REDDING ELKS LODGE, REDDING, CALIFORNIA

Our Opinion: Recommend. This is our usual stop for an overnight or two when traveling the I-5 corridor. Private; you must be an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: May 20, 2009.

Weather During Stay: Hot. High close to 90 degrees, cooled quickly as the sun set. Low around 55 degrees.

Sites: 20 RV sites on reasonably level asphalt on the perimeter of the large parking lot. Each site has 50/30/20 amps and water. All are suitable for big rigs, but parking is very tight if all the sites are occupied - room for slides, but not awnings. All sites are backins.

There are a couple of picnic tables here and there, and a convenient dump station. Dry camping is allowed only if all the sites are occupied.

Rate: $20 for electricity, water and cable TV. Dump included in camping fee.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite. Several TV stations using the TV antenna, and cable TV is at each site. Local NPR on 89.7 and 90.9.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, level parking with large trees in the lot and around the perimeter. Elevation is 550 feet. The lodge is next door to a senior center; views are of lots of cars in the lot (at times), other rigs, the lodge and the senior center.

Lighting/Noise: The lodge is far from any busy streets so, unless the lodge is rented for an event (we suffered through an all-night party during one stay), it is quiet at night. Occasional trains run fairly nearby. Bright night lights are on 3 foot tall pedestals behind the sites - could be worse!

Favorite Sites: They are all similar. About half face west (hot, hot, hot in summer); the other half face north. No reservations here, so take your choice from what is available when you arrive.

Hiking/Walking: Excellent walking is the reason we stop in Redding. The lodge is on the banks of the Sacramento River, with a wonderful walking/biking trail (this photo) that goes miles in either direction. Walk east along the river about 1 ½ mile through parks and greenspace to the famous Sundial Bridge (not this photo) at Turtle Bay, with it‘s lovely arboretum. Great!

Comments: This lodge is well away from I-5, in a convenient and appealing residential location. The river and walkway is a high point for us, but the lodge itself is also very pleasant, with a huge lawn sloping from the lodge down to the river. Their large swimming pool was closed for repairs on this trip - too bad. We have done a sightseeing daytrip from here to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Truly a convenient stop with plenty to do in the area.

CAL EXPO RV PARK, SACRAMENTO, CA

This outdated review has been removed. Please click here to read our review dated November 29, 2011.

PLACERVILLE ELKS LODGE, SHINGLE SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

A more recent review of this Elks Lodge is available, dated October 27, 2010. No change, except the price has gone up to $17/night.

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

Date of Stay: April 1 - 5, 2009. Sunny and springlike: highs in upper 60's to low 70's, lows in 30's and 40's. Some wind.

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

Rate: $15 with water and electricity.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones signal; aircard on Broadband, 4 bars. Tall oaks may obstruct TV satellite in west-facing sites. Several TV stations on antenna. 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/industrial businesses.

Lighting/Noise: Traffic noise from busy nearby 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. Sites 7 and 2 are shorter than the other sites, the only sites not suitable for a big rig.

Hiking/Walking: Head south over the hill to access little used paved roads in an undeveloped area.

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. Nearest dump station is a crowded gas station a few miles away. Back Forty Texas BBQ, about a mile east, has good BBQ ribs and brisket.

LODI ELKS LODGE, WOODBRIDGE (LODI), CA

Our Opinion: Recommend. A few miles west of Hwy 99, this Elks Lodge is a green oasis in a quiet residential area. Private; you must be an Elk or traveling with an Elk to stay here.

Date of Stay: March 30 and 31, 2009.
Weather During Stay: Springtime: lows in the 40’s, highs in the upper 60’s.

Sites: Of the 12 W/E (30 amp) sites available, 7 are suitable for big rigs, 4 are suitable for shorter rigs (under 30‘ or so) and one is occupied by a host‘s rig. Sites are reasonably wide (room for slides and awnings) and fairly level, on asphalt and gravel, with picnic tables here and there. No pull-throughs. Utility hookups for the big-rig sites (at the back of the parking lot) are placed to allow backing in or nosing in, so motorhomes can face the small green park adjacent to the RV sites - very nice.

All sites are located along the perimeter of a fairly small, quite busy parking lot - it could be difficult to maneuver into a space if the lodge is busy. Dry camping does not seem feasible due to the heavy use of the small parking lot.

A host is in the site next to the dump station. Dump station access is a bit awkward, but possible for all sizes of rigs. Two washers and two dryers (coin operated) are available in the laundry room on the first floor of the lodge (the bar and dining area is upstairs).

Rate: $16 for W/E. Dump included in camping fee.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal. No obstructions to block TV satellite. Several TV stations using the TV antenna. Local NPR on 91.3.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, level parking with grass and trees around the perimeter. Elevation is near sea level. Views of grass, trees, the lodge and parking lot, and nearby homes.

Lighting/Noise: The lodge parking area is quite lit up at night, somewhat obtrusive. Very quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We like the longer sites at the back of the lodge parking lot, where we pull in front forward facing the park. No reservations here, so take your choice when you arrive.

Hiking/Walking: Lodi Lake Park has a few miles of nice walking trails a short drive away, or walk there: head south from the lodge less than 1/2 miles to the cemetary. Between the cemetary and the railroad tracks (don't cross the tracks), turn east (left) and follow the wide concrete path to the park. Nice "natural area" loop and paved roads.

Comments: This lodge is in the tiny community of Woodbridge, just north of Lodi - a medium sized town with a pleasant, well-maintained downtown. The Lodi post office, right around the corner, might be a good spot to receive General Delivery mail. Nice big, new Raley‘s grocery store and Safeway further south on N. Lower Sacramento Road. Golfing at Micke Grove Park, south of town. There is a Cummins repair/service facility nearby, on Woodbridge Road just off (west) of Highway 99

SALINAS ELKS LODGE, SALINAS, CA

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.

THIS REVIEW IS OUTDATED.  Please CLICK HERE to read our most current review.