Gateway to the Petrified Forest RV Resort

Easy access, good WiFi and T-Mobile signal, lumpy site for a tent, sounds from I-40 and who knew cows moo all night??

Bill thanks for your hospitality when I arrived. I'm writing this review while using your excellent WiFi. This park is simple and nice. I would say a resort compared to the free camping at the Petrified Forest gift shop camping. I was in a tent and for 20 dollars for a place to set up get a hot shower and a bathroom I was very happy. There is newly spread gravel and it's a bit lumpy so if you are in a tent like me I would say a cot is a must have. I guess an alternative would be to have a shovel and smooth the dirt where you plan to be.

Glad I chose this spot and would definitely camp here again!

The park is in transition and the improvements are obvious. The sites are gravel and level. Hook ups are all new. Sites are the widest we’ve ever seen. Love that! Full hookups at the sites. No frills but we would stay here again. Read a review about the water. Anywhere you stay in the desert has horrible water. It’s not the owners fault. The camp host was very friendly and accommodating.

Water Update: Arrived at our next campground and before hooking up to park water, I decided to check on my ClearSource water filters, absolutely disgusting, these filters are only 4 days old! They will need replacing at a cost of $50. The contents of the canisters were so bad I had to drain the hot water heater and low point drains, then flush the whole rig. Thanks to this RV Park, sorry, cough, Resort. 91 campgrounds last year, never ever seen my filters so bad.
High Plains RV Park is now called Gateway to the Petrified Forest RV Resort .
So, the Pros: Easy in the from the highway, wide but short pull throughs (our truck and TT are 56ft total length) and as we were staying for 2 nights we had planned to unhitch, so no problem. For an overnight unhitched transit stop, not so good. Starlink had a clear sky view. Easy drive to PFNP.
Now, the Cons, where to start:
#1 The water, even after passing through our ClearSource Dual Canister filtration system, is salty as hell, completely undrinkable. After a long day towing, had to drive 20-mile round trip to Safeway in Holbrook to get enough drinking water for our stay.
#2 Sewer, no threaded connector (for a recently renovated park - I mean who does that!), had to get a hammer out to remove the sewer cap (which is also 10” above ground) and when I did the smell made me gag! No convenient stones to hold the elbow in place but I made do.
#3 Dog park? Nope, take them to the desert and don’t bother picking up.
#4 Dog walk? Nope, just wander around the old crushed I40 gravel campground breathing in the pungent smell of ‘Warm Crushed Bitumen in the Morning!’.
#5 Want to sleep past 7am? Nope, ancient backhoe belching diesel fumes out working and moving the derelict RVs that are everywhere.
I get that this is, as the owner states on their website and on Google reviews, this campground is a ‘work in progress’. But please, don’t charge me resort prices until you actually have a resort. We are full timers and I take the time to write reviews on almost every place we stay, but it’s been a long time since we stayed at a resort which such terrible water.

Gateway to The Petrified Forest RV is the new name of the park. New owner(s) just beginning renovations. No "permanent" residents. A few constuction types staying long term but in nice rigs. On site manager helpful.

Sites are full hook up, electrical recently updated. 20/30/50 amp. No cable or restroom. Good for visiting the Petrified Forest.

Clear access with our Starlink.