Bartow Gatewood Park Campground

This is a beautiful campground with many sites having a lake view even if they aren’t on the water. It has lots of activities and would be a favorite if it weren’t for 2 things. First, part of my site, the part I needed to back my Explorer for hitching, was on a fairly steep incline. I’m new to the RV life and by myself so it takes some finagling and getting in and out of my car to hitch up. Having to back up an incline makes that a lot more difficult. Second, the roads are terrible. They’re extremely bumpy and narrow (most are 2 way, but not actually wide enough for 2 vehicles) with lots of curves, some of which are on an incline. Near the entrance there are a number of speed bumps, which I don’t appreciate when hauling a travel trailer. It’s also a bit confusing finding your way. Like most park campgrounds there are few signs, but this one has the added confusion of having 2 areas with duplicate numbers. But if you can manage the roads, it is a beautiful place to camp.

When you get there, you have to check in and there’s LOTS of gnarly speed bumps so be careful. Stayed a weekend because you have to get two. Very quiet overall, had the whole primitive side to ourselves. But when you got to shower, be disappointed because majority of them don’t work well, and the water isn’t as warm. Love the campground though!

After we couldn’t find another campground, we located this one. What a surprise. After we turned around to be able to back into the site, the pad was concrete and level and there was a lake view from the campsite. Picnic tables are concrete and immovable but overall the site was nice. Reservations are probably needed in summer. I wouldn’t bring a particularly long rig, tight roads and corners.

A bit dirty when we arrived but after cleaning trash out of our site enjoyed our stay. Some of the sites are close together but we stayed in #25 and had plenty of space between us and the neighbors. There is a beach which we thought was closed since it was surrounded by a locked chain link fence but was told later it was open and to walk around. Instead we took a quick swim right at our site. (Some are steeper than others)

I didn't visit the bath house but my husband said it could use a little attention.

Staff was nice. View of dam was pretty cool. We were there on a summer weekend so the lake was busy with boats and jet skis but it was very quiet at night.

There isn't much signage when you pull in, no arrows and road though very narrow seems to be 2-way. We ended up going in the wrong direction and had to turn around to be able to back in to our site. Luckily we are small!

We quite liked it here. We were there late March so still a little chilly with some rain but the upside of that was that it was very quiet. When the sun came out it was incredible. The sites are are in great shape, looks like they upgraded the electric/water recently. Most are back-ins but lots of room for even hacks like me to get backed in okay.

Chris the Park Manager was amazingly helpful, even brought an air compressor over when I found I had a slow leak in one of the trailer tires.

Overall it was a great place to stay while I went down the freeway each day to shoot photography at Old Car City, which is also a must see. Would definitely stay here again.