Chapter 2: Roadtrip Campgrounds, Hotels & Some Rookie RV Mistakes
Ouray Riverside Resort RV Campground
Thinking about renting an RV? Let me save you some Googling—we went with Roadsurfer, and it was a great decision.
We rented their Couple Condo model (a Winnebago Travato) and it checked all our boxes:
✔️ Under 22 feet (easy to drive + fits almost anywhere)
✔️ Full bathroom with a shower
✔️ Comfy bed long enough for tall people 🙌
✔️ One-way rentals (we picked up in Vegas, dropped off in Denver)
✔️ Clean, modern design and helpful tutorial videos
Bonus? You can save 11% with my code:
👉 GRATEFUL4LIVINGLIFECOACH11 (valid through 9/21/25!)
🔗 https://link.roadsurfer.com/grateful4living_lifecoach
Now, let’s talk about where we actually slept.
From stunning national parks to riverside campgrounds and a few hotel stays for Wi-Fi and sanity, each stop had its own personality. I did a ton of research before booking anything (hi, I’m Type A), and used a mix of apps to piece it all together:
🔍 My Campground Planning Toolkit:
Roadtrippers – my go-to for planning the route
AllStays – for real reviews and amenity breakdowns
The Roadsurfer Spot App – curated RV-friendly spots
Recreation.gov – for national/state park reservations
Tripadvisor – for bonus reviews and traveler photos
Here’s a full breakdown of every overnight stop, what we loved, what we’d tweak, and what’s nearby in case you’re building a similar route.
🏜️ 1. Valley of Fire State Park – Atlatl Rock Campground (NV)
Type: RV or Tent Sites with Electric & Water
Found via: AllStays + recommendations
Distance from Vegas: 1 hr 35 minutes (80 miles)
Distance to Zion: 2 hrs 15 min (115 miles)
What we loved:
Huge, quiet sites nestled in red rock
Flush toilets, water and electric hookups
The bathrooms and showers were clean - they seemed pretty new. Not sure if there were just renovated?
On the way out of the campground there is an RV dump station
Fire Wave Trail nearby (1.5 miles roundtrip – a must)
Atlatl Rock right outside the campground
📍 Notes: Our first night in the van. Peaceful, remote, and breathtaking. Weak cell service, but we didn’t mind one bit. There was Wi-Fi available for a fee, but we opted out and enjoyed a quiet evening under the stars. We could see them clearly for miles—a magical start to the trip.
🏨 2. Zion Area – Red Cliffs Lodge Zion (Hotel Stay)
Why not camp? My husband had conferences + Wi-Fi needs
Distance from Valley of Fire: 1 1/2 to 2 hours
Originally booked: Zion Canyon Campground & RV Resort – looks amazing, but we had to cancel
What we loved:
Shuttle to Zion right across the street
Spotless rooms + canyon views
Onsite pool, restaurant, laundry, and deer wandering the grounds
Hikes Nearby:Angels Landing (permit required)
Emerald Pools
Canyon Overlook Trail
📍 Notes: This hotel felt like a luxury reset in the middle of RV life. I hiked Angel’s Landing the first day we were there while my husband worked. But in the afternoon, we did a little driving into the park and explored, but later on came back to enjoy the pool at the hotel. The view from the pool lounge chairs were incredible.Highly recommend. Their restaurant had some excellent choices for all three meal times.
🌄 3. Bryce Canyon – Ruby’s Inn RV Park & Campground (UT)
Type: Full Hookups
Distance from Zion: 1 hr 50 min (85 miles)
What we loved:
Full hookups, propane, general store
Shuttle to the park right at the entrance
Clean bathrooms, pool, laundry
Favorite Hike: Navajo Loop + Queens Garden (3 miles of hoodoo heaven)
📍 Notes: We caught the most stunning sunset here. Ruby’s is incredibly convenient, offering everything we needed in one place. The campground was quiet, clean, and the perfect base for exploring Bryce Canyon.
💧 4. Lake Powell – Lake Powell Resort (AZ)
Type: Hotel Stay
Distance from Bryce: 2.5 hrs (150 miles)
Why we stayed here: Warm bed before a long Moab leg
What we loved:
Balcony with lake views
Sunset + sunrise from the same spot
Great dinner at the on-site restaurant
Close to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
📍 Notes: The rooms were a bit dated, but very clean and comfortable. It felt good to take a hot shower, enjoy a meal, and relax before heading into another adventure. Their restaurant has some excellent food, and the views from the restaurant and their pool were truly unforgettable.
🌅 5. Moab – Dead Horse Point Kayenta Campground (UT)
Type: Partial Hookups (Electric only)
Distance from Lake Powell: 5 hrs (275 miles)
What we loved:
Massive sites with privacy
Clean bathrooms (no showers)
Dump station nearby
Epic sunsets
Nearby Parks:
Dead Horse Point State Park (you're in it!)
Canyonlands NP – Island in the Sky (10 min)
Arches NP (40 min)
📍 Notes: Hands-down my favorite campground of the trip. Quiet, scenic, and peaceful. The lack of showers didn’t bother us because everything else was so well maintained. The sunsets here are worth the stay alone.
🏔️ 6. Ouray, CO – Ouray Riverside Resort
Type: Full Hookups + Cabins
Distance from Moab: 3.5 hrs (160 miles)
What we loved:
Stayed one night in a rustic riverside cabin (no bath but cozy bed + electricity)
Cleanest bathrooms/showers of the trip
RV wash station
Sound of the Uncompahgre River outside our window
Nearby: Box Canyon Falls, Million Dollar Highway drive
📍 Notes: This spot was amazing. We loved having the chance to try both a cabin and an RV site. Falling asleep to the river was peaceful, and the facilities were top-notch. The resort also had everything you’d need for a refresh. Walked to the hot springs from here too.
🌲 7. Estes Park – Manor RV Park (CO)
Type: Full Hookups
Distance from Ouray: 6 hrs (300 miles via Crested Butte)
What we loved:
Our site backed up to the Thompson River
Full hookups + picnic table
Laundry and bathrooms nearby
What we didn’t love:Showers lacked privacy (shared bench outside stalls, no space to hang your things inside)
Nearby: Rocky Mountain National Park (Bear Lake, Emerald Lake, Trail Ridge Road)
📍 Notes: This was our longest campground stay—four nights. The location was unbeatable for park access, and we loved spending time with family nearby. Not the fanciest amenities, but the riverfront spot made up for it. We didn’t spend much time at the campground, but the location made it easy to explore RMNP and visit family.
🚗 Bonus Stop – Crested Butte (Hotel Stay)
Why? Most campgrounds were booked. Stayed in a hotel and plan to share full reviews in a future post.
💡 Rookie Mistakes We Made (So You Don’t Have To)
Garage Fail: Our RV was 9.5’ and didn’t fit into The Venetian’s garage (8’9” limit) → had to valet… which costs $$$
Dust Party: We left a window open overnight and woke up to desert inside the van
Lost Our Waste Hose: We didn’t secure the hose exterior storage cover and poof, it flew off. Found a replacement at Ace Hardware.
Late Arrivals = Instant Stress: Trust me, setup is so much smoother in daylight.
🧭 Final Thoughts
This route gave us a beautiful mix of national parks, peaceful nature, cozy hotel stays, and memorable mishaps. Campgrounds and RV parks can make or break your trip—and doing the research paid off big time.
📌 Planning Tips:
Book national park campgrounds early (especially Zion & Rocky Mountain)
Read multiple reviews on AllStays, Roadtrippers, and Tripadvisor
Mix in hotels when you need better Wi-Fi or a reset
Always double-check your vehicle height before entering a garage 🤦♀️
Make time for laundry stops and don’t over-pack your route—slow travel wins
Below are some photos of our adventure.
Affiliate Disclosure:
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to book or purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. I only share what I truly love and use. Your support helps me keep creating helpful travel guides like this one. Thank you!