Wyoming/Montana ideas

We're in Green River, WY (right off of I-80), about 20 minutes from Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Flaming Gorge stretches about 60 miles along 435. At Flaming Gorge there are lots of areas to boondock right on the water, if that's what you'd like. They have dump stations in the area. They also have a couple of park service campgrounds. One that is really nice is called Lucerne. It has hook-ups, each site has wind guards (that tells you something), is right on the Gorge, and there is a really nice little cove called Swimming Beach with a fairly large, rough sandy beach that the kids would love (burrr). That one is very close to Manila, UT (10 minutes) right on the WY/UT border. Beyond Manila are the Uinta Mountains. If you take 191 (that leads to Vernal) you will have access to some of the most beautiful campgrounds you can imagine all along the way. Our favorite area to boondock is on the Deep Creek turn-off. It's right off of 191, and you can go back as far as you like. There are large, grassy areas with NO people, and it's within 5 to 10 minutes drive from the main road and with more stars than you can imagine in the night sky!!! We never camp as far as the Deep Creek Campground because it's pretty far in, and the roads are rough, curvy and narrow - slow going but very beautiful. There is a wonderful lodge called Red Canyon Lodge just 10 miles from Deep Creek turn-off on 191. They have great food, a small lake where you can rent paddle boats or fish, outdoor dining and lots of humming birds. Wonderful setting. For that matter, there is a forest service campground there called Greens Lake. Both Red Canyon Lodge and Deep Creek are in Utah but only about an hour from Flaming Gorge. Red Canyon Overlook is a must-see. If you were to stay at Lucerne, which is still in Wyoming, you're right on the Gorge and only about a fifteen minute drive to the Uintas. Lots of hiking, swimming, whatever you want. Sorry this is so long, but we LOVE this whole area for camping. I won't even go into all of the great places in the Wind River Range (Louie Lake, to name just one - and near a ghost town - South Pass)!!!   

Thanks, guys!  Great food for thought.  I'll confer with the crew. We visited South Pass a few years ago - cool history.  We're conducting research for future retirement property (more than a decade away) and are scoping out all corners of Wyoming and northern Nevada (really near Tahoe). Want to find a corner of the world with outdoor activities and less people:)

I live in SW Montana Gold Country.  There is ample Federal/State lands to camp on without any hookups.  Several KOA, etc.  If you are a history nut, try some of the Lewis and Clark Trail routes, they are signed and there are several good spots to check out.  Pompeys Pillar out of Billings is one of them that is incredible with an awesome intepretive site.  I live in Butte, MT and am partial to the Big Hole area, it's a great river for floating, fly fishing, etc,  and there are several campgrounds on the river, however, you won't have any hook ups and water isn't available at all of them.  I didn't catch when you plan to travel, but it's May 9th, and we're still getting snow!!!!  Gotta love spring in Montana!

Yep, we have REAL gold in our hills, lots of recreational panners in the rivers!!!!

My wife is a retired 8th grade history teacher and when our kids were small we went camping at some of the most out of the way places to check out the history. I will never forget the time we went to a small historical site and entered the "museum." We almost gave the Ranger a heart attack. He asked "where did you come from." Almost no one comes here. We dragged our kids to many historical sites over the years. Our most memorable visit was to Gettysburg. Fantastic. Safe Travels.