Denver to DC: Camping and attractions along the way?
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Arnezie
New member
Got to stop at the natural bridge in Kentucky. right off the parkway 30 min east of Lexington :humble:
http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/Natural-Bridge/default.aspx
http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/Natural-Bridge/default.aspx
shootmymime
New member
look up oaklahoma joes in kansas city, its a bbq joint thats taken over an old gas station. just google it and look into it. if it fits into your scheduled i would defiantly go there for lunch or dinner. i know your driving but expect about a 10-20 min wait in line, depends on time of day and weekends.
Amazing bbq for a city thats know for their bbq and fountains.
Amazing bbq for a city thats know for their bbq and fountains.
Frontier719
New member
Cool thanks for the replies. As of right now, I think I will drive straight through Kansas and make my first stop in Missouri. Anyone have some camping recommendations between Kansas City and St Louis?
shootmymime
New member
not much camping there. mostly hotels. more camping areas are further away from the highways.
what type of camping are you talking about? trailer? tent? rear of truck?
Columbia, Mo is half way between kc and st louis. its a good size collage town of missouri univ.
Dutch-Runner '99
Member
Made that trip myself.... but went up through Ohio instead of West VA. Only did hotels and the sort on the way though; Kansas is a bear of a state :redbrick:
Any-who.... about an hour north/west from D.C. is a cool camping spot with some waterfalls. Cunningham Falls State Park
Any-who.... about an hour north/west from D.C. is a cool camping spot with some waterfalls. Cunningham Falls State Park
habanero
Senior Member
We usually end up camping at Wilson State Park in Kansas (2nd exit...206 I think?) on our way back to MO. Crowded but there's showers and Russell's for too much food in the morning.
If you've got bikes the Berryman trail about an hour and a half out of your way (down hwy 44 then south of Bourbon) is cool and there's free camping there with a vault toilet.
Babler State park has okay pay camping and not terrible far from hwy 40
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park | Missouri State Parks
You'll prolly want camping to happen a lot closer to Kansas City than St. Louis- that's a whole lot of hours of driving.
Graham Cave State Park
http://mostateparks.com/campgrounds/graham-cave-state-park
Maybe Finger Lakes?
Anyway...
http://mostateparks.com/page/57960/camping-directory
St. Louis- Imo's pizza and toasted ravioli. Grant's Farm (2 free beers, parking can be had for free at Whitecliff park if you don't mind a couple miles round trip walk- or $12 for their lot), Busch brewery though the free tour there is lame now, Gateway Arch (free 'cept for riding in the eggs up to the top) though construction could be not so fun to deal with. Magic House if you're dragging kids along.
The St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center and the History Museum is free admittance with either free or pay parking options and all right off hwy 40 in Forest Park. That's prolly the best stop for things to do.
Lucky you, hwy 40 and hwy 70 will both get you across the river without too much pain- major construction as they cover the depressed section near the Arch will cause pretty big back-ups during evening rush especially. You'll also hit construction on 40 near the Missouri river but it shouldn't be too bad either- especially if you can avoid the morning rush.
If you've got bikes the Berryman trail about an hour and a half out of your way (down hwy 44 then south of Bourbon) is cool and there's free camping there with a vault toilet.
Babler State park has okay pay camping and not terrible far from hwy 40
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park | Missouri State Parks
You'll prolly want camping to happen a lot closer to Kansas City than St. Louis- that's a whole lot of hours of driving.
Graham Cave State Park
http://mostateparks.com/campgrounds/graham-cave-state-park
Maybe Finger Lakes?
Anyway...
http://mostateparks.com/page/57960/camping-directory
St. Louis- Imo's pizza and toasted ravioli. Grant's Farm (2 free beers, parking can be had for free at Whitecliff park if you don't mind a couple miles round trip walk- or $12 for their lot), Busch brewery though the free tour there is lame now, Gateway Arch (free 'cept for riding in the eggs up to the top) though construction could be not so fun to deal with. Magic House if you're dragging kids along.
The St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center and the History Museum is free admittance with either free or pay parking options and all right off hwy 40 in Forest Park. That's prolly the best stop for things to do.
Lucky you, hwy 40 and hwy 70 will both get you across the river without too much pain- major construction as they cover the depressed section near the Arch will cause pretty big back-ups during evening rush especially. You'll also hit construction on 40 near the Missouri river but it shouldn't be too bad either- especially if you can avoid the morning rush.
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Millerad1651
New member
If you go through Indiana (not highlighted on your map) you can stop at Redbird SRA, Badlands ORP, or at Brown County State Park. BCSP is an awesome place to camp, and there are all kinds of hiking/MTB trails too. If you want to go a little further west, near Cincinnati there is Lawrenceburg. They have campgrounds and casinos too.
Frontier719
New member
Cool lots of great tips. I go to college in DC so no kids traveling with me (had a couple close calls though 
).
I'll be camping either with a tarp or in the truck so it doesn't have to have amenities.
Thanks again all!
). I'll be camping either with a tarp or in the truck so it doesn't have to have amenities.
Thanks again all!
01KY4R
New member
My wife and I just got back from a camping trip near Mammoth Cave, KY. We did a 4hr cave tour in the Lost River Cave in Horse Cave, KY, then a 3.5hr canoe trip down the Green River, and finished off in Bowling Green, KY to see the sink hole in the Corvette Museum... All in all it was a great weekend trip but we did bring along our popup camper for creature comforts. Everything should be near your route.
Dutch-Runner '99
Member
Cool lots of great tips. I go to college in DC so no kids traveling with me (had a couple close calls though
I'll be camping either with a tarp or in the truck so it doesn't have to have amenities.
Thanks again all!
Also, another 3+/- hrs East there is a place called Ocean City, MD. Alot of people from that area go there for the weekends. Its a pretty awesome place to hang on the beach :thumb3:
