Where to Camp in April (dry and not-too-cold)

December 31, 2018 3:35 PM

We have a week off work in late April. We would like to go car camping but somewhere warmer and, more importantly, drier than in Western Oregon. Do you have a favorite spot for camping that's not too cold (doesn't get below 50) and dry in April? West coast is the best coast, but maybe it would be fun to try camping in the South so any location suggestion is welcome!
posted by vespabelle to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

I would head down to Joshua Tree and surrounds, or Death Valley. It's a drive, but it would meet your warmth requirement which I think would be hard to meet elsewhere closer.
posted by janell at 3:47 PM on December 31, 2018 [3 favorites]

Anywhere in Southern Utah that isn’t a mountain top - it is lovely in April. Tons of camping options, everything from BLM boondocking to National Parks. SW Utah (hurricane / st George) gets warmer sooner. Capitol Reef and Canyonlands are quieter than Zion and Moab.
posted by chuke at 7:10 PM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

US395 to US 6 to Nevada 264 left at mineral ridge sign, this is a typical nevada county road well maintained , the fish lake valley hot well features vault toilets & free camping , snow-capped Boundary Peak is the sunset backdrop , if your car is reasonably sturdy continue on this road to the lithium boom town of Silver Peak Nevada , and on to Alkali where wild horses take the waters in the early evenings, continue on to US 95 to Beatty and Death Valley via Nevada 374 see Rhyolite! Furnace Creek , Badwater Rd to SR 178 Shoshone Ca lots to see and do that time of year .
posted by hortense at 9:03 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Not sure if you only want options that are within driving distance, but Cumberland Island in Georgia is amazing. No cars (you take a ferry in so it's not strictly car camping but there are wagons to carry your stuff in and ice and firewood are available), wild horses, spanish moss everywhere, beaches, pods of dolphins, old plantation ruins. Very cool and different from anywhere I've ever camped.
posted by geegollygosh at 9:24 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Was gonna say Utah - Bryce, Zion. Perfect time of year to go! Also, a very affordable destination for things like eating out.
posted by Miko at 7:08 AM on January 1, 2019