SKIDAWAY ISLAND STATE PARK, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Our Opinion: Recommend. This country setting makes a good home base for exploring Savannah - but getting here is tedious for a big rig.

Date of Stay: March 26th through 30th, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Most days were partly cloudy, with highs ranging from the upper 50’s to mid 70’s. Big rainstorm one night.

Site Description: When we checked in, the ranger described all 87 sites as pull-throughs. True, perhaps, if you drive a Class B van camper! During our stay, we saw many rigs back in on arrival or back out upon departure. Once in place, though, most sites are very spacious.

We backed into site 25, a large, level, site with 30/50 amps, water and basic cable TV. Thirty-seven of the sites here have both 30 and 50 amps; the remainder have 30 amps only. Sites are not paved. Each has a picnic table, fire ring and a tent pad.

Roads in the campground loops are paved and narrow - one lane but NOT one way (see photo)! Big rigs maneuver with care (watch those trees), and hope you don’t meet a vehicle coming the other direction.

The campground has 3 restrooms with showers and laundry facilities. Odel reported good water pressure in the showers and plenty of hot water. The park has a large swimming pool - closed this year due to budget constraints. A dump station is conveniently located for departure.

It rained heavily during one night of our stay. A walk the next day revealed that campground areas #2 and #4 would be poor choices for a heavy rig - they were very wet and swampy, with deep, muddy, tire tracks (see bottom photo).

Rate: We paid $20/night (senior discount - usual rate is $25/night), plus $5 for a parking pass - $105 for five nights.

Phone/radio/TV: Great Verizon service for phone and aircard. The campground is heavily wooded, so the basic cable TV was welcome - no chance our roof-mounted TV satellite would lock on. NPR is available on 89.9.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a flat campground at low elevation in a forest of incredibly tall trees. Poor drainage. Lots of dappled shade. Sites are not particularly private, but are so spacious that you don’t feel crowded. Our view is of trees and several other RV’s. Our site is adjacent to a golf course, barely glimpsed through the trees and shrubs.

Lighting/Noise: No light or noise to bother us at night.

Favorite Sites: We preferred the sites in areas 1 and 3 because they are drier. The 50 amp sites are first-come, first-served and are mostly in area 1. As usual, the sites on the outer edge of the loops have more privacy than those on the inner area. Sites are not reservable by number.

Hiking/Walking: This park encompasses 588 acres, with plenty of trail options, including a 3 mile trail and a 1 mile trail, with loops and boardwalks. GREAT walking and interesting history.

Comments: Getting to this park is tedious for a big rig, though much easier (fewer miles on commercial surface streets) if you are traveling 95 south rather than north. It is an easy drive to Savannah and Tybee Island, and there is a grocery store within a couple of miles. Due to the distance and traffic between the interstate and the park, we would not come here for a stay of under 4 nights. Otherwise, we recommend it.