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Greg from Longmont, Colorado on 5/24/2018 1:22:07 PM:
Hello, doing the trail self-supported as a part of a coast-to-coast trip this summer. Wanting to camp most of the way but it seems like there aren't a lot of camp grounds along the trail. Mapping out our path I'm thinking we will stop in Calhoun, Rocheport, and Bluffton. Any suggestions for camping at those locations, or a decent and not too expensive indoors place to stay?

 
Kim Henderson from Windsor on 5/24/2018 1:29:35 PM:
Greg - In Windsor we have beautiful Farrington Park and lake. There is a nice campground with wifi, shower house and shelter house.

 
Jim from St Thomas on 5/24/2018 3:31:51 PM:
You may want to check out the Turner Shelter in Tebbets. For $6 you get a bed with foam mattress, flush toilets and hot showers.

 
John Hutchins from PACIFIC on 5/24/2018 4:09:10 PM:
Lots of places to camp on the trail. Clinton community center, Sedalia State Fair Grounds (a few bucks, showers, etc., Pilot Grove city park(free and nothing else unless pool is open, water at trailheas), Katy roundhouse in Franklin, Rochport (state conservation area, water at thrail head no showers), Coopers Landing (awesome if it fits your tastes, Hartford city park(water at trail head), Tebbits Turner Shelter (mentioned above, great spot), Portland, Bluffton (haven't stayed at either of these), Herman City Park (showwrs, water, electric $5 maybe), Mathasville City Park ($5 water, showers and little league games on weekends), Klondike Park (2 miles e of Augusta, a few bucks, water showers, etc). That's all I know of. But lots of interesting choices.

 
John Hutchins from PACIFIC on 5/24/2018 4:13:46 PM:
BTW, what is your route east of the Katy? Have you checked out the Eastern Express? http://www.easternexpressroute.com/

I hope to ride that next spring from around Alton to DC.

 
John Hutchins from PACIFIC on 5/24/2018 4:25:34 PM:
FWIW, looking at your tentative stops, I'd go shorter and stay in Clinton or push on to Windsor. Don't think there is camping at Calhoun, but water at that trail head ans most secluded so not bad for stealth. Likewise, I'd stop short of Rocheport (ubnless you want to B&B) at the Katy Roundhouse in Franklin or push on to Coopers Landing in Easley. I haven't stayed at Portland or Bluffton, they may be fine, but I've read mixed things on the forum here. 10 miles past Bluffton and 2 miles off the trail I can recommend the Herman city park. Nice town with interesting history,etc.

 
John Hutchins from PACIFIC on 5/24/2018 4:28:57 PM:
BTW, what is your route east of the trail? Have you checked out the Eastern Express? Google it, I couldn't get the forum to post with a link. I'm hoping to ride it from Alton IL to DC next spring.

 
Anonymous on 5/24/2018 8:17:46 PM:
John,
About this comment: ...but water at that trail head ans most secluded so not bad for stealth.

Stealth camping is not permitted. Actually, it is trespassing and is against the law.

Unless you own land in that area and you are making an invitation for people to come on your land to stealth camp, please don't suggest that others break the law.

We should be working diligently to keep positive and within the law in hopes of someday seeing the reality of the Rock Island trail instead fueling the fire of the opposition through ignorance.

 
John Hutchins from PACIFIC on 5/25/2018 4:43:37 AM:
Thanks, I appreciate your comment. I did preface that by saying there is no camping at Calhoun. Personally I never stealth camp. Too many good alternatives for legal camping on the trail. But the OP said they planned to camp at Calhoun. I just pointed out what I knew of that trail head. Everyone makes their own choices. I also posted suggested alternatives later, so not at all endorsing stealth on the trail. Simply trying to be helpful to out of state visitors.

 
Frankie from Port Richie on 5/25/2018 6:08:11 AM:
"So not bad for stealth" sure sounds like an endorsement to me. There are two nice places to camp in Bluffton that I have stayed at. Both have rooms as well and they receive great comments here.

 
Anonymous on 5/25/2018 7:55:38 AM:
Smoke and mirrors John.

 
Greg from Longmont, Colorado on 5/25/2018 10:05:15 AM:
I'm not seeing camping spots at Bluffton ... what are the names of the places?

 
Greg from Longmont, Colorado on 5/25/2018 10:05:43 AM:
Also thanks for the tip on Windsor Kim!

 
Frankie from Port Richie on 5/25/2018 10:08:26 AM:
Bluffton Barn and Steamboat junction. Click on Bluffton for their info.

 
Anonymous on 5/25/2018 10:54:20 AM:
Steamboat Junction is a nice campground and seems to get little use. No one there when we were there anyway.

Doug at the Bluffton Barn is a fellow biker and very interesting to strike up a conversation with.

You can't do wrong at either place.

 
Greg from Longmont, Colorado on 5/25/2018 12:51:35 PM:
John my boy's idea was to follow the Trans America Race route. I believe this is also one of the routes you can find on the BikeCentennial (or whatever it is they call themselves now) web site. Anyway he is following that route from Oregon to Breckenridge, Colorado. I'm meeting him there and we are kind of making our own route to get to Saint Louis, where we have family. From there he's jumping back on the TransAm route to Virginia while I fly home - don't have nearly enough vacation time to do the whole thing.