We Called It Home

PIMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, TUCSON, AZ

2012-01-26T09:20:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. The fairgrounds are convenient when we are passing through Tucson and want to overnight or spend an extra day stocking up on supplies.

Date of Stay: January 25, 2012 - our fourth stay.

Weather During Stay: High was just under 70, low was 35.

Site Description: We have parked in two different areas at the fairgrounds. This trip, we are in the main lot, in a 50 amp FHU, back in site (406). The majority of sites in this area are back to back, closely packed on level dirt (or dust or mud, depending on the weather), some of the sites 30 amps, others 50 amps.

Since we don’t stay here more than a night or two, we prefer to park in a different area (the 500 row, not available today due to repaving), a strip of somewhat grassy 50 amp W/E sites that back up to a row of trees. Very level, with more grass than dirt. No sewer hookups in this row, but there is a dump station available.

In both areas, sites would be very tight if they all were occupied, but feel reasonably spacious when you don’t have neighbors (which is why we prefer the 500 row for short stays).

Rate: All sites, back-in or pull-through, 50 amp or 30 amp, FHU or W/E are the same rate: $20/night.

Phone/radio/TV: Though our cell phones have 5 bars, we had a very difficult time with our MiFi today – finally gave up. Local NPR on 89.1. Several local TV stations on the antenna, including PBS (channel 6). No obstacles for the satellite.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Elevation is around 3,000 feet. Terrain is flat desert, but palms, evergreens and grass have been planted at the fairgrounds - welcome green. Arid mountain ranges frame the distant views.

Lighting/Noise: Various fairground activities can be noisy during the day, but it has been quiet at night when we have been here. We are far enough from the light poles that the night lighting is unobtrusive - but this would not be true in all spaces.

Favorite Sites: The 500’s, with 50 amps and water.

Hiking/Walking: This is a large fairground with plenty of space for walking.

Comments: Typical fairgrounds, with an arena, many large buildings, restroom blocks, pavilions, lots of parking for RV’s and cars. Because of the horse and livestock events held here, we noticed lots of flies on one stay. A few miles off of I-10, it is a convenient spot to overnight or stay a few days to stock up at Costco and Trader Joe’s in Tucson. A large Fry’s grocery store is about 5 miles away.

HOLT’S SHELL RV PARK, GILA BEND, AZ

2012-01-25T17:32:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Recommend – with caveats. We use this only for overnight stops and post boondocking cleanup. Convenient, inexpensive, FHU with excellent laundry facilities.

Date of Stay: Many times. Date of this review is January 24, 2012.

Weather During Stay: Sunny and calm; high 68, low forecast for the low 40’s.

Site Description: 24 level sites on gravel at the back of a truck stop ¼ mile off I-8 and a mile from the center of Gila Bend. 19 sites are very large pull throughs, 5 are large back-ins. All sites have 30/50 amp service, water and sewer. Dumpster in the center of the park at the laundry room. 4 washers cost $1.00 each; dryers at 75 cents for about 40 minutes.

No office in the RV park. Pay for your site at the fuel station/convenience store up front. There are also a couple of fast-food type restaurants and a hotel next to the truck stop.

Rate: Regular price is $24/night. Passport America (with some date restrictions) and Escapees pay $12 night for 50 amp FHU.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon service, both phone and aircard, is excellent in Gila Bend (check out the cell tower in the photo - you park right under it). Nothing is available on the TV antenna. No obstructions for TV satellite dish. Their advertised free WiFi worked well. NPR on 91.5 (with a little or a lot of static, depending on???).

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat gravel roads and sites at 790 feet elevation. The little park is surprisingly nicely landscaped with some native trees and flowering plants; the surrounding area is scrubby desert. Distant views are of arid mountains to the east, the truck stop to the west.

Lighting/Noise: Some noise from the nearby interstate and from the trucks coming, going and settling in at the truck stop, but not enough to overcome the appeal of the low price and convenient access. Night lighting in amazingly unobtrusive given the proximity to the truck stop.

Favorite Sites: Any of the pull throughs… all are long and spacious, easy in and out for our rig. No need to disconnect the Jeep, another plus.

Hiking/Walking: Nothing special. We usually plan to walk elsewhere.

Comments: Gila Bend is a convenient stop for an overnight and thorough cleanup with traveling between Catalina State Park in Tucson and boondocking in Yuma or Quartzsite. To empty the holding tanks, get out the dirt and have a nice, long, hot shower, we want a level, FHU site with 50 amps. Holt’s Shell RV Park (Exit 119 On I-8 Gila Bend) provides all of that at a low, low price, along with easy access to fuel and propane. No reservations, but plenty of convenience. Wish there were more solid, secure, no-frills, low-cost RV parks like this!

YUCAIPA REGIONAL PARK, YUCAIPA, CA

2011-12-12T12:40:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. This large regional park has spacious sites and good hiking, in the midst of an urban area.

Date of Stay: December 11th and 12th, 2011. Our first stay here was in March, 2011 – click here to see photos on that springtime review.

Weather During Stay: Mild and sunny when we arrived; changed to rain the following day.

Site Description: Our site is a large pullout along the side of the campground road. A school is next to us at the border of the park, so it is quiet at night but some “kid noise” during the day. All sites are paved, with large concrete patios surrounded by grass. BBQ grill and sturdy picnic table at each site. FHU with 50 and 30 amp electric.

The campground is gently rolling, with lots of green grass and trees (most are leafless this time of year). Most of the 42 RV sites are pull-outs, but some are back-ins. Not all are level, but most are quite long; all are fairly spacious. Many of the pull-out sites have multiple utilities for groups of two or three. Several restrooms (with showers); plenty of trash cans. Tent camping sites are available in a separate area. Dump site available. All sites can be reserved at www.sbcountyparks.com/. Maximum stay 14 days in 30.

Rate: FHU RV sites are $35. Senior camping rates are available Monday-Thursday, $30. We paid the senior rate for both nights, though the website says the senior rate only applies Monday-Thursday. Maybe because there were so few campers here? There is a fee to make a reservation, which is advisable at other times of the year.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon service is good on both the aircard (3G) and phones. Lots of trees mean you need to pay attention if your TV satellite is roof mounted. On the antenna, we have four digital stations, all PBS. NPR on 91.9.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Rolling hills, lots of trees, green grass and lakes. Elevation 2,600 feet. This large, regional park is in a busy urban/suburban area, with the school next door and homes nearby. Views from the campground are of other campers, the surrounding hills, and the school.

Lighting/Noise: No streetlights here (a good thing), but the restrooms are brightly lit at night. We were positioned so that wasn’t a bother. Noise from the neighboring students during the day. Sites near the front of the campground had considerable road noise.

Favorite Sites: All have some good, some not-so-good features. As usual, we prefer perimeter sites to the interior sites. The north end of the campground loop is quite open with very few trees; more sunshine and fewer satellite RV obstacles.

Hiking/Walking: Walking the loop road of this huge park is pleasant. A rather strenuous hike goes to the peak of the highest nearby hill, Mt. Zanja.

Comments: This park is a pleasant oasis in a busy urban area in the Inland Empire of California. The campground occupies a small area of the park, which includes a large lake (with fishing), swimming beach, water slides, playground, and several large picnic areas. I suspect this park is very crowded with day-users in summer. Grocery shopping nearby; 18 hole public golf course ¼ mile away.

SANTA BARBARA ELKS LODGE, SANTA BARBARA, CA

2011-12-10T10:28:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Recommend; a reasonably priced option in an otherwise expensive area. This is an Elks Lodge - you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: December 9-10, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Cool, calm and sunny. Highs in the mid-60’s, low’s in the 30’s.

Sites: 16 slightly sloped, well marked sites in a gravel lot adjacent to the lodge. All sites have 30/50 amp E and water, plus boards to use under your jacks. All sites are back-ins, in two rows facing the center lane. Sites are long enough for big rigs, with enough room for slides (though little else). Dump available at the lodge.

This is a well-designed RV parking area, with nearby, dedicated parking spaces for tows and towed (which won’t fit in your space). Very well maintained.

This is a busy lodge, and it is recommended that you call for a reservation (805/964-6858). With a reservation, you know your site number in advance, which makes arrival and set up much easier - otherwise, you need to check in at the lodge to find out which sites are available before setting up. According to the reservation form, the maximum stay is 5 consecutive days in 30 days, but it appears this can be negotiated. Check out time is 1 pm.

Rate: $20 W/E (30/50 amp). Dump at lodge is included.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard (4G) signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite. Several digital channels on the air antenna. The lodge offers WiFi, but the signal in the RV lot was not working when we visited. Local NPR on 89.5 and 90.9.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Small gravel lot surrounded by a privacy hedge. View is of neighboring rigs, lodge, huge trees, and distant mountains. Quite appealing for an urban site. Elevation is slightly above sea level.

Lighting/Noise: This is a busy urban area, a few blocks off Hwy 101. Traffic noise is noticeable day and night. Moderate lighting.

Favorite Sites: Sites 9-16, which face the lodge, look a little longer and wider than sites 1-8. It appears that sites are assigned based on the size of your rig.

Hiking/Walking: This is a residential area with sidewalks. Walk the neighborhood - and you can walk a few blocks on the main (pleasant) commercial street to Trader Joes and Vons.

Comments: The lodge’s printed reservation form mentions “Access to showers, gym & spa” ($10.00 per stay); we didn’t inquire about this, but would if we were staying longer. Santa Barbara is an appealing seaside town, about 6 miles from the lodge. Good beach walking and people watching there.

OCEANO-5 CITIES ELKS LODGE, OCEANO, CA

2011-12-08T09:39:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Fun location a few blocks from Pismo State Beach, a great walking beach also open to vehicles and camping. This is an Elks Lodge - you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: December 5-8, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Lovely winter weather: cool, calm and sunny. Highs in the low to mid-60’s, low’s in the 30’s.

Sites: 50 sites on level grass with W/E (30 amp) at sites. Dump available as you exit the camping area. Sites are back-in around the perimeter of the parking area, long enough for big rigs, but tight if all sites are filled.

Dave is the on-site host (805/305-7627) who assigns sites as you arrive (if he is there). During the slow times, rigs are parked in every other site, providing space for slides, awnings, and rugs. During busy times, what had looked like one nice spacious site becomes 2 very tight slots. We saw slides interwoven when rigs had slides on both sides! Dave will always do his utmost to find you a spot, but call ahead in summer.

Rate: $25 W/E (30 amp) includes use of dump station. This is on the high side for Elks - Salinas (to the north) is $20/night for the same utilities; Santa Barbara (to the south) is $20/night for W and 50 amp E. Napa, CA, with FHU and cable TV, is $20/night. Private parks in the area charge $40 and up for FHU; the state park across the street charges $25/night for no hookups.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite. Several digital channels on the air antenna. Speedy, strong WiFi available in the RV area - get the password at the lodge. Local NPR on 90.1.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, level parking on grass with trees on the perimeter. View is of rigs, lodge, and attractive residential buildings across the street. Elevation: sea level.

Lighting/Noise: Little traffic noise at night. The lodge building leaves outside lights on all night, and the lodge parking lot has tall streetlights that burn all night. The orange lenses help, but it is quite bright all night.

Favorite Sites: Not much difference between sites; we choose to face the sun on these cool winter days. Dave, the on-site host, will point you towards the best space available when you arrive. If the place is full, expect to squeeze into a long, narrow slot.

Hiking/Walking: Walk three blocks to the west and you are on a fine, fine beach with good walking for miles – and dry camping for $10/night if you want to brave the sand (this photo – that’s not us!). You can walk the beach all the way to Pismo Beach.

Comments: This lot is jammed in the summer, so don’t expect much personal space. Per Dave, December is their slowest month, and we had plenty of room during this winter visit. The fun town of Pismo Beach is a few miles north, a pleasant drive, with some good restaurants (try the BBQ ribs at Mo’s and fish and chips at Brad’s outdoor patio) and a pier over the ocean. The lodge itself seems very busy.

SALINAS ELKS LODGE, SALINAS, CA

2011-12-03T18:48:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. This convenient stop along Hwy 101 borders a golf course. Easy access in and out. Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: December 2-4, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Cool and clear, with highs close to 60 and lows in the 30’s.

Sites: Of the 28 sites provided with W/E sites (30 amp), 25 are usable at any one time (due to the layout). Sites are on level dirt and gravel around the perimeter of a huge RV storage lot east of the lodge, adjacent to a golf course. Sites face either south or west. A few picnic tables are scattered around.

A host is in the site next to the dump station. To access the dump station, you drive directly towards his rig and the little self-registration/information kiosk. A dumpster is located near the dump station.

Rate: $20 for W/E, $15 dry camping. Additional $5 to dump.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal (4G). No obstructions to block TV satellite. Some TV stations (including two digital PBS stations) using the TV antenna. Local NPR on 88.9 and 90.3.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, level parking area with lots of BIG trees around the perimeter. Elevation is not far above sea level. Views of many, many stored RV’s, lodge, parking lot, golf course.

Lighting/Noise: The night lighting is unobtrusive. Noise from highway 101 and the small municipal airport across the street was noticeable during the day, along with the thwacks of golf clubs on balls. J Very quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: No difference in sites. Pick whichever area is the least crowded. Fewer than half were occupied when we stayed, so each rig had plenty of room - they would be typically crowded if all or most were filled.

Hiking/Walking: No good walking at the lodge, but hiking is available within about 8-10 miles by car.

Comments: This is a very convenient location for traveling Elks, with easy access off of Hwy 101. Monterey is less than 20 miles away, a very scenic drive; Santa Cruz is a little farther. The golf course adjacent to the lodge is open to the public.

CAL EXPO RV PARK, SACRAMENTO, CA

2011-11-29T12:42:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. This is where we stay when we come to Sacramento; for us, it is the best of several choices in the area.

Date of Stay: We have stayed here once or twice a year since 2003. This review reflects our five week stay Oct/Nov of 2011. The usual limit is 30 days out of any 90 day period, but exceptions can be made with the managers approval (submit a written waiver).

Weather: We usually stay at Cal Expo during spring (April/May) and late Fall (November). Weather during those periods is generally pleasant, though you can get a surprising hot spell anytime!

Sites: 200+ FHU (30 and 50 amp) sites, back-ins around the perimeter, pull-throughs in the center rows. The park consists of two lots. The lot near the office is paved and somewhat sloped (many large MH’s end up with their front wheels off the ground or on blocks to level).

A larger, mostly gravel, lot is best suited for big rigs. We park on the edge of that lot, on “the slab”, separated from the gravel sites by a strip of grass and trees. The slab is concrete; these back-in sites are very level, though quite tight.

No picnic tables at sites. Limited shade. Reasonable water pressure and good voltage. When this park is full, it is tight, with parking for tows and towed at a premium. When the park is not full, the sites feel pleasantly spacious without immediate neighbors.

What used to be a no-dog grassy area has been converted into a small, pleasant, off-leash dog run. Restrooms and a small laundry facility share a building with the office.

Rate: We pay the monthly rate, $595 for 50 amp FHU. Daily rate is $35, typical for the area.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones signal; aircard on Broadband, 5 bars. No cable TV. Several TV stations on antenna, including 2 digital PBS channels, 6-1 and 6-2. Two local NPR stations. WiFi is available, but doesn't reach to all sites. We don't use it.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a big, mostly flat, parking lot, located at the edge of the California state fairgrounds 20 feet above sea level. Patches and strips of grass and trees on the perimeter. Views are of other rigs, trees, the levee along the Sacramento river, the fairgrounds racetrack, and the fairgrounds maintenance buildings.

Lighting/Noise: Bright, streetlight-style security lighting at night. Noise is typical urban traffic, daily fairgrounds maintenance crews and the racetrack announcer during nighttime races.

Favorite Sites: We choose the level sites on “the slab“ at the back of the park. With a strip of grass behind and a line of trees in front, they offer more shade in summer and we consider them the prettiest of the 50 amp sites, though very narrow.

Hiking/Walking: Excellent! Walk miles in any direction on the American River bike path or the trails in a greenbelt area adjacent to the river and just outside the park‘s fence. You can walk to movie theatres, Arden Fair Mall and other shopping, to restaurants. No lack of walking opportunities here.

Comments: Location, location, location. Convenient to all kinds of shopping and services, the central location makes a very convenient home for us when we re-visit our ex-hometown, friends, family, and medical providers. Don’t come expecting a resort or a “camping experience”. Cal Expo is an urban experience, with the welcome amenity of the wonderful American River greenbelt just outside the fence.

LIKELY PLACE RV RESORT AND GOLF, LIKELY, CA

2011-10-10T21:44:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Well maintained, visually appealing, with some special touches.

Date of Stay: Oct. 9-10, 2011

Weather During Stay: A day of sun (arrival), a day of rain and clouds (meant no golf for Odel). Cool nights.

Site Description: Fifty gravel sites, more than half of them long, mostly level, pull-throughs. Our site (30) was a 50 amp FHU; some sites are W/E only. Voltage was good, but water pressure was poor. Since we had read about that problem already, we filled our fresh water tank before arrival and used our pump to augment the water pressure.

Sites are quite spacious, with nicely mown, wide strips of grass between sites. Roads are gravel and easy to maneuver. There are a few trees here and there in the park, and many on the edges. The overall feel is open and spacious.

Well maintained bath house with laundry facilities (2 washers; 2 dryers). At least two 3-sided shelters (hide from sun, wind, or rain). The office doubles as the golf pro shop and a breakfast and lunch grill - we enjoyed breakfast there.

Rate: With an AAA (or Good Sam) discount, $28/night for 50 amp FHU.

Phone/radio/TV: Top-notch Verizon signal for the phones and MiFi. WiFi is available, but we didn’t use it. No obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite dish. Three PBS channels and one network on the air antenna (digital). No local NPR station.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a gently rolling campground (and golf course) at 4,600 ft. elevation. Lots of juniper (or cedar?) trees on the sage-covered hillsides. Views are of lovely high-desert shrubs and trees, rolling ranchland, and distant mountains. Very appealing.

Lighting/noise: Quite dark at night except for a tall security light here and there (too bad). No traffic noise at all, no train noise, just a coyote chorus now and then.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 30 and liked it fine - very spacious. Pull-through sites 31-35 are in the “front row”, so you would not have other rigs parked between you and the view to the east, but those sites don‘t have sewer hookups.

Hiking/Walking: This park SHINES in this category! Besides an 18-hole golf course, they have developed a geocache golf game, in three sections of varying lengths. Do all three sections for 5.5 miles, or one section for as little as 1.1 miles. If that doesn’t appeal, a 1.4 miles nature trail with several comfortable benches offers views of the golf course and surrounding area. Thoughtful and fun amenities.

Comments: The tiny town of Likely is in the remote NE corner of California. Click here to read a bit about the history of the golf course and RV park. Closed from the end of October until the first of May (high altitude = snow). Otherwise, if you are traveling Hwy 395 in northern California, we recommend a stop here, especially if you golf.

COLLIER MEMORIAL STATE PARK, CHILOQUIN, OR

2011-10-10T09:06:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Roomy sites, lovely rivers nearby, pleasant walking trails, interesting logging museum, and reasonably close proximity to Crater Lake.

Our first visit to Collier Memorial State park was two years ago, when we used it was a base camp to visit Crater Lake. On this visit, we stayed two night, October 7-8.

A few things have changed:

The Discovery Season rate increased $4/night, to $17. Still a very good rate for a spacious, paved FHU site (50 amps) in a very nicely maintained campground. Still first-come, first served (no reservations taken). We arrived on Friday at noon and had our pick of many sites; folks arriving later on Friday had fewer choices, but the campground was not full on Friday or Saturday night.

When we visited in 2009, no local NPR station was available. You can now pick up Jefferson Public Radio, the NPR broadcast for southern Oregon and northern California, on 90.9 FM.

Click here to read our full review from our first visit, which has been updated to reflect changes since our 2009 visit. By the way, there is a truck stop travel plaza 3 miles south on highway 97 (east side), at the KlaMoYa Casino. Gas and diesel (with truck pumps); easy access for big rigs.

BEND ELKS LODGE, BEND, OR

2011-10-07T08:20:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: October 4-6, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Cold, day and night! Some sun, plenty of clouds.

Sites: Eight back-in sites at the back of the lodge on asphalt. Sites are paved and sufficiently sloped that we needed blocks under our front tires and jacks. All sites have 30 amp E. Water available from one spigot on the side of the lodge when the lodge is open (you need the “key“ for the spigot). No dump on site.

No trees; all sites have open exposure. Sites are large enough for big rigs, but very narrow - just enough room for slides (on one side) and steps. Tow and towed vehicles can be parked in parking slots nearby.

Rate: $15/night for 30 amp E. Stay limit 7 days.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite dish. Around 10 digital stations on the air antenna, including 2 PBS stations. Lodge has secure WiFi; we didn’t use it. NPR on 88.1 (and probably others).

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a small, sloped parking area at 3,600 ft. elevation. Sites face west, with a nice view of the Cascade range. Near view is of the lodge and neighboring residences.

Lighting/Noise: Tall security lighting at the lodge keeps it very bright at night. Reasonably quiet.

Favorite Sites: No difference between sites.

Hiking/Walking: Nothing appealing from the lodge, but there are plenty of recreational opportunities around Bend. Several pleasant walks/hikes at nearby Pilot Butte.

Comments: Bend is a popular summer destination for RV’ers and recreation enthusiasts. Though parking at the lodge is very tight, it is the best deal in the area for a short-term stay. This was our second stay at this active lodge.

HI VALLEY RV PARK, BOISE, ID

2011-10-01T18:27:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. Well maintained commercial RV park on the edge of Boise with friendly, professional staff.

Date of Stay: Sept. 27-30, 2011

Weather During Stay: Warm! Daytime highs in the mid and upper 80’s; nighttime lows in the 60’s.

Site Description: Very level gravel sites, long enough for motor home and towed. All sites are arranged in long rows. Streets are wide and paved (with numerous speed bumps).

Our site (60) was in a long row of sites used to accommodate short term stays, with neighbors coming and going daily. Sites in this row were very well maintained, but quite narrow; gravel pad, narrow concrete “patio” or walkway, and a strip of grass (over which you neighbor’s slide protruded).

We had 50 amp FHU plus cable TV, with good voltage - even in the heat - and water pressure. We also had a picnic table, the same width as the concrete strip.

Several of the rows had wider sites with grass yards and small storage sheds. It appeared that these were used by semi-permanent renters (all very tidy).

Rate: With tax, $32.08 per night for 50 amp FHU and cable.

Phone/radio/TV: The Verizon signal was a little flaky, but usable. Very reliable WiFi is offered through Tengo; get a coupon for free use from the office. No obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite dish, and dozens of channels on cable TV. Local NPR on 91.5.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a flat park about 8 miles from downtown Boise at 2700’ elevation. Views are of neighbors and surrounding dry hills.

Lighting/noise: Reasonably dark at night. Quite a lot of traffic noise from a nearby state highway, sufficient to bother me with our windows open at night.

Favorite Sites: No particular favorites, as they are are similar.

Hiking/Walking: Nothing promising in or from the park, but Boise and Eagle (the small town nearby) both have very nice walking trails along the Boise River.

Comments: Odel liked this park better than I did. It is very well maintained, the green grass is appealing, and the staff are friendly. They sell propane on site, which is useful. We hadn’t stayed in a crowded commercial park for quite a while, and the tight space and nighttime noise bothered me. Close to shopping and restaurants, on a suburban edge of Boise.

MT. VIEW RV PARK, BAKER CITY, OR

2011-09-28T09:26:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. A relaxed RV park with very friendly and helpful staff.

Date of Stay: Sept. 24-26, 2011

Weather During Stay: Highs in the upper 70’s to mid-80’s, 50’s at night.

Site Description: This rustic-looking RV park has a mix of tent and FHU RV sites on level gravel and grass with plenty of large shade trees. The entrance, though a small mobile home park, isn’t glamorous, but we find the RV park meets our needs.

We were in site 123, a long 50 amp FHU site with afternoon shade and no trees blocking satellite TV access. Water pressure and voltage was good. Our site had an aging wooden picnic table.

The park’s office, store and common area buildings are “rustic western” style, and tubs of flowers bloom along the roadway. It is obvious that the owners care about the look of their comfortable RV park. Nice laundry facility, spa, small swimming pool, clean restrooms, and a small store on site. Propane sold on site.

Rate: We paid $31/night with an AAA card and discount for paying by check.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. WiFi available for $2/day; we didn’t need it. Cable TV with 40 channels. Pick a site carefully if you have a roof-mounted satellite dish as there are a lot of tall shade trees here. Local NPR on 88.9.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This flat park is in a dry area of eastern Oregon at 3,400’, Located on the edge of town, residential on one side, commercial on the other. Views are of neighbors and trees.

Lighting/noise: A few tall, bright lights keep it from total darkness at night. Mostly quiet except for 4-6 distant trains per night.

Favorite Sites: For our size rig, sites 115-127.

Hiking/Walking: Walk out the gate on the east side of the park, a couple blocks south and a few more east to find the 2.5 mile Leo Adler Memorial Trail. Follow the trail south along the bank of the Powder River into the Baker City Historic Center. Very pleasant.

Comments: Baker City is a very friendly, unpretentious town, and Mt. View RV Park is the same. There are two RV parks in town, not far from each other. We pick Mt. View because we can walk to downtown Baker City from the park. The staff here is very friendly and helpful, and the owners appear to care about the park without turning it into a resort. This was our second stay, and we would return.

PLYMOUTH PARK (COE), PLYMOUTH, WASHINGTON (ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER)

2011-09-24T14:06:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Rave. Perfect for a short stay with a Golden Age pass.

Date of Stay: Sept. 22-23, 2011

Weather During Stay: Highs in the upper 80’s, cool nighttime lows.

Site Description: Just 32 sites, mostly pullouts parallel to the loop road on both sides (only three back-ins). Fifteen sites have 30 amp water and electric; the remaining 17 sites are 30 amp FHU. Half the sites can be reserved, the remainder are first-come, first served.

The campground loop is paved, as are the level sites. Each site has a substantial picnic table and a campfire ring on gravel surrounded by grass. Plenty of shade trees. Voltage (even on a hot day) was good, as was the water pressure.

Without a reservation, we chose site 15, facing east with afternoon shade and an opening through the shade trees for our TV satellite dish. We liked it and the park so well that we decided to stay an extra day.

One bathhouse serves the park. Nice playground. Large dump station. A day use area of the park is down the road about a mile, with a swimming area and boat ramp. This campground appears to be popular with fisher folk.

Rate: $24/night for FHU; $22/night for 30 amp E and water. Since this is a COE (federal) facility, we paid just half of that with our Golden Age pass: $12/night FHU. Stay limit unknown.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish, but many did so pick carefully. No reception on the air antenna. NPR on 90.9.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This park is adjacent to the mighty Columbia River at 260’ elevation. Irrigation in the park keeps the grassy sites green, a welcome contrast to the surrounding brown scrub this time of year. Near views are of grass, trees and neighbors; distant views are of dry scrub and hills.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night except for the trains that passed nearby 3-5 times a night - which didn’t awaken either of us, though our windows were open.

Favorite Sites: Except for exposure and hookups, the sites are pretty much the same. Given the warm weather, we wanted to face east, and were looking for afternoon shade. Sites 1-16 face east; sites 17-32 face west.

Hiking/Walking: We did a few loops of the park, but the good walking is at McNary Dam, about 15 minutes away (by car) on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, 2-3 miles of pleasant nature trails and parks along the big river.

Comments: We planned this as a one night stop, on our way south. It was so restful, pleasant, and inexpensive with our GA pass that we decided to stay another day. I dithered about whether this should be rated “recommend” or “rave”, but considering we changed our plans to stay another day, it deserves a rave. We would return whenever in the area.

LINCOLN ROCK STATE PARK, EAST WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON

2011-09-23T00:08:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Rave. Beautiful green grass, trees for shade, on the banks of the mighty Columbia River.

Date of Stay: Sept. 19-21, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and warm, with a pleasant nighttime cool down.

Site Description: A total of 94 sites are arranged in 3 loops. Sites 1-27 have no utilities; sites 28 through 59 are FHU with 30 amps; sites 60-94 have water and 30 amp electric but no sewer. Roads and sites are narrow asphalt; each site has a picnic table. Voltage (even on a hot day) was good, as was the water pressure.

Most sites on the exterior of the RV loops are pullouts, fairly sharply curved. Interior sites are back-ins. Asphalt pads are only wide enough for the RV (quite narrow) and are surrounded by grass that is watered daily (be prepared to track in a LOT of grass). Most sites are quite level. Little privacy, but a pretty setting.

We chose site 83, a W/E site, for our 3-day stay. Because the weather was warm, our main criteria were shade, a site facing either north or east, and no obstacles for our TV satellite dish. Few sites were available in the FHU loop and none of them met our needs, but site 83 (without sewer) had a shot to the TV satellite and afternoon shade.

This park also has a 4 cabins. Each loop has a bathhouse with token-operated showers. A huge days use area has sports fields, a boat launch ramp, and a swimming beach. Dump station near the exit.

Rate: $27/night for 30 amp E and water. $28/night for FHU. Stay limit unknown.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish, but many did - so pick carefully. Three snowy analog stations on the air antenna. NPR on 90.3 and 90.7.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a slightly rolling park with the FHU sites at the highest elevation, around 750’. Near views are of grass, trees and neighbors; distant views are of the massive, dry hills of the Columbia River valley, dotted with deep green orchards. Very appealing.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: Looked like site 45, an FHU site with a nice view of the river, would be the winner, but there are many, many lovely sites here.

Hiking/Walking: This is a big park with nice walking paths throughout, though no trails of any distance.

Comments: This state park is very near to Wenatchee (5-6 miles away), surrounded by orchards (lots of fruit stands nearby). Reservations are strongly recommended during summer, but the reservation period ends on 9/15. There were many sites available when we visited. We would return.

SUN COUNTRY GOLF AND RV PARK, CLE ELUM, WA

2011-09-18T19:36:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend, especially if you are a golfer.

Date of Stay: September 15-18, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Two days of sunshine, two days of rain, cool nights.

Site Description: Sun Country is a small golf and housing development in the Cascades, including 14 on-site RV sites. Six of the sites are adjacent to the parking lot (with very easy parking access); the other half are accessed via a narrow road that circles the pro shop. Sites are long back-ins on gravel and grass (mostly grass), reasonably level.

All sites are FHU (20 and 50 amp in all the utility boxes I checked) with cable TV. Each has a sturdy picnic table. Spacing is comfortable.

Amenities include a putting green, a clubhouse that sells coffee and muffins, and a bathhouse, with several private, individual bathrooms (sink, toilet and shower).

Rate: Friday through Sunday, the daily rate is $34/night. Monday through Thursday, the rate drops to $29/night.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard, though the aircard access came to a screeching halt once or twice a day. Free WiFi is available in the clubhouse (we didn't use it). Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish. Cable TV with 40 channels. NPR on 90.7.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at 2,000 ft. in the Cascades just off I-90, this park has a mountain feel. Watch the comings/goings of golfers on the practice green and first tee. Views are of the course, custom built homes lining the fairways, and forested mountains beyond. Interesting and appealing.

Lighting/noise: Very dark at night, with a light hum of distant traffic on I-90 that did not bother us even with windows open. The traffic noise is more noticeable during the day but, again, not bothersome.

Favorite Sites: We found all the sites appealing. When we checked in, Pearl (front desk) told us most people prefer the sites behind the pro shop; since we had a reservation, she had given us one of those sites (site 13).

Hiking/Walking: Excellent. Quite interesting to walk through the small neighborhood of homes lining the fairways and the banks of the Yakima River. For a longer walk, pickup the Iron Horse State Park trail (on the edge of the development), a 100+ mile rail/trail developed for hiking, biking and horses.

Comments: Odel played golf the day we arrived, on a very pretty, up and down course (18 holes). Short drive to the small towns of Cle Elum (with a Safeway) and Roslyn, where Northern Exposure was filmed. We would return.

TALL CHIEF RV RESORT, FALL CITY, WASHINGTON (GREATER SEATTLE AREA)

2011-09-14T11:05:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. We won’t return, but you might love it.

Date of Stay: Sept. 8-15, 2011

Weather During Stay: A few warm days (mid-80’s) until more typical temperatures returned; mild nighttime lows.

Site Description: Tall Chief RV Resort used to be a Thousand Trails Preserve, and feels more like a rustic state park than a typical commercial park - but with some extra amenities.

In a canopy of heavy forest and very tall trees, 176 site have water and electricity (about 20 of the sites have 50 amps, the rest have 30 amps). Site size/length varies, but most are large and most a quite level. Many have a substantial picnic table. Most are very private, buried in tall trees.

Sites are on thin grass, moss and leaves. Roads throughout the park are dirt and gravel; at the time of our visit, they were dry and extremely dusty.

To visit friends, we had reserved a site for a week. Sites are first-come/first-served. When you check in, you get a map of the park, along with a list of which sites have 50 amps and which sites MIGHT allow you to use your roof-mounted TV satellite dish. After touring all the “TV satellite might work” sites (all full), we settled into a 50 amp site, 174 - large and level (top photo).

The forest canopy was so dense that we had to have lights on inside even at mid-day. After four days in the gloom, I couldn’t take it any longer. With map in hand, we walked the entire park looking for a site with an open aspect to the southern sky, and found one not on the “satellite TV” list and not taken. We moved to site 59, large and level, with 30 amps (somewhat unstable), some sunshine, and a narrow shot through the trees to the TV satellite. The trade-off? Site 59 is adjacent to the road to the office, more heavily used and dust-laden.

No sites have sewers, but there is a large, centrally located dump station. A honey wagon is available for a fee ($25, I believe) and makes a scheduled run twice a week (sign up at the office).

The park has a common area away from the dusty roads with a large, clean, swimming pool; an indoor hot tub; play ground; and pool tables. The office and clubhouse are in another location, with a TV lounge (old TV, converter box, no batteries in remote control); vending machine; book trading library; and jigsaw puzzles.

Rate: We booked a week-long stay at a “special“ price of $149.00. By the time taxes and other fees were added, the total was $188, almost $27/night for a rustic, W/E site.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. As far as I know, WiFi is not offered (if it is, it didn’t reach to our sites). We got two or three channels on our air antenna in our first site; none in our second site; no cable TV and you’re VERY LUCKY to be able to use a roof-mounted satellite dish. We saw several mobile satellite dishes set up on the shoulder of the dusty road. Local NPR on 88.5.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a hilly park! Elevation is probably around 300’. Very heavily forested, the exception being the swimming pool area. The forest makes for good privacy, but lots of gloom and no distant views.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: None.

Hiking/Walking: This is a large, hilly park, so walking for a little exercise is pleasant.

Comments: Tall Chief has changed hands, from Thousand Trails to Encore, so is no longer a membership-only park. Staff was friendly and seem to be making an effort to improve the camping experience (like adding speed bumps to the dusty road).

The campground was no more than ¼ full when we visited. If you like rustic, densely forested parks, this one works and it probably would be great for a family camping experience (good place for kids).

I found it overwhelmingly gloomy and claustrophobic, and the lack of a sewer hookup and any TV service made a one week stay seem too long. We were here to visit friends in the park, and we all felt that the two-times-a-week honey wagon service should be provided as part of the camping fee. We would not return, but I can imagine others would enjoy the rustic camping experience.

TAIDNAPAM PARK, GLENOMA (NEAR MORTON), WA

2011-09-08T13:52:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. This nicely developed campground makes a good base camp for exploring Mt. Rainier National Park and the east side of Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Date of Stay: Sept. 6-7, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and warm, with a pleasant nighttime cool down.

Site Description: This park, owned by Tacoma Power, was expanded within the past couple years to double the number of RV sites. Originally 51 sites, now the park has 96 FHU sites (perhaps a dozen have 50 amps), 43 W/E (30 amp) sites, and 24 walk-in tent sites.

Sites in the old (original) loop are more heavily forested, but all sites in both loops are in trees. Roads are paved, all RV sites are paved, and most sites are very level. Pull-through sites are curved pullouts along site the road; the back-in sites are a little better suited for large rigs.

We picked site 215, a long, level back-in which happened to be one of the 50 amp sites, a nice surprise. Sites spacing is good, and each site has a substantial picnic table and a fire ring,

The park has flush toilets, private (coin operated) shower rooms, an abundance of trash cans, and a big, clean, double dump station. Voltage and water pressure are good. Roads are paved and easy to navigate (slowly) in a big rig. The campground is near Riffe Lake; the park has a boat launch and a fishing bridge.

Rate: $28 per night for full hookups. $5 per night discount for seniors (age 62+) or disabled (quite a few ADA-compliant sites)! We paid $23/night for 50 amp FHU. Stay limited to 10 consecutive days in summer; 10 days out of 30 days the rest of the year. Reservations and information are available at www.tacomapower.com/parks.

Phone/radio/TV: Though on “extended network”, our Verizon phones and aircard work here. Very few (if any) sites have a clear sky view for a roof-mounted satellite TV dish. No stations on the air antenna; no local NPR station.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a flat park at 800’ elevation. Lots of tall evergreens. Views are of neighbors (we didn’t have any), forest, and scampering squirrels.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: Our site, 215, was very long, very level, very roomy - but many others were equally nice.

Hiking/Walking: This big park is pleasant for walking - to the fishing bridge, the day use area, and the swimming area of the lake. Quite a few mosquitoes at dawn and dusk during our stay. We did our hiking at Mt. Rainier National Park, where the trails are unlimited.

Comments: No doubt fisher folk and boaters love this park. We came to visit Mt. Rainier, and it made a very comfortable base camp for our explorations. The small town of Morton, 8 miles west, had a very well stocked small grocery store, Morton Country Store, along with a post office and a few restaurants.

LEWIS & CLARK GOLF & RV PARK, ASTORIA, OR

2011-09-05T15:07:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Rave. We got what we paid for at this small, pretty park on the outskirts of Astoria.

Date of Stay: The Labor Day holiday weekend, September 2 through 5, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Unusually sunny and warm in Astoria, a real treat for us. Cool nights and morning fog that burned off reasonably early.

Site Description: We sprung for a “premium” site for this stay, adjacent to the green grass of a pretty, 9-hole golf course. Utilities are situated so motor homes can pull in head first, facing the green expanse of the golf course. Great setup, and a huge site, totally level.

Behind our row of 8 premium sites, 21 large, level FHU sites are arranged in two rows, 10 pull-through sites and 11 back-in sites adjacent to the road. Another row of premium sites adjacent to another fairway have been added recently, 10 or so?

Roads are paved; all sites are gravel with manicured grass between sites. Spacing is good for a commercial RV park, particularly the premium sites. No picnic tables or fire rings. A large (very large) grassy area is provided for walking leashed pets.

Rate: We paid $41/night for our premium site. Seems a reasonable price for the amenities and location compared with other commercial parks we have visited this summer. Golfing is $15 for 9 holes, $20 to go around twice.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. They have WiFi (don’t know whether it is included in the fee or not), but we didn’t use it. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish. Cable TV with dozens of stations. NPR on 89.7.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This sea level park is completely flat. Views are of other rigs, the golf course, and the forest beyond. Very appealing.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We loved our roomy site (A11) with its great golf course view. A10 looked even larger. We would not want to be in one of the back in sites adjacent to the road, B11 through B21 (though I’m sure the price is lower for these).

Hiking/Walking: Good for golfers! Plenty of good walking within a short drive, though.

Comments: We were happy we had chosen this park for our Labor Day holiday stay. Well managed, attractive, quiet, close to all that the Astoria area has to offer - which is a lot.

L.L. “STUB” STEWART STATE PARK - BANKS, OR (NW CORNER OF OREGON)

2011-09-05T14:23:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Rave. Huge level sites, FHU, and unlimited hiking.

Date of Stay: Sept. 1, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and warm, with a pleasant nighttime cool down.

Site Description: Seventy-eight 50 amp FHU sites (almost all back-ins) are arranged around two loop roads, 43 in the west loop and 35 in the east loop. All sites are HUGE, with large gravel pads. Generous spacing between sites. Most of the sites are very level. The west loop also has a separate tent camping area (12 sites).

In both campground loops, sites angle off the loop road on both sides. The east loop is very open; lots of sunshine and not much privacy. The west loop has a thick row of trees running through the center of the loop, so sites on both the inside and outside of the road back up to trees, providing a lot more privacy. Flush toilets and hot showers in each loop. Each site has a substantial picnic table and a fire pit.

We choose site 49 in the west loop, facing east to capture the warmth of the morning sun and some afternoon shade from the trees at the back of our site. Voltage and water pressure are good.

Roads are paved and easy to navigate (slowly) in a big rig. There is a playground in the east loop. Just one collection point for trash and recycling, across from the “Welcome Center” as you enter the park.

This park also has a horse camp with 16 FHU sites and other amenities, and a “cabin village” of 12 one-room cabins and 3 two room cabins.

Rate: $26/night for FHU. Stay limit unknown.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. WiFi was not working at the time of our visit. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish. No stations on the air antenna; no local NPR station.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a hilly park! Elevation is probably around 500’. Most areas are heavily forested - the exception being the camping and cabin areas.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We loved our site, so big, level, and sunny. We preferred the west loop, where the trees in the center provide much more privacy than the open east loop.

Hiking/Walking: The are trails everywhere in the park, for hikers, bikers and equestrians. The centerpiece is the paved, 21-mile Vernonia/Banks State Trail. A park brochure includes distance and difficulty information for all the trails.

Comments: This fairly new park is a gem, with some of the largest sites we’ve seen in a state park. Very friendly, helpful hosts. As the photos show, the grass was dry and brown this time of year, but the park was appealing nonetheless. Reservations can be made online, but very few sites were full on the day we visited during the week.

NEWPORT ELKS LODGE, NEWPORT, OR

2011-08-18T21:53:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral - but we would not be likely to return. Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: August 16, 17, 18, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Beautiful sunshine, cool temperatures - and WIND at the beach..

Sites: 8 back-in sites on asphalt behind the lodge building. All sites have 30 amp E, water, and cable TV. Rather narrow sites (no room for your awning if you have neighbors) are sloped to varying degrees; we used boards on the passenger side to level sufficiently.

Rate: $15/night for W/E and cable TV. No dump station. Stay limit 7 days.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon phone and aircard signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite dish, and cable TV is provided. NPR on 90.5 FM.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This lodge sits on the side of a hill above the marina and old Bayfront area of Newport between a residential neighborhood and a heavily trafficked commercial street. Most of the RV sites are not level, but we managed to settle in comfortably. Views are of neighboring rigs, the back of the lodge, and nearby houses.

Lighting/Noise: A major east/west state highway traverses the hillside just above the RV parking. Lots of daytime traffic noise, and occasional very noisy trucks or motorcycles during the night. If you click on the top photo, you can spot the cab of a truck passing by on the road, just above our motorhome (the one with the white solar screen).

Favorite Sites: None of them are great! Sites 5 and 6 look reasonably level and longer, but face directly to the back of the lodge. The photos look a bit nicer than the actual sites.

Hiking/Walking: We walked down the steep hill to the boardwalk along the marina. Quite a hike back, but there is a bus that heads up the hill.

Comments: We would recommend this Elks parking only if you really want/need to be in Newport and are not willing to pay the high prices commanded by local RV parks - fees above $40/night are not unusual. An nearby asphalt plant (or similar) puffs out a foul odor a couple of times a day, and there is considerable urban noise. Next time, we’d stay at the nicer Elks parking in either Florence (south) or Lincoln City (north), or bite the bullet and pay the higher rate at an RV park. Still, we commend the Newport Elks for making this budget-priced parking available to traveling Elks. Probably the best deal in town.

SILVER SPUR RV PARK, SILVERTON, OR

2011-08-18T19:09:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. If you are a Passport America member, the price is very good.

Date of Stay: August 14-15, 2011

Weather During Stay: Beautiful sunshine without too much heat.

Site Description: Sites here are well designed for easy pull-through, with grass between the sites and a dedicated spot to park your tow/towed at the back of each site. Our site had FHU, 30 and 50 amps, plus cable TV. Each site had a picnic table, and sites are reasonable roomy for a commercial park.

Interior roads and sites are gravel/dirt, so a little dusty in dry weather. Getting into the park and your site is easy; getting out is a little less easy. Signs indicate that you are not to use the entrance road as an exit, but many big rigs did - making a left turn from the designated exit (to head west on Hwy 213) was next to impossible in a big rig.

It’s a big park (134 sites) with nice facilities including a couple of ponds, short walking trails, and a very large lodge/office building. Price includes good WiFi.

Rate: $17/night for Passport America (minimal restrictions apply); twice that otherwise.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. We used their WiFi while here, and it was usually reasonably fast. No obstacles for roof-mounted satellite dish, and they offered dozens of stations on cable TV. We also got many local stations on the air antenna. NPR on 91.5.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Level park in a semi-rural area. Views are of neighbors and distant trees.

Lighting/Noise: Considering the proximity to a major county road, this park was pleasingly quiet, and was reasonably dark at night (low lighting).

Favorite Sites: No favorites here. Our site, 38, faced NW, so our patio side was shaded in the afternoon.

Hiking/Walking: The park has a short walking trail around the ponds (we saw a Blue Heron). You could walk into downtown Silverton (1 mile) and to Safeway (¼ mile or so?).

Comments: This is a good home base for exploring the Oregon Garden, Salem (Oregon’s capitol) or making a trip to Silver Falls State Park (15 miles away). We had a pleasant stay at a very reasonable price.

KELSO-LONGVIEW ELKS LODGE, KELSO, WA

2011-08-11T16:04:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: August 9 and 10, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Overcast mornings, partly cloudy afternoons. Moderate temperatures.

Sites: 13 pull-through sites on level dirt/gravel (one site might be occupied by a host?) in two rows. All sites have 30 amp E, water, and cable TV. Get a key for your electric box from the Elks office when you register.

No trees; all sites have open exposure. Sites are large enough for big rigs, but very narrow - just enough room for slides and steps. Tow and towed vehicles fit sideways behind or in front of sites.

The lodge has a large, paved parking lot that is convenient for unhooking a towed vehicle before entering the fenced RV campground, which requires careful maneuvering if the campground is full. Watch for potholes in and entering the campground.

Rate: $15/night for W/E and cable TV, includes use of the dump station (located in the campground; a little tricky to access). Stay limit 7 days May through August; 14 days September through April. 7 days out before re-entry.

Phone/radio/TV: Reasonable Verizon phones and aircard signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite dish. 20 +/- stations on cable TV. Lodge has WiFi in the lounge; the motel next door has open WiFi accessible from the campsites. NPR from Seattle on 104.7 FM.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a small, flat parking area at sea level. Sites face southeast, into a row of trees and beyond to a motel and the back of a Safeway grocery store.

Lighting/Noise: Reasonably dark and quiet at night; typical urban noises, including background noise from nearby I-5.

Favorite Sites: No difference between sites.

Hiking/Walking: Walk to Safeway, Three Rivers Mall (Target) and chain restaurants. For a longer (and pleasant) walk, drive east on Allen Street, under I-5. Pass Brookhollow Mobile Home Park, and park in a small lot on the right at the end of a levee immediately past the entrance to Brookhollow RV Park. Walk along the gravel trail on the grassy levee to Tam-O-Shanter Park. Excellent hiking at Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Comments: Though this parking is nothing special (and quite tight when full), services are good, the price is right, and the location is handy when traveling the I-5 corridor or for visiting Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. This was our third or fourth stop here, and the first time we have seen the campsites full - the Elks Annual Golf Tournament (held on their own beautiful golf course a few miles away) began on Thursday. The nearby Safeway store has a gas station that is big-rig accessible.

SEQUIM ELKS LODGE, SEQUIM, WASHINGTON (OLYMPIC PENINSULA)

2011-08-09T16:23:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: August 7 and 8, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Cool, gloomy, foggy mornings, sunny afternoons.

Sites: 20 RV sites are back to back in two long rows facing east and west on a large, grassy field. All sites have 30 amp E and water. There are a couple of trees, but most sites are the open. Sites are suitable for big rigs, and wide enough for slides, awnings and parking a towed vehicle.

Easy access through the lodge parking lot to the RV sites in back. Lots of room for dry camping, or parking a cargo trailer or boat. This is a quiet neighborhood with a rural feel.

Rate: $18/night for W/E. No dump station available (we heard there is one nearby, but we didn’t need it).

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon phones and aircard signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite dish in most sites. We didn’t use our antenna. Local NPR on 91.1 FM (and others).

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a very level, flat, grassy area only slightly above sea level. Views are of other rigs and the lodge, with forested mountains in the distance. Pleasant neighborhood.

Lighting/Noise: Quiet at night; we weren't bothered by lights at night.

Favorite Sites: Not much difference between the sites, so pick according to whether you prefer to face east or west.

Hiking/Walking: There is a paved parcourse/walking trail less than ½ mile from the lodge. Lots of hiking in Olympic National Park, or at nearby county parks.

Comments: We use this spacious park as a base for day trips into Olympic National Parks. Easy in and out, spacious, quiet - works great for us.

POINT HUDSON MARINA & RV PARK, PORT TOWNSEND, WA

2011-08-04T15:12:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral? Recommend? We have mixed feelings. A somewhat scruffy campground – crowded when full - with good services, in a fabulous location. The great weather was important for a fun stay.

Date of Stay: August 1-4, 2011

Weather During Stay: Beautiful sunny days, or morning clouds and afternoon sunshine, occasional fog. Highs around 70, lows around 50.

Site Description: The site we reserved (340) was wide and level, with a front view out over the water towards Ft. Casey on Whidbey Island. Too bad for us, the neighboring site (341) was quite narrow, so we had a VERY close neighbor for most of our stay.

The 46 sites are priced according to size and view. Two sites are dry camping; the remaining 44 sites are level FHU (30 amps) on scruffy beach grass and/or gravel, with good cable TV and reasonably fast WiFi included in the fees. Picnic tables are scattered around. No fire rings. Roads (paved) are very narrow, designed way before big rigs were invented!

Sites are either “on the point” (of the small peninsula where the park is located) or “in the loop”, two rows west of the point, and are priced according to location. Sites 338 through 347 are in the front row of the Loop, with an unobstructed view; the view from the second row is blocked by those of us in the first row. Seven of the 24 sites on the Point are designated “waterfront” and are parallel to the water; for those you pay a premium price. The remaining sites on the point have somewhat obstructed views. (Click here to see map.)

The campground is part of a much larger complex that includes a small marina, the port administration building, a couple of restaurants, etc., all in historic old wooden buildings. It is an interesting and busy place, with open access to the public - people come to walk the beach, launch kayaks, bird watch, sit on benches watching the watercraft go by and generally enjoy the waterside ambiance. Campsites are amongst it all.

Rate: $52/night for point waterfront sites. $35/night for non-waterfront point sites and for the first row (waterfront) of the loop (this included our site). $27/night for the second row of the loop. 2 weeks maximum stay. Winter rates are lower ($35/$30/$27), with no stay limit (Oct-April). The two dry camp sites are $20 year round. Add a $7 reservation fee.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. We used their WiFi while here, and it was usually reasonably fast. No obstacles for roof-mounted satellite TV dish, and they offered dozens of stations on cable TV. NPR on 88.5 from Seattle.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a sea-level park with a northern beach feel. GREAT views of water and boats of all sizes. We were blessed with sunshine, so could see massive, snow-covered Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier, along with many peaks of the Cascade range, in the distance. Our waterfront site was expansive; views from many of the other sites would be less appealing.

Lighting/Noise: Moderate night lighting, but our very nearby neighbor liked to leave his porch light on (20 feet from our bedroom). Very quiet at night except for the occasional foghorn or bell and raucous seagulls. Quite a bit of daytime noise, human and vehicular.

Favorite Sites: We liked the sites in the front row of the loop - great views, and most were reasonably wide. Our favorites were 338, 339, 344, 345, 346 and 347. If you don’t mind paying more, the seven premium “point” sites run parallel to the water, so have a neighbor on just one side… but for $52? Too steep for us.

Hiking/Walking: Great. Walk the rocky beach (clear to Ft. Worden State Park, possibly) or anywhere in Port Townsend.

Comments: This campground is all about location, location, location. Great waterfront access and views, on the far end of the charming town of Port Townsend at the tip of the Olympic Peninsula. The park itself, though, is nothing special; narrow roads, some crowding, and lots of road and foot traffic. With the lovely weather we had during our stay, I really enjoyed the park. Bad weather would be a really disappointment, because the view is what makes this park worth the price. I would return for the view and easy access to Port Townsend; Odel preferred the Port Townsend Elks Lodge or the Escapee Park in Chimacum, 6 or 8 miles away.

STAYSAIL RV PARK, OAK HARBOR, WA

2011-07-21T12:26:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend - a very reasonable price for a great central location.

Date of Stay: July 18-31, 2011 (we came for 5 days, ended up staying for 2 weeks).

Weather During Stay: All the locals bemoan the “missing summer”, as it has been cool and mostly cloudy much of the time with frequent showers and intermittent sunny days. With most of the rest of the country setting heat records, we’re happy with our cool temperatures.

Site Description: 56 FHU sites (30 amps) are arranged in the shape of an L, with one road running north/south, the other east/west. Roads are asphalt, all sites are level gravel back-ins, and each site has a substantial picnic table.

On the N/S leg (photo above), sites are arranged in two rows that face each other across the access road; on the E/W leg (photo below), sites back up to each other within the loop access road. Though the campground wasn’t built for big rigs, we all managed to squeeze ourselves in comfortably.

The campground (Staysail RV Park) is part of - and immediately adjacent to - Windjammer Park, an Oak Harbor city park. Though the campsites are close together (large enough for slides and awnings), the views across green grass lawns and out to the water provide a feeling of spaciousness.

Rate: $20/night for FHU (30 amps), a very good price for this area, where many RV parks charge in excess of $30/night this time of year. First come, first served. No reservations taken. Self pay at the kiosk at the south end of the N/S road. Tent sites can be used for overflow ($12/night) only if all the FHU sites are filled. Thirty day stay limit - don’t know if/how it is enforced.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. Roof mounted satellite TV dish will work in the spaces on the N/S road, but probably not on the E/W loop, where big trees to the south are likely to block the signal. We didn’t try the air antenna. NPR from Seattle on 88.5. No park-provided WiFi.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a flat park at sea level. Lots of green space and paved walking paths through the adjacent city park. Views are of neighboring rigs, trees, grassy expanses and the waters of Penn Cove. Families picnicking, sailboats sailing by, kids skateboarding, dogs walking, kites in the air - the public aspect of the city park offers a lot of action.

Lighting/Noise: Though there is quite a bit of daytime activity - and attendant noise - during the day, our site was very quiet at night. We appreciated our blackout shades here.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 16, which seemed to us to be one of the nicest in the park, situated at the south end of the row with an expansive view of the park rather than other rigs. On the other hand, we were just across from the dump station and self-pay kiosk and facing the Windjammer park parking lot, so it was exceptionally busy in our area. Most of the bigger rigs were in the N/S row, probably for satellite TV reception.

Hiking/Walking: A walking trail runs from Windjammer Park for 3 miles, out to a point across the water, a 6 mile round trip. Since the park is IN the small city of Oak Harbor, you can walk to grocery stores, downtown, all sorts of services.

Comments: We love first-come, first-served parks and decided to stay longer than anticipated as soon as we settled into our site. Because the campground is part of a city day-use park, there are a lot of people in the area, coming and going. We felt secure here, but didn’t feel it was a good idea to leave anything temptingly loose outside the rig overnight (like the grill).

Oak Harbor is in a central location on Whidbey Island, with easy access to several state parks and trails, to the ferry to downtown Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula, to Anacortes and the ferries to the San Juan Islands, to great eating in Coupeville, to charming La Conner… LOTS to explore from here.

HOWARD MILLER STEELHEAD PARK, ROCKPORT, WA

2011-07-16T12:01:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Rave, if you don‘t mind partial hookups.

Date of Stay: July 13-17, 2011

Weather During Stay: Cool and damp. Frequent rain, showers or downpours. Limited sunshine. Photos were taken during the short periods of sunshine.

Site Description: Forty-five or so RV sites in a beautiful green park adjacent to the Skagit River. Thirty of the sites are arranged in circular groups of ten, like spokes on a wheel, on mostly level graveled pads, with large expenses of grass surrounding each circle. Other sites (paved) are near the river, including the 7 pull-through sites. Most sites are suitable for big rigs.

All the RV sites have at least 30 amps and water; sites 40-49 have 50 amps as well as 30 amps. All sites have a substantial picnic table and a fire ring.

Two restrooms with showers; dump station; separate tent sites alongside the river; a covered pavilion for groups; a couple camping shelters that look like they are used by bicyclers; a boat launch area; a day use area with interesting historic information.

Rate: $26/night for 30 amps; $28/night for 50 amps.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. Roof mounted satellite TV dish will work in most sites, though perhaps not those closest to the river. We didn’t try the air antenna. No local NPR station. No park-provided WiFi.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: BEAUTIFUL park, extremely well maintained, 240 feet elevation. Though most of the countryside around here is thickly forested, the park has been cleared - very welcome in the drizzly weather we encountered. Lots of grass, lots of planted deciduous trees, with evergreen forest borders. Views are of other rigs, grass, trees… and the river if you have one of the adjacent sites.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night. Most of the park is unlit or has low lighting; lights on the restrooms are on all night long.

Favorite Sites: Any of the sites in the circles (20-49), big, level gravel sites. Sites 8 and 10 are our favorites of the riverside sites. 16-19 were the least appealing to us (on sloped grass), can be difficult to access and are the last to fill.

Hiking/Walking: Great walking west of the park on a mowed grass trail through a wild area. You can walk for miles from the park (trailhead well marked on the west end).

Comments: Howard Miller Steelhead County Park is a beautiful park in a very small town. Reservations RECOMMENDED if you want to stay on a weekend - two rallies were going on over the weekend we were here, though parking was wide open during the week. Park staff is particularly helpful; knowing we wanted to stay over the weekend, they kept us in the loop for cancellations. Though we had to move to another site, we were able to stay. We found this to be a good, lower elevation campground to explore North Cascades National Park.

RIVERBEND RV PARK, TWISP, WA

2011-07-12T17:27:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend - EXCEPT FOR THE MOSQUITOS!

Date of Stay: July 9-12 , 2011

Weather During Stay: Pleasant, mild, mostly sunny; clouded up and sprinkled the last day.

Site Description: This grassy riverside park has a wide variety of sites: 53 FHU with 20/30/50 amps (21 of them facing the river); 8 riverside W/E sites; and a nice tent area. Each site has a substantial picnic table and campfire ring.

Roads are paved, pads are gravel. Lots of trees and grass throughout the campground. We had site 13, one of the 21 level pull-in sites facing the Methow River. How nice it is to find a site designed for a motor home to take advantage of the view! Some sites have park models on them, and a few mobile homes are in the row nearest the road.

Rate: With a Good Sam discount (even though our membership had expired) and including tax, we paid $31.90 per night.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phone and aircard. The park offers free Wifi, but we didn’t try it. We had asked for, and were given, a site with southern exposure for our roof mounted TV satellite dish. Five or six snowy analog TV stations available on the air antenna, including a PBS station. We didn’t pick up any digital TV stations. NPR on 91.9.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Located in a canyon on a level property between the road and the Methow River at 1700 feet elevation, the riverfront sites offer an appealing view of the river, its grassy banks, and the trees and hills beyond. The overall feel is cool and green.

Lighting/Noise: Quiet and dark at night. Though adjacent to the road, there is very little nighttime traffic.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 13, very appealing. These pull-in/back-out sites are great for motor homes.

Hiking/Walking: Nothing special here in the park, but we did a couple great hikes in the surrounding wilderness areas while here.

Comments: This park has a lot to love (pretty, well maintained, friendly management), but our stay was marred by the mosquitos. RV’ing friends told us they left after one night; we probably would have cut our stay in half had we realized that we were “confined to quarters” morning and evening by the miserable bloodsuckers. The morning the grass was mowed, we had dozens of mosquitos clinging to our window screens, and we had to go on a search and destroy mission each time we came into the motor home. No outdoor grilling, no outdoor relaxing. Its not the park’s fault, but if you plan to make a reservation here, you might want to ask about the mosquito population. Very unfortunate.

WENATCHEE RIVER COUNTY PARK, MONITOR, WA (ADJACENT TO WENATCHEE).

2011-07-09T21:59:00.002-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend, if you want close proximity to Wenatchee.
Date of Stay: July 7-8, 2011
Weather During Stay: A very hot afternoon when we first arrived dropped a welcome 15 degrees when a cool front blew in that evening.
Site Description: 47 spacious, level sites well suited to large rigs. Only 3 sites are pull-throughs (and are some of the least appealing sites in the park). 43 sites are FHU (20/30/50 amps); 4 sites are W/E only. Good voltage, strong water pressure. All roads are paved, as are the sites. Most of the sites (40 back-ins) are arranged in circular groups of ten, like spokes on a wheel. Plenty of space, grass and trees around each of these sites.
No tents are allowed in this park. There is a grassy dog run area, and plenty of playground equipment for kids. Nice day use area adjacent to the campground.
Rate: $29/night for FHU, going up in 2012 to $30, I think.
Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. We were not able to get a satellite TV signal on our roof-mounted antenna because of the tall trees to our south, but this would not be a problem in some of the sites (those closer to the river). We tried the air antenna, but only picked up one station, snowy analog. NPR on 90.3.
Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: At 700 ft. elevation, this park is so close to Wenatchee as to be considered urban, unfortunately impacted by noise from heavy traffic on Hwy 2. It is visually very appealing, with large swathes of well maintained lawn and huge trees to provide welcome shade. The Wenatchee River flows adjacent to the park. Our view (from a north facing pull-through) was of the overflow/storage parking lot, a row of trees, and the rushing traffic beyond. Views from the back-in sites are considerably more appealing.
Lighting/Noise: Night lighting is pleasantly dim. Highway noise is noticeable until quite late. Trains pass on the other side of the river occasionally.

Favorite Sites: We had site 42, one of the three north facing, less appealing, pull-through sites. If we had a choice (too late, by the time we called for a reservation - highly recommended, by the way), we would reserve one of the sites closest to the river in camp area A, B, or C: 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 24. Camp area D is less appealing than A-C.
Hiking/Walking: No trails from the park that we found, but there are a lot of recreational opportunities in Wenatchee, including a long, paved Riverwalk.
Comments: This county park was quite attractive, and very convenient for the errands we wanted to run in the urban area. It was full while we were there, and apparently usually is in spring, summer, and fall. It seemed to be very well maintained and managed; our stay was pleasant. If we were planning to stay in the area longer for sightseeing (plenty to do here), we would be likely to try for a site at one of the nearby state parks, hoping to escape the traffic noise.

TUCANNON RIVER RV PARK, DAYTON, WA (CLOSEST TOWN IS TINY STARBUCK, WA)

2011-07-07T00:07:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. This spacious park worked well for an overnight stop.

Date of Stay: July 6th, 2011

Weather During Stay: Hot! 95 degrees at 2 pm, 75 at 9 pm.

Site Description: 33 very spacious, level sites can handle the largest RV’s. Entrance, interior roads, and pads are gravel. Sites are separated by green lawns; most sites have a tree or two. All sites are pull-throughs, and all have 20/30/50 amp FHU. Good strong voltage. Very well maintained.

Rate: Normal price is $22/night; we paid $11.00 with Passport America, good for one night only. A real bargain at that rate, as we ran two AC units all day long. WiFi included.

Phone/radio/TV: NO Verizon signal, so no phones or aircard. NO FM radio stations at all. Good signal for the free campground WiFi (down when we arrived, but repaired by evening and then quite reliable). Because the sites are so spacious, we had no trouble getting the satellite TV signal. We didn’t try the air antenna.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: At 750 ft. elevation, this RV park is located in a wide canyon next to the Tucannon River. This time of year, the green grass of the park is only possible due to irrigation, and is a pleasing oasis in the otherwise dry, brown, barren landscape of Washington’s Palouse. Views are of neighboring rigs, the green grass and trees of the pack, and barren, rocky outcrops to the north, trees bordering the river to the south.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night.

Favorite Sites: We had site 25, close to the clean, roomy, cinderblock restrooms. No favorite sites here - they are all LONG, level, and essentially the same.

Hiking/Walking: Printed information says there is a rustic trail along the river, but it was too hot for us to search it out.

Comments: This was just an overnight stop for us, rather remote - we picked it because it honored Passport America so the price was right. We were surprised by how nice the park is. On the Tucannon River, not far from the Snake, it probably appeals greatly to fisher folk. Nice, quiet, friendly park, well maintained.

5 PEAKS RV PARK, JOSEPH, OREGON

2011-06-29T12:44:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Rave, if you have a self-contained RV. Tiny (6 spaces), beautifully maintained, one block off the Main Street of Joseph.

Date of Stay: June 23-July 5, 2011

Weather During Stay: Mountain-style summer weather - sun, clouds, rain, warmth, cold, wind, calm.

Site Description: 6 sites arranged in an L shape on a small, level, gravel lot. All sites are FHU with cable TV. Our site (site 1) had 50 amps, but apparently is the only one that does. Each site has a sturdy picnic table.

All sites backup to a wooden fence, so views are better for motor homes than for trailers. On a cul du sac at the end of a gravel road, there is sufficient space for easy maneuvering of large rigs. Lots of trees and flowers in the immediate area, and a clean, easy to use recycling station next to the small dumpster.

5 Peaks RV Park is intended for self-contained RV’s only: no restrooms, no showers, no laundry facilities. This is not the place for tent or van camping.

Rate: The park has an interesting and unusual fee scale, starting at $30/night. $120 pays for 6 nights (so if you pay $30/night for the first 4 nights, you might as well stay 6!) and each additional night is $20. The monthly rate is $325. We paid $20/night, the “6 days+“ rate, a very good price.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard, and a good signal on the free campground WiFi. 38 channels on cable TV. NPR on 89.5.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: The small town of Joseph is at the end of a long road at the foot of the snow-capped (even in late June) Wallowa Mountains. Elevation is 4,150 feet. The near view from the park is of the owners small home and yard, and beyond to looming mountaintops over the trees, flowers, and small homes of Joseph. Enchanting!

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night.

Favorite Sites: We had Site 1, closest to the owner’s home, and enjoyed it. Site 2 is the most spacious site, and site 3 is nestled in the corner of the L. Sites 4-6 face west.

Hiking/Walking: Enjoyable walking all around this appealing town. Walk to the small (but well-supplied) grocery store, or stop by the bakery for fresh coffee and pastries in the morning. Wallowa Lake State Park is 6 miles farther south; pleasant walking there. Drive a bit farther to hike the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

Comments: The first time we came to Joseph, we stayed in the pretty state park - but no cell service, no WiFi. That’s fine when we are vacationing, but for a longer-term stay, we like all the amenities of home - including modern communications. 5 Peaks is the best of all possible worlds for us - tiny, friendly, beautifully maintained - and we enjoy the in-town convenience. Very accommodating owners.

EAGLES HOT LAKE RV PARK, LA GRANDE, OREGON

2011-06-24T13:26:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. A spacious, well-managed RV park in a rural area near La Grande.

Date of Stay: June 21-22nd, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and hot one day; thunderstorms and cool the next. The park had been underwater 3 weeks ago with rain and snowmelt!

Site Description: 100 FHU sites are arranged in two areas flanking the spacious entrance to the park. Some sites are on gravel, others are on grass, but the overwhelming impression of the park is of a large, grassy meadow with ponds, landscaping, and lots and lots of parking for RV. Plenty of room for rigs of any size here, and tenters have a shady, grassy spot away from the RV‘s.

Our site had 50 amps, but not all do. We faced a high, grassy hill, and when we made the reservation, the staffer thoughtfully asked if we have a roof-mounted TV satellite dish - apparently the hill presents an obstacle for satellite reception if you are in the row closest to the hill. Our site was on the west side of the entrance, where each site had a sturdy picnic table. The grassy area to the east of the entrance was being used for a huge club rally and I’m not sure whether those sites had picnic tables. Small (immature) trees are scattered through the sites.

Other amenities: laundry, recycling, small store in the office, grassy, shaded common areas, ponds, restrooms and showers. The pool and hot tub were closed due to the earlier flooding.

Rate: $30/night; 10% discount for AAA, Good Sam and Military.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard, and a good signal on the free campground WiFi. Per staff, the tall hill to the south can provide an obstacle to the signal. Several TV stations (including PBS) are available on the air antenna. NPR on 90.3.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This park sits in a low valley (2,720 ft. elevation) in eastern Oregon, an area of rolling range with mountains to the east and west. The park is in a rural setting, separated from the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area by the gravel entrance road. Lots of birds and morning birdsong, including the strange warble of the Sand Hill cranes. Expansive views to the north, distant mountains to the west and east, and a very high hill to the south. Quite appealing.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night. A train track about ¼ or ½ mile away is very active, but the sound was quite muted - rather pleasant.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 60 and enjoyed it very much - quite roomy. Most sites here are similar, though; I didn’t see any that were objectionable.

Hiking/Walking: Do several loops around the park for plenty of exercise, or walk west on the gravel road (Hot Lake Lane) along Ladd Marsh. VERY little traffic. Ladd Marsh is reputed to have good walking/birding trails.

Comments: In our short stay, we visited the Farmer’s Market in La Grande (small but good), visited the historic Hot Lake Resort next door (being renovated), and drove The Grande Tour, a scenic route though small towns and historic sites in the Grande Ronde valley - barely scratched the surface of all there is to do here. DON’T trust your GPS for directions if coming from the south unless you don’t mind a drive of several miles on a washboard gravel road - ask the staff for directions instead.

GRANT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS RV PARK, JOHN DAY, OREGON

2011-06-20T21:54:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Great price for FHU in a quiet and appealing setting.

Date of Stay: June 19-20, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and mild, cool at night.

Site Description: 25 paved, level RV sites, half back-ins, the remainder pull-throughs. Most are suitable for big rigs. Each has 20/30/50 amps, water and sewer, along with a picnic table. Lots of tall trees to provide shade. The RV park is adjacent to a large grassy area where tenters can camp. Restrooms and showers are available.

Rate: $20/night. Sites can be reserved in advance (and apparently often are, for the various events held at the fairgrounds.) Self-register at the kiosk as you enter the RV park – where you can also check to see which sites are reserved in the coming days.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard. Choose your site carefully if you have a roof-mounted TV satellite dish, as the many (appealing) trees present obstacles to finding the signal. Three digital PBS stations (and nothing else) are available on the air antenna. NPR on 91.5.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: At an elevation of 3,100 ft., the small town of John Day is just north of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Hillsides are cloaked with evergreens, and there was a lot of green grass to be seen when we visited. Near views are of tall trees and the fairgrounds property (we are next to the equestrian ring); distant views are of high mountains (currently, with snow). Very appealing.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night. This probably changes when the fairgrounds hosts an event, but we camped here during a quiet time.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 16, one of the few back-in sites without trees to the south. Several of the pull-through sites would have worked for us, but they face west… we wanted to face the morning sun so choose a back-in site. The sites we would avoid are 12, 13, 14, and 15 – they are the least appealing in the park.

Hiking/Walking: The RV park is bounded on one side by a river; a new pathway along the river was recently completed, which provides about a 30 minute walk round trip. Walking around John Day was very pleasant, and it is an easy walk to “downtown”.

Comments: Lots of history and recreation in this area, most of which we did not explore since we were moving on east. We did make time to visit the fascinating Kam Wah Chung site, an well-preserved remnant of John Day’s Chinese history that is now an Oregon State Historic Site (within easy walking distance). We will look forward to a return trip to this RV park next time we pass through.

CRYSTAL CRANE HOT SPRINGS, CRANE, OREGON (SOUTHEAST OREGON)

2011-06-17T18:01:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Rave! Relax in a natural hot springs pool in the wide open spaces of eastern Oregon.

Date of Stay: June 15-18, 2011

Weather During Stay: Sunny and cool (upper 60’s for highs) during the day; chilly at night. This has been an unusually cool spring in Oregon.

Site Description: Seven RV sites total - five pull-throughs on level gravel have 30 amps and water; two 30 amp FHU sites are somewhat sloped back-ins. No trees at the RV sites. All RV sites face east. Be forewarned: this campground does not have a dump station, and just two of the sites have sewer. If you won’t be staying in an FHU site, come with empty tanks!

RV’s sites are just one part of the story here. The Crystal Crane compound includes several cabins, a large area for tents or small dry camping RV’s, a “camp kitchen” for the use of the guests, and a cozy common area with comfortable seating, a small library, a computer, and a large screen TV with satellite service. Coffee is often on. A bath house has clean, modern bathrooms and two small, overused shower rooms for bathers and campers. Private hot baths are available for an extra fee (hourly).

The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. You can rent swimming noodles for $1 for the duration of your stay, and we each also rented a big, thick, terrycloth bathrobe ($2 per robe for the duration of your stay) for walking from our rig to the hot pool, to the shower and back. Towels can be rented for $1 each. Besides the campers, day visitors can pay to use the pool between 9 am and 9 pm. The pool is open 24/7 to campers; the temperature averages 95 or so, with much hotter spots near the inflow of the natural hot springs.

Rate: In theory, $18 per night for W/E - but a variety of discounts are available and we were able to use them. For the first night, we paid $9, Passport America. For the second night, we got a 15% Escapees discount. For the third and fourth nights, we got a 10% Good Sam discount. The price covers 2 people, including unlimited use of the hot pool, the common area, and the bath houses. FHU sites are $20, and I don’t know if discounts apply to those sites. AND, there is a separate charge for pets (except indoor cats). I don’t know how much it is, but if you have pets that go outdoors, be aware that there is an additional charge.

Phone/radio/TV: Here in the middle of nowhere (25 miles from a town of 4,000 people), Verizon just installed a new cell tower! Great signal for phones and aircard, but the campground provides high-speed WiFi as well (which we used when our aircard broke!). No obstacles for TV satellite, and two PBS stations (and nothing else) are available on the air antenna. NPR on 90.1.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Crystal Crane Hot Springs is in Harney county, a very sparsely populated area of eastern Oregon at 4110 ft. elevation. The campground is a small oasis in a vast western landscape. Views are very open, across miles of flat, scrub-covered ground and occasional mountain ridges. Wide open, spacious, relaxing.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet at night. Unfortunately, the camp compound is lit at night by 2 or 3 tall streetlights - a shame since this would be such a perfect “dark sky” situation.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 2, one of the 4 identical W/E pull though sites. The two FHU sites might be nice for a longer stay, but a not as level as the W/E sites.

Hiking/Walking: The grounds of the campground are spacious, but no hikes in the immediate vicinity.

Comments: Harney County has plenty of beautiful scenery, historical sites, interesting geology, the well known Malheur Wildlife Refuge, wild mustangs, and the Steens Mountain - all spread over a very large area populated by very few people. Fuel up, and bring food. We loved it.

PRINEVILLE ELKS LODGE, PRINEVILLE, OREGON

2011-06-15T19:19:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: June 14, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Sunny, cool, and breezy.

Sites: There are four electric boxes on two telephone poles at the back of the lodge lot, but sufficient space for only 3 RV’s if they have slides (4 Class B’s could squeeze in side by side). We were the only rig there, so had our choice of where to park. Electric only (no water or sewer at sites); nice new boxes with 20/30/50 amp outlets and excellent voltage.

Parking is on level blacktop. Your rig probably would be surrounded by cars if there was an event at the small lodge. Located in a nice neighborhood two blocks off the main street and a couple blocks from the Crook County Courthouse.

Rate: $10 for electric hookup; $5 to dry camp. Dump at the county campground about a mile south for $5. There is a hose bib on the side of the Elks which could be used to fill your tank if not obstructed by cars in the lot.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite. One station (from Portland) on TV antenna. NPR from Eugene on 88.1 FM.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Level, paved parking in a nice neighborhood in a small town at 2,830 ft. elevation. This is the dry side of the Cascades, but close enough to the mountains to have lots of pine trees around. Views are of the lodge, the cupola of the Crook County Courthouse 2 blocks away, and a couple beautiful, substantial older homes across the street. Pleasant neighborhood.

Lighting/Noise: Quiet at night; the lodge leaves outdoor lights on the building all night long.

Favorite Sites: No difference between them, other than proximity to the driveway or the sidewalk.

Hiking/Walking: Nice walking around this small town (10,000 population). Likely to be hiking opportunities in the area, but we didn’t seek them out.

Comments: This was our first visit to Prineville, passing through on our way east. Home to Les Schwab, the tire dealer, Prineville appears to be a friendly, prosperous small town with a beautiful golf course and lots of recreational opportunities in the area. This friendly lodge made a great overnight spot.

ARMITAGE COUNTY PARK, EUGENE, OREGON

2011-06-13T00:46:00.003-05:00

Our opinion: Rave. We first discovered this Lane County campground in October of 2009, and we returned for six nights on June 8, 2011 and another week in August, 2011.

This is our choice if we want FHU when we visit this Eugene. Spacious, close to town, usually quiet, with a combination of sunny and shaded sites. The camping area shares the park with several picnic areas, a group camping area, and a dog park.

The only drawback to this park for us? Our Verizon air card is on National Access here (read: slow), and the new (unsecured) WiFi provided at the park doesn’t reliably reach to our favorite site! So maybe we’ll pick a new favorite site. :) Updated 8/2011: we are in site 14, and the WiFi signal is strong and fast. Our friends in site 32 find it unusable, so pick lower numbered sites if WiFi is important to you.

In 2009, word was that showers would be built soon, but that hasn’t happened yet and we saw no sign of construction during this visit. Click here to read our full review from our first visit, which has been updated to reflect changes since 2009.

UMPQUA GOLF AND RV RESORT, SUTHERLIN, OREGON

2011-06-05T13:45:00.001-05:00

When we first visited this small, friendly park in August of 2009 (click here to read our full review from that stay), we made a mental note to return when we had time to stay longer. We came back on June 3rd, intending to stay 3 nights on our way north. By the time we had settled into site 9, an east facing back-in, we had decided to add two more days to our stay.

Why? Start with the camp host here, Lonnie Brock, friendly, mellow and extremely helpful. After a 5 hour drive, it is nice to be welcomed with a big smile, helpful suggestions for site selection, and the opportunity to settle into the site before returning to the office to pay. Sites are comfortably large for a commercial park. Then there is the view, out towards the emerald green golf course and pine covered hills. AND, it must be the best deal in all of Oregon if you are a Passport America member, as they continue to honor a Passport America rate of $15/night (50 amp full hookups, cable TV and blazing WiFi included – so fast that we used it instead of our Verizon MiFi).

I particularly like the hilltop location, the reason we choose this park over the SKP park nearby (same price). Odel likes the proximity to the golf course. The only drawback is the moderate traffic noise from nearby highway 138, a main route to the coast. Fortunately, traffic noise drops considerably after dark. We could happily stay here longer… but have an appointment to keep in Eugene.

REDDING ELKS LODGE, REDDING, CALIFORNIA

2011-06-02T13:12:00.000-05:00

We’ve used the Redding Elks Lodge many times in the past as we travel I-5. This was a two-night stay, long enough to stock up at the Redding Costco before heading north and to take a couple of walks along the river. Nothing has changed since our visit in 2009 (click here to read our full review from that visit).

Redding has many choices for RV’ers, including at least one RV park that participates in Passport America (1/2 price). Although $20/night seems high for an E/W/cable TV/WiFi site (we just paid $20/night in Napa for FHU with cable TV and WiFi, in what seems a more desirable location), we continue to patronize the Redding Elks Lodge because it is friendly and easy – pull in, take any open site, pay using a payment envelope or at the bar. This lodge’s RV parking is heavily used, so we try to arrive before 3 pm to be assured of a site. Elks only.

ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK, BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

2011-03-03T18:40:00.003-06:00

Our Opinion: Rave. Reasonably priced, convenient RV campsites in California’s largest state park.

Date of Stay: February 27 and 28, 2011. Not recommended in summer!

Weather During Stay: Sunny, mild days; cold nights.

Site Description: This review applies specifically to the section of the campground designed for RV’s, sites 1-52. Roomier, no-hookup sites are available in other sections of the campground, and in other sections of this huge state park.

The RV sites are all FHU, with 30 amps. Voltage and water pressure are good. With the exception of 10 “pullout” sites along the edge of the perimeter road, all sites are designed as long, paved pull-throughs. Each as a substantial picnic table and some desert landscaping.
We were in site 39. Though the reservations clerk and the Reserve America site (which California state parks use for their reservation system) showed our site as suitable for a rig no longer than 35 feet, we had PLENTY of space for our motor home and Jeep.
Roads are paved and easy to navigate in a big rig. Though most sites appeared reasonably level, there are some that would be challenging for a big motor home, with considerable front-to-back slope.

Rate: $35/night for FHU. 14-day limit. Reservations strongly suggested for weekends during high season (Jan-March), but sites appeared to be available without reservations early in the day on weekdays.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. WiFi is available at the visitor center, a half mile walk. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish. Air antenna had a couple of stations. NPR on 89.3.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Anza-Borrego is California’s largest state park, a landscape of arid mountains and cactus. Great views of the desert! Elevation in the campground is 600 ft. or so.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We like the sites on the northern edge of the campground, but there is not much difference in the pull-through sites - unless yours happens to directly face the restrooms or one of the pullout sites along the perimeter road. We would NOT take or reserve a perimeter pull-out; the ones we saw were not suitable for big rigs (24-29 and 49-52).

Hiking/Walking: Walk a paved trail .6 mile to the Visitor Center, or head off to the west up Palm Canyon on either the Palm Canyon trail or the Alternate Trail. A short overlook trail also leaves from the campground area. Wonderful hiking with a chance to spot Bighorn Sheep (Borrego).

Comments: The state park staff here was unusually friendly and accommodating, allowing us check in early since the site was empty, and to drive our Jeep in (rather than towing it in) without charging us a separate day use fee for the Jeep (it is surprising how many places are sticklers about that!). Wish we had been able to stay longer.

BORREGO HOLIDAY HOME MOBILE HOME AND RV PARK, BORREGO SPRINGS, CA

2011-03-03T17:42:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. A small, friendly, well-maintained mobile home and RV park.

Date of Stay: February 24-26, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Sunny, cool days; cold nights; breezy.

Site Description: Originally a mobile home park, this palm tree shaded property has spaces for 60 +/- RVs around the perimeter. Roads are paved and rather narrow for big rigs and the office is in an inconspicuous spot. Travel slowly!

All sites are back-ins, on gravel; most have a palm tree on each side and shrubbery at the back. Sites are FHU, some with 30 amps and some with 50. Few sites appeared level, but both motor homes and trailers made do with leveling blocks under tires and jacks.

Our site (51, on the east side of the park) was barely long enough for our 38’ motor home (we backed into the shrubs), though we had sufficient room for our slides. We had to park our Jeep in the parking lot at the end of our street, an inconvenient distance. Sites on the south and west sides of the park are larger, with space for a towed or tow vehicle.

Our site had 50 amps, with voltage on the low side (our EMS kicked off due to low voltage in the cold morning hours). Water pressure was low, too - we augmented it with our freshwater pump. The park has an appealing pool and spa, and a clean laundry room with 3 washers/3 dryers.

Rate: Though the rate sheet shows $30/night for the east side lots, we paid $82.50 for three nights, $27.50/night. Maybe we used had a discount of some kind?? Quoted prices range from $30/night to $35/night for the largest sites.

Phone/radio/TV: Excellent Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard (blazing fast). I believe WiFi was available, but we didn’t use it. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish, but that would not be the case in all sites. Cable TV available only through the cable company for long-term stays. Air antenna had a couple of stations. NPR on 92.5.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This rectangular park, with palm trees and mature landscaping, sits on a slightly sloping desert hillside at around 600 ft. elevation, surrounded by the arid mountains of Anza-Borrego State Park. Near views are of palm trees, neighboring rigs and mobile homes; distant views are of arid mountains. It would be a pleasant oasis in the desert with a bit more space!

Lighting/noise: Our site was comfortably dark at night. Very quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We would opt for the larger sites on the west and south sides of the park (none of which were available when we checked in.

Hiking/Walking: Head out into the desert from any site and walk south to intersect a broad trail that goes into town. Many, many good hikes in the surrounding state park, California’s largest.

Comments: This is one of the friendliest parks we have ever visited - both the staff and the other renters. Everyone seemed happy to be there! Staff was busy all the time sprucing the place up. We liked the mature landscaping… but a windblown palm frond did fall onto our rig from quite a height. Fortunately, no damage.

I suspect we might have given this park a “recommend” rating if we had been in a larger site – it has a lot going for it (location, pool, friendly staff and residents). Maybe next time!

REVISITING CATALINA STATE PARK – TUCSON (ORO VALLEY), AZ

2011-02-19T18:09:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Rave; a favorite stop for several years. This is an update to my previous review in October of 2008 (click here to see the campground during the off season).

Date of Stay: February 17 through 22, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Mild, with sunshine, clouds and WIND.

Site Description: This campground often is full by noon from mid-January through March, so you don’t get to choose a site… you feel lucky to get one at all. All sites are fairly level, most are very long and big-rig friendly. Sites are exceptionally spacious, but most offer no privacy. All sites and roads are paved. About half the sites are back-ins; the rest are long pull throughs. Each site has a heavy-duty picnic table. Dumpsters and recycling containers are available in each loop.

We were assigned site A35, a long, level, south-facing back-in site in loop A, the old loop. Sites on the south side of loop A are dry (no utilities), sites on the north (around 20 sites) have W and E. Nice, clean, modern restrooms are centrally located, and trees (leafless this time of year) are scattered throughout the loop.

Loop B is the big “new” loop (not so new anymore, but is how we think of it), with 75 large W and E sites. The restrooms, with showers, are the nicest we have ever used. There is a “family” restroom/shower we have used together, very roomy and comfortable. The great showers make it much easier to stay for an extended period without a sewer hookup.

Just opened two weeks ago: an overflow area (near the group sites and a modern restroom with showers). If a developed site is not available when you arrive, you can wait/overnight in the large, level, dirt overflow lot. Long-term volunteer hosts have a very efficient system for keeping track of new arrivals and moving them to sites as they open up. We arrived at 10:30 on a weekday, then spent 3 hours in a dry site in loop A until we were able to move to our W/E site at 1:30 (checkout time is 2 pm.) By then, 3 or 4 rigs were already in overflow.

Rate: Rates for sites with 30/50 amp E and water have gone up to $25/night. No sewer hookups. $15/night to dry camp in Loop A. Two large dump stations are conveniently located. Maximum stay is 14 days, strictly enforced during the busy season.

Phone/radio/TV: Aircard on broadband. Verizon signal very strong. NPR from Phoenix on 91.5. We pick up a couple stations on the TV antenna (the local CBS affiliate). No obstacles for satellite TV.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This flat, desert campground is at 2700’ elevation. Native trees are scattered throughout, providing a bit of shade. The arid, rocky, Santa Catalina Mountains tower over the campground - impressive views and frequently gorgeous sunsets.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet, very dark.

Favorite Sites: We prefer the perimeter back-in sites of Loop B, but didn’t have that choice during this visit.

Hiking/Walking: Fantastic. Hikes of all lengths and difficulty. The hiking and views are the big draw for us here.

Comments: Catalina State Park is just north of Tucson in an upscale, quickly developing area. In the park, you feel as though you are quite remote from the city, but dining and good shopping (including Trader Joe’s and several great grocery stores) are within a few miles. A super Wal-Mart is right across the street in a new shopping area.

APACHE PALMS RV PARK, TEMPE, ARIZONA

2011-02-16T18:23:00.000-06:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. A small, well-maintained urban park on the Phoenix light rail line.

Date of Stay: January 9 through 16, 2011. We returned February 14 through 16; I updated this review after our second stay.

Weather During Stay: Sunny, cool days; cold nights.

Site Description: This is a small (71 sites), clean, tidy RV park in an urban setting. Most sites are back-ins, but there are a few pull-throughs. Sites are gravel; each has a concrete slab patio. It appears that all sites are FHU (30/50 amps), with cable TV included.

Sites are very level. Our first site (59) was barely long enough for our 38’ motor home, though we had sufficient room for our slides and Jeep in our site. (In the picture of our site, you can see the chair and reflector we set under the corner of our slide to aid our neighbor when she parked her truck next to us!) During our second stay, we had a long, roomy pull through with a picnic table, considerably large and more pleasant.

The park has a small pool and spa, and a laundry room with 4 washers/4 dryers.

Rate: For our first site, we paid $210 for one week, plus another $31.50 for the extra day (this included a AAA discount). For the pull-through, we paid $35.20/night (with AAA discount). Reasonable for the amenities and urban location.


Site 59, our first, much smaller site.	Site 16, a long, roomy pull through with picnic table.

Phone/radio/TV: Excellent Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard (blazing fast). WiFi is included, but we didn’t use it. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish worked, and the included cable TV had dozens of channels. NPR on 91.5.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a flat campground in a flat urban area at 1,140 ft. elevation. Views are of neighboring rigs and palm trees.

Lighting/noise: Our site was comfortably dark at night. The big surprise: very little noise at night, in spite of the urban location.

Favorite Sites: The largest sites are the few pull-throughs and some of the sites in the back of the park. If we returned, we would be willing to pay the extra fee (around $4/night) for the roomier pull through sites.

Hiking/Walking: Sidewalks outside the park, or drive to parks in the Phoenix metro area.

Comments: Planning renovations to our motor home, we needed a conveniently located urban park. Apache Palms is very tidy, fairly quiet, located on the light rail line, very close to ASU, and convenient to Best Buy, Costco, etc. Not a normal choice for us, but it worked well for what we needed. The small size makes it more appealing to us than most of the HUGE RV parks in the Phoenix metro area.

SADDLE MOUNTAIN RV PARK, TONOPAH, ARIZONA

2011-01-31T16:54:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Great spot for a cleanup after a week of desert boon docking.

Date of Stay: January 24, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Sunshine.

Site Description: This large (300+ sites) RV park has been revitalized since our first stay 5 years ago, when it appeared on the verge of bankruptcy. We didn’t have time to check out all the activity rooms and common areas, but it is clear that the current ownership cares about the park.

Though there are plenty of snowbirds here, the park has many level pull through sites for overnighters or short term stays. Sites are gravel and/or decomposing asphalt, each with a concrete patio (no picnic tables) and a couple of tall palm trees, Our site had another little obstacle, a large utility box that made pulling in a little tricky (we unhooked the Jeep to allow us to maneuver).

It appears that all sites are FHU (30/50 amps). Voltage was on the high side, barely under the level acceptable to our EMS, but it stayed within the safe range.

Rate: We paid $23.80, the price for Escapee RV club members (15% off the normal rate). Passport America accepted March through December. Weekly and monthly rates available. 2 pet limit.

Phone/radio/TV: Usable Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. WiFi is available (TengoInternet), but we didn’t use it. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish, and the air antenna picked up quite a few channels from Phoenix. NPR on 91.5.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a flat campground, surrounded by a high brick wall, in the very small town of Tonopah in the desert between Quartzsite and Phoenix. Local views are of neighboring rigs and palm trees; distant views of arid mountains. We really liked the palm trees and the wide streets.

Lighting/noise: Our site was comfortably dark at night. Very quiet.

Favorite Sites: As shown in the photos, not much difference between the sites!

Hiking/Walking: We didn’t explore at all since this was just an in-and-out overnight for us.

Comments: We needed an easily accessible RV park with FHU to clean up on our way to Phoenix after a week of desert boon docking. We weren’t the only ones - as the afternoon wore on our row filled with other transients leaving Q. Very friendly office staff make check in easy, and they allowed us to wash both the rig and the towed.

THE FORTUNA FOOTHILLS, YUMA, AZ

2010-12-30T20:10:00.001-06:00

Not a campground, the “Fortuna Foothills” (usually just called The Foothills) is a sprawling, RV-friendly development of privately owned lots 10 miles east of downtown Yuma, AZ. The area is bounded on the north by Interstate 8 and accessed from either Fortuna Road or Foothills Blvd, stretching south for a couple of miles. The area was developed from I-8 to the south over several years, so the newest lots are south of 48th Street, with the newest and most “upscale” residential use in the southeast area.

Spacious RV sites can be rented from private owners, usually for 1-3+ months in winter. Craigslist.com is a good source, or drive the streets and call phone numbers on the “RV Site for Rent” signs.

Our Opinion: We liked the area south of around 44th Street, which is the part of the Foothills we explored. We were happy with our inexpensive stay on a no-frills lot in this sunny snowbird destination.

Date of Stay: December 25 to January 2, 2011.

Weather During Stay: Ranged from sunny and warm to sunny and cool/cold, with a day of rain thrown in. Usually breezy, sometimes windy. Yuma is often windy is winter and spring.

Site Description: We rented a gravel site on a gated double lot that had FHU for 4 RV’s, plus trash and recycling bins. Lots of room, no frills.

The variety of residential options on these lots is amazing, ranging from graveled, no frills lots (like the one we stayed on), to lots with RV sites and patios, to casitas, park models, modular homes, and site-built homes, some selling for upwards of $300,000.

What they all have in common: RV’s are allowed to park on all lots. Streets are paved and wide enough to easily maneuver a big rig while turning into a gated lot.


No frills lot in the foothills.	Front wall, gated – a step up.

Rate: We were told that the average monthly rate January through March is $325, which includes utilities. Because we stayed prior to January, when the snowbirds flock to Yuma, we were able to rent short-term. The typical daily rate appears to be $10-15, including utilities. It is very difficult to find a short-term (less than monthly) rental during the high season.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV, but some of the landscaped sites might have palm trees to avoid. The air antenna picked up several channels, including networks and a PBS station. NPR on 88.9.


Double wide modular home with RV space and landscaping.	Typical lot that needs some TLC

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Not far above sea level, Yuma is one of the sunniest places in North America. Foothills Blvd. rises slightly as it heads south from I-8, so the distant view improves as you continue farther south. Local views are of neighboring rigs and homes; distant views are of arid, very rocky mountains.

Lighting/noise: NO streetlights in our area - YAY! All nighttime lighting is low, on the 3-4 ft. high brick fences. Very nice. This is a very quiet area; no disturbing noise at night.

Hiking/Walking: Walking on the wide roads is safe, easy, and interesting - good for biking, too. Lots of variety and pretty views.


Typical scene of RV’s and a home on a wide street with palms.	Couple hundred thousand dollar plus home, fully landscaped.

Comments: Because of the difference in age between the lots closest to I-8 and those farthest away, there is a wide variety of appeal between the older lots and the newer lots. We stayed in one of the newest areas and enjoyed it, but drove some of the older neighborhoods and found them less appealing and somewhat run down, varying from lot to lot. If you rent via the internet, be sure to ask for photos of the site, the lot, the neighboring lots and the view across the street.

Plenty of businesses in the area, including a large Fry’s grocery store at I-8 and Fortuna Road, and a post office that accepts General Delivery mail on Fortuna Road.

SANDS RV AND GOLF RESORT, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA

2010-12-25T21:15:00.001-06:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. Since we don’t use many of the common area offerings, it’s a little high-priced for us. Friendly and appealing, though.

Date of Stay: December 16 through 24, 2010.

Weather During Stay: One of southern California’s worst winter storms on record brought rain and some flooding to the area. Our last two days were sunny and pleasant. This area gets VERY windy at times.

Site Description: With 521 sites, this might be the largest park we have stayed in. All sites are back-ins. Some sites are occupied by park models or RV’s that probably aren’t going to move again. Lots of “seasonals” here, but most sites and rigs are nicely maintained.

Sites are reasonably sized, with hedges between the sites providing privacy. A quarter of the sites would be too sloped for us to use, another quarter appear very level, and the remainder slope to some degree. We (and many other rigs) used boards to shore up our passenger side to help level the rig.

I believe that all sites are FHU (30/50 amps). A small number of sites have “hot” cable TV, ready to hook up, but most sites either have no cable TV hookup or are set up for long-term rental - contact the cable company for service.

Roads are paved and reasonably wide, sites are gravel with concrete pads for a tow or towed vehicle. No picnic tables, trees here and there (lots of palms, not a lot of shade). One central trash area for this huge park!

While the RV sites are average, the common areas are a cut above. Nice swimming pool (seemed a little on the small side for the size of the park), two Jacuzzis, plenty of indoor space with a shuffleboard table, several pool tables, computers, a couple big screen TV’s, comfortable seating - very, very nice. A 9 hole golf course (extra fee, of course) tennis courts, fitness center, and an appealing dog run round out the common areas.

Rate: We stayed on a special deal only available to first-time visitors: pay the normal weekly rate of $215 and get two additional days for free. The “special” price (under $25/night) seemed reasonable for what was offered - not sure if we would go back at full price. I don’t know the monthly/seasonal rates, but they are likely very reasonable if you like a park offering these amenities.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard. WiFi (TengoInternet) is included, but we didn’t use it. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish worked, and the air antenna picked up some channels. Instant-on cable TV is an extra $3/night or $15/week - we didn’t bother. NPR on 89.3 (or was it 89.5?).

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Around 600 feet above sea level, the Coachella Valley has arid mountain ranges on three sides. It is obvious from the hundreds of wind mills in the area that that this area (especially Banning Pass) gets a LOT of wind, so be prepared. Local views are of neighboring rigs; distant views are of arid mountains (sometimes snowcapped).

Lighting/noise: Our site was comfortably dark at night; the low level park lighting makes it easy to see when walking or driving, but not intrusive. Very quiet at night (except when the coyotes get going).

Favorite Sites: Not a lot of difference in the sites, except some back up to the desert perimeter or one of the washes that run through the park (we were told that these cost more). The BIG difference we noticed was how level the sites were - some are very sloped.

Hiking/Walking: Walk the big park twice for 10,000 steps. Otherwise, drive 10-20 miles for area hikes, or 45 miles to Joshua Tree National Park.

Comments: Not the sort of place we usually stay, but it is quite appealing if you like large parks with lots of activities. Two grocery stores within a couple of miles.

PLACERVILLE ELKS LODGE, SHINGLE SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

2010-10-27T17:56:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. This is a newer lodge with large, level RV parking in an appealing, hilly setting.

Date of Stay: October 20 through 26, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Pleasant fall weather with balmy days and cool nights (70‘s and 40‘s) - and one huge rain storm over the weekend.

Sites: Eight 30 amp E and water sites, one 50 amp and W site. NO DUMP on site. Sites are graveled, wide, and level. All sites are back-ins. Space available for dry camping, but it is quite sloped.

Rate: Recently raised from $15 to $17, with W and E at sites.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and internet. Tall oaks may obstruct TV satellite in west-facing sites. Several TV stations on antenna, including the three major networks and PBS. Local NPR on 90.9 and 91.3.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, level parking area in a hilly landscape at 1,390’ elevation. Views of large oaks, lodge and local light commercial businesses.

Lighting/Noise: Light road noise. A dog-grooming and pet-boarding facility next door is sometimes noisy during the day. Night time lighting is moderate, high, bright “streetlight” type lighting that is more or less intrusive depending on where you are parked.

Favorite Sites: Most sites are the same, though site 6, facing west, has 50 amps. Site 7 is shorter than most of the other sites, the only site not suitable for a big rig

Hiking/Walking: Head south over the hill to access little used paved roads in an undeveloped area. A California state park, Folsom Lake, is 10-15 miles away with good hiking and biking.

Comments: A much-better-than-average Elks RV parking area convenient to shopping and services, to Sacramento, and to small, historic, Placerville. Very friendly and active lodge, with Taco Night and Spaghetti Night (open to the public) on alternate Thursdays (the parking lot will be jammed). Nearest dump station is a crowded gas station a few miles away.

SACRAMENTO PASS RECREATION AREA SCENIC PULLOUT, NEAR BAKER, NV

2010-10-16T16:46:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Rave, if you don’t want/need services. Free, convenient, quiet spot to overnight or visit Great Basin National Park.

Date of Stay: October 15, 2010.

Weather During Stay: In the 70’s when we arrived as the sun set, dropping to 40 for an overnight low.

Site Description: This very large, scenic BLM pullout does triple duty as a picnic area, informal campground, and the trailhead for the Sacramento Pass trail, open to hikers, bikers, and horses. It is located around 8 miles west of Hwy 487, the road that heads south to Baker and to Great Basin National Park from Hwy 50. Our GPS shows the coordinates as N 39.12105, W 114.30559. The pullout is on the south side of the highway, at Osceola Road (CR-35, gravel).

The pullout and loop roads are dirt/gravel. A pit toilet and trash cans are located near the entrance, along with a couple of picnic tables and shade trees. From there, a loop road climbs uphill, with large pullouts equipped with heavy, old picnic tables and sloped shade/wind shelters - 5 in all - against the very scenic backdrop of Wheeler Peak in an area of sage and evergreens.

Roads are wide, well-graded, and easily negotiated with a big rig. Besides the sites with picnic tables, there is additional space available for parking that could be used if the shelter areas were all occupied. In addition, a slightly more primitive road continues uphill from the back of the upper level, with another set of pit toilets and additional parking around 1/2 mile farther (better for smaller rigs).

Rate: Free. No hookups. No potable water. No dump station.

Phone/radio/TV: No Verizon service for phone or aircard. No obstacles for satellite TV dish. No NPR stations, or any other radio stations!

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This scenic pullout is located along Hwy 50, “The Loneliest Highway in America”, at 6,720 feet - a few miles east of the summit of Sacramento Pass. As I write this, looking south towards Wheeler Peak (in Great Basin National Park) in mid-October, there is a blanket of snow on the mountaintop (13,000+ feet). We are in rocky, rolling foothills, with a fairly thick covering of short, chubby pines, junipers and sagebrush. Very, very appealing.

Lighting/noise: VERY dark once the half-moon set. The extreme quiet was broken very infrequently by a passing vehicle on Hwy 50.

Favorite Sites: They’re all good! We’d pick whichever open site was most level.

Hiking/Walking: The Sacramento Pass trail made a wonderful walk in the morning. Easy to moderate. Several loops provide hikes of varying lengths; we hiked 4 miles.

Comments: We’ve visited remote Great Basin National Park twice before and have found that sites suitable for big motor homes are very limited. After we almost torqued our windshield out on our last visit, we decided this Scenic Pullout looked like a better alternative (it is a 15 mile drive to the national park from here). It looks like the other campers have the same idea – 3 sites were occupied when we arrived. Though we are moving on after an overnight, this would be a fine place for longer stay while exploring the park.

OK RV PARK, MOAB, UTAH

2010-10-13T18:44:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend, if you have Passport America or CCUSA. At the discounted price, it is a real bargain for this area.

Date of Stay: October 7 through 14 , 2010.

Weather During Stay: Perfect! Sunny, with highs between 70 and 75 degrees; lows in the upper 40’s.

Site Description: The 76 sites in this mellow park come in a huge variety of configurations, including many suitable for big rigs (and many NOT). Fifty-five of the sites are pull-throughs. The section of sites in front is comprised of two long rows running parallel to the entrance drive, facing west; past the office halfway back, the rows run east and west, with most of the sites facing north. It appears that all sites are FHU (30/50 amps), with cable TV included.

Roads are dirt/gravel (and dust), as are sites. Many sites have trees that provide some shade, and most have grass and a picnic table. Sites are reasonably roomy for a commercial park; we had plenty of space for slides and our awning, with a grassy side yard for our chairs and picnic table. Though our site was level, others in our row were not - we saw at least a couple long MH’s with their front wheels off the ground.

The little office complex is cute, with an appealing shaded outdoor seating area and restrooms. Friendly, helpful, mellow staff offer plenty of brochures and advice to make your visit to Moab a good one.

Rate: This park participates in both Passport America and CampClubUSA. We stayed for 8 nights at PA rates ($19.06, which included a $2/night surcharge for 50 amps and tax). I don’t know if there are restrictions on length of stay at discounted rates.

Phone/radio/TV: Excellent Verizon signal here for both phones and aircard (blazing fast). WiFi is included, but we didn’t use it. Our site had no obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite TV dish, and the included cable TV had dozens of channels. NPR on 91.7.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at around 4,200 ft., this is one of very few commercial RV parks in Moab that is not located on the main road, Hwy 191. Local views are of neighboring rigs or the adjacent horse stables and arena. Distant views are of red rock cliffs.

Lighting/noise: Our site was comfortably dark at night. Even though the park is not on Hwy 191, road noise was still noticeable at night with the windows open… but the noise level was acceptable to us.

Favorite Sites: Though the large sites along the entrance driveway looked appealing, they face west, right into the setting sun. For us, that means the front curtains have to be closed much of the time - I don’t like that! We preferred the area in the rear, where our site faced north.

Hiking/Walking: No trails take off from here, but this area is FULL of great hikes.

Comments: Though there is a lot of boondocking in this area, and BLM campgrounds in nice spots with low prices, if you want hookups, you will be at a commercial park - most of which charge between $35 and $40/night. This park is a great deal for the (discounted) price! The only (minor) drawback is its location 5 miles south of downtown Moab, which meant we were frequently driving through busy downtown Moab to reach Arches National Park and the Colorado River. Just a mile or two from Moab Golf Course, though, so Odel was happy. We will stay here when we return, thanks to the reasonable cost and mellow management.

WONDERLAND RV PARK, TORREY, UTAH (CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK AREA)

2010-10-07T07:28:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. Good central location for exploring Capitol Reef National Park and the spectacular surrounding area.

Date of Stay: September 28 through October 6, 2010.

Weather During Stay: “Unseasonably warm” (mid-80’s) for several days, cooling into the 60’s later in our stay, with a couple days of rain (flash flooding in Capitol Reef). Lows in the 50’s and 40’s.

Site Description: This small RV park (30+ sites) has both back-ins and large pull throughs, with a separate grassy area for tents. All RV sites have FHU, but I’m not sure whether both 30 and 50 amps are available in all sites.

Sites are reasonably level, though the pull throughs slant a bit from back to front (seems to be the norm in all the RV parks in Torrey). Roads and sites are gravel. Sites are surrounded by well manicured, green grass and each has one or more trees - including apple trees, with ripe fruit during our stay. Each site has a picnic table.

Bath house and laundry on site, and a couple of cabins are available for rent. There is an extra charge to use the showers (!), and our neighbors described them as lacking in privacy.

Rate: This park participates in CampClubUSA, good for one night only. For our first night, we paid $20.95 (cash only), the CCUSA rate (½ price, plus extra fees for 50 amp and??). For the remaining nights, we got the 10% Good Sam discount, paying $29.77 per night (including taxes) for our 50 amp FHU site. Might have been a weekly rate if we had been more organized about our stay.

Phone/radio/TV: We are on the edge of the Verizon signal here, but our phones and aircard did work. We often used the park-provided WiFi (no extra charge) instead of our aircard; sometimes it was blazing fast, sometimes it crawled. With just a little back-and-forth, we found a shot past a tree so our roof-mounted satellite TV dish worked. Cable TV is provided, but we preferred using the air antenna, which brought in 20 stations far more clearly than the cable TV signal. Local NPR on 94.5.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at 6,800 ft. in a beautiful setting, this park is quite appealing. Local views are of the green grass and trees of the park and adjacent green pasture. Distant views are of red rock cliffs and big skies.

Lighting/noise: Most sites are reasonably dark at night; an unlucky few are near tall night lights. Even though the park is on the corner of the two main highways in the area (US 24 and US 12), traffic noise at night was not obtrusive for us.

Favorite Sites: We were in what appeared to us to be the best site in the park, site #13 - which had just been vacated by its seasonal resident when we arrived. It is a roomy back-in adjacent to the grassy common area with shade trees and beautiful views, facing east. NICE, except that some of the trees bleed onto things below them. We’ll see how difficult that is to clean up. The sites backing up to Hwy 24 would be our last choice.

Hiking/Walking: No trails take off from here, but this area is FULL of great hikes.

Comments: This is one of several RV parks in Torrey. We like some things about the park (location, trees, small size), but had some minor annoyances (intermittent WiFi problems, poor reception on the cable TV, somewhat brusque owners). We had no real complaints, but might give one of the other campgrounds in Torrey at try next time we come to the area. Bring groceries, the nearest “large” grocery store is about 20 miles away.

CANYON VIEW RV PARK, SPANISH FORK, UTAH

2010-09-27T22:49:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. Quiet, easily accessed and inexpensive.

Date of Stay: September 26 and 27, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Hot days, cool and windy nights.

Site Description: This is a paved parking lot for RV’s on the edge of a pretty, green, municipal park. Each of the 24 sites has a shared electric box (two 30-amp plugs) and water spigot at the back of the site. No sewer connections, but there is a dump on-site.

Sites are reasonably spacious, backing up to a bit of grass and thick tree cover with picnic tables. The only restrooms are down the hill, through the trees, in the day use picnic area, so this park works best for self-contained RV’s.

The parking area has two sections. Sites 1-10 are farthest to the west, and the dump station is also located there, at the farthest end of the parking area - a very awkward location if site 1 was in use. Sites 1-8 are best for big rigs, but we saw a big motor home parked in the first area (sites 11-24), too.

Rate: $12/night for 30 amp E and W. Fill out an envelope and pay the iron ranger.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles for the roof-mounted satellite TV dish. No cable TV here, and we didn’t try the antenna. Local NPR from Salt Lake City on 91.1.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Spanish Fork is at 4,500 ft, at the foot of some VERY DRY mountains. The green of the grass and trees of this municipal park were very welcome.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: Big rigs should go into the second parking area where the sites are a bit longer. We’d avoid site 1 because of the placement of the dump station.

Hiking/Walking: You can stroll through the park (down the hill, through the trees behind the campsites), but we didn’t find any easily accessed long walks/hikes.

Comments: This park was about ¼ full when we visited. Good bargain. Grocery shopping within a couple of miles (back towards I-15). Odel paid $20 to play 18 holes at the golf course that surrounds the park. We would stop again if we wanted to overnight in the area.

FORT HALL CASINO RV PARK, FORT HALL, IDAHO (POCATELLO AREA)

2010-09-27T22:23:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. Made a good overnight stop just off I-15 near Pocatello.

Date of Stay: September 25, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Warm, dry afternoon and a cool evening.

Site Description: The 40+/- sites in this tidy casino campground are all pull-throughs, all reasonably long, and all narrow. All have FHU with 20/30/50 amps.

Roads and sites are paved, with the pavement just barely wide enough for a rig. With the exception of 6 or 7 sites on the far end of the campground, sites are separated from each other by a 4 or 5 foot wide strip of grass, over which slides and awnings extend. Very tight!

Between the inadequate width of the sites and the odd placement of the utilities, it would be quite uncomfortable to be sandwiched between close neighbors.

Onsite restrooms with showers, and a large expanse of green lawn for recreational use. If you drive a big rig, beware of the A row of sites (the first row as you enter the park) - the turn at the end of the row to exit is too right for a large rig, requiring you to back out of your site or drive against the traffic pattern.

Rate: $20/night for FHU. Pay the cashier in the miserably smoky casino.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles for the roof-mounted satellite TV dish in most sites (except those behind the single clump of large trees). No cable TV here, and we didn’t try the antenna. Local NPR from Pocatello on 91.1.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at around 4,400 ft, with plenty of green grass and many recently planted smaller trees, the park is fairly visually appealing. Views are of the casino, the adjacent service station, and dry countryside.

Lighting/noise: Reasonably dark at night. Noise from nearby I-15, but not overwhelming.

Favorite Sites: Half a dozen of the sites in the back of the park had much larger grassy areas dividing them from their neighbors, so would be far superior when/if the park was full.

Hiking/Walking: Nothing pleasant.

Comments: We wanted to stop early in the day and visit the Costco in Pocatello. Too hot to dry camp (which is allowed for one night in the gravel lot behind the service station), this park, not half full, worked well for us. Very convenient access to I-15, but far enough away that the traffic noise was not annoying.

JUNIPER CAMPGROUND, RIRIE, IDAHO

2010-09-25T09:17:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend, if you want to get away from it all - nothing much around here.

Date of Stay: September 22 through 24, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Balmy fall days and cool nights; very windy afternoons and evenings.

Site Description: What a mix of sites! The campground, with a large reservoir on one side and agricultural fields on the other, consists of 2 paved loops with 40+ paved sites and a grassy area for tents. Perhaps a third of the sites have a large enough flat spot for a big rig - the rest (mostly back-ins) are either too short or two sloped for big rigs.

The utilities are also a mix. Most sites are FHU, with at least 20/30 amps, but several sites have 50 amps. Some of the developed, paved sites have no utilities at all, and one has 30 amps and water, no sewer.

Sites are very spacious, and each site has a concrete picnic table and a large fire ring. Well-watered and manicured grass surrounds all of the sites, dotted with appealing juniper trees. Each loop has a restroom, and the picnic table has its own.

Rate: $18/night for FHU, $16/night with a Golden Age Pass. $10/night for tent sites. 14 day limit.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles for the roof-mounted satellite TV dish. No cable TV here, and we didn’t try the antenna. Local NPR from Rexburg on 100.5.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at around 4,900 ft., this park feels very remote (nearest town, tiny Ririe, is 4 miles away). The irrigated grass is very appealing. Local views are of grass, junipers, and neighboring rigs; distant views are of open agricultural fields and big skies.

Lighting/noise: Very dark at night - the only lighting came from inside the restrooms. Very quiet when we visited (but the park was virtually empty).

Favorite Sites: These are the sites that will accommodate a big rig reasonably well, mostly pull-outs but a few are backins:
50 amps - A8, A20, B3, B6, B10, B13 (our site), B15, B17, B19, B20
30 amps - A14 (no sewer), A17, A23, A25, A26, B4, B12
No HU: A10 and A12, both quite private with great water views.

Hiking/Walking: Walking the campground loops is pleasant, and some primitive trails wind through the undeveloped area of the park.

Comments: This park was almost empty when we camped here, a few days after the “close of the season”. The nearest grocery store is 20 miles away in Idaho Falls, so bring food with you! We were told the place fills up in summer, especially on weekends, so reservations are a good idea. Locals come here to picnic, boat, swim.

GROS VENTRE CAMPGROUND, GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING

2010-09-19T23:00:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. No hookups, just a pretty campground in a gorgeous national park.

Date of Stay: September 16 through 21, 2010. This is our second stay - the first was in June of 2004 and nothing appears to have changed.

Weather During Stay: Mild fall weather: mostly sunny days in the 70’s and cool nights.

Site Description: Located at the south end of Grand Teton National Park, Gros Ventre Campground has over 300 sites, arranged in seven loops and along the “main road” that ties the loops together. Just one of the loops has utilities, and it houses national park employees and volunteers – no campers.

None of the remaining 6 loops have utilities, and three of the loops do not allow generators. At the time of this visit, generator use was allowed in loops A, C, and D, and in sites along the main road linking the loops.

Each loop has two bathrooms with flush toilets (no showers), a water faucet, and a bear-proof trash container. A dump station is located at the park entrance/exit, with potable water.

Loop roads are narrow and paved. Sites are mostly level and graveled, all back-ins of varying sizes. Many small sites, many medium sites, and far fewer sites for big rigs. VERY few sites to accommodate rigs over 40 feet. All sites have a heavy picnic table and a fire ring, and spaces are backed by cement and log barricades. To allow our rear end to hang over the barricade (so our front end was off the road), we set the jacks manually WITHOUT dumping the air suspension. It was obvious many diesel motor homes had taken the same precaution to avoid fiberglass damage on the barricade.

Rate: $20/night, $10/night with a Golden Age pass. No reservations; all sites are first come, first served. This is one of the last campgrounds in the park to fill, and frequently doesn’t fill.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon phones and aircard worked without a booster or amplifier. Our satellite TV dish was able to find a signal through the trees. We didn’t bother trying the air antenna. Local NPR on 90.3.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located around 6,500 ft., this flat campground is a very short walk from the Gros Ventre River. Very tall deciduous trees throughout the campground provide shade and obstacles for satellite dishes. Views are of you neighbors, the tall trees, distant hills, and the occasional moose.

Lighting/noise: VERY dark and quiet at night! Each bathroom is lit by inside lights and a few dim outdoor lights, so not a problem.

Favorite Sites: We were in site 147, barely long enough for us. No real favorites here, though we preferred Loop C. Loops A, which seems to have most of the longer sites, is very open with little privacy or shade. Most of the rigs there were big. Loop B didn’t allow generators, so that was not a choice for us. Loop C has trees, but is not too heavily forested, while Loop D was quite shady. If you are in a big rig, your choices will be somewhat limited.

Hiking/Walking: Plenty of exercise walking the loops of the campground and exploring the river, but the park is loaded with good hikes, most within no more than a 30 minute drive.

Comments: Stop at the office to register when you enter. If you have a specific site in mind, they know whether it is open or not. Otherwise, you will be assigned a site based on the size of your rig and any special requests. Pay, and proceed to your site. There is plenty of space to hook or unhook a towed in the amphitheatre parking area just off the main road - a good idea since the campground roads have NO place to do so.

TETON MOUNTAIN VIEW LODGE AND RV PARK, TETONIA, IDAHO

2010-09-14T18:35:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend, particularly at Passport America rates.

Date of Stay: September 12 through 15, 2010, off-season (after Labor Day).

Weather During Stay: Balmy fall days and cool nights, with occasional dramatic cloud formations.

Site Description: This small park opened in 2005 adjacent to Teton Mountain View Lodge. Of 22 sites (all pull throughs), 16 are FHU with 20/30/50 amps; 6 (one on each end of the three rows) have no hookups. An additional 8 tents sites are on grass at the edge of the campground.

Sites are nicely sized, each with a bit of grass, a small tree or two, and a picnic table. Utilities are placed between two adjacent sites, so you are very close to your neighbor on the utility side, while you pull through in opposite directions. Roads and sites are gravel. Sites are completely level.

A central building houses restrooms with showers, a large laundry room with reasonably priced machines, and a TV room (no cable TV at sites). Dump station on site.

Rate: We paid the 50% off Passport America rate, $14.50/night plus tax. A great bargain!

Phone/radio/TV: Usable Verizon signal for phones and aircard. WiFi is available, but we didn’t use it. No obstacles for the roof-mounted satellite TV dish. No cable TV here, and we didn’t try the antenna. I found a local NPR station, but it had too much static to listen.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at 6,600 ft., this park is in the wide open space of the Teton Valley, on the west side of the Teton Range (Grand Teton National Park is on the other side of the range). Near views are of the lodge and the little town of Tetonia. Distant views are of the peaks of the Teton Range. Rugged, very “western”, dramatic and appealing.

Lighting/noise: Night lighting is subdued, with a low light on each utility box and a few dim lights around the perimeter of the park. The sounds of traffic from Hwy 33 die down late in the evening. This is generally a quiet area.

Favorite Sites: All of the RV sites are similar. We chose site 7, with our door side facing the view of the Teton range.

Hiking/Walking: Take the short walk into Tetonia, or stroll down the road on the west side of the park. The USFS Ranger Station in Driggs (6 miles south) has information on hikes in the area, or drive Teton Pass east to the national park with all it has to offer (45 miles).

Comments: The park was only ¼ full during our visit, a real treat. Very friendly and efficient staff in the office. Odel played 18 holes at The Links at Teton Peaks for $18 (walking). Excellent grocery store and good natural foods store in Driggs, a slightly larger town 6 miles south, along with an independent book store, art gallery or two, a couple “outfitters”, banks, realtors. We had delicious burgers in Tetonia at the North End Bar & Grill. Lots of large, lodge-style homes in the area… looks like there is money in Teton Valley.

BAKERS HOLE CAMPGROUND, WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA

2010-09-08T22:44:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Low fees, level sites, 3 miles from west entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Date of Stay: September 7 through 10, 2010. This is our second stay - the first was in June of 2004 and nothing appears to have changed.

Weather During Stay: We had it all: warm sunshine, cold rain, wind and calm. No snow, but some cold nighttime temperatures.

Site Description: Just off of Hwy 191, 3 miles north of West Yellowstone, this USFS campground has 72 developed sites, 33 with 30/50 amp electricity, the rest “primitive” (no electricity). No water or sewer at sites.

Loop roads are narrow and paved. Sites are level and graveled, with plenty of space between sites. Lots of pines throughout the campground, often close to the road. About ten sites are large pull-outs alongside the loop road, but the majority of the sites are back-ins of varying sizes. Many sites can accommodate big rigs.

As you enter the narrow entry road, a sign to your left shows a map of the campground loops next to the self pay station. Ahead, another sign identifies sites 25 through 72 as best for larger rigs. In this loop, the sites with E come first, and these sites fill more quickly than the sites without electricity. There is no place along the loop to stop to unhook a towed vehicle other than the road, which can be awkward (see Comment).

The smaller loop (sites 1 through 23) also has some electric sites, several of them large enough for big rigs. In both loops, sites with E are closer to Hwy 191, and highway noise is noticeable. Sites without E are farther from the road, closer to the Madison River, a more desirable location - but still hear some highway noise.

Pit toilets. No showers. No on-site dump station. One threaded water spigot near entrance to fill freshwater tanks (in an awkward spot); numerous non-threaded spigots throughout the campground for filling buckets and water bottles. Two on-site host couples. Plastic and aluminum recycling and central dumpsters. Sixteen-day stay limit, 2 pm checkout. Open May 15 to Sept 15, depending on the weather.

Rate: $16/night without utilities. Add $6 for E. Senior pass holders get half off the site rate, so pay $8 for the site plus $6 for E - a total of $14/night for an electric site.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon phones and aircard worked – though sometimes poorly - without a booster or amplifier. Our site was large enough that we found an opening through the trees for our roof-mounted satellite TV. We didn’t bother trying the air antenna, but some rigs had them deployed. Local NPR on 91.9.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at 6,600 ft., this flat campground is adjacent to the lovely Madison River for first-class fishing. Some of the “primitive” sites have great views of the river, but most sites had views of pines and other rigs.

Lighting/noise: VERY dark at night! Noise from Hwy 191 is noticeable during the day and until fairly late at night - but didn’t keep us awake.

Favorite Sites: On our first visit, we were in site 29, a roomy, level back-in. This time, we took site 30, a huge pull-out. Both worked fine for us, as would many others, including pullouts 20 and 22 in the smaller southern loop.

Hiking/Walking: Pleasant walking along the riverbank, and the hosts have advice about longer walks from the end of the northern loop - but the really good stuff is in nearby Yellowstone National Park! Walk the outside of the combined loops for around 3,000 steps.

Comments: All the sites in this park are first-come, first-served, which works very well for us. We appreciate the reasonable price, the quiet campers (seems more geared to fisher folk than to families), and the easy access to the west gate of Yellowstone National Park. West Yellowstone is nearby (groceries, gas, tourist services and entertainment). There is a very large, signed “day use” area, suitable for trucks and big rigs, one mile south on Hwy 191 – a good place to unhook a towed before entering the campground, or for hooking up after you depart. Since there is no dump station and the single threaded water spigot is awkwardly placed, come with empty holding tanks and full fresh water.

ROCK CANYON RV PARK, LIVINGSTON, MONTANA

2010-09-06T19:22:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommended for a relaxing interlude with convenient access from I-94.

Date of Stay: September 3 through 6, 2010 (Labor Day weekend).

Weather During Stay: Sunny one day, rainy and cold another… a mix of cool to cold, fall-like weather. Lows in the low 40’s. Snow fell on the high peaks.

Site Description: This is a small, well-tended, family run campground on the bank of the Yellowstone River. The owners live on-site.

The map shows 23 sites, but we counted fewer - at any rate, it is small. Most of the sites are long, somewhat narrow back-ins, but 4 nice sized pull-throughs were used by overnighters during our stay. If the sites were all full, it might feel somewhat crowded, but we had plenty of space during our stay.

All of the developed sites are FHU, probably 50 amps, as was ours (site 20) and cable TV is provided. The sites are gravel and grass, very level. Most sites have a tree or two, and all sites have a picnic table. A couple grassy areas are available for tents and overflow dry camping. Onsite laundry (1 washer and 1 dryer) and restrooms.

Rate: Between sending a check for a deposit, then writing two additional checks when we arrived, I don’t remember EXACTLY what we paid, but it was around $35/night plus tax.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. A tree blocked our roof-mounted satellite TV, so we used the included 30+ channels available on cable TV. Local NPR on 91.1.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at 4,600 ft., this park is in a rocky canyon at the north end of the Paradise Valley. Views are of the green grass and trees of the park, a rugged, rocky canyon wall to the west, and a high rocky ridge to the east, on the other side of the wide Yellowstone River. Our site faced down the valley towards the high peaks of the National Park. Because of the high canyon wall to the west, the park is shaded well before the sun sets. Quite appealing.

Lighting/noise: Night lighting is subdued, and there is little noise once the traffic along Hwy 89 dies down for the night. About the ONLY noise in this park is daytime traffic noise from Hwy 89, which leads to the north entrance of Yellowstone N.P.

Favorite Sites: We liked our site (20), a long back in with a nice view to the south. All the sites in our row (16 through 23) are similar.

Hiking/Walking: Across Hwy 89 (adjacent to the park), a walking/biking trail stretches 2 miles back to Livingston and another mile or so to the south. Hiking trails are available in Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park (55 miles south).

Comments: We made reservations here in advance of the Labor Day weekend, to be off the road. This small park was quiet and peaceful, not full, which surprised us! It is rather far to the National Park from here; maybe that is why sites were available all weekend. Like to fish? Stand on the bank of the Yellowstone River, a few steps from your site. We would stop here again when passing through Livingston on I-90 - the park is just a couple miles off the interstate.

GRANDVIEW CAMP AND R.V. PARK, HARDIN, MT

2010-09-02T19:25:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. Proximity to Little Bighorn Battlefield, easy access and large FHU sites were our top priorities, so this campground met our needs.

Date of Stay: September 1 and 2, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Pleasant summer weather, sunny and breezy with a nighttime low in the 50‘s.

Site Description: Around 60 sites are situated in this roomy park, a mix of FHU, electric only, and seasonal sites. Several sites are very long pull throughs. Roads are paved, sites are graveled and very level.

We were in site 47, a very long pull through that was easy to access without unhooking our Jeep. As did all the sites, ours had a picnic table. Some trees are scattered throughout the park, mostly on the perimeter, but few sites are shaded.

Outbuildings and a few old mobile homes are scattered around. An onsite laundry room shares the building with the restrooms and has a rack of tourist information. Our host told us there is an ice cream social each night at 7 pm.

Rate: We paid $67.40 for two nights, which included a Good Sam Discount and tax - close to $34/night for 50 amp FHU.

Phone/radio/TV: Very strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles blocked our roof-mounted satellite TV. 40+ channels are available on cable TV. Local NPR on 91.7.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at 3,000 ft., this is classic western landscape: dry, scrubby, silvery trees, expansive views in all directions. Lighting/noise: Our site was reasonably dark and very quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We liked our site (47), a long pull through that faced east - very welcome when the sun shone in our big front window on a cold morning. Site 45 and 43 were equally nice. Most sites looked spacious and level.

Hiking/Walking: We did our hiking at Little Bighorn Battlefield, 15 miles east.

Comments: We wanted to spend a day at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and this campground served us well. We would stay again if we wanted to spend time in the area. The little town of Hardin has an IGA for groceries.

GREEN VALLEY CAMPGROUND, GLENDIVE, MT

2010-08-31T20:44:00.000-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. This small, family-run campground is a convenient stop when traveling across Montana; the beautiful nearby state park is frosting on the cake.

Date of Stay: August 31, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Cool, dry, and pleasant.

Site Description: This small, shady campground is planted in the center of a corn farm, with tall trees for shade. Since we didn’t get (or need) a campground map, and I didn’t count the sites, I am guessing there are 25 or so. Definitely small.

The graveled entrance and exit roads are narrow, but since they are one-way, it isn’t a problem. Sites are level, gravel and grass, each with a picnic table. Most sites are pull-throughs, reasonably long and wide enough for big rigs with slides and awnings. Our site had a picnic table, as did most others.

Rate: A bargain - $16.50 for a 50 amp FHU, $1 less for a 30 amp E/W. Plus tax.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No WiFi. No obstacles blocked our roof-mounted satellite TV, but this could be a problem in other sites because of the big shade trees (our site was long enough to maneuver past the tree). We didn’t bother with the air antenna. Local NPR available on 88.5 FM.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: The elevation is around 1,500 feet. The nearby area is somewhat hilly, but the park itself was flat and the sites level. Views are of other rigs, tall trees, and cornfields, very pleasant.

Lighting/noise: The park was reasonably dark. Traffic noise from nearby I-94 was noticeable but didn’t keep us awake.

Favorite Sites: No favorites - pick your site based on orientation and utilities.

Hiking/Walking: No significant walking in the park, but we hiked the beautiful trails through the badlands of nearby (under 5 miles) Makoshika State Park, a treat.

Comments: Very easy access off either Hwy 16 or I-94. You can’t beat the price for 50 amp FHU in this pleasant, quiet, convenient park. Even if you don’t want to hike, take the drive through the nearby state park - fabulous!

ROUGHRIDER CAMPGROUND, MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA

2010-08-30T20:04:00.000-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. This spacious, shady park worked well for our short stay in Minot. Easy access to Hwy 2, but far enough away to limit traffic noise.

Date of Stay: August 29 and 30, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Warm sunshine on arrival, rain all day long the next day, some quite heavy.

Site Description: Eighty-five sites in this campground are a combination of FHU and W/E. More than half are pull through sites, all reasonably spacious with room for slides and awnings. All but the half-dozen or so newest sites are in the shade of very large trees.

Roads are paved or graveled; sites are gravel and grass, with picnic tables. All sites are reasonably level, and some of the sites are exceptionally long.

We were in site 83, one of the newer sites at the back of the park. We requested a site with no obstacles for our TV satellite dish; these newer sites are the only sites without trees.

The park has wonderful, grassy expanses next to ponds for tent campers, and mown trails wind through a forested area next to the ponds. The owners live on-site. The office has a small and very well supplied RV supply store. Dump station on site.

Rate: We paid $55.80 for two nights with a Good Sam discount and taxes for a 50 amp FHU pull through, around $28/night.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles blocked our roof-mounted satellite TV, but this would be a problem in most sites. The air antenna pulled in a few networks. WiFi is available, but we didn’t use it because Verizon worked so well. NPR available on 88.9.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This a flat, shaded campground at 1600 ft. elevation. Views are of huge trees, shaded sites, lots of grass, ponds, and a neighboring farm.

Lighting/noise: Quiet and reasonably dark at night.

Favorite Sites: If you have roof-mounted satellite dishes, request one of the newer sites at the back - 81 through 85 or so. If you want to beat the heat, the shaded sites look enticing.

Hiking/Walking: Mown paths skirt the ponds on the south side of the park (accessed through the tenting area) - not long, but pleasant and scenic.

Comments: We came to visit friends staying at another of the RV parks in Minot, a gravel parking lot within sight of Hwy 2 that looked quite unappealing to us. Roughrider’s easy access and green, spacious grounds were a far better choice for us.

CENTRAL PARK CAMPGROUND, CROOKSTON, MN

2010-08-29T12:45:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Quiet, convenient overnight stop off Hwy 2 in Minnesota.

Date of Stay: August 28th, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Pleasant summer weather, high 84, low 72 with a breeze.

Site Description: This small, city owned RV park is situated on the bank of the Red Lake River, one block off of the main street of small Crookston, MN. Sixteen sites total. Three are pull throughs with 20 and 30 amp E, the remainder are back-ins, some with E, some without. All the sites were level.

None of the sites have water or sewer, and we didn’t see an onsite dump station. Bathrooms are available; get a key when you register with the ranger, who arrives around 6 pm. We had a picnic table and a fire ring.

The road is paved; sites are gravel and grass with large trees scattered around. The three pull through sites are long and spacious, easy in and out with no need to unhook. The back in sites are shorter, but we could have fit ourselves in by hanging off the back of the pad.

Rate: $15/night for 30 amps; $10/night no hookups. Pay the ranger who comes by around 6 pm.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles blocked our roof-mounted satellite TV. We didn’t bother with the air antenna. WiFi is included, but we didn’t use it because Verizon worked so well. Didn’t check for NPR.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a very small campground in Crookston’s very green Central Park. Elevation around 600 ft. Views are of the park, the other rigs, and some large, old, historic buildings on the edge of downtown Crookston. Fishing and kayaking possible in Red Lake River; the park has a boat launch ramp, too.

Lighting/noise: The park itself was dark at night, but the entrance road is lined with bright lights. Very quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We liked our site (7), but either of the other pull-throughs would work just as well.

Hiking/Walking: Walking through this small town, empty on Sunday morning, was very pleasant.

Comments: This was a perfect overnight stop at the end of a longish driving day, with very easy access off of Hwy 2 on the west side of the Red Lake River. We enjoyed the green park, the small, very clean town, walking along the river… we’d stop again when passing through.

LEBANON HILLS CAMPGROUND, APPLE VALLEY (TWIN CITIES AREA), MN

2010-08-19T22:17:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. A park-like campground in an urban area with a rural feel.

Date of Stay: August 17 through 21, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Warm and humid, highs around 80, lows around 70.

Site Description: This campground occupies a small part of a very large county park, with lakes, biking, hiking, and equestrian trails, and a couple nice playgrounds. The campground has sites of all kinds: 58 FHU (20/30/50 amp), 23 E (20/30 amp) only, and 11 tent sites with no utilities. Some of the sites in the E only loop are suitable for large rigs. Most sites are back-ins; 3 sites are pull-outs along the loop road.

Roads in the FHU loops are paved. All sites are manicured dirt/gravel, as are the roads in the non- FHU loops. All sites have a large, heavy picnic table and fire ring. FHU sites have less shade, but all sites are surrounded by thick green grass.

The majority of the sites are reasonably spacious, some VERY spacious, others not so much. The non-FHU sites have a lot of shade and privacy.

We were in the FHU loop, site 48. Good voltage, adequate water pressure, the site was long and spacious - just one complaint: it wasn’t level! About half of the FHU sites are sufficiently sloped that large motor homes either used leveling blocks in addition to jacks, or were jacked so high that their front wheels were off the ground. It is hard to figure out why such a lovely, modern campground would not have leveled the big, spacious campsites adequately.

All loops had nice bathhouses. A dump station is near the entrance/exit. The campground uses a central dumpster with separate cans for paper and “mixed” recycling (I like to see recycling at a campground).

Rate: Varies by type of site: FHU - $32.14/night; E only, $26.78/night; No hookups - $18.21/night. Tack on an extra $7 if you want to make a reservation. We got in on a mid-week special, so paid half price for our FHU site on the weeknights - nice!

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for the aircard and phones. WiFi is included in the camping rate, but we didn’t need or use it. No obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite, and over a dozen channels on the antenna including several PBS stations. NPR is available at 91.1 and others.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Elevation is around 1,000 feet, with green, slightly hilly terrain. Views are of other rigs, thick grass, and big green trees.

Lighting/Noise: Several streetlights are left on all night; fortunately none were right next to us. There is some traffic noise, but not more than is expected in an urban environment. The campground is not far from the Minnesota Zoo, where LOUD summertime concerts lasted until around 10:30 pm on two of the nights we visited.

Favorite Sites: We didn’t make a list, but would ask for a level site if we called for a reservation, probably site 44. There are a couple of sites that were less desirable than the majority (2 and 53) - shorter and tighter - and it appears they don’t use those unless the campground is full. Our site faced mostly north, nice when the weather is hot.

Hiking/Walking: Excellent! A one-mile mown grass hiking trail leads from the east loop of the campground to another section of this large park with miles and miles of hiking trails (hiking/ biking, and equestrian trails are separated in this park, a nice touch).

Comments: We came to this park to visit friends and Costco (we’d been out in the boonies too long!). If you need/want to be in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, this is a very pleasant campground. For a campground map, visit the website: Lebanon Hills Campground.

LAKEHEAD BOAT BASIN, DULUTH, MINNESOTA

2010-08-12T14:51:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Asphalt parking lot with great views in a fascinating location.

Date of Stay: August 11 through 16, 2010. We came back for another six days August 22 through 27, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Warm, muggy summer weather (the locals all claim it is unusually hot). On our second visit, it had cooled off considerably, with highs in the low 70’s and upper 60’s.

Site Description: Don’t come expecting a campground. RV parking (no tents) is on long, rather narrow, asphalt lots used for boat storage in the winter. Twelve sites (in a single row backing up to a little used road) have FHU (50/30 amp). In another long row, eighteen sites have W/E (20/30/50 amp). A few dry camping spaces are also available.

Sites can accommodate rigs to 40’ with room for slides and awnings. In a few sites, we saw even longer motor homes. Room to maneuver is tight, and the access roads to both rows of sites dead-end, so we’ve watched many big rigs back quite a LONG way down the limited access road upon departure. If you have a big rig, don’t plan to come here if you are not confident of your maneuvering ability.

The RV sites face the small Lakehead marina and out across the harbor to the hills of Duluth. On our first visit, we were in site 13 of the W/E row, closest to the entrance. Most sites are fairly level, and each has a picnic table.

On our second visit, we stayed in site 3, a FHU site. Here the access road is not as tight and congested, so maneuvering is a tiny bit easier. All the FHU sites are completely flat; several of the W/E sites slope somewhat.

Dump station, bathhouse and laundry (one washer, one dryer) on site. Showers/bathrooms are private, small, poorly ventilated and humid. Electricity was reliable in hot weather. Good water pressure – so good, in fact, that you absolutely need a pressure regulator.

Rate: $34/night for FHU; $29/night for W/E; $25/night dry camping.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles to block our roof-mounted satellite TV. Nine channels on air antenna. No cable TV. NPR broadcast on 92.9 and 100.5. WiFi is available (for a fee?), but we didn’t need it.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: At lake level, this is a flat, asphalt parking lot with utilities on the perimeter. Views are fascinating: the activities of boaters in the small marina, the Aerial Life Bridge, huge freighters entering and exiting the Duluth harbor, pleasure craft, sailboats, and beyond to the green hills of the city of Duluth.

The view from the W/E sites is superior to the view from the FHU sites, so the convenience of the sewer and the slightly easier access is a tradeoff. For a short stay, we’d return to the W/E sites – better view, lower rate.

Lighting/noise: Typical marina sounds, and the occasional loud blasts from a freighter and the answering blasts from the bridge. Very dark at night with a beautiful nighttime view of the lights of Duluth and the illuminated bridge.

Favorite Sites: Sites in each row were all very similar. Site 13 is at the beginning of the W/E row, which we found very convenient. However, the sites closest to the restroom and showers (at the beginning of the row, where we were) are somewhat sloped. Those closer to the end are flatter, and have the best view of the bridge. Of the FHU sites, those closest to the office probably have the best views – 3 through around 7.

Hiking/Walking: Excellent. Perhaps a ¼ mile to the bridge, and on beyond to Canal Park (restaurants, movie theatres, tourist attractions), the Lakeshore boardwalk and the Bayside trail.

Comments: We came for the annual Blues festival, not knowing what a fascinating spot this would prove to be. We would be likely to return next time we visit Duluth (as you can see above, we did just that, a week later!), though parking and departing can be somewhat challenging. If you like boats and especially the big freighters, and like to walk, this is a great spot to park. Friendly, interesting, mellow owners, and you can receive mail and packages. Don’t come expecting campground amenities. Nearest grocery store is a couple of miles away.

NEMADJI TRAILER PARK AND CAMPGROUND, SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN

2010-08-10T18:33:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. This unassuming park worked well for our utilitarian needs.

Date of Stay: August 8 through 10, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Quite a mix of sunny and cool; hot and humid (including warm fog); and rain.

Site Description: This combination mobile home park (older single-wides), RV park, and campground is quiet and convenient. It appears that FHU RV sites have been added as mobile homes have been removed, resulting in about a dozen 50 amp FHU sites in various spots in the small park. Another dozen W/E sites are in a row adjacent to a large grassy area for tent camping (unusually appealing tent area for an RV park).

We were in a FHU site in a row of half a dozen large RV’s. The site was a level back-in, gravel and grass, with a sturdy picnic table. Our site was reasonably roomy with space for slides and awnings. The park road is paved and easily negotiated by big rigs.

Dump station, bathhouse and laundry on site. Very reliable electricity even on a hot afternoon.

Rate: $24/night for FHU; don’t know the rate for W/E or tent camping.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles to block our roof-mounted satellite TV. Twelve channels on air antenna. No cable TV. NPR broadcast from Minneapolis on 100.5; Duluth probably has a station, too.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a small, open campground at lake level (Lake Superior). Views are of the owner’s home (owner lives on site), older single-wide mobile homes, other rigs, and large trees.

Lighting/noise: Conveniently located a couple blocks off of Hwy 2 on the east end of Superior in a residential neighborhood, road noise and other city/residential noise is noticeable during the day, lighter at night. Several large security lights reflected off our rig at night.

Favorite Sites: Sites in our row were all very similar, so no favorites here.

Hiking/Walking: A long, paved walk/bike trail runs alongside Hwy 2 and Lake Superior through town. Very pleasant walking, just a few blocks from the campground.

Comments: We wanted an easily accessible, level, FHU site with reliable 50 amp service for a 3 day stay between W/E sites, and Nemadji delivered it all at a bargain price. Nothing here for kids (though a few live in the park), just us old retired folks. Very friendly and helpful owner. There is a small grocery store nearby, with Target and WalMart within 5 miles. Easy access to downtown Duluth, the harbor, and the lift bridge. We would return.

CITY OF HOUGHTON RV PARK, HOUGHTON, MI (U.P.)

2010-08-04T21:15:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Excellent location in town; good base for exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Date of Stay: August 2 through 5, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Pleasant summer weather, highs in the 80’s, lows in the 60’s, plenty of sunshine.

Site Description: This city owned RV park enjoys a great in-town location on the shore of the Portage Canal, adjacent to a city park and swimming beach. All 22 sites are for self-contained RV’s (no tents), as the park has no bathroom facilities. This park definitely feels like an RV park (which it is), rather than a campground.

All sites are back-ins, all sites are FHU, and all sites have 20/30/50 amps and cable TV. Each site has large a wooden deck facing the water, with a picnic table, shade structure, and bench. There is room on the deck for a couple of lawn chairs. Each site has its own covered trash barrel, a fire ring and a grill.

The road and the sites are paved. Sites are surrounded by grass and many have a small tree or other landscaping. Sites can accommodate 40 foot motor homes and a towed, with space for slides and awnings.

No dump station, no bathroom, no laundry. Very reliable electricity even on a hot afternoon.

Rate: $25/night for 30 amps; $28/night for 50 amps.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard. No obstacles to block our roof-mounted satellite TV. Cable TV is included. WiFi is included, but we didn’t use it because Verizon worked so well. NPR broadcast from on 91.1.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a very small, open, terraced park at 600 ft. elevation on the shoreline of Portage Lake in “downtown” Houghton. Views are of other rigs, the blue water of the lake (a canal), and the small town of Hancock across the water. Very appealing, and the decks are designed to take advantage of the view.

Lighting/noise: Located just below Canal Road, road noise is noticeable during the day and lighter (very light late) when traffic thins at night. Thought it was noticeable, it didn’t keep us awake. Pleasantly dark at night.

Favorite Sites: All the sites are similar in size, orientation and amenities. We were in an upper tier site, with slightly more privacy than the lower tier, but would request a lower tier site next time for proximity to the water.

Hiking/Walking: From the RV park, a biking/walking trail goes east through town and the campus of the Michigan Technological University for an unknown distance (we walked at least 2 miles), and walking downtown is a short, pleasant stroll. Many places to hike on the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Comments: Houghton is a pleasant, small (4000 population) town that is proud of its history, well presented on interesting historical signs along the waterfront walkway and in the old downtown section. We enjoyed the proximity of the park to the town, and it made a great home base for exploration of “Copper Country”.

MUNISING TOURIST PARK CAMPGROUND, MUNISING, MI (U.P.)

2010-08-01T20:41:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Recommend. Beautiful views on the shoreline of Lake Superior.

Date of Stay: July 31 and August 1, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Pleasant summer weather, up to 80 degrees one day, overcast the other. Lows in the 60‘s.

Site Description: This is a city owned and operated campground, 2 or 3 miles west of the center of Munising. The 87 sites are a mix of E, E/W, and FHU (16 FHU). A separate area is set aside as “rustic tent sites”, and they have an overflow area with water and a big new bathhouse.

Twenty-two of the sites are directly on the shore of Lake Superior, adjacent to a sandy beach. We were in one of the shoreline sites, #77, shaded by tall pines. Our row of 9 FHU sites have been added since our first visit 7 years ago, along with 7 pull through FHU sites across from us, one row off the beach.

The sites in our row, 72-80, all are pleasantly long and wide, some with shade, some in the open, and all reasonably level. The pull-through sites across from us aren’t as long or as level. The remaining sites, all older and none FHU, are a variety of shapes and lengths. Each site in our area has a heavy-duty picnic table and a fire ring - I‘m not sure about the others.

Roads are dirt/gravel (with potholes that filled when it rained), and sites are gravel, sand, and grass. The campground includes two bathhouses (heavily used and sandy when I visited), a dump station, and access to the Lake Superior shoreline and beach.

Rate: Range from $19 to $30/night (for FHU sites).

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal. In site 77, trees blocked our roof-mounted satellite TV, but it would have worked in other sites. No cable TV. We didn’t get any stations on our antenna, but other campers had their antennas deployed. The campground advertises WiFi, but we didn’t use it because Verizon worked so well. NPR on 90.1.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a flat, grassy, partly shaded campground at 900 ft. elevation on the shoreline of Lake Superior. The water here is shallow and warm, great for wading and swimming. Views are of other rigs, trees, the beautiful lake, and nearby Grand Island.

Lighting/noise: Located just off the main east/west road through the U.P., there is quite a lot of road noise during the day, less when traffic thins at night. Thought it was noticeable, it didn’t keep us awake. Very dark in our section at night.

Favorite Sites: We wanted FHU while here, and the newer FHU sites along the beach were great. Next time, we would reserve 75, 74, 73 or 72 - they were more open, so have a better shot at satellite TV. W/E sites #1 and 2 are very large, with nice privacy in site #1.

Hiking/Walking: The sandy shoreline of Lake Superior is a nice stroll. For longer hikes, head east to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The hike to Mosquito Beach is 4 miles round-trip, to a lovely beach with a wonderful limestone shelf for wading/swimming in the lake - truly beautiful.

Comments: Munising is the “western gateway” to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and this campground is very convenient to town. Lovely location on Lake Superior. Boat tours of Pictured Rocks leave from Munising, as do the glass-bottomed boat “shipwreck tours”, which we took and enjoyed several years ago. On the advice of a reader, we had lunch of pasties at Muldoon’s (voted #1 pasties in the U.P, according to their sign) - excellent!

WOODLAND PARK, GRAND MARAIS, MICHIGAN

2010-07-29T19:30:00.000-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. If you want an RV site in Grand Marais with utilities, this is the (only) place.

Date of Stay: July 29 through 30, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Mostly sunny and very pleasant - highs in the low to mid 70’s, lows in the 50’s.

Site Description: The city of Grand Marais operates this park, with 144 RV sites. A separate, somewhat secluded area has 19 primitive sites (tents only). The large, grassy campground is on a bluff above Lake Superior, with some view spaces and plenty of trees to provide some shade to most of the sites. We are in site 31, a large “lakefront” site with a view through a gap in the trees to the blue water and sandy beach of Lake Superior.

109 sites have 20/30/50 amps, water, and cable TV; the 16 remaining RV sites have no services. Most of the sites are spacious - not particularly deep, but wide – but there are a few narrow, awkward sites that were last to be claimed. Most (not all) sites look reasonably level, but frequently are lumpy. All sites are back-ins, with a heavy-duty picnic table and a fire ring.

Roads are dirt/gravel, and sites are mostly grass with patches of dirt. The campground includes two bathhouses (coin op showers, heavily used), a dump station, and access to the Lake Superior shoreline and beach. A recreation area, including a softball diamond, is adjacent to the park.

Rate: $25/night for “lakefront” sites (the view of the lake is mostly obscured by trees, but is definitely the best view); $24/night for the remaining RV sites with W/E. Tent sites and non-electric sites are $18/night. Weekly and monthly rates are available. No reservations taken - it is all first come, first served.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal. Our roof-mounted satellite TV worked, but this would not be true in all the sites. No problem, cable TV is included. Not sure about WiFi, but I don’t believe it is available in the campground. Computer access is available in the office for $3/half hour (yikes!). No NPR station.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a flat, grassy, partly shaded campground at 800 ft. elevation on a bluff above Lake Superior. Views are of other rigs, trees, and - if you have a lake front site - a bit of the beautiful blue lake and sandy beach.

Lighting/noise: Reasonably dark and very quiet at night. Lots of noise during the day from all the campers, dogs and kids.

Favorite Sites: Because the park was very close to full when we were here, the lakefront sites were the most appealing. Most campsites were crammed with tents, clotheslines, small trailers, boats, cars and ATV’s, so sites without the open view to the front looked mighty crowded. Sites on the eastern end of the lakefront row seemed to have the best views of the lake.

Hiking/Walking: Excellent! Stairways lead down to the beach, good for strolling (and swimming) or walking the short distance to town. If you don’t want to walk on sand, take the sidewalk into town for sightseeing. Beautiful hiking trails are a short drive away in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Comments: This large park would be a gem during the off season, but was crowded with vacationing families when we visited. Lots of activity, lots of daytime noise, lots of dogs, and lots of kids and adults cutting through campsites (what’s up with that??), the usual perils of summertime camping. We both had to ask kids camped nearby to quit throwing their softball towards (and into) our site, and Odel eventually had to give ‘em heck when the ball hit our motorhome. Where were their parents? You get the picture! On the plus side, NO bugs – amazing! It made a good base camp for exploring Pictured Rocks and we enjoyed the little town of Grand Marais. Don’t be afraid to drive to the “end of the road” for a visit.

CLEMENTZ’S NORTHCOUNTRY CAMPGROUND & CABINS, NEWBERRY, MI (U.P.)

2010-07-28T10:45:00.001-05:00

Our Opinion: Neutral. The park itself is nice, but their list of “rules” is long, detailed, and tiresome.

Date of Stay: July 26 and 27, 2010.

Weather During Stay: Summer weather. Highs in the low 80’s, lows in the upper 60’s.

Site Description: The 50 RV sites in this level, grassy campground are a mix of FHU, W/E, E only, and primitive. 50 amps available at some sites for an extra charge. Trees provide shade for some of the sites.

We were in site 10, a wide, level, grassy pull-through with FHU (30 amps). Utility boxes are between sites, shared by rigs facing in the opposite direction. Sites are very spacious, with no sense of crowding. All sites have a picnic table and a fire ring.

Streets are gravel, arranged in three concentric circles. The bathhouse/laundry is located in the “bulls-eye”, along with a playground. There is a dump station on site. Trading library in the office.

Rate: Rates are tricky to figure. This park participates in PA, but not the FHU sites, which we needed on this stop. We paid $24 for a 30 amp FHU site. Want to use your AC? Add $2/day. Want cable TV? Another $2/day. Upgrade to 50 amps? Another $2/day (and AC is not included in that price). It’s the kind of nickel-and-diming pricing that drives us crazy.

Phone/radio/TV: No Verizon signal here for phones or aircard. The park has WiFi (7 am to 9 pm) at the office; the signal doesn’t reach to most of the sites. Don’t count on anything other than email and a bit of internet research, as the WiFi service has a data limit on it, so high-data-usage applications are prohibited (understandably). Our roof-mounted satellite TV worked with no problem since we were in a very open site (so paid $2/day extra for A/C). No reliable NPR stations.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: This is a flat, grassy, partly shaded campground at 800 ft. elevation. Views are of other rigs, grass, and trees - pleasantly green.

Lighting/noise: Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: No favorites here. The utilities you want will dictate your choice of sites.

Hiking/Walking: There is a short “nature trail” on the property, but the best hiking is around 20 miles away in Tahquamenon State Park, site of a well-known U.P. attraction, Tahquamenon Falls.

Comments: The park itself - and the facilities - are quite nice and appealing, but the long list of rules and the reminder signs posted throughout the campground make you feel as though you are doing something wrong most of the time. You can’t even put a small mat for wiping you feet on the grass by your steps (hurts the grass). Add the extra $2/day for anything “extra”, and we ended up feeling as though our money was welcome, but we campers were a real pain!