Spur Of Moment Trip

For those in the Dakotas & Minnesota, you know what a long winter it’s been! We have cabin fever and are heading south next week, on a spur of the moment trip. We live in eastern SD and hope to make it to the Gulf. Our route, itinerary and time frame is open. Any campground suggestions would be welcome. We prefer state and National Al parks but are open to others as well. I suspect reservations might be hard to come by as this is spur of the moment - so any apps you’ve found useful would be welcome too!

 

Brown county is an hour from me! If you find yourself in the area, we need to meet up

Brown County State Park is an amazing park that is located next to an artist colony (Nashville, Indiana) that has some great little shops worthy of an afternoon.

For natural beauty, I'd also suggest Turkey Run State park or Clifty Falls.

Turkey Run has one of the best hiking trails in the state, going through various valleys and ravines located on the western part of the state. Clifty Falls is closer to Louisville and is less difficult but equally beautiful. This time of year is not optimal from a weather perspective, but May is.

If you're into urban exploration and know who "The Proper People" of youtube fame --- there's an abandoned amusement park from the early 1900's on "Rose Island" which is at Charelstown state park. Its very 'spooky' to walk through seeing the nearly silent echo's from the past. A little difficult to get too, but worth the time if you're in the area.

This is a short distance from a fossil bed at "The Falls of Ohio state park"

 

Uff da, in the Dakotas ya sure u betcha!

Fwiw; I've found some neat places using I-Overlander. My trips have been sorta ad hoc vs "all planned out reserved in advance" so often the best places are booked...
but if you look off the beaten path there may be places worth seeing/sleeping enroute...to your preference...

There's a really cool sleepy little campground on top of caverns in TX,
just off the interstate but far enough back to be sort of a secret local place...

Lemme see if I can find a link...ah,
Here it is...
Welcome to the Caverns of Sonora :: Caverns of Sonora

 

Couple more really nice state parks in TX, so well managed and a couple more in LA, that you'll find in various camping apps or guides...
if you stray that way for the fishin' and eatin' - OMG TX bbq and cajun cooking!

But if you're a skandy who has never been- or its been a lonnggg while and forgot...
DERP! I blame the beverage, or was it the herbal medicine?
Just keep an eye out for those %#$&!!! Fire Ants...

Dont be me, wandering out into the tall grass at night in flip flops tryna take pictures of the lightning bugs...in childlike wonder...
without a careful scout first in the day...

 

Franklins in Austin Texas is legendary.