Pretty Penny Adventures

LAKE McCLELLAN CAMPGROUND

“This campground is situated at an elevation of 3,500 feet.  There are 60 camping units. 

Current Conditions

Currently, Lake McClellan is dry.”

-posted on the National Forest website

Julie spent over a year masterminding the Pretty Penny Adventure—an epic quest fueled by campground spreadsheets, Google Earth flyovers, and more bookmarked park websites than any reasonable person should admit to. Our sweet spot is camping in national forests, state parks, and county parks… and now, thanks to this trip, grasslands. Because nothing says “relaxing getaway” like an endless expanse of flat land, no shade, and dust.

McClellan Creek National Grassland campground took “remote” to a whole new level. It was desolate and creepy. The wind howled, the ground was dry, and the silence was so complete it made you wonder if the rest of humanity had quietly packed up and left.

And then there was the “lake.” We’d been told it was bone‑dry, so expectations were low. Imagine our surprise when we arrived to find actual water shimmering in the distance—proof that sometimes the rumors are wrong. Granted, it wasn’t exactly Lake Tahoe, but it was wet, it was there, and it was only $10 a night to camp alongside it. Not bad for an RV spot with a slightly post‑apocalyptic vibe.