.

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As described below. Great free campsite. Very quiet.

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Great access to Petrified Forest National Park. Lots of places to park. Some with picnic tables. Some with shade structures. There are power posts but no power. This is dry camping with level sites and some tables. Quiet at night.

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They told us we need a toilet to stay for the night. Electricity didn’t work. Perfect for the night if you visit the National Park.

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Large parking lot with picnic tables and a separate area for RVs. Bathrooms open until around 6 PM, then closed for the night. Right near the museum and gift shop, just next to the south entrance of Petrified Forest. Electricity available for RVs. Fine for a night and free!

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Not big and pretty but this FREE campground has everything you need for a night. Clean, Tables, quite and right in front of N.P. entrance.

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FREE for 4 nights. Very practical right at the south gate of Petrified Forest NP. That means you can drive back in the morning if you haven't enough time the day before. muséum and hike logs Trails are next of the South Gate.
Restrooms and beers at the gift shop but no other grocery. The two gift shops offer better choice of stones and cheaper than at the one at the north of the park.

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Very Busy, around 12 rigs on here. Very quite. There's a couple of souvenir shops here selling the usual rubbish

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Not so nice campground. Next to the Crystal Forest Campground.

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Am Eingang zum Petrified Forest Nationalpark

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