Category: Campground Reviews

Throughout our travels, when we’re not camping or boondocking off grid, we’re staying at a Campground and RV Park. We’ve compiled some of our honest campground reviews of places we’ve stayed at, whether for one overnight or for a month or two.

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Galveston Island RV Resort Review * Galveston Island KOA *

Galveston Island RV Resort Review

Each time we visit Galveston Island, Texas, we always look forward to staying at the beautiful RV Resort Galveston Island, now known as Galveston Island KOA Holiday. This Good Sam 10-10-10 rated resort is located almost midpoint between the city of Galveston and Surfside. So, if you love beaches, island life with a visit to the great city of Galveston, it’s the perfect family vacation destination for RVers!

Continue reading “Galveston Island RV Resort Review * Galveston Island KOA *”

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Alsation RV Resort: Stay & Golf San Antonio, Texas

Alsation RV Resort - Photo by Oscar Williams 2019

Alsation Golf and RV Resort, located in Castroville, Texas, is just that place! Situated in Texas Hill Country, this Good Sam rated 10-10-10 RV Resort doesn’t disappoint! Come see why Alsation RV and Golf Resort is one of our favorite RV parks, not only in Texas, but all around! And, guess what? It’s not because of the golf!

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Santa Fe Skies RV Park Review – Santa Fe, New Mexico

CAMPGROUND REVIEW


Campground/RV Park: Santa Fe Skies RV Park
Location: 14 Browncastle Ranch, Santa Fe, NM     (877) 565-0451 or (505) 473-5946
Date(s) Stayed: 9/21/15 – 9/24/15
Length of Stay: 3 days
Site #: Aster 5 (Pull Through)
Cost per night (with taxes): $43/night
Discount Used:  10% Good Sam
Connections: 50 amp FHU’s
Stars:  2.0

Santa Fe Skies RV Park is located on the Turquoise Trail at I-25 & NM 14/599.  Beautiful sunsets, close approximity to Santa Fe and eateries is right around the corner.  While we were there, we visited the Miraculous Staircase at Loretto Chapel and Cathedral Basillica of St. Francis of Asisisi as well as enjoyed window shopping in the Santa Fe Plaza downtown.

We checked in approximately 4:00pm; we were the only RVers checking in at the time.  The young man cashier was not very pleasant and not very helpful.  He just handed us the park map, rules and was more interested in other things.  He didn’t let us know about the club house and what it had to offer.  The campground is terraced with approximately 90 FHU sites.  The entrance is a bit tight for big rigs.  Check in is at the large building on the right; there’s also a clubhouseand small souvenier shop.  The laundry was small and not adequate for how many sites there are. 


Each site is terraced on gravel with concrete pads equipped with a picnic table.  Sites are tight and mostly not level; had to use several blocks.  We had a hooking and unhooking issue because of it.  Other than grills, no open fires are permitted.  The roads/aisles are narrow.  There are some permanent campers but they are in another area of the park.  Free WiFi is located in the clubhouse and only during office hours. Propane is available for sale at the park.  Groceries, shopping, restaurants and fuel is fairly close by.  RV’ers are responsible for taking their own trash to the dumpster at the park entrance.  


Santa Fe Skies is a dog friendly park; there is a dog park and a 3/4 mile walking trail.  Do not let small dogs or cats outside; they could end up as Coyote snacks.  It can get quite windy at the park, they recommend not leaving awnings out while you are away from your RV. 


We rated this park at 2 stars because of the lack of hospitality, maneuverbility and leveling difficulty for big rigs, very close approximity to neighboring coaches and inadequacy of laundry facilities per amount of RVers; also because there WiFi only available in the clubhouse.   If we visit New Mexico again, we may look elsewhere. 

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Haggard’s RV Park Review – Pueblo, Colorado

Campground/RV Park: Haggard’s RV Campground
Location: 7910 W Hwy 50, Pueblo West, CO  81007    (719) 547-2101

Website: www.haggardsrvcampground.com

Date(s) Stayed: 9/9/15 – 9/21/15
Length of Stay: 2 weeks
Site #: E8 (Pull-Through)
Cost per night (with taxes): $297/week.  $27-37/week
Discount Used:  10% Good Sam
Connections: 50 amp Electric/Water and Dump Station
Stars:  3.5
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Jefferson County Fairgrounds Campground Review: Colorado

CAMPGROUND REVIEW

Campground/RV Park: Jefferson County Fairgrounds Campground (Golden)
Location: 15200 W 6th Ave. Frontage Road, Golden, CO  80401
                (303) 271-6600
Date(s) Stayed: 8/15/15 – 8/20/15
Length of Stay: 5 days
Site #: 1 (Back In)
Cost per night (with taxes): $40/day
Discount Used:  None
Connections: 50 amp Electric/Water and Dump Station
Stars:  2
Jefferson County Fairgrounds Campground managed by the Jefferson County Fairgrounds has 40 RV sites.  The Campground was easy to get to off of US-6.
Sites 1-18 are on pavement; first section are back ins (50amps) and second section are parallels (30amps); it was a weird configuration.  Sites 19-40 are gravel pull-throughs (not level).  Since we were in site #1, we can’t speak for reviewing or giving knowledge of the gravel sites.  The back-in sites back up to a small hill; most take their dogs back there to unwind and do their business (and not clean it up!).
Being a Toyhauler, we could not unload our toys from the back which was not an issue for us; we hadn’t planned on it anyways.  Picnic tables were present at each site in the back (we moved ours to our awning/door side because we were so long and we had more room).  The bath houses were very clean and had ‘codes’ so no one from outside the campground could use them.
There is a nice covered pavillion with lots of picnic tables with a children’s playground to the right after the entrance check-in building (which was directly across from the front of our rig).  There is a bit of highway noise but that wasn’t an issue for us as we were out playing tourist.
Reservations highly recommended (by us) with thorough explanation of your size and needs.  They assigned us in site #1 which was fine except if the parking spots directly in front of our rig were taken.  Spaces were TIGHT; literally, slides touching which made it difficult for privacy and walking around your rig.
While parked, we toured and visited Rocky Mountain National Park, Breckenridge, Frisco, and Golden.  Lots to see and do in this location.

In our experience and opinion, Jefferson County Fairgrounds Campground was overpriced for what it was.  This is not a long-term campground’/park; only good for a couple/few overnights.  This was the only place with vacancy for our 44′ big rig toyhauler 5th wheel.  Though accessibility to I-25/US-6 was great, no sewer connections (except for dump station which was not big rig friendly), layout of the park, spaces between sites, maneuverability, and no sewer earned only 2 stars.

Would we stay here again?  As a last resort.

 

 

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Tomahawk RV Park Review – Broken Bow, Nebraska

CAMPGROUND/RV PARK
REVIEW

Campground/RV Park:  Tomahawk RV Park – NEBRASKA
Location:  Broken Bow, NE
Date(s) Stayed: 7/28/14 – 8/2/15
Length of Stay:
 5 days
Site #: #13
Cost per night (with
taxes): $20/night (tents are less)
Discount Used: None
Connections:  FHU
Stars: 3.5
Tomahawk RV Park is a city/town managed RV Park is centrally located
within the town of Broken Bow, Nebraska. 
Broken Bow is located on the railroad and considered a farming/ranching
town.  The park has all the amenities one
could ask for; level gravel sites, easily in-easy out, children’s playground,
bath house, and within walking distance to the town square.  We gave this park a 3.5 due to
non-availability of a laundry facility (we had to go into town), no campfires
or grills provided at each site and the close approximity to the railroad
crossing.  However, recently within the
past couple years, Broken Bow has ‘quiet crossings’ (no whistle blows) except
for when signaled of impairment on the tracks. 
The sites also are close together but that didn’t bother us because we
were always out learning about the area. 
The park has a wonderful picnic pavilion with lots of picnic tables and
charcoal grills and lighting for evening dinners or picnics. The park was clean
and staff was minimal.  We called ahead
of time to insure availability which they seem to always have.  Their sites vary in size and is recommended
that you only use a site that coincides to your rig size; in other words, don’t
use the big rig sites if you have a small setup.
The town/city of Broken Bow is located on Route 2 in the heartland of farming
and ranching.  It is about an hour drive
to  Fort Hartstuff; a post Civil War
Cavalry Historic Park and a short drive to begin the Sand Hills Journey to
points west.  There are small businesses
and café’s however, there is no Walmart in the town.  There are two or three small grocery stores
that will meet your needs (they sell beer and wine in them!).  Since we ride motorcycles, it’s a nice town
to camp overnight if needed in a tent.
All in all, Tomahawk RV Park met our expectations and we will be back. We
stayed in a 5th Wheel Toyhauler.
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Ives Run Corps of Engineers Campground Review – Pennsylvania

CAMPGROUND REVIEW


Campground/RV Park: Ives Run COE Campground (Corps of Engineers) – PENNSYLVANIA
Location: 710 Railroad Grade Trail (Ives Run), Tioga, PA 16946     (570) 835-0110
Date(s) Stayed: 6/13/15 – 6/20/15
Length of Stay: 1 week
Site #: 111 (Walk-in Site)
Cost per night (with taxes): $17 ($34 for others)
Discount Used:  50% National Park Access Pass (Disabled)
Connections: 30 amp Electric/Water and Dump Station
Stars:  4.5



Ives Run COE Campground sits on the eastern shore of Hammond Lake in north-central Pennsylvania. Surrounded by lush forested ridges, the lake offers recreation.  The campground is approximately 30 minutes to Mansfield and 30 minutes to Wellsboro and the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.  This campground is what all campgrounds should replicate!  Nicely manicured, staffed and managed by the Corps of Engineers proved its worthiness with cleanliness, ample spacing between sites, beautiful views of Hammond Lake and nice roads to walk or bicycle.  To reserve a site, you must be registered through Reserve America online.  Because of the popularity of this campground in the summer season, expecting to find a campsite during weekends or extended stays (14 day maximum) is difficult because PA and NY state residents have made their reservations a year ahead of time.  However, the campground has three ‘walk-in’ sites that are left vacant for RV’s and Campers that are passing through.  The three walk-in sites open at 10:00am when the office opens.  You can reserve for three days at a time before having to go and reserve again in person if you need another three days, but be sure to be at the office to do so at 10:00am (be first in line so no one bumps you).  The campground season begins May 1st and ends October 30th each year.  


The campground is absolutely gorgeous!!  Lots of gentle wildlife!!  We oftentimes took three walks a day/night. There is a separate swimming area from the boat ramp. Fishing is allowed with proper license.  We appreciated their rules of not allowing boats/trailers on the campsites.  They have overflow parking down at the boat ramp and elsewhere throughout the park.  The campground rules state that each outside guest that visits your site must pay $3 each.  There is a small campstore for basics (ie. hamburger/hotdog buns, hotdogs, chips, soda, water, etc.)  Quiet time is kindly adhered to.  A roving Park Ranger makes his rounds regularly noting safety issues and adherance to the campground rules. 


Make certain you bring extra leveling blocks; note that this site sits in the mountainous region of Pennsylvania. As with all campgrounds, we highly recommend filtering your water. The only drawback to Ives Run COE Campground is internet capability is seriously lacking because of its location in the mountains (AT&T and Verizon); spotty at best.


We WILL return!  We would have given it 5 stars if internet capability existed.