Check-Ins

Parking lot with dump station and water faucet. No sign if potable or not but should be potable

Dump station and fresh water. You can stay here at the parking lot for a night.

"Fancy" campsite with bar, restaurant and swimming pool on site. Nice spots around the pool (with its own electricity), for tents we had to go behind the bar in the little forest (no electricity on site). Bar music was playing until 22.30 but not too loud.
Many clean bathrooms and showers. Cooking area with electricty, laundry for 3,50€ plus 0,50€ detergent. Payed 30€ for 4 people and 2 tents

This is the coolest pull off for sunset!
The area has enough space for a couple vans to back in and open up to an incredible view. Last nights skies were clear and we were fortunate to have this space to ourselves. We stayed overnight with no problems whatsoever. Woke up to a cozy drizzly coastal morning.
Great cell service (Verizon and metro at least). We were able to use our hotspot to stream TV easier than most places.
The traffic going by at night was very minimal. There is a cattle crossing grate that makes some noise as cars drive over but it’s not that disruptive at all, and actually makes me feel more safe knowing when folks are driving by.
Please be sure to keep this spot cleaner than how you arrived, we don’t want all these beautiful turnouts to become “no” zones.

All campgrounds within Custer SP require a reservation, but this one is same day only. Meaning, you can't reserve in advance so if you show up that day you're likely to get a spot. Vault toilets, no hookups. There's a dump station within Custer SP. No cell service at this campground for att or Verizon or TMobile. We paid $27 incl reservation fee and tax for a site.

Just okay - sites are small and very dark. There are a few larger sites at the beginning of the road if you can grab one, otherwise the rest would mostly fit one small car with little room for hanging out.

Big Rigs welcome.
Very calm last night may be because of the rain.
Saw some vandalism: picnic table upside down, damaged donation box

Alberto and his wife Carmen have a beautiful finca here where they live when they are not in their other home in New Jersey.

They welcomed us warmly and invited us to stay in their generous driveway as long as we wanted, to use their restroom and shower and to wash and dry our laundry.
We also spent a lot of time together sitting around the table, talking and eating.
For all of that they did not want anything in return but we at least managed to share some self-made bread and German sweets.

Alberto and Carmen are in the process of building a campground and cabañas on their property so this place promises to become a fully equipped overnight spot soon. In the meantime they already like to meet and accommodate other overlanders and collect ideas for this ongoing project.

We highly recommend this place either for a quiet comfortable night or for a few days making awesome new friends.

IMPORTANT: Before you go, call/WhatsApp/text Alberto (+1 973 517 0237) to check if they are currently in Costa Rica or the US.
They speak Spanish, English and a little French.

Entrance fee now $20 but a worthwhile stop. 1 mile loop trail on rim; 1/4 mile trail down into crater. spectacular views.

We are in side lot of the garden center and there are a few others. 5g TMobile. Not super quiet but nothing ear plugs won't s solve. good for an overnight.

Water still runs. Camping is possible but inclined.

Beautiful ancient dwellings in the mountain rocks. The place is freely accessible (late September), with no one checking. Be respectful and leave no trash

Tons of spots off of the road. Road is great for most any vehicle until the top portion where big ruts might stop you.
Quiet clean and cut grass everywhere from all the grazing cows. Beautiful

Great little oasis right on the river. "Primitive camping" which in this specific park means no generators, no music, or anything that would cause disturbance(all according to rules and regs for this park). Fantastic spot though, 1 or 2 bars on Verizon but decent download speeds

Continua tranquilo, ótimo para dormir. Ao chegarmos no local encontramos um casal de viajantes numa kombi muito legal, eles estavam aqui há uns 20 dias. Isso denota segurança e tranquilidade.

Gorgeous 360 views! It's 1827 on a Sunday and there are no other cars here. It is a gravel road, then you turn left onto a dirt path that is slanted, but doable. Luckily a short distance. We have a Toyota 4Runner with regular tires. Just go slow.

Complete exposure, so come during sundown. Definitely recommend!

I forgot to mention that it IS windy. Big rigs are a "no go". Also have 5 bars and mobile data with Cricket service.

As described. Quite busy with local traffic of cars in and out all night, even after sunset. But other then that no issues to report.

Very nice campsite, clean ablutions. We stayed 2 nights, did some walks and drives, saw zebras, oryx, ostriches, kudu.
We paid 365 R for the campsite per night + 1% community fee.
Huge swimming pool at the end of bungalows, 20 min walk from campsites

If you do bit more uphill, you will reach a wonderful place. The road is not perfect, but if old Lada or old Vespa can get it, I’m sure you are able too :)
No noise at all. It can be windy

Only one condition:
BUT IF you come here, please pick up some trash you see around, make your effort for a better world :) deal? :D

Fantastic free and legal spot for one night. We were 3 campers.

There’s now a no camping sign. Shame, because it’s a beautiful spot. We were hoping to spend the night, but are happy we stopped anyway.

Beautiful spot on the lake, but much louder than we prefer right next to the highway and train. Tenting spots if you walk west 100m or so on the water

I’m back! And it’s true… all gold! The road was still no big deal for my Promaster.

Smithbrook trailhead was extremely congested since it was the weekend and beautiful out, so we had to park a mile south of it. Came back to the car post hike around sunset and hoped to find a spot further up FS 6700. Found this perfect spot with around 4 pretty established tent sites (could easily park multiple rigs as well) and realized the next day across the road there were even more dispersed sites on a flatter mulch/dirt surface. Surprisingly had full bars for verizon but friend with t-mobile had spotty reception.

Secluded and quiet, believe only 1 car passed the road throughout the night, and was able to see the entire milky way for a while too. Lots of huckleberries nearby to munch on -- just please remember to leave no trace (picked up used masks, wrappers, and even some glass) this place is beautiful let's leave it that way.

Wild camping.
Large area with over a dozen fire rings and enough room for pretty large campers in a few spots and room for vans/tents all over.
No amenities but can't beat the price 🤙
Across the street is a McKenzie river trail head and you can walk or bike the trail down to clear lake. Super beautiful clear blueish water but super cold.
Verizon service was basically Nonexistent

Son las playas del río Guejar. Advertencia: tener en cuenta que es un río y pueden haber crecientes, buscar el camino para dejar el camper y camping en una parte más alta, lugar seguro y tranquilo, pasamos cinco noches.

Very quiet night at the entrance of the ruins. The ruines close at 3pm.

Short term parking in Metepec. Belongs to a car wash service.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 8am to 6pm
Sunday: 8am to 1pm
(This are the service hours of the car wash. Maybe the parking closes later.)
20 pesos per day
Toilet available

The owner is very friendly. Maybe she let you sleep here. Seems to be much nicer and cheaper than the walmart parking lot in Zincantepec.