As I see the weather forecast stating that we are to get dumped with another batch of cold and snow, (Normal for northern illinois!) I started thinking about hitting the road again.

The better half and I have talked about drifting towards Big Timber, Mt and Gallitin National Forest. Most likely, we'll be spending some time in Nicolet Natl Forest in Wisconsin too.

What areas / national forests are you dreaming about visiting this summer?

Trailhiker you'll love the Gallatin NF. One of the best. Meanwhile we are heading to the Ocala NF in Florida and the Ouachita NF in Arkansas. Of course we're not planning on waiting until summer. Anybody have any specific info on either of them?

Click on the National Forests & Campgrounds tab, upper left of this page for information on both forests. One of our favorites is Cedar Lake in the Ouachita with some full hookups . . . Fred

Unfortunately, we'll be sticking close to home this year, & maybe next,& only going to Geo. Washington NF, as after being retired for over 3 years, I've returned to work, wasn't planning to, BUT, as they say in the movies, he made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

Good luck on the work thing . . . Fred

I'm in north Alabama so it will be my usual summer hang out Bankhead NF Houston Rec Area. Hope to go to Talledega NF berore summers end.

Thanks Fred, the end result of this madness, is that when I re-retire, it'll allow us to use the RV more often & longer.

Angeles National Forest for sure, once we make it to Cali. Play it by ear for the rest.

Luanna

Going to Francis Marion (Buck Hall) in South Carolina. Will be my first time to stay there. Will be spending 4 days to a week not sure at this time. May move on to Indian Boundary as I have nevet been there either.

Francis Marion is an exceptional NF campground. It certainly would be in our top 20. If you haven't already, read about it in our Guide - click on one of the icons upper left on this page . . . Fred

Thanks Fred, I have read your report on Francis Marion and that is one of the reasons we chose to stay there. WE plan tovisit the Charleston area for a few days and chose to stay in a NF campground away from Charleston a few miles hoping to be awayfrom the city.

05/02/10 Just returned from trip and found Buck Hall to be a very nice campground. Bugs were a little bad but with screen tent no problem. Left Buck Hall and went to Indian Boundry CG in the Cherokee NF. Also a great campground. I only have one complaint. Indian Boundry CG we did not have reservations and on arrival found they were near full booking for the dates we were going to stay. The host were very helpful and found us a spot that was not booked. Problem: This entrire CG is reservable and was booked however only for the weekend. The CG was at maybe 25% capacity on arrival and even on Saturday the CG did not fill to capacity even though all sites were reserved. Some campers came in on Friday but left after being told the park was fully booked. This is one of the main reasons in MHO no more than 25 to 50 % of the park should be reservable.

Hi everyone Im Sam and Im new on here and thought I'd gather some information from the different posts for my upcoming vacation. Thanks in advance!

I was lucky enough to have planned for an early retirement and at the young age of 53 retired last Dec. 2008. I did take a part-time job as a Security Officer for the Cleveland Cavaliers however. And as soon as they win the NBA Championship in mid-June, I will be taking off for a 3 month tour the USA camping trip. I am a single guy standing 6-3 and 220 pounds in fairly decent shape but have never done any hiking and/or backpacking. Ive done plenty of camping however. I plan on leaving Ohio mid June and after visiting some friends on the way will be in the Yellowstone area by the last week of June. I have started researching all the available National Forests campsites and the in park sites as well. I would like my budget to be in the area of $10-$15 a night for my campsites but thats not set in stone. I understand that there are remote "free" spots in National Forests as well. Anyway, I plan on staying in the Yellowstone area for atleast a month, maybe longer then who knows after that, maybe Glacier?

So would anyone care to offer some tips,advice,must see spots,must do day/night hikes? Anything that you think I would enjoy would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again!

We dont hike or do "remote" camping, but I'd say learn all you can about camping & hiking in Bear country, which most of Yellowstone, Or Glacier is.

Um, lemmeesee: Willamette, Deschutes, Fremont, Siusalaw, and Wallowa NFs at a minimum. All in Oregon. God's country, yuhsee.

Talladega National Forrest is close to home...
The camp ground at Coleman Lake is clean and well maintained.
Great weekend get away.