There’s a certain magic to arriving in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Situated at the crossroads of I-80 and I-25, it feels like the true heart of the American West. The sky seems bigger, the air feels crisper, and the spirit of the frontier is palpable. After a long day of driving across the high plains, with the wind as your constant companion, pulling into a welcoming oasis is a feeling like no other. For me, that oasis is often A.B. Camping. This isn’t some new, cookie-cutter RV park; it’s a family-owned institution that’s been serving travelers since the 1980s, and you can feel that history and hospitality the moment you pull in.
What sets A.B. Camping apart, especially when you’re just looking for a place to handle the necessary chore of dumping your tanks, is the atmosphere. It’s a friendly, well-maintained park with mature trees offering welcome shade against the strong Wyoming sun. And they are famous for one thing in particular: their barbecue nights. This isn’t just a place to empty your tanks; it’s a place where you can get a plate of some of the best smoked ribs you’ll ever have. It turns a mundane task into a rewarding experience.
The dump station here is a great example of how a private park does things right. Because many of their sites offer full hookups, the dedicated dump lane is often wide open and readily available. This is fantastic news for those of us just passing through who need a quick, clean, and hassle-free stop. You’ll pay a modest fee for the service, and it’s always best to call ahead to get the current rate for the season. But what you get for that fee is tremendous value. Often, a friendly staff member will even escort you to the spot, making sure you know exactly where to go. They keep the area clean and might even offer you a courtesy rinse hose if yours has seen better days. It’s that level of personal touch that makes you feel like a welcome guest, not just another customer.
Let's talk about why you might find yourself in Cheyenne in the first place. This city is a living museum of the Old West. You can spend a whole day at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, getting lost in the history of rodeo and seeing incredible collections of horse-drawn carriages. A short drive away is the Terry Bison Ranch, where you can take a train ride right out into the middle of a massive bison herd. And if you’re looking to trade the plains for the mountains, Curt Gowdy State Park is just 25 miles to the west, offering stunning granite-rimmed reservoirs perfect for fishing and kayaking. A.B. Camping makes for an ideal basecamp to explore all of it.
The amenities here are a huge draw, especially if you’ve been on the road for a while. Having an on-site propane fill is incredibly convenient, allowing you to top off both your fuel tank and your propane before heading up into the higher elevations of the Rockies. The bathrooms and showers are known for being sparkling clean, and the coin laundry is a lifesaver for catching up on road-worn clothes. For those traveling with pets, there’s a fenced dog run, which is a blessing in an area full of tempting but distracting prairie dogs. Perhaps one of the most valuable amenities is the on-site RV tech who can handle minor repairs. If the rough frontier roads have shaken something loose on your rig, having an expert right there can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major trip-derailing problem.
The cost for day-use dumping is, in my opinion, a fantastic deal. When you factor in the cleanliness, the easy access, the friendly service, and the availability of other crucial amenities like propane and water, the fee is more than justified. It often comes in at a lower price than what you might pay at a busy, less personal truck stop. Keep in mind that for drive-through users, there isn’t a large public trash disposal, so you’ll need to plan on packing out your garbage until you find a suitable spot down the road.
A couple of insider tips for your visit: remember that Cheyenne is at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. Take it easy and drink plenty of water, even when you’re just doing chores, to help stave off any altitude fatigue. Also, be mindful of the weather. Afternoon thunderstorms can pop up quickly in the summer and can turn the ground muddy in a hurry. A morning visit usually means drier footing. And seriously, don’t pass up the barbecue. It’s a local legend for a reason. Plan your stop to coincide with a barbecue night if you can; you won’t regret it. A.B. Camping truly marries that wonderful small-park hospitality with all the practical services a modern RVer needs, making it a standout stop on Wyoming’s busiest crossroads.
1503 W College Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82007
(307) 634-7035
Cost: Price not available
Category: RV park
Has Water
campcheyenne.com