Campground Review - Cadillac Ranch RV Park

Description

The Cadillac Ranch is a small RV park on Highway 191 in the heart of Bluff, Utah. The park features scenic views of the sandstone bluffs which are the namesake of the town of Bluff. The San Juan River is just a short distance behind the park.

Location

Cadillac Ranch RV Park

GPS Address: 640 East Main St., Bluff, Utah
GPS Coordinates (WGS84 Decimal Degrees): Latitude 37.282863, Longitude -109.551285, Elevation: 4,324 ft (1,318 m)

Details

We stayed at the Cadillac Ranch for two weeks in early July. The campground was clean, reasonably well maintained and the staff was friendly. The campground has a “For Sale” sign posted at the entrance and does have a tired, run-down feel to it.

The campground web site lists paddle boats and fishing as activities, yet the pond is in very bad shape and would not support such activities (well, maybe fishing in a small area) – the pond water level is low and choked with cat tails. The pond is seriously in need of dredging or rejuvenation. Proximity to the pond, the San Juan River and recent heavy rains contributed to a larger population of mosquitoes in the area which were a nuisance in the evenings.

Cost

The campground weekly rates were reasonable – we averaged about $25.70/night, tax included.

Amenities Onsite or Nearby

The park offers only very basic amenities. The RV sites have full hookups with at least 30 Amp electrical. Some sites have 50 Amp electrical. The park provides a dishwashing area, showers and restrooms. There are very limited services available in Bluff – fuel, laundromat, mini-mart, and a few restaurants. A small grocery store and other services are available in Blanding, Utah. A Wal-Mart Supercenter, grocery stores and many more services are available in Cortez, Colorado.

Ratings (1-5)

Accessibility – 4/5

The Cadillac Ranch is easily accessible from Highway 191. The entrance driveway is, however, a bit narrow and is a sharp turn from the highway. RV sites are pull thru. Access lanes and sites are wide enough not to pose a problem maneuvering a large rig into or out of a site. Sites are level and gravel surfaced. There is no provision for handicapped access to the shower and restroom facility.

Facilities/Amenities – 3/5

As noted above, the park offers only very basic amenities. The RV sites have full hookups with at least 30 Amp electrical. Some sites have 50 Amp electrical. The park provides a dishwashing area, showers and restrooms. Sites feature a picnic table and fire pit or ring.

Site quality – 3/5

The park offers both tent and RV sites. RV sites are all pull-thru, very basic, level and surfaced with gravel. RV sites are somewhat narrow and there is little separation between sites. A few sites have cottonwood or poplar trees providing limited shade, but most sites have no shade. Overall feel of the campground is camping in a large parking lot.

Scenic Value – 3/5

The campground has a nice view of the bluffs across the San Juan River behind the park. Unfortunately, the river bottom area around the park and between the park and river appears weedy and overgrown.

Location/Isolation – 3/5

The campground is just off of Highway 191, so is not very isolated. Still, the campground is quiet, especially at night, as there is little traffic to generate road noise.

Paws Friendliness – 3/5

The campground allows pets and is paws friendly. Short walks around the campground and pond provide opportunity to exercise your pet. Depending on time of day, mosquitoes are a problem. It is also possible to walk your pet behind the campground towards the San Juan River, but that is more overgrown and quite buggy, depending on time of day. A nicer option is to take your pet for a walk in Calf Canyon, on the north side of town.

Overall Rating – 3/5

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at the Cadillac Ranch and would not mind returning. The campground is a good place to stop overnight or to serve as a base to explore the area around Bluff.

Additional info

Internet access

The campground provided free WiFi and there was a moderate to strong Verizon signal for MiFi access. Despite the strong signals, we found internet access very slow and spotty, with periods of drop out, daily.