I enjoy staying in places that are a little off the beaten path. This RV park is on the road to Big Bend National Park. Marathon is a tiny town, so be prepared for limited shopping, etc. The Marathon Motel and RV Park is an interesting place. Check out the pictures that are posted. It has a very pretty courtyard area. The cabins look well maintained, as does the park in general. Someone built this place with love and thoughtfulness. Unfortunately, the RV area appears to be an afterthought and is a little less attractive. Again, check out the pictures. They simply pulled utilities out into an adjacent field, and graveled it. The pads are not all that level. The wifi works fine. The listed rates are $35 a night or $140 for a week. So, it is definitely cheaper to stay for a while. The $20 rate is based on a one week stay.
Okay, so I like to find unusual campgrounds that are off the beaten path. This one certainly qualifies. Arboles is a very small town on the north end of Navajo Reservoir. It has a convenience store and that is about it. It is 33 miles to shopping, etc. The camp looks like it was built years ago; it is due for some renovations. Once I was parked, I discovered the power did not work; the owner got that corrected. The Internet signal was strong, but went down a time or two. The laundry facilities were closed for repairs and never opened. The owner, Gary, was a very nice guy and great to work with. Although the camp had units parked in most spaces, the camp was very quiet until the weekend. Friday, the owners of most of the units showed up to fish and boat. By Sunday evening it was quiet again. The daily fee was based on a weekly rate.
This campground seems to consist of more pluses and minuses than most campgrounds. It is a pretty location and is located a couple miles from Flaming Gorge Dam. Most of the sites include a grassy area and young trees. However, the area on the back side of the camp is an impound yard full of junked trailers and cars. A second side of the camp has a large building with RV sites only a few feet away. They are busy building two story houses/cabins along a third side. The Wifi signal was so weak it often took three or four minutes to cycle to a new page on-line and was essentially unusable. I could not get a Verizon 4G connection, so essentially went without Internet. Electricity and water were fine, but the water pressure is 120 PSI so a pressure reducer is needed. If you want full hook ups, this is one of the few in the area. Otherwise, stay in one of the great government sites next to the reservoir.
This small park in a small town in western Colorado is a great place to stay if you are in the area. Many of the people staying here visit annually, and some are here for the summer. Facilities are immaculate. Sites are under mature trees and have concrete pads. It is about 20 miles up to Black Canyon National Park. The rate paid was a weekly rate.
