Name: Kamping with Kona
Address: US

Kamping with Kona

A journey across America in a home on wheels. Follow a full-time RVer and his loyal dog as they explore fishing spots, campgrounds, and hidden outdoor treasures across the United States. From remote riverside camps to bustling lakeside parks, each stop is reviewed for fishing quality, amenities, and dog-friendliness. Packed with firsthand stories, tips, and stunning photography, this blog is your guide to discovering the best places to fish, camp, and travel with your furry companion.

Paws on the road, Lines in the water

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We visited Crater Lake National Park in mid July and parts of the park were still closed. The eastern section of Rim Drive hadn’t opened yet and was still buried under 72 feet of snow.
Even with the closures, we were able to drive the open portions of Rim Drive and stop at several viewpoints. The lake views were incredible and there was still a lot of snow around the rim.
If you’re planning an early or mid-summer visit, definitely check road conditions ahead of time. Follow for more adventures or check out our new website kampingwithkona.com #craterlakenationalpark #kampingwithkona #explorewithleisure #rvadventures

Mesa Verde National Park - The main road winds up through the park up the Mesa Verde Plateau to the cliff dwellings. Built over 700 years ago, some of the dwellings are 4 stories tall. There are plenty of scenic pull outs along the way and I had no problem finding parking spots. Flow for more adventures. #explorewithleisure #lifeontheroad #rvadventures #kampingwithkona #mesaverdenationalpark

After 3 days of delays, we finally got to see the space ex rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center. The launch was on pad 40 so the best viewing was right from the campground. The launch was delayed 3 times today and was originally scheduled for 1:05pm and didn’t take off till 4:41pm.. Follow for more adventures. #rocketlaunch #rvadventures #explorewithleisure #manateehammockcampground

We went to the space coast to catch a rocket launch.. We revisited our favorite spot in the area - Manatee Hammock RV park. It’s run by Brevard Country Parks and Recreation. The park is directly across the water from the Kennedy space complex. It’s the perfect place to visit the complex or watch a rocket launch. It has well spaced out full hook up sites, plenty of space to walk Kona, a long fishing pier and a huge dog park on the water. Follow us for more adventures. #manateehammockcampground #rvdogslife #fulltimerv #kampingwithkona

We are back on the road exploring Florida. We spent a few days at Tomoka State Park in Ormond Beach, Florida. The large park is right on the Tomoka River. There is a large day use area and pavilions and a campground area with full hook up sites. There is a boat launch and a store where you can rent kayaks and canoes. There were plenty of trails to take Kona walking and few places for her to go swimming. It’s very quiet and a little off the beaten path. We enjoyed a few days here and next stop is the space coast. Follow us for more adventures. #tomokastatepark #kampingwithkona #explorewithunity #rvlifewithdogs

Kona’s favorites campgrounds 2025. All the campgrounds were pet friendly, and had plenty of opportunities for walking and swimming for Kona, and/or fishing for me🎣. A hot springs in the middle of the desert also made the list. Check out our new website for in-depth reviews and an interactive map of places we have been kampingwithkona.com. Follow us for more adventures.#rvdogadventures #explorewithleisure #rvwithdogs #kampingwithkona

In 2025 we visited 23 national parks.. This is our top 10 we enjoyed the most. Follow us for more adventures and check out our new website kampingwithkona.com for detailed reviews and more pictures. #bestof2025 #explorewithleisure #nationalparks #rvadventures

In 2025 we were lucky enough to see a great variety on our trip from the Florida keys to the Pacific Northwest . Follow us for more adventures and check out our new website kampingwithkona.com for more pictures and reviews. #kampingwithkona#rvadventures #explorewithleisure #exploreamerica

In 2025 we traveled from the Florida Keys to Hawaii fishing. It was hard to narrow down the top ten. Follow for more adventures and check out our new website for more in depth reviews and stories - kampingwithkona.com #fishingamerica #favoritefishingusa #rvfishingadventures #rvliving

Our top 10 boondocking spots for 2025 were hard to narrow down. We spent most of the year on the west coast. Follow for more adventures and check out our new website for more in-depth reviews - kampingwithkona.com #boondockingadventures #explorewithunity #leisuretravelvan #rvadventures #rvlife

Enjoying a white Christmas in Vermont #christmasinvermont #boykinspaniel #boykinspaniellovers

We went back up to Vermont and the white barn farm for Christmas. It snowed last night and Kona enjoyed her morning walk…enjoying a White Christmas in Vermont …follow for more adventures and check out our new website kampingwithkona.com #boykinspaniels #whitechristmas #whitebarnfarmvermont

I was walking along the harbor on my last night in Newport and stopped into the Newport Marina Store. I was traveling up the coast the next day, and they happened to have one spot left on a shared half-day salmon and crabbing charter. I didn’t have far to go, so I decided to spend some time on the water.

We got an early start and headed out to troll for salmon. On the way out, we dropped a crab pot. Only tagged salmon could be kept, and the wild ones were biting, making for a fun catch-and-release morning. We did land a couple of keepers.

On the way back in, we pulled the pot we had dropped earlier. It was full of crabs. The seas were calm, the weather was perfect, and it turned into a great day on the water. Visit our new website kampingwithkona.com and follow us for more adventures. #yaquinabaycharters #explorewithunity #oregonfishing #rvfishingadventures

One of Kona’s favorite spots in Oregon is Miller Bar Campground near Brookings. The access road is steep and narrow on the way down, but it opens up to a long river bar made of smooth river rock that’s drivable near the forest line. There was with plenty of room for multiple campers. We stayed for six days and set up near the bend on the east end of the bar, which turned out to be the perfect spot—great for Kona to swim and just steps from a couple of nice fishing holes.

The Chetco River is well known for its fall salmon runs and winter steelhead runs. There wasn’t a lot of action in June but I did manage to catch a couple of cutthroat trout. The river is also popular with paddleboarders and kayakers, adding to the relaxed river atmosphere. Check out our new website kampingwithkona.com and follow us for more adventures. #explorewithunity#oregonexplored #chetcoriver#rvlifewithdogs #fulltimefishing

Exploring the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park in August was unforgettable. We stayed at the Hoh Rainforest Campground, conveniently located near the welcome center. The campground offers primitive camping with well-spaced sites and easy access to trails along the Hoh River, as well as several hikes right from the visitor area. The Hall of Mosses Trail is an absolute must—lush, quiet, and otherworldly.

My favorite stop was on the drive in along Hoh Valley Road. We stopped at Salmon Cascades and watched salmon battling their way upstream. A short walk leads to overlooks above the cascades, where you can witness their relentless determination as they fight the current to continue their journey. Follow us for more adventures or check out our new website kampingwithkona.com#hohrainforest#olympicnationalpark#rvlifewithdogs #rvling#explorewithunity

While making our way up the Oregon Coast this summer, we spent a few days at Chinook Bend RV Resort in Lincoln City, Oregon. The resort is a mix of full-time and nightly RV sites and is perfectly situated right along the Siletz River—truly a fisherman’s paradise.

Chinook Bend features three separate docks, each over 100 feet long, a boat launch, and miles of ATV and hiking trails. Many of the full-time residents keep their boats at the resort, and things get especially busy during the salmon runs. I was lucky enough to snag a riverfront site and couldn’t help but feel a little jealous watching boats cruise by and reel in fish right in front of me.

The resort also offers cabin rentals and tent sites, along with boat rentals and a tackle shop located right at the office. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to share local tips. You can fish and crab directly from the docks—I rented a boat and tried my luck, but came up empty-handed. That said, I did watch one angler land a beautiful salmon from the dock near the boat launch.

Kona loved the stay just as much as I did, especially swimming near the boat launch and exploring the many nearby trails. Lincoln City is only a short drive away, making it easy to grab gas and groceries when needed.

I didn’t venture far during our stay because everything I needed for a few relaxing days of fishing was right there. With plenty of dock space for personal boats and extra parking for trailers, Chinook Bend is absolutely worth the stop—especially if you’re lucky enough to secure a site during peak fishing season. 🎣 check out our website kampingwithkona.com for more in depth reviews and follow us for more adventures. #chinookbendrvresort #oregonfishingadventure #rvfishingadventures #rvlifewithdogs #rvdogslife

We spend much of the summer traveling through Oregon and Washington, and during this trip we spent a few days camping at Bullards Beach State Park in Bandon, Oregon. It’s a great home base for exploring the area, with full hookup sites and a beach right inside the park. From there, we headed north up the coast and stopped at Sea Lion Caves—the largest sea cave in the country. We took an elevator down to the viewing areas overlooking hundreds of sea lions resting in the rocks. Our next stop was Thor’s Well, where we were lucky enough to spot whales right off the coast. After a full day of travel and exploring, Kona enjoyed some play time back at the campground.#bullardbeachstatepark #oregoncoast #rvlifeadventures

My favorite hidden gem in the Jacksonville area is Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. Run by the City of Jacksonville, the park has an easy-to-use website for booking campsites. It features four miles of private beach access, a large pond, miles of hiking and biking trails, numerous pavilions and picnic areas, and a very large campground.

The campground includes a store with propane refills, tent sites, full-hookup RV sites, and cabin rentals. Campsites are well spaced out, with a variety of site sizes to accommodate everything from small rigs to large RVs. There are laundry facilities and bathhouses throughout the campground, camp hosts spread across the park, and more than 300 total sites. The park also offers plenty of family-friendly activities, multiple playgrounds for kids, and separate day-use areas away from the campground.#hannaparkcampground #jacksonvillebeach

Stepping back in time at Mesa Verde National Park. As we drove through the park, our first stop brought views of Ute Mountain, followed by ancient Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings built more than 700 years ago. Set along Navajo Canyon, additional dwellings appear carved into the cliffs, including Balcony House, offering a closer look at how people once lived here. Near the top of the park at Sunset Viewpoint, the route ends with sweeping views of the La Plata Mountains glowing in the distance. Follow us for more adventures. #mesaverdenationalpark #rvtravel

In early May we explored Death Valley National Park. With no electric hookup sites available inside the park, we stayed at Lake Olancha RV Resort in Olancha, CA—and it turned out to be a great choice. Just outside the park and closer to the mountains, the temperatures were much more manageable. They even had a small pond where Kona could cool off and swim.

We drove into the park along Route 190, taking in the incredible views as the mountains opened into the valley. Our first stop was Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. By the time we reached the visitor center, it was already 103° by 10 a.m. 😅

Kona didn’t get much walking in the park, but she was more than happy to end each day cooling off in the pond. 🌵🐾

If you want it shorter, more dog-focused, or more viral-style, say the word. #deathvalleynps #explorewithunity #lifeontheroad

In 2025 we traveled out to the west coast and I went out to Hawaii to visit a total of 26 parks !!! Check out our new website kampingwithkona.com and follow us for recaps of all our adventures. #explorewithunity#nationalparks #kampingwithkona

We made it back to Hilton Head this week. We brought the Vermont weather with us, our first night we had frost. I’m staying at my new favorite park in the area, Savannah Lakes RV Resort. It’s perfectly located about halfway between Savannah and Hilton Head, and close to Bluffton, making it an ideal base for exploring the whole region.

Right off I-95, the resort is easy to find and packed with amenities. It’s extremely dog-friendly—they even have a dog wash that Kona enjoyed. There’s a pool, splash park, pickleball courts, a business center, billiards, shuffleboard, and a card room. They also host plenty of family activities; I was here around Halloween and they even held a pumpkin-carving night for the kids.

Gas stations and shopping are close, and every site has full hookups with a concrete pad. With different pad sizes, they can accommodate any rig. Overall, it’s a welcoming, dog-friendly community and an awesome home base for exploring Hilton Head, Savannah, and everything in between. #savannahlakesrvresort#rvlifewithdogs #explorewithunity

We continued down the main park road and every mile was worth it. There are tons of RV-friendly pull-outs, and the 28-mile drive drops you right back onto historic Route 66. There are plenty of Route 66 photo ops in either direction once you exit.

Our favorite stops were Newspaper Rock and Blue Mesa, and there are plenty of hiking trails along the way if you want to explore a bit. You can’t take anything from inside the park, but just outside the South Gate the Crystal Forest Museum & Gift Shop—located in Holbrook, Arizona . They sell polished pieces of petrified wood (I picked one up myself) and other souvenirs. They allow overnight boondocking in their parking lot, making it a great jumping off point to explore the park.They also have great displays and sell a variety of gifts made from the wood. Definitely worth the stop. #petrifiedforestnationalpark#exploreusawithus

Driving on Route 66 in Arizona on the way to Petrified Forest National Park, we made a stop at Meteor Crater Natural Landmark—where a 150-foot-wide meteor slammed into Earth 50,000 years ago, creating a massive 550-foot-deep, 1-mile-wide crater.

It was getting late, we decided to boondock in Two Guns, Arizona. This old ghost town has scattered foundations, wide-open space, and a few dispersed camping spots. It’s also a dark-sky gem, and the stars put on a show that night.

The next morning, we continued into Petrified Forest National Park. The 28-mile main park road is packed with overlooks and pullouts, and two of our favorites were the Crystal Forest Trail and the Giant Logs Trail.

Stay tuned for Part 2 as we explore the rest of the road and its amazing views.
Check out our new website kampingwithkona.com, and follow us on Instagram or Facebook! #petrifiedforestnationalpark #meteorcraterarizona

We spent two nights at Kalaloch Campground in Forks Washington inside of Olympic National Park. It was a definite Kona Favorite. Easy access to the beach and swimming, with my campsite just across the road from the shoreline. The sites are well spaced out with no hook ups, but there is a dump station. The Tree Of Life is a short walk down the beach and is a must see. The first morning I woke up to whales playing offshore. I didn’t even need my binoculars to watch. Lots of room to walk, dog friendly beach (leashes require), and Kona got plenty of swim time. I wanted to stay longer but the campground was fully booked. A great spot to use as a base camp for exploring the southern park of the park. #kalalochcampground #olympicnationalpark

After leaving Mount Rainier NP I was traveling along Route 410 and found the perfect boondocking spot on the American River.. It was on the right side of the road and had 2 well spaced out level spots with fire rings. The river was right next to my sight and I had to walk down a small embankment. There was a fishing hole a short walk up the river that had a steady supply of rainbows. I also saw one bull trout but he had no interest on any of my flys. It was such a relaxing spot I ended up staying 3 days. For more detailed adventures check out our new website kampingwithkona.com and follow us for more adventures. #flyfishingnation #boondockingadventures

Kona was very happy that we got a snow day on our last night in Vermont. Kona enjoyed some time to run around. We started back on the road to Hilton Head. #vermontdogs #rvlifewithdogs

Redwood National and State Parks are home to some of the tallest trees on earth. If you’re planning a California road trip or looking for top hiking spots, the redwood forest is a bucket-list stop you won’t regret. The cars at the bottom of the 4th photo really puts it into perspective. Luckily, the elks were taking a siesta in the grass.. so Kona couldn’t see them🐾 follow us for more adventures or check out our new website kampingwithkona.com #redwoodnationalpark #rvlifewithdogs

2025 Travel Recap

2025 was an unforgettable year on the road—22,000 miles, over 150 campgrounds, 29 states, and 23 national parks. The journey kicked off in Hilton Head Island, SC, heading up the East Coast before looping all the way down to Key West. From there, you cut across the country through Texas and into the Southwest, then flew out to Hawaii to explore two islands and check off both national parks there.

Back on the mainland, you climbed through California’s lineup—Joshua Tree, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, and the Redwoods—before crossing into the Pacific Northwest for a summer spent exploring Oregon and Washington. Oregon and Hawaii became the final two states on your list, officially completing your goal of visiting all 50. That brought your national park count to 43 and marked more progress on another mission: catching a fish in every state. You’re now at 22 states caught, 29 states fished.

From island volcanoes to redwood forests, trout ponds to coastline bike trails, this was a year of big miles, big views, and big accomplishments. Here’s to more adventures ahead in 2026… keeping paws on the road and lines in the water…follow us for more adventures or check out our new website kampingwithkona.com #lifeontheroad #rvliving

I was traveling through the Malheur National Forest and decided to stop at Trout Farms Campground in Prairie City, Oregon. With a name like that it had to be good-turns out it was even better. It’s one of those quiet little spots locals would probably prefer to keep to themselves. It’s a small primitive campsite with 6 well spaced out sites. The sites were arranged around a small pond loaded with rainbow trout -excellent fishing all day long and even had a curious otter visiting. There was only one other camper there for one night, but people would come in during the day to fish. Expect bugs -lots of them , since the fish feed all day. Save this post for your next trip near Prairie City … its definitely a Hidden Gem #malheurnationalforest #flyfishingadventures

Day 2 staying at gateway inn.. Drove down Paradise Valley East Road into the park. Followed it the Henry Jackson Visitors Center and the loop road … great views all along the way.. The Welcome Center is a must see with spectacular views of the mountain.. I had to park a 1/4 of a mile down the road to park!! It gets crowded every day and the lot was full.. If you want to avoid the crowds go early and head right to the welcome center and explore on the way out.. the loop road brings you back on the paradise valley road #and you can explore all the same sites on the way back..follow us for more adventures or check out our website for detailed reviews and lots of pictures kampingwithkona.com #kampingwithkona#mountrainiernationalpark

I was Camping in Grover Hot Springs State Park in Markleeville, CA. I was preparing dinner and this guy was out for a stroll. Anyone else encountered campground patrol? #groverhotspringsstatepark #campingwithbears #rvlife

Mount Rainier National Park. We stayed at The Gateway Inn in Ashford, WA—just steps from the park entrance. RV spots are limited, so reserve early.
We lucked out with clear views of Rainier on day one and spent time exploring Paradise and the visitor center. The Douglas-fir display from 1293 AD was a highlight.
Part 2 drops tomorrow. Follow @kampingwithkona!#mtrainiernationalpark #vanlife#kampingwithkona

Fishing near the Aquarius Bridge on The North Fork of The Clearwater River in Idaho… found a great boondocking spot right on the river just down stream from the bridge.. Another good choice is the Aquarius Campground near the bridge…spent a few days catching some beautiful cutthroat trout… there were plenty of choice to access the river in the area. Check out kampingwithkona.com for more detailed reviews and follow us @kampingwithkona #flyfishingidaho #kampingwithkona #flyfishingadventures

Having Fun at The White Barn Farm .. follow for more adventures @kampingwithkona Kampingwithkona.com#kampingwithkona #boykinspaniels #rvlifewithdogs😂

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kona Favorite … Fishing and Swimming Direct from the Campsite, Plenty of Walking Trails and Well Spaced Out Sites … Earl G Williamson Park Oil City, Louisiana @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #rvtravel #leisuretravelvans Follow us for more adventures @kampingwithkona

Fishing the west fork of the Bitterroot River in Montana the end of September… plenty of boondocking places along west fork road #right on the river… check us out at kampingwithkona.com or hit follow for more adventures… @kampingwithkona#kampingwithkona #fulltimerver #flyfishingmontana #flyfishinglife #bitterrootriver #rvlife #fulltimerv #leisuretravelvans #konaadventures #rvwithdogs #rvfishingadventures #rvfishing #flyfishingjunkie #vanlife #montanaflyfishing #montanaoutdoors #catchandrelease #rvangler #boondocking #nomadlife #homeonwheels

September Yellowstone Trip Part 3 @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #fulltimerver #yellowstonenationalpark

Sept Yellowstone trip part 2 @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #yellowstonenationalpark #campingwithdogs

September trip to Yellowstone National Park… @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #fulltimerver #yellowstonenationalpark#konaadventures#vanlife #leisuretravelvans #lifeontheroad #yellowstonewildlife #rvlife #rvliving #rvwithdogs #konaadventures #yellowstoneadventures #exploreyellowstone #yellowstonetrip

Exploring Olympic Peninsula from 3 Rivers Resort in Forks,Washington .. Kona got some swimming in on First Beach in La Push @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #konaadventures #3riversresortforkswashington#forkswashington #konaadventures #rvlife #rvwithdogs #boykinspanielsofinstagram #boykinspaniels #vanlife #olympicpeninsula #rvadventures #leisuretravelvans #explorewithunity

Textures around the White Barn Farm Autumn 2025 @kampingwithkona @whitebarnfarmvermont #kampingwithkona #konaadventures #vermontlife#vermontfarm #brooklinevt #rvlife #konaadventures #rvwithdogs #vanlife #explorewithleisure #vermontphotography #vermont

Took a day trip to the Grand Teton National Park while staying at Lewis. Lake Campground in Yellowstone on Sept 28th… @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #lifeontheroad #fulltimerver #campingwithdogs #leisuretravelvan #rvtravel #travelwithpets #vanlife #adventurewithdogs #grandtetonnationalpark #grandtetons #lewislakeyellowstone #explorewithunity

Autumn Close In Views at the White Barn Farm Vermont@kampingwithkona@whitebarnsfarm#kampingwithkona #lifeontheroad #fulltimerver #campingwithdogs #leisuretravelvan #rvtravel #travelwithpets #vanlife #konaadventures #vermontlife #vermontdogs #vermontphotography #whitebarnfarmvermont

While we were Exploring Olympic National Park this summer and we stayed at Hoh Rain Forest Campground …Plenty of trails to walk Kona with fishing access right from the campground.. Primitive Sites with reservations required @kampingwithkona @hohrainforest #kampingwithkona #lifeontheroad #fulltimerver #campingwithdogs #leisuretravelvan #travelwithpets #rvtravel #boykinspaniel #vanlife #konaadventures #olympicnationalpark#hohrainforest #outdoorswashingtonstate #washingtonfishing #unityadventures #unityltv

Running free at the White Barn Farm@kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #lifeontheroad #fulltimerver #campingwithdogs #leisuretravelvan #travelwithpets #vanlife #konaadventures #vtoutdoors #outsidevt #whitebarnfarmvermont #vermontdogs

Booked a drift fishing trip with Olympic Peninsula Guide Service in Forks, Washington on August 24th.. We fished the Hoh River and caught and released some beautiful fish.. @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #rvtravel #lifeontheroad #fulltimerver #campingwithdogs #leisuretravelvan #travelwithpets #vanlife #konaadventures #olympicguideservice #hohriver #hohriverfishing #forkswashington #washingtonstatefishing #driftfishing

Trout Fishing on The Arkansas River Right From Your Site at Sweetwater River Resort in Cotopaxi, Colorado @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #rvtravel #lifeontheroad #fulltimerver #campingwithdogs #leisuretravelvan #boykinspaniel #travelwithpets #vanlife #konaadventures #arkansasrivercolorado #coloradofishing #coloradoflyfishing

Driving across Colorado on Route 50 over the Monarch Pass.. @kampingwithkona #kampingwithkona #rvtravel #lifeontheroad #fulltimerver #campingwithdogs #leisuretravelvan #boykinspaniel #travelwithpets #vanlife #konaadventures #monarchpass #coloradoadventures #adventureleisureexperience #leisureadventures

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