Dreamy Places to Camp

As we travel across our wonderful country we sometimes come across fabulous campgrounds. Here is a list, in order by state, with a brief description of the facilities and estimated cost ($ - $$$$), as well as the month and year we visited.  $ = $15-20

Ariziona
Kartchner Caverns State Park: Benson. Access to the campground is easy. The roads through the campground are paved and provide ample room for maneuvering. Most of the sites are spaced well away from each other, with many mesquite trees interspersed among the camp sites the sites have a paved parking pad, however, there is no patio area for the picnic table, and only just enough room to park the car and the rig. Most of the sites have just enough slope that it requires the use of blocks for leveling. There is no WiFi but we were able to acquire a minimal cell signal. Our satellite TV worked as mesquite trees are not that tall. There is no sewer connection, but the park has a dump. The campground is immaculate and has two clean restroom facilities. There is no dog park but there are a few trails and there is a 2.5 mile loop trail. The visitor center, within walking distance, has a nice gift shop and displays about the caverns. The cavern tours are very interesting. This is an excellent State Park. We stayed here on our way out and stopped back on our return trip. It is worth the 9 mile drive from the Interstate. $$ 3/13

Palm Creek RV & Golf Resort: Casa Grande. We enjoyed this 55+ community for a long term stay. There are many activities, several dog parks, large campsites that are flat and clean. $$$$  3/13


Distant Drums RV Resort: Camp Verde. This is an easy park to get to off of the Interstate. There is good signage and a large parking area for registration. The park offers pull-in sites along the perimeter, some of which offer a spectacular view of the Verde Valley. They also have back-in sites and some pull-throughs. Park roads are paved and wide; however, a few sites are challenging to enter or exit. Sites are paved with a narrow, paved patio area and a picnic table. Some sites appeared to have too much of a slope. The park is immaculate and the gravel around each pad is raked when campers depart. The utilities were in the perfect location for our rig. There are pleasant plantings throughout the park and they have a nice-sized dog park. The park is covered in pea gravel, so they aren't struggling with trying to maintain grass. They have buried some large posts (railroad ties) to encourage male dogs to mark that area! They have a motion- activated lamp on a post, but a flashlight would still be welcome at night. Free WiFi is provided for one computer, but it was terribly slow. Cable is also free. We look forward to an opportunity to stay here again. $$ 3/14

Rancho Verde RV Park: Camp Verde. This is a fantastic, friendly and clean park. Sites are level with a few trees. Friendly owners make this a plus park. $ 10/07

California
Angels Camp RV & Camping Resort: The owners are the best part of this park. They are working hard to make an outstanding campground experience. The park is on a hill. Sites have been carved out of the hillside, so they are level, but they are a bit narrow, so one is presented with a steep hill up and down on either size of the RV. There is a great gazebo kitchen area and a large dog park. $$ 10/14

Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground: Buellton. Nice trees and some landscaping. Sites are usually flat and have adequate space. There is a nice-sized dog park. The staff are very helpful. $$$ 10/14

Marina Dunes RV Park: Marina. This park has beautiful landscaping and flat sites that offset the tight, back-in spaces. The clubhouse is nice and the grounds are immaculate. There are two sandy paths that lead to the beach about 1/3 of a mile away. $$$ 10/14

Vines RV Resort: Paso Robles. The only unfortunate thing about this park is its location adjacent to 101. The sites are level. The park is immaculate. There are plantings that are well maintained and will be fabulous when they mature. There is a nice dog park and a beautiful pool and public rooms. $$$ 10/14

East Shore RV Park: San Dimas. What a lovely park setting with lots of grassy. Some sites on the hill have nice views. The sites are spaced away from each other. Some present challenges in getting level. $$$ 10/14

Colorado
Mountaindale Cabins and RV Resort: Colorado Springs. This campground has flat sites because of terracing with stone walls that are located here and there under the trees. There is a nice community building and an enclosed dog park. $$ 6/16

Florida

Florida Springs RV Resort: Bonifay. This campground isn't top on our list, but deserves to be noted. It has potential. It is small, quiet and clean. The gravel sites are in a treed area but have a slight slope. There is a play area for children of all ages, having a putting green and horseshoe pits. A small pond can be used for swimming or fishing. $ 12/12

Fort Wilderness CampgroundBuena Vista. This is roughing it, smoothly, as Tiffin would say. It is rustic camping with class. The sites are flat and spacious. Everything is clean. Although car transportation is not allowed within the campground (except for going in and out) there are buses that run frequently to recreation areas and boats that go to The Magic Kingdom and some of the hotels. Golf carts may be rented for interior travel. Dogs are permitted in some areas and there is an extra, nominal fee for their stay There is a nice-sized fenced dog park. $$$$  4/97   1/13

Fort Clinch State Park: Fernandina Beach. There are two camping options, a river campground, located on the western side of the park, and the beach front campground on the east. Each campground has its own charm, but both have brand new bath houses. The beach side is not as dog friendly. The grass is riddled with sand spurs and there are no trails. All sites are open to the sun. Dogs are not allowed on the beach. Almost all sites at the river campground are under the canopy of oak trees. There are a few trails for dog walks and sand spurs are only found near the river. Sites are dirt. They are level and patrolled and cleaned by Rangers. $$ 4/03, 7/04, 1/13

River Bend Luxury Motorcoach Resort: LaBelle. This is a class A motorhome resort. All sites are privately owned. Many have gorgeous landscaping. A lot of the sites have casitas or coach houses. When you rent a site you might have the option of using the extra building. Some sites are on small lakes, others back up to woods or are on green space. The sites are very large. There are many activities onsite, including an RC car race track, pickleball, swimming and fishing in the lakes or on the river. This is a winter destination for retired snowbirds. It is pricey but very pleasant. $$$$+  1/16

Twin Lakes Camp Resort: Defuniak Springs. This is a lovely, clean park on a peninsula between two lakes. Sites all have stamped concrete pads and appear to be flat. The roads are gravel and are wide enough for easy access. Many of the sites front on the lakes. There are a number of docks and some have lights in the water to attract insects and fish at night. The bathrooms are amazing, done in different tiles with a large glass walled shower. The sink is a vessel sink on a barrel, and towel and TP holders are galvanized pipe. The camp has some cottages and "glamping" tents. It is very clean and the owners are very nice. $$$ 5/18

Santos Campground: Ocala. Santos is a no-frills park with 25 flat sites spread around a large grassy park. The sites offer plenty of elbow room and the park is clean. There isn't a dog play area, but the park is close to equestrian, biking and walking trails along Florida's Greenway. $$ 12/13

Georgia
Skidaway Island State Park: Savannah. This park offers generous sized sites in the trees along dirt roads. Each site has a raised packed gravel are for the picnic table. Two of the four loops are being refitted with sewer hookups. A bike path extends from the park to the west with access to shopping and biking through residential neighborhoods. $$ 1/13

Fort Yargo State ParkWinder. This is our favorite State Park. The sites are crushed stone framed by large timbers. They are flat, and sites are nicely spaced. The campground is two miles inside the park and is very quiet. The roads are hilly. There are walking trails and boat docks for campers' use. $$ 2/13

Idaho
McCall RV Resort: McCall. Large sites with generous concrete slabs. There are some cluster sites for group camping. The clubhouse has a beautiful pool and shower facilities. The resort is was immaculate.  (During our 2013 visit we could see that the grounds were not being maintained. There were weeds all around, instead of pretty plantings. But, they were clean weeds!) Take advantage of the bike paths into town. The only negative is the proximity to the small airport as you can hear the planes taking off. $$$  7/12

Montana
Spring Creek Campground & Trout RanchBig Timber. Beautiful, peaceful camping along a river. The area is flat and treed. There is plenty of room around the campers. River front sites only have water and electric. $ 8/12

Jim & Mary's RV Park: Missoula. This family-owned park is a gardener's paradise. There are flower gardens tucked into just about every corner with whimsical features that always brought a smile to my face. Sites are grassy and flat with tress for shade. $$ 8/12


Nugget RV Park: St. Regis. Another family-owned jewel. We loved this treed campground that made us feel like we were in the wilds of Montana, yet we were oh so close to the Interstate. There are lovely walking trails and a meadow that dogs could romp in, unleashed! Sites are level. New plantings show promise of more seclusion as they grow. The grounds are immaculate. The folks are friendly! $$ 6/13


Nevada
Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort: Las Vegas. The park is easily accessible from I-15 and has adequate paved roads and flat, concrete pads with a small patio area and a picnic table. Utilities, including free cable, are in a good location. Wi-Fi is only available for a fee. Despite the proximity to the Interstate, the traffic noise is minimal, at least on the side of the park we were in. The park is very clean and has some beautiful plantings and trees to break up the concrete and gravel landscape. Many of the pull-throughs are just concrete and gravel. The park has quite a few small off-leash pens for the dogs with a gravel base. We'd stop here again, even for another overnight stop, because of the security and ease of getting in and parked. Getting back on I-15 requires a trip around the block, but was easily accomplished. $$$ 4/14

New Mexico
American RV Park: Albuquerque. Easy access from Interstate and wide, flat interior roads and sites. Despite the proximity of the major highway, noise isn't an issue. Sites have concrete patio with nice picnic table. Utilities, including free cable, were in good location. Free wifi was adequate. The park is clean and staff are friendly and helpful. A staff member helps guide you and gets you parked. There are trees in most of the park, a nice playground and a nice-sized dog park. A free continental breakfast a provided in the registration building, where here is also a gift shop with a few basic food supplies. $$ 4/14

Oregon
Sandy Riverfront RV Resort: Troutdale. This park has lovely, flat sites and pretty plantings. The roads through the park are nicely spaced, even for big rigs. You can walk into town and there is a small city park across the street. $$$ 9/14

South Carolina

Hilton Head RV Resort and Marina: Hilton Head. Each of the sites at this campground are privately owned. When you arrive for a stay, you are given keys to a golf cart so that you can drive around the campground to find the site you'd like. Some sites have beautiful sitting areas, others have waterfalls. All sites are nicely landscaped providing added privacy. $$$ 2/13

Texas
Blazing Star RV Resort: San Antonio. This park is very well maintained. The interior sites are pull-throughs on concrete pads, with concrete patios and picnic tables. Many of the pads seem to have a slope. The premium sites are larger and most have small Live Oaks on them. A few sites have large wood porches. There are two fenced dog areas to accommodate different-sized dogs. The club house area is very pleasant with a beautiful, heated pool. Bath houses are located throughout the property and are also very clean. The park is rather pricey. They provide free cable but charge extra for Tengo Internet, after a free one-day trial. The park is located on a major N/S loop outside of the city. We experienced heavy traffic driving around and a lot of road noise in the park. I marked the park down because of the noise, sloping sites, and because the Internet was not included in the expensive rate. $$$ 12/13

Coffee Creek RV Resort: Santo. This was a great find. The park is convenient to the Interstate, but far enough away to limit road noise. The sizes are large and flat. There is a dog park and a trail for walking. The owners are onsite and are very warm and friendly. Passport America $ 2/13


Mountain View RV ResortVan Horn. Great, flat pull-through sites with plenty of room to maneuver. Many of the sites have small trees that have been trimmed. The park is pretty basic, but the new owners are working hard at upgrading and making improvements. The bathrooms are old, but spotless. WiFi is sketchy and apparently only works at sites near the building. The owners or managers will take you into town for dinner if you don't care to unhook your car. There is some road noise, but the easy access to I-10 is worth it for an overnight stop. We have stayed here multiple times on our trips going east and west, and will gladly stay again. $$ 2/14

Utah
Golden Spike RV ParkBrigham City. This is the perfect, small campground! The owners are friendly, the sites are flat. There are trees and some plantings. The only drawback is the lack of a fenced dog area.  $$ 9/14

Kanab RV Corral: Kanab. This small RV campground is on the highway in Kanab and has a paved entrance. The rest of the park is flat gravel. There are a number of trees that add a bit of a challenge while parking rigs. Each site has a picnic table, and the sizes of sites vary. The park offers free wifi, which worked satisfactorily. There is no cable. A small number of local channels can be accessed with antennas. The office has a number of DVD's that may be checked out. The grounds are very clean and the grassy sitting areas, gardens and gazebo are pleasant. The pool was not open when we visited. The park has a clean, grassy dog exercise area. The staff were all friendly and helpful. We'd love to be able to stay here again. $$ 4/14

Zion River Resort: Virgin. We enjoyed a few nights here while visiting Zion National Park. The park is easy to enter off of route 9, but despite being next to the road, noise was not a problem. The staff is very friendly and invited us to participate in their scheduled activities. The staff was also receptive to our desire to have a few limbs cut back on a tree so we didn't scratch the motorhome as we exited our site. This was taken care of promptly. The sites are a bit short, but have plenty of room on the sides, and maneuvering through the park is not a problem. Sites have picnic tables, barbecues and fire rings. This is a family friendly resort and has a nice playground and pool. Everything seemed clean. There is a path to the river, which when we visited was low enough that we could make our way quite a bit up and down stream. The park has free cable and wifi, however, the wifi was very slow at peak usage times. There are two small off-leash areas for the dogs with a gravel base. We would live to stay here again. $$ 4/14


Virginia
Fox Trail Campground: Fancy Gap. Since we camped at this small, mountain top campground it has joined KOA. It still has wonderful ratings. The sites are treed and are fairly flat. $$ 8/03

West Virginia

Beckley Exhibition Mine Campground: Beckley. This is a lovely, small city-owned park. The sites are located on a loop around a hill and may not be totally flat. $ 8/03





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