We stayed at Devils Tower / Black Hills KOA Journey in Devils Tower, Wyoming. (Campground Reviews listing.)
A partial view of Devils Tower, from just outside the monument.
Dates:
- Check in: 2023-08-16
- Check out: 2023-08-19
- 3 nights
Weather:
- Sunny
- High temps ranging between 87-95°F, lows around 56-73°F
- Wind gusts up to 33 MPH gusts
Noise:
- Negligible road noise
- No train noise
- Negligible neighbor noise
Site:
- #38, pull-through, gravel
- Didn’t need to disconnect toad; parked behind coach
- Level front-to-back, a little unlevel side-to-side
- Gravel driveway about 75 feet long by about 10 feet wide
- Grass between sites about 20 feet wide
- No tree on this site, big trees elsewhere
- Picnic table on grass
- Next to the group fire pit
- Partial front view of Devils Tower
Utilities:
- 50 amp power, very conveniently located
- 80 PSI water, conveniently located
- Good sewer connection, inconveniently located (2 10-foot pipes needed)
Internet (in usage priority order):
- T-Mobile: 16 Mbps down,16 Mbps up, 40 ms ping
- Verizon: 13-25 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up, 45 ms ping
- AT&T: 82 Mbps down, 2-6 Mbps up, 120 ms ping
- Campground Wi-Fi: not used
- Starlink: not used
Amenities:
- Garbage dumpsters
- Closed swimming pool
- Mini-golf (free due to closed pool)
- Package delivery to office
- Onsite cafe
- Right outside Devils Tower entrance
Our review on Campground Reviews:
Not all “premium” sites have a good view
The only way to get closer to Devils Tower National Monument would be to stay inside the monument at the rustic first-come-first-serve campground. We booked a premium site online, assuming it would have a view of the tower from our site. Not so much. There were big trees in the way, so we only got a slight peep of the lower edge of the tower. For $100/night (with our KOA discount), I was expecting a front-row seat. From our scouting, the best sites for a good view are 100, 86-89. We were in site 38. Site 37 probably had a better view. The other downside of site 38 was that so many people walked through our site, thinking it was the pathway to the bathhouse. Hint: It’s not. The picnic table and the lack of a pathway are clues, people. The onsite diner was a nice perk, but I’m wary of any place with that many flies in the eating area. We camped at Devils Tower / Black Hills KOA Journey in a Motorhome.
Tip for Other Campers: You could get up early to get to the tower to beat the crowds, but going in the late afternoon/evening is just as good. Definitely go up the dirt road to Joiner Ridge trailhead and get a fantastic view of the tower at sunset lit up with alpenglow.
The campground map:
Interactive map:
Our site, with a partial view of the tower:
A group fire pit was next to our site, which they lit each night, though nobody used it:
Sun setting behind Devils Tower:
Gift store:
Onsite cafe, always a nice option, though it was rather inundated with flies:
They offered “hayrides”, hay not included:
Across the road is the Devils Tower Trading Post:
We went there for dinner another night, and grabbed some questionable hot dogs (that we think gave us some mild food poisoning):
Post office:
Mini golf:
The mini golf was free, as the boot-shaped swimming pool was unavailable:
Carts:
Other sites:
Site 100 would be an excellent choice for a side view of the tower:
Sites 86-89 would have a decent front view, too:
Dog park:
Playground:
Bathrooms:
Cabins:
Lots of tent sites:
Teepees:
A badly angled peek inside a teepee:
Interesting rocks and stream:
Meadow and tower:
