That Apopka KOA started out in the 1980's as a Yogi Bear ,,, very odd about the attitude towards the kids.. I live in Apopka .. that RV park has hundreds of permanent trailers and I think they treat it more like a retirement village (55+) ... very odd also that they have a guard shack at the entrance.. There are good places to stay at Rock Springs and Wekiva along with a decent park only a few miles north on 441...
I know what you mean about trains. Stayed at a private campground near Williamsburg VA., the train came thundering through in the middle of the night and scared the hell of us. Couldn't see the tracks from the campsites because they were elevated. Now I google map any campground we are considering and make sure there are no train tracks. You'd be surprised how many campgrounds are next to them. Stayed at one in Florida next to RT 4 major highway, very loud with traffic noise. We didn't have to worry about quiet time, because there was none. Had to play our outside speakers loud to block out the traffic noise. We now keep ear plugs handy.
We stayed at Winter Island Park last year and although the views of the port and all the boating, it was really just a parking lot and you had to drive next door to the city municipal utility to dump after your stay. Add to that a boat ramp, as well as a beach, it was a very busy place and not so easy to relax on asphalt.
One of our faves is bend Sisters Garden RV Rrsort (Oregon). You can check out activities in Bend, Crater Lake, explore lava beds and so much more. Beautiful grounds. Well kept spaces. Garbage pickup at site! Miniature golf. Great store.
Worst? Overflow campground #3 Death Valley, happened on it during the 49er's return reunion (in Early November? 1000's of campers, unexpected) Pulled in, found a site and was a mile to facilities. Was fairly late, but neighbor pounded on door and asked if we were going to go to the Hoot nanny breakfast at 7am. Luckily we left, drove an extra 80 or so miles to Scotties Castle where we were one of 6 sites in use. Runner up, late season at a South Dakota KOA. Three sites in use, owner came by knocked on each campsite and announced that the bathrooms and showers were closing in one hour and would be closed the rest of the day. (gave reason as 'cleaning')
With about 600 days in campgrounds Sunshine Key is also the best RV park I’ve ever stayed in. The park is beautiful, the staff was awesome and the location requires no explanation. 😎🌴I’ve never stayed in KOA because of the price.
Try River View RV park in Vidalia, LA you'll be across the Mississippi river from Natchez. Mount Magazine state park in Arkansas is another recommendation, I did some hiking up to the highest point in Arkansas. Y'all check out these campgrounds I stayed with my aunt and uncle. And also don't forget about Poche's in Breaux Bridge just outside of Lafayette.
The Prove Utah KOA Journey was the tightest campground I've ever been in - they packed people in like sardines! Our picnic table was next to our neighbors sewer hose. We didn't eat outside lol. Some great ones are Bearmouth RV Park in Clinton MT, Countryside RV in Dillon MT, Indigo Bluffs in Empire MI, Stagecoach RV park in St Augustine, Hilton Head National RV resort.
Have you ever stayed at KOA Vail Lake in Temecula CA? We stayed there last year for a couple of weeks and we really liked it! Not fancy, but very nice. Very much a 'camp' feel, family oriented, lots of activities for everyone and even a craft or two! Three salt water pools, one being a shallow kiddie pool. A diner, mini golf, live band on the weekends, and trails.
RVlife has many very positive reviews of Winter Island Park Campgrounds. They mention the dump station being outside the park, but that did not seem to be a problem.
First I'd like to say that giving your family experiences over things is so amazing. Your kids are really blessed to have such great parents. As far as best campground it was so far back I'm not even sure it's still so amazing but it's Cape Lookout State Park on the Oregon coast. You camp in a densely wooded heavily ferned and mossed spot and then walk over a small dune where it opens up to a gorgeous sandy beach and the roaring Pacific Ocean. Absolutely the best of both worlds. The worst was Happy Oaks RV Park on I10 in Allyton, Texas. We made advance reservations and when we arrived they put us in a spot so rough and unlevel we couldn't even get decently level in our class B van. Then when my hubby went to check in they told him there was no water and also the public shower had no water at all. We ended up leaving that night and stayed at a truck stop up the road instead. That was a couple of years ago so maybe it's better now.
I really enjoy your videos. My favorite place to camp is Higley Flow State Park, S. Colton,NY. It has the old charm of a campground with a beach, trails, boat launch and all the campers are always friendly. All the sites are uniquely set up for privacy and you are never parked to close to another site. You won't be disappointed.
We stayed at the Mystic KOA in Mystic, CT. Campground was ok but what really affected our stay was how miserable the people were. Plus they charged us $7/night for each of our 1 year old twins. Even after speaking with the front office they did not remove the charges. Outrageous!
I guess it depends on one's situation. Its just the two of hence the name of the coach. So charges for kids is irrelevant to us. But really? $7. each for 1-year olds? Thats ridiculous! This campground has no streetlights. If you like it dark at night, this is the place.
Our favorite place is North Beach Campground in St Augustine FL , we love the area the campground doesn’t have a lot they have a pool and it between the Bay and the Ocean, but we love it the staff is always so friendly we’ve only had a problem once and that was in July of 2020and I think it was a lot of people who weren’t working and they just kept the bathrooms disgusting it was all the staff could do to keep things clean that year. Our worst recently changed last month we went to Carabelle FL and stayed at Carabelle Beach RV resort when my husband booked it about 7 months before he requested that we be near the pool and restrooms, we don’t like to use the restroom in our camper, and you can’t pick your spot it gets assigned to you when you get there, we ended up across the road in the kind of add on the the campground we were literally fenced out of the campground and we’re as far away from the pool and restrooms as we could be and the staff was extremely rude.I had a run in with them when I had a situation with their washers and the rudeness just kept coming. It was more so just this one woman but she ruined it for us. We did find out they were under new management and that had just happened literally days before we got there. Sorry long story!!
Our Favorite campground is located in Uniontown, PA it’s the Uniontown KOA at RIVERS EDGE. Situated between the Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail, every campsite comes with a view of the trail or river. lots to do there is a train rails across the river worst day 9 trains best day 3..
I always love Fort Wilderness at DisneyWorld. Politics aside, when the kids were younger we could take a day or two and go nowhere, or hit some other local places. Always very clean, courteous staff, and people seem to be happier here. ANd I drive cross country to hit it up every few years (add to a business trip)
worst wasn't so much the site, but Campland on the Bay in San Diego because everyone was packed in there like sardines. Great park, great people, loved the food at the restaurant, but most of the people there are full time. I got a back in spot, again, a good spot, but I had to ask 4 campers around us to move their POV's so I could get my 38' Diesel pusher into and out of my spot. Loved everything about the place, right on the bay with lots to do, but there is no way the wife could back into the spot we were in. Its a hard no from her to go back there :(
One of our top favorite campgrounds is in the FL keys. It is at mile marker 14, which is far enough away from Key West traffic and hustle and bustle, yet close enough for a quick drive in. I am referring to Blue Water Key RV Resort. Gorgeous, quiet, private and be ready to relax. It’s n the water and tiki huts for each site. It is a little pricey but sometime it is worth being treated this way.
There are many I could say are our favorites, for various reasons. It all depends on the experience and anenities yiu are looking for. Dayton KOA was our worst so far. It was a fairly nice park with lots of anenities but we barely fit in the pull thru site (I always select my own site now at all KOAs we stay at or we wont stay there for this very reason). Oh and did I mention the 50amp wasn't working and our picnic table was practically under our neighbors slide and on top of his sewer connection. Never again. When it comes to Winter Island MA, they have a separate section for larger rigs which is more like parking in a field with some space around you. Its a better option, and a little more open than the section you stayed in. We never used the bathrooms so can't comment on that but there's only two of us so we can manage our tanks for a week. The park is one of the best options if you are trying to see Boston.
We stayed in the Amarillo campground. It is not the worst. Note, there is also a Bell helicopter facility and a trucking company close to this park, so lots going on in the area. The owners are a great couple in a tough location. The KOA facility in Springfield Missouri is the worst we have stayed in. Train crossing next to park with associated horn blowing. Best KOA is in Grand Junction CO at the fairgrounds.
Great video!!! I would love to know your top 10 - top 3 didn’t seem enough :-) We have two top stops: 1. The Grand Old RV Resort in Nashville where they put on dinners, a “community” fire, and live music every night. The campground is extremely well kept up, the staff is friendly, the shop is well stocked…we would stay here again in a heartbeat. 2. Sea & Sand RV Park in Depoe Bay, Oregon. There weren’t any amenities to speak of, but the scenery was out of this world and the campground was extremely well taken care of. The staff was friendly and very helpful. Our site was literally on the water but there were also trees spots if that was more your thing. The Worst by far was the KOA Journey in Spokane. The site they put us in was barely wide enough for our small trailer (we have a Surveyor Legend that is 19’ long and has a single slide and it is pulled by our Acura MDX mid-sized SUV). All around us, there seemed to be “permanent residents” and their sites were full of trash, old broken furniture, broken glass…you get the picture. We had to keep our dog in the trailer because we kept finding old meat bones around the campground. The bathrooms were…not ok…and the garbage dumpsters were completely overflowing (it was clear that they hadn’t been emptied in a long long time). The staff locked the office at 4pm, and we showed up at 5:00 so couldn’t even talk to anyone about moving sites. And in the morning, when I went to talk to them about over-charging us (there was an extra $15 charge on our credit card but we had no idea what on earth that would have been for), the sign on the door said they weren’t open until noon. There was another area of the campground that looked cleaner, but I don’t imagine we’ll be back to try it out :-(
Lakewood Family campground in Myrtle Beach is a pretty nice campground! They have their own water park. Indoor pool outdoor pool, mini golf bike rental golf cart rental villas and camper rental
The less a campsite looks like a parking lot the more I like it. I'm fine if they at least had some trees, shrubs, large rocks, etc to at least give off the illusion of private greenspace between each lot. But the bare, concrete slabs that pass themselves off as 'campsites' I'll happily give a miss.
Overnight at a Cracker Barrel parking lot is the best, nice and cheap ! Or camping in a walmart parking and sit back and people watch. lol . I like corp of engineer or county campgrounds
Bye bye pods. That stuff you recommended for the tanks is fantastic. Two ounces of liquid, never a stink or problem. I swear by it. Good recs. I'm retired and we moved to Montana so we would have a base of operations where we like to go. I"m retired but have been camping since I can remember so I have that advantage. We have lots of favorite campgrounds but I really can't think of a truly bad experience. Certainly no one judging us for how we raise our kids... Amazing. Being retired, and enjoying research, I assiduously research before going anywhere. If I'm going to be in a parking lot for an overnight, I know what I'm getting into. I also usually have a plan B. I read every single review I can find on a place and if I even have a whiff of potential problems we are not there... I've also driven into a place or two where after driving in, I will go up to the desk and cancel saying, YES, I understand your refund policy or lack thereof, bye... And Plan B has upon occasion meant Super 8 where they take dogs...for a night... But there has also likely been a bit of luck involved I'm thinking and we don't full time so there is an advantage there. I also only have a 30 foot unit single slide on purpose because that opens up around 35% of all campsites in the US particularly National Forest service and state campgrounds that were built 30 plus years ago before all the big RV's. So, keep that in mind people. AND, I'm putting off Solar and 12 volt fridges as long as I can. I'd love to have a plug and play lithium ion battery for the weight and amp hours but solar still has a few years in my opinion before its ready for prime time. And I can still camp under the trees instead of looking for a parking lot with the sky over my head. I've got say that the under 30 foot thing saved us during Covid and I am glad that's over as everybody and their brother who had never camped before decided to go camping. I'm glad its over as things are slowly heading back in the direction of normal. 2023 has been quite a bit easier finding spots than 2021 and 2022 for sure. And I wonder how many people have amazingly over priced bad quality "Covid Campers" sitting in their driveways or in storage they are badly upside down on that haven't seen a campsite in 2023. I also don't know how many times I cringed over the last couple years at people pulling trailers way over what their vehicles should have been towing and things like that. Sales people should be convicted sometimes. I'm seeing the shakeout of the weekend warriors and down to the ones who may have started during Covid, but have their stuff together and intend to keep camping. We do a lot of within two hour sites so we can get three nights on weekends. I can't get the wife to retire yet. You guys are old school pre-Covid full timers. I'd love to hear your story and view of the evolution of that and camping over the pre covid times and the Covid times and now post Covid.
Last fall took trip on Route 66. Stayed at Albuquerque KOA. We have 34' Southwind. Campground heavily wooded and space was tight for our size rig. Cost was double of others we stayed at and no sewer hook up.
Hurricane Utah KOA. Nice people but very steep and horribly unlevel spots! It was so bad, our 5th wheel had the wheels on the lower side clear off the ground and we had to get some extensions to get on the steps to enter our home. Never went back.
Red gate campground & rv park outside Savanna, Ga was amazing. Horses on the premises and we went horseback riding and a lot to do! Definitely going back. Kerrville- Schreiner Park Texas on the Guadalupe River is very laid back with kayaking and canoeing available.
The best campground for me was the KOA in Dayton Ohio. The worst was the KOA in Casey Illinois. The roads and site driveways were dirt. When it rained it was a mud pit. The clubhouse was rundown. It was in the middle of a corn field. The play area looked like a junk yard.
The worst camp ground we have ever stayed at was a RPI in Albuquerque NM. It is just a dump with hard to reach sites and lots of pot holes in the dirt road in and out.The staff were great but there is a lack of maintenance overall. We are full timers
Thousand trails green mountain in North Carolina. After 20 hours of driving we get there and start unpacking and the electric starts acting up. Then the neighbors who are established and great people told us that this site has had problems and they let us go there anyways. So we pack up and move a couple spots down. The electric continues to pop our surge protector. The 30amp outlets started melting in both spots and our surge protecter popped at least 50 times in 2 days. The surge protector has burns on the pins now. they can only take so many surges so we had to spend one of the days driving to the closest camping world(60 miles away) to spend $350 on a new one. No a.c. on a hundred degree day…. The people are very nice and their kindness helped to keep our spirits up. Never going there again. I feel like management doesn’t want to spend money on the park. Instead they send the maintenance guy out to say that everything is fine instead of hiring an electrician to just fix the damn electric.
As a financial advisor. When you and others say it was only $20.00 a night, you have to calculate the cost of what you paid for the membership. Memberships are very costly and so are the yearly memberships. It's only if you constantly stay at these places that you either come out even or benefit from it. Most people never benefit from them because they are not living full time in their rig and a lot of these memberships make you stay out of their parks for at least 14 days or longer. My best campground ever is; Glacier KOA, yes, it's not cheap but you get what you pay for and the cost was worth it.
Yep, you have to weigh out the costs. Since we do just the annual camping pass and we do use it frequently. It brings our costs down to less per night than without it.
King Nummy in Cape May NJ. If you don't mind high tide coming into your camp site. The high ground was occupied premiant RV's that were old when I graduated high school in 1971. It had very few transient sites. All in marshland.
When I was raising my kids we didn’t have an RV nor did we camp at designated grounds. We went into the mountains near water and stayed till our vacation time was up. Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. I didn’t realize that you can’t just do that in every state lol just a backwoods spot near water. I can’t imagine ever camping if we had to pay lol
Worst: KOA in Hot Springs,Ar. They put us in a pull through that we could not pull through without an escort to take us out of the campground backwards. On coming traffic would have resulted in a stand off. Won't go back...EVER!!
@@dianequick8033 You know what. I got confused between Hot Springs and Eureka Springs!!! The KOA I was referring to in my deleted comment was in Eureka Springs, which is very nice - in my opinion, the best CG in Eureka Springs.
Worst: Lemoore Naval Air Station. Cockroaches running around in showers. Rusty pipes, just nasty! Best: Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Cliffside RV Campground was clean, beautiful and they put fresh dahlias in vases on your picnic table at each spot. Showers were incredibly clean as well as the laundry facilities.
We tried to stay at Gold Field RV park in Colorado Springs. I was told that we would have a pull through when I made the reservation but when we arrived it was a backup site that was very tight. We ended up leaving.
Very familiar with the Apopka KOA, (you know how those Apopka people are) we stayed there in February of 2022. We don't have kids so never experienced your issues, but you know that train track that is right behind some of the camp sites on the right as you drive in? We were parked on one of those spots.The tracks are literally 50' behind the headboard of our bed. At 3AM with a train passing behind us the Engineer decided to lay on the horn just as they passed our Journey. We both sat straight up in bed from the sound of the horn. I am positive there was an engineer laughing his butt off at the campers he woke up that morning.
We recently stayed at the Grayville/1-64 KOA Holiday in Grayville, IL and I definitely WOULD NOT classify it as a Holiday. The grounds were kept nice and the hosts were friendly but the only amenities it had were mini golf (wonderful 27 hole), nice playground and a little shooting gallery for up to 3 people. It had a western theme which was cool but it did not have a pool or splash pads, The main camping area had no trees that would provide any shade and your door side was facing the afternoon /evening sun. The wifi was very spotty even though there were never more than 10 rigs in this entire area. Our neighbors were bumming when we pulled in with our big rig because it blocked the wifi signal for them. I would classify this as more of an upscale Journey at best. We've stayed at the Amarillo campground over Thanksgiving weekend lat year and didn't mind it all that much. We werent at the trailer much during the days and I guess our trailer blocks more sound than I thought. We didn't have issues sleeping at night. Sorry you guys didn't fair as well.
At the KOA East in Swannanao, NC, I was woken up at 11:00 PM by a staff member asking me if I could move my truck s that a fifth wheel could park across the street form us! WTH?!?!? After 5 attempts to back AROUND a tree on his blind side, I suggested they bring him in the other way. He backed in no problem. The next morning, as we were packing up, his wife apologized profusely, but not a peep out of him! I'll have to think hard before I stay there again!
That’s good reviews if you comparing RV / resorts I guess. I’ve never stayed in one my entire 65 years of camping! It’s SP, or COE parks or boon docking for me . The other isn’t camping to me . I guess if you are dragging a house that’s different??🤷🏼♂️
Worst so far. Dane's Marina, OH...no late check in option so we were locked out. Finally found a guy to let us in only to find our site occupied. Had to camp in the parking lot till the next day. They put us in a different site that ended up 10 feet!! Yes 10' off of a main highway with no fence or barrier between the back of our camper and the road. Very loud and very cramped. Won't be going back and cannot recommend.
Sorry about your experience at that KOA. And here I thought KOAs were known for being family friendly. 🤷🏼♀️ It’s funny because we loved staying at Winter Island! 😜 Yes, it’s just a parking lot, but you get a sunrise AND a sunset beach there! We also had a waterfront site and a smaller camper. 😉
We have a Thousand Trails membership and the Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch in Gunnison, Colorado is a nice place to go. I’m curious what your favorite campground in Colorado is?
I've been following you guys for over a year and even watch you on RV on pug have a question off the subject.. What kind of RV road service do you use and can you do a video about that..?
Check out this video where we talk some about it: RV Living: Mistakes Were Made & We Got Stranded AGAIN! (Getting Towed) ruclips.net/video/1SF7W_btefk/видео.html
Funny...I just stayed at the Palmer Gulch KOA and hated it. The entire campground was a mudhole, for starters. Obviously, that's partly due to the weather, which they don't control, but the fact that it's all dirt and gravel roads doesn't help. Speaking of roads, would it kill them to put up some road signs? I think I saw two, in a park with something like 600 sites. Speaking of sites, mine was 20 inches (!) off level, front to back. I felt like I was in one of those houses on the side of a hill in L.A.
We got kick out of the KOA in La Junta CO... Our first full time RVing....do not stay there the own is a ?????. Thanks Glad we are not the only ones kicked out of a camp ground.
I’m new to full time RV living. I made the mistake of getting a seasonal site by a highway exit. Not only is there constant traffic. The semi trucks engine break to slow down for exit. I wake numerous times in the night. I also use sound canceling headphones some days. Cuz I am so Over It!
Worst Katy trail campground in Missouri unkept grounds and horribly dirty bathrooms. Odessa Texas mud pit grounds, loose dogs, no bathroom. Best Palm Creek Casa Grande AZ. Koa Branson, koa Port Huron MI although it was very busy
Gulf Waters on Mustang Island, Texas. Fabulous campground BUT it has gotten ridiculously expensive and in the years we have gone there, it is not highly kid oriented.
@@Milesco they have a pool and it is right on the beach so that part is def kid-oriented. We did not go during the pandemic but prior there were not things for kids to do, no organization of activities, no kid clubs, etc. There were a lot of folks there who were much older. We went for 10 years and I will tell you that in that time, management changed a number of times with some being much better than others so I can't speak to present management. I reiterate though that it is very pricey. Their prices are on their web page. Almost shocking, really.
The Koa that kicked you out their opinions on how you choose to live and raise your children are irrelevant they should mind their own business and just run the campsite in the best possible manner to make campers experience the best it can be.
I don't stay in campgrounds.... Much less glampgrounds. With so much space to boondock, and do dispersed camping, for free!! I like being away from it all. It seems there is a large group of RVrs, that want to go, and be gossipy, and social. I don't get it.....but, to each their own.
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That Apopka KOA started out in the 1980's as a Yogi Bear ,,, very odd about the attitude towards the kids.. I live in Apopka .. that RV park has hundreds of permanent trailers and I think they treat it more like a retirement village (55+) ... very odd also that they have a guard shack at the entrance.. There are good places to stay at Rock Springs and Wekiva along with a decent park only a few miles north on 441...
We enjoy the Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds. ❤
I know what you mean about trains. Stayed at a private campground near Williamsburg VA., the train came thundering through in the middle of the night and scared the hell of us. Couldn't see the tracks from the campsites because they were elevated. Now I google map any campground we are considering and make sure there are no train tracks. You'd be surprised how many campgrounds are next to them. Stayed at one in Florida next to RT 4 major highway, very loud with traffic noise. We didn't have to worry about quiet time, because there was none. Had to play our outside speakers loud to block out the traffic noise. We now keep ear plugs handy.
We stayed at Winter Island Park last year and although the views of the port and all the boating, it was really just a parking lot and you had to drive next door to the city municipal utility to dump after your stay. Add to that a boat ramp, as well as a beach, it was a very busy place and not so easy to relax on asphalt.
One of our faves is bend Sisters Garden RV Rrsort (Oregon). You can check out activities in Bend, Crater Lake, explore lava beds and so much more. Beautiful grounds. Well kept spaces. Garbage pickup at site! Miniature golf. Great store.
Worst? Overflow campground #3 Death Valley, happened on it during the 49er's return reunion (in Early November? 1000's of campers, unexpected) Pulled in, found a site and was a mile to facilities. Was fairly late, but neighbor pounded on door and asked if we were going to go to the Hoot nanny breakfast at 7am. Luckily we left, drove an extra 80 or so miles to Scotties Castle where we were one of 6 sites in use.
Runner up, late season at a South Dakota KOA. Three sites in use, owner came by knocked on each campsite and announced that the bathrooms and showers were closing in one hour and would be closed the rest of the day. (gave reason as 'cleaning')
With about 600 days in campgrounds Sunshine Key is also the best RV park I’ve ever stayed in. The park is beautiful, the staff was awesome and the location requires no explanation. 😎🌴I’ve never stayed in KOA because of the price.
Try River View RV park in Vidalia, LA you'll be across the Mississippi river from Natchez. Mount Magazine state park in Arkansas is another recommendation, I did some hiking up to the highest point in Arkansas. Y'all check out these campgrounds I stayed with my aunt and uncle. And also don't forget about Poche's in Breaux Bridge just outside of Lafayette.
Love River View. Plan to go back one day.
The Prove Utah KOA Journey was the tightest campground I've ever been in - they packed people in like sardines! Our picnic table was next to our neighbors sewer hose. We didn't eat outside lol. Some great ones are Bearmouth RV Park in Clinton MT, Countryside RV in Dillon MT, Indigo Bluffs in Empire MI, Stagecoach RV park in St Augustine, Hilton Head National RV resort.
Have you ever stayed at KOA Vail Lake in Temecula CA?
We stayed there last year for a couple of weeks and we really liked it! Not fancy, but very nice. Very much a 'camp' feel, family oriented, lots of activities for everyone and even a craft or two! Three salt water pools, one being a shallow kiddie pool. A diner, mini golf, live band on the weekends, and trails.
RVlife has many very positive reviews of Winter Island Park Campgrounds. They mention the dump station being outside the park, but that did not seem to be a problem.
Went on our maiden voyage with new travel trailer this last weekend. Stayed at a KOA and it was a great experience.
First I'd like to say that giving your family experiences over things is so amazing. Your kids are really blessed to have such great parents. As far as best campground it was so far back I'm not even sure it's still so amazing but it's Cape Lookout State Park on the Oregon coast. You camp in a densely wooded heavily ferned and mossed spot and then walk over a small dune where it opens up to a gorgeous sandy beach and the roaring Pacific Ocean. Absolutely the best of both worlds. The worst was Happy Oaks RV Park on I10 in Allyton, Texas. We made advance reservations and when we arrived they put us in a spot so rough and unlevel we couldn't even get decently level in our class B van. Then when my hubby went to check in they told him there was no water and also the public shower had no water at all. We ended up leaving that night and stayed at a truck stop up the road instead. That was a couple of years ago so maybe it's better now.
I really enjoy your videos. My favorite place to camp is Higley Flow State Park, S. Colton,NY. It has the old charm of a campground with a beach, trails, boat launch and all the campers are always friendly. All the sites are uniquely set up for privacy and you are never parked to close to another site. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks for sharing and for watching!
Blue Spruce RV Park near Bayfield and Durango CO. Beautiful campground nestled in the spruce and aspen trees.
We stayed at the Mystic KOA in Mystic, CT. Campground was ok but what really affected our stay was how miserable the people were. Plus they charged us $7/night for each of our 1 year old twins. Even after speaking with the front office they did not remove the charges. Outrageous!
One of our biggest gripes as a travel family is the extra charges for kids
I guess it depends on one's situation. Its just the two of hence the name of the coach. So charges for kids is irrelevant to us. But really? $7. each for 1-year olds? Thats ridiculous!
This campground has no streetlights. If you like it dark at night, this is the place.
Our favorite place is North Beach Campground in St Augustine FL , we love the area the campground doesn’t have a lot they have a pool and it between the Bay and the Ocean, but we love it the staff is always so friendly we’ve only had a problem once and that was in July of 2020and I think it was a lot of people who weren’t working and they just kept the bathrooms disgusting it was all the staff could do to keep things clean that year. Our worst recently changed last month we went to Carabelle FL and stayed at Carabelle Beach RV resort when my husband booked it about 7 months before he requested that we be near the pool and restrooms, we don’t like to use the restroom in our camper, and you can’t pick your spot it gets assigned to you when you get there, we ended up across the road in the kind of add on the the campground we were literally fenced out of the campground and we’re as far away from the pool and restrooms as we could be and the staff was extremely rude.I had a run in with them when I had a situation with their washers and the rudeness just kept coming. It was more so just this one woman but she ruined it for us. We did find out they were under new management and that had just happened literally days before we got there. Sorry long story!!
Our favorite would be the KOA in Fillmore, Utah or the KOA in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. That one is really expensive but it can be SUPER fun!
Our Favorite campground is located in Uniontown, PA it’s the Uniontown KOA at RIVERS EDGE. Situated between the Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail, every campsite comes with a view of the trail or river. lots to do there is a train rails across the river worst day 9 trains best day 3..
I always love Fort Wilderness at DisneyWorld. Politics aside, when the kids were younger we could take a day or two and go nowhere, or hit some other local places. Always very clean, courteous staff, and people seem to be happier here. ANd I drive cross country to hit it up every few years (add to a business trip)
worst wasn't so much the site, but Campland on the Bay in San Diego because everyone was packed in there like sardines. Great park, great people, loved the food at the restaurant, but most of the people there are full time. I got a back in spot, again, a good spot, but I had to ask 4 campers around us to move their POV's so I could get my 38' Diesel pusher into and out of my spot. Loved everything about the place, right on the bay with lots to do, but there is no way the wife could back into the spot we were in. Its a hard no from her to go back there :(
One of our top favorite campgrounds is in the FL keys. It is at mile marker 14, which is far enough away from Key West traffic and hustle and bustle, yet close enough for a quick drive in. I am referring to Blue Water Key RV Resort. Gorgeous, quiet, private and be ready to relax. It’s n the water and tiki huts for each site. It is a little pricey but sometime it is worth being treated this way.
There are many I could say are our favorites, for various reasons. It all depends on the experience and anenities yiu are looking for. Dayton KOA was our worst so far. It was a fairly nice park with lots of anenities but we barely fit in the pull thru site (I always select my own site now at all KOAs we stay at or we wont stay there for this very reason). Oh and did I mention the 50amp wasn't working and our picnic table was practically under our neighbors slide and on top of his sewer connection. Never again. When it comes to Winter Island MA, they have a separate section for larger rigs which is more like parking in a field with some space around you. Its a better option, and a little more open than the section you stayed in. We never used the bathrooms so can't comment on that but there's only two of us so we can manage our tanks for a week. The park is one of the best options if you are trying to see Boston.
We stayed in the Amarillo campground. It is not the worst. Note, there is also a Bell helicopter facility and a trucking company close to this park, so lots going on in the area. The owners are a great couple in a tough location. The KOA facility in Springfield Missouri is the worst we have stayed in. Train crossing next to park with associated horn blowing. Best KOA is in Grand Junction CO at the fairgrounds.
Good to know, thanks for sharing
Great video!!! I would love to know your top 10 - top 3 didn’t seem enough :-)
We have two top stops:
1. The Grand Old RV Resort in Nashville where they put on dinners, a “community” fire, and live music every night. The campground is extremely well kept up, the staff is friendly, the shop is well stocked…we would stay here again in a heartbeat.
2. Sea & Sand RV Park in Depoe Bay, Oregon. There weren’t any amenities to speak of, but the scenery was out of this world and the campground was extremely well taken care of. The staff was friendly and very helpful. Our site was literally on the water but there were also trees spots if that was more your thing.
The Worst by far was the KOA Journey in Spokane. The site they put us in was barely wide enough for our small trailer (we have a Surveyor Legend that is 19’ long and has a single slide and it is pulled by our Acura MDX mid-sized SUV). All around us, there seemed to be “permanent residents” and their sites were full of trash, old broken furniture, broken glass…you get the picture. We had to keep our dog in the trailer because we kept finding old meat bones around the campground. The bathrooms were…not ok…and the garbage dumpsters were completely overflowing (it was clear that they hadn’t been emptied in a long long time). The staff locked the office at 4pm, and we showed up at 5:00 so couldn’t even talk to anyone about moving sites. And in the morning, when I went to talk to them about over-charging us (there was an extra $15 charge on our credit card but we had no idea what on earth that would have been for), the sign on the door said they weren’t open until noon. There was another area of the campground that looked cleaner, but I don’t imagine we’ll be back to try it out :-(
Thanks for watching and sharing!
Lakewood Family campground in Myrtle Beach is a pretty nice campground! They have their own water park. Indoor pool outdoor pool, mini golf bike rental golf cart rental villas and camper rental
The less a campsite looks like a parking lot the more I like it. I'm fine if they at least had some trees, shrubs, large rocks, etc to at least give off the illusion of private greenspace between each lot. But the bare, concrete slabs that pass themselves off as 'campsites' I'll happily give a miss.
Overnight at a Cracker Barrel parking lot is the best, nice and cheap ! Or camping in a walmart parking and sit back and people watch. lol . I like corp of engineer or county campgrounds
Bye bye pods. That stuff you recommended for the tanks is fantastic. Two ounces of liquid, never a stink or problem. I swear by it. Good recs. I'm retired and we moved to Montana so we would have a base of operations where we like to go. I"m retired but have been camping since I can remember so I have that advantage. We have lots of favorite campgrounds but I really can't think of a truly bad experience. Certainly no one judging us for how we raise our kids... Amazing.
Being retired, and enjoying research, I assiduously research before going anywhere. If I'm going to be in a parking lot for an overnight, I know what I'm getting into. I also usually have a plan B. I read every single review I can find on a place and if I even have a whiff of potential problems we are not there... I've also driven into a place or two where after driving in, I will go up to the desk and cancel saying, YES, I understand your refund policy or lack thereof, bye... And Plan B has upon occasion meant Super 8 where they take dogs...for a night...
But there has also likely been a bit of luck involved I'm thinking and we don't full time so there is an advantage there. I also only have a 30 foot unit single slide on purpose because that opens up around 35% of all campsites in the US particularly National Forest service and state campgrounds that were built 30 plus years ago before all the big RV's. So, keep that in mind people. AND, I'm putting off Solar and 12 volt fridges as long as I can. I'd love to have a plug and play lithium ion battery for the weight and amp hours but solar still has a few years in my opinion before its ready for prime time. And I can still camp under the trees instead of looking for a parking lot with the sky over my head. I've got say that the under 30 foot thing saved us during Covid and I am glad that's over as everybody and their brother who had never camped before decided to go camping. I'm glad its over as things are slowly heading back in the direction of normal. 2023 has been quite a bit easier finding spots than 2021 and 2022 for sure. And I wonder how many people have amazingly over priced bad quality "Covid Campers" sitting in their driveways or in storage they are badly upside down on that haven't seen a campsite in 2023.
I also don't know how many times I cringed over the last couple years at people pulling trailers way over what their vehicles should have been towing and things like that. Sales people should be convicted sometimes. I'm seeing the shakeout of the weekend warriors and down to the ones who may have started during Covid, but have their stuff together and intend to keep camping. We do a lot of within two hour sites so we can get three nights on weekends. I can't get the wife to retire yet.
You guys are old school pre-Covid full timers. I'd love to hear your story and view of the evolution of that and camping over the pre covid times and the Covid times and now post Covid.
Last fall took trip on Route 66. Stayed at Albuquerque KOA. We have 34' Southwind. Campground heavily wooded and space was tight for our size rig. Cost was double of others we stayed at and no sewer hook up.
We have a house a few keys further down the road from there, it looks very awesome.
Jellystone at Caledonia, WI for kids & adults is our favorite
The WORST has been the KOA at Door County, WI. Horrible, rude management, everything that can be bad they had it.
Hurricane Utah KOA. Nice people but very steep and horribly unlevel spots! It was so bad, our 5th wheel had the wheels on the lower side clear off the ground and we had to get some extensions to get on the steps to enter our home. Never went back.
Thank you for that tip!! Wow!
Red gate campground & rv park outside Savanna, Ga was amazing. Horses on the premises and we went horseback riding and a lot to do! Definitely going back. Kerrville- Schreiner Park Texas on the Guadalupe River is very laid back with kayaking and canoeing available.
Generally speaking for private campgrounds we enjoy KOA’s, Sun Resort Properties, & Camp Margaritaville’s. All pricey but a good experience.
Best: Pacific Shores in Newport, Oregon. 👍🏼
Worst: KOA Journey in Apopka, Florida. We went to a hotel. 🤢
The best campground for me was the KOA in Dayton Ohio. The worst was the KOA in Casey Illinois. The roads and site driveways were dirt. When it rained it was a mud pit. The clubhouse was rundown. It was in the middle of a corn field. The play area looked like a junk yard.
The worst camp ground we have ever stayed at was a RPI in Albuquerque NM. It is just a dump with hard to reach sites and lots of pot holes in the dirt road in and out.The staff were great but there is a lack of maintenance overall. We are full timers
Good to know- thanks for sharing
Thank you for telling others about us. The campground in the Keys looks lovely, everything is right there to enjoy the ocean. 😊
It really is!
Thousand trails green mountain in North Carolina. After 20 hours of driving we get there and start unpacking and the electric starts acting up. Then the neighbors who are established and great people told us that this site has had problems and they let us go there anyways. So we pack up and move a couple spots down. The electric continues to pop our surge protector. The 30amp outlets started melting in both spots and our surge protecter popped at least 50 times in 2 days. The surge protector has burns on the pins now. they can only take so many surges so we had to spend one of the days driving to the closest camping world(60 miles away) to spend $350 on a new one. No a.c. on a hundred degree day…. The people are very nice and their kindness helped to keep our spirits up. Never going there again. I feel like management doesn’t want to spend money on the park. Instead they send the maintenance guy out to say that everything is fine instead of hiring an electrician to just fix the damn electric.
Good to know, thanks for sharing
Love watching you guys! So much great advice and cool tips and tricks. We'll have to start being more involved in the comments now lol.
Please do! And thanks for watching
As a financial advisor. When you and others say it was only $20.00 a night, you have to calculate the cost of what you paid for the membership. Memberships are very costly and so are the yearly memberships. It's only if you constantly stay at these places that you either come out even or benefit from it. Most people never benefit from them because they are not living full time in their rig and a lot of these memberships make you stay out of their parks for at least 14 days or longer. My best campground ever is; Glacier KOA, yes, it's not cheap but you get what you pay for and the cost was worth it.
Yep, you have to weigh out the costs. Since we do just the annual camping pass and we do use it frequently. It brings our costs down to less per night than without it.
King Nummy in Cape May NJ. If you don't mind high tide coming into your camp site. The high ground was occupied premiant RV's that were old when I graduated high school in 1971. It had very few transient sites. All in marshland.
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When I was raising my kids we didn’t have an RV nor did we camp at designated grounds. We went into the mountains near water and stayed till our vacation time was up. Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. I didn’t realize that you can’t just do that in every state lol just a backwoods spot near water. I can’t imagine ever camping if we had to pay lol
Worst: KOA in Hot Springs,Ar. They put us in a pull through that we could not pull through without an escort to take us out of the campground backwards. On coming traffic would have resulted in a stand off. Won't go back...EVER!!
@@dianequick8033 You know what. I got confused between Hot Springs and Eureka Springs!!! The KOA I was referring to in my deleted comment was in Eureka Springs, which is very nice - in my opinion, the best CG in Eureka Springs.
Worst: Lemoore Naval Air Station. Cockroaches running around in showers. Rusty pipes, just nasty!
Best: Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Cliffside RV Campground was clean, beautiful and they put fresh dahlias in vases on your picnic table at each spot. Showers were incredibly clean as well as the laundry facilities.
At Cedar Key RV Resort. Spacious sites and quiet butttt near Cedar Key to kayak, eat, fish. This area called the keys in the 70s
We tried to stay at Gold Field RV park in Colorado Springs. I was told that we would have a pull through when I made the reservation but when we arrived it was a backup site that was very tight. We ended up leaving.
Yikes!
Nightmare!
Very familiar with the Apopka KOA, (you know how those Apopka people are) we stayed there in February of 2022. We don't have kids so never experienced your issues, but you know that train track that is right behind some of the camp sites on the right as you drive in? We were parked on one of those spots.The tracks are literally 50' behind the headboard of our bed. At 3AM with a train passing behind us the Engineer decided to lay on the horn just as they passed our Journey. We both sat straight up in bed from the sound of the horn. I am positive there was an engineer laughing his butt off at the campers he woke up that morning.
Those Apopka people! 😉 Thanks for watching
Trackrock campground in N ga. Was fantastic. Great sites ,tons of things to do with the family
We recently stayed at the Grayville/1-64 KOA Holiday in Grayville, IL and I definitely WOULD NOT classify it as a Holiday. The grounds were kept nice and the hosts were friendly but the only amenities it had were mini golf (wonderful 27 hole), nice playground and a little shooting gallery for up to 3 people. It had a western theme which was cool but it did not have a pool or splash pads, The main camping area had no trees that would provide any shade and your door side was facing the afternoon /evening sun. The wifi was very spotty even though there were never more than 10 rigs in this entire area. Our neighbors were bumming when we pulled in with our big rig because it blocked the wifi signal for them. I would classify this as more of an upscale Journey at best.
We've stayed at the Amarillo campground over Thanksgiving weekend lat year and didn't mind it all that much. We werent at the trailer much during the days and I guess our trailer blocks more sound than I thought. We didn't have issues sleeping at night. Sorry you guys didn't fair as well.
At the KOA East in Swannanao, NC, I was woken up at 11:00 PM by a staff member asking me if I could move my truck s that a fifth wheel could park across the street form us!
WTH?!?!?
After 5 attempts to back AROUND a tree on his blind side, I suggested they bring him in the other way. He backed in no problem.
The next morning, as we were packing up, his wife apologized profusely, but not a peep out of him!
I'll have to think hard before I stay there again!
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Anchor Down RV Resort in Dandridge Tennessee on Douglas Lake is the absolute best!!!!
Good to know! We will add to our list!
That’s good reviews if you comparing RV / resorts I guess. I’ve never stayed in one my entire 65 years of camping! It’s SP, or COE parks or boon docking for me . The other isn’t camping to me . I guess if you are dragging a house that’s different??🤷🏼♂️
Worst so far. Dane's Marina, OH...no late check in option so we were locked out. Finally found a guy to let us in only to find our site occupied. Had to camp in the parking lot till the next day. They put us in a different site that ended up 10 feet!! Yes 10' off of a main highway with no fence or barrier between the back of our camper and the road. Very loud and very cramped. Won't be going back and cannot recommend.
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Sorry about your experience at that KOA. And here I thought KOAs were known for being family friendly. 🤷🏼♀️
It’s funny because we loved staying at Winter Island! 😜 Yes, it’s just a parking lot, but you get a sunrise AND a sunset beach there! We also had a waterfront site and a smaller camper. 😉
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We have a Thousand Trails membership and the Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch in Gunnison, Colorado is a nice place to go. I’m curious what your favorite campground in Colorado is?
Our fave in Colorado is Blue Mesa Outpost
Riley creek Idaho OMG best.. Department of Engineers
I've been following you guys for over a year and even watch you on RV on pug have a question off the subject.. What kind of RV road service do you use and can you do a video about that..?
Check out this video where we talk some about it: RV Living: Mistakes Were Made & We Got Stranded AGAIN! (Getting Towed)
ruclips.net/video/1SF7W_btefk/видео.html
Funny...I just stayed at the Palmer Gulch KOA and hated it. The entire campground was a mudhole, for starters. Obviously, that's partly due to the weather, which they don't control, but the fact that it's all dirt and gravel roads doesn't help. Speaking of roads, would it kill them to put up some road signs? I think I saw two, in a park with something like 600 sites. Speaking of sites, mine was 20 inches (!) off level, front to back. I felt like I was in one of those houses on the side of a hill in L.A.
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We got kick out of the KOA in La Junta CO... Our first full time RVing....do not stay there the own is a ?????. Thanks Glad we are not the only ones kicked out of a camp ground.
Why did they kick you out?
Mama Gertie’s in Swananoa, NC near Asheville. Rafter J Bar Ranch in Hill City, SD., The Vineyards Campground in Grapevine, Tx
Good or bad?
Good 😊
I love Mama Gertie’s one of our best
Gulf Shores State Park, Alabama the best
I’m new to full time RV living. I made the mistake of getting a seasonal site by a highway exit. Not only is there constant traffic. The semi trucks engine break to slow down for exit. I wake numerous times in the night. I also use sound canceling headphones some days. Cuz I am so Over It!
Oh man, that is the worst!
Cedar point
Worst Katy trail campground in Missouri unkept grounds and horribly dirty bathrooms. Odessa Texas mud pit grounds, loose dogs, no bathroom. Best Palm Creek Casa Grande AZ. Koa Branson, koa Port Huron MI although it was very busy
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Unbelievable, this KOA owner needs to be kicked out. Your kids learn so much during your travels. Don’t let you deter from such idiots.
Right?? I can't think of a better childhood than seeing and experiencing gorgeous location! Memories!
Stayed at that one. Once. Never again.
Worst Magnolia Spring Campground and Golf Course, Magnolia Springs Alabama
I just can’t believe how rude that was 😡. What you’re doing has to be the best education ever. I will Never stay there.
Wow KOA NEEDS to remove those owners before there is no campground left to sell or take there franchise name off that location…Disgraceful…😢
Should have slapped a suite against the owners and koa. Bet koa would bow down on that, discrimination, prejudice, etc.
Hopefully KOA corporate reviews You Tube and steps in.
Palmer Gulch KOA in the Black Hills is great. Omaha KOA hasn't been a great place to camp for years--too noisy and crowded.
I don't agree with your number one worst Campground because that's on you that you didn't figure out that there are train tracks right next to it.
ZACH SEAN
Every KOA we have ever stayed at was close to train tracks.
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Love your channel , my wife and I were wondering how do you and your husband remain intimate while rving we have 2 kids
Good question! We love our washer dryer spin cycle
@@GratefulGlamper nice quick and to the point
Gulf Waters on Mustang Island, Texas. Fabulous campground BUT it has gotten ridiculously expensive and in the years we have gone there, it is not highly kid oriented.
What do you mean by "not highly kid oriented"?
We stayed at Dellanara in Galveston, TX and had an ocean front spot. Not a lot of amenities but super clean and we were there for the beach.
@@Milesco they have a pool and it is right on the beach so that part is def kid-oriented. We did not go during the pandemic but prior there were not things for kids to do, no organization of activities, no kid clubs, etc. There were a lot of folks there who were much older. We went for 10 years and I will tell you that in that time, management changed a number of times with some being much better than others so I can't speak to present management. I reiterate though that it is very pricey. Their prices are on their web page. Almost shocking, really.
Hey from San Antonio Tx
Hi there! Thanks for watching
@@GratefulGlamper love your rv hacks
best - fort wilderness
The fort is super fun
The Koa that kicked you out their opinions on how you choose to live and raise your children are irrelevant they should mind their own business and just run the campsite in the best possible manner to make campers experience the best it can be.
exactly!!
Our favorite campground is Letchworth state park in New York
I don't stay in campgrounds....
Much less glampgrounds.
With so much space to boondock, and do dispersed camping, for free!!
I like being away from it all.
It seems there is a large group of RVrs, that want to go, and be gossipy, and social.
I don't get it.....but, to each their own.
Is this a old video? Seems like I've seen this before
No, not an old video but we are sharing about campgrounds we’ve stayed at so there is footage from these campgrounds
LOL, that's not "camping", that's living in a giant motorhome.
liked your review, but the VERY LOUD MUSIC in between was so annoying I never even finished watching
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Thanks for watching
IMO - Goulding’s is way over priced for what you get. Location is what you’re paying for.
And the location is amazing. Thanks for watching