Wha makes a good campground

[Big Rig Guy]

No neighbors, prefer to be in the park when no one is there. Some campgrounds will have a area that has no hookups and those areas are usually empty, thats where we go. I see enough people in my day to day activities, so when I am away, I really just want to focus on the family. This is my time to spend one on one with my 14 year old.

Close to lakes for fishing and water skiing.

Off the highway enough so that at night time it is dead quiet.

[wintek]

No neighbors, prefer to be in the park when no one is there. Some campgrounds will have a area that has no hookups and those areas are usually empty, thats where we go. I see enough people in my day to day activities, so when I am away, I really just want to focus on the family. This is my time to spend one on one with my 14 year old.

Close to lakes for fishing and water skiing.

Off the highway enough so that at night time it is dead quiet.

I'm 100% with Big Rig Guy on this one. I found such a place a couple of weeks ago. I'll post the picture of the empty campground when I get home this evening. The only sounds we heard were the hickory nuts hitting the ground and trailer and the rapids from the creek flowing down to the lake.

Edit - Pics added

Loop C @ Shady Lake Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest Arkansas Viewing Camp sites bordering Creek

[Little Kopit]

How interesting to agree with a really big rig person.

I'm very much of a little rig person, very deliberately so.

I can stay without power for a day or so. The fridge is really the only power I really need. I tend to favour government camp grounds, but not all have much re. services.

& trees, I strongly prefer having trees at least at the boundaries of the space rented to me. Why well, people respecting that space. I can boundary train my dogs for what is 'our space' and do not talk about or to those outside of it, but I can't train people. In an open field concept cg, I have honestly had people walk within the 10' chain length of the dogs.

Talk about trespassing!!!! Now that we have cell phones, if I find myself stuck in a place like that I may get the cell phone # and call to complain about that.

I also like to be outside with my dogs in a cg, us as family, which means that maybe not so much goldfish bowl thank you.

& many places with services favour the open field concept.

Plus, space. Oh, I live where I have room, more now than a long time. To go camping to be stuck closer than in an apartment building. Help!

I tend to use cgs for one night, maybe 2. You see with a TC all parts of our rig are with me at all times. There is no reason to go back. I want a place to take the dogs swimming. 1. They love to swim. 2. 15 minutes retrieving and they are ready to veg out for the night.

For example, my Kopit:



Actually, I once stayed in an extremely crowded cg, maybe 20x20 (if that). Well, send me off to a place where the dogs can swim, I said. They did, it workd like a charm. The next day we were at Kouchibouguac, a National Park of much popularity. Kids walking through the cg, noisy at night..............

'Nuff.

[mdcamping]

What do you look for in a campground?

Were still doing the family camping thing so this is what we as a family look for...

Stuff to keep my boys intrested, thinks like beach, day trips near by that intrest the whole family, campgrounds with lots of amenties!

What I look for... (as of now)
Security (campgrounds that will inforce it)
Large level sites with some what easy axcess, full hook ups if possible.
Campgrounds where the seasonals sites/campers are maintained
and I'll read up on the web reviews and I'll look for a campground rating...woodalls or one of the other ones.

Mike

[cwit]

I shouldn't tell you guys this but Clearwater campground in Maredith NH is just what you all are looking for including wi-fi and cable. We go there june 9 every year and it really is empty. Has a beautiful beach. This campgroung will be packed july to closing.

[mdcamping]

I shouldn't tell you guys this but Clearwater campground in Maredith NH is just what you all are looking for including wi-fi and cable. We go there june 9 every year and it really is empty. Has a beautiful beach. This campgroung will be packed july to closing.

We stayed at it's sister campground Maredith Woods across the road a few winters back.

Well run campground, nice indoor heated pool and hot tub!

Mike

[cwit]

They have know made it one big campground as far as the pool and hot and and all facilitys. Oh and the other side can come use Clearwater beach.

[Terry]

I'm not trying to hijack this thread but do you think that the nicer more expensive campgrounds have a better class of clientel(sp?) versus the cheap or free campgrounds?

I'm totally new to camping. Went as a kid with the parents but they quit a long time ago. Just bought my first RV and am getting back into it.

I would have to say no. You will find as many drunks, and party people in expensive Resorts as you winn in normal, or less expensive NP campgrounds. Money don't make class.

For us the best CG is quiet, and high enough in the mountains to have a warm fire at night and in the mornings. Shade, Fire rings away from the awning. Has sites that back up to the river that has to be running thru it, or around it. Has children playing, and no yapping dogs. Thats the best. But, they are few and far between. So we settle for a CG with every thing but the river a lot of the time.

[mdcamping]

I'm not trying to hijack this thread but do you think that the nicer more expensive campgrounds have a better class of clientel(sp?) versus the cheap or free campgrounds?

I'm totally new to camping. Went as a kid with the parents but they quit a long time ago. Just bought my first RV and am getting back into it.

I would have to say no. You will find as many drunks, and party people in expensive Resorts as you winn in normal, or less expensive NP campgrounds. Money don't make class

I agree, what a campground charges, expensive or inexpensive, private or state campground, it all comes down to whether the campground inforces security..IMO

Mike

[SCCamper]

Campgrounds where the seasonals sites/campers are maintained

I noticed this at the CG I went to in NC. The site next to us was seasonal and had a brand new 5th wheel with the slideouts out and no one was staying there. It actually looked about 10 years old instead of new because of all the dirt, grime, and tree limbs all over it. I remember telling my friend that the people must have more money than they know what to do with.

I have camped since my momma would let me stay out all night, but this is the first season my family and I have went camper camping. The things I like are:

1. Trees. What is it with these CG's I see on the internet that have scalped their CG. All they have to offer is a field with concrete pads and maybe a swing set. It doesn't make sense to me. Even at the beach. Invest in palm trees or something.
2. I'm like a lot of you, I need a river, lake, rock face on a mountain, race track, something different than my back yard.
3. Stuff for my kids. Although a creek or river usually keeps their attention for a couple of days.
4. Fire rings. It woulldn't be camping without a fire.
5. Friendly greeters and staff.
6. Space (Preferably woods) between sites. I like meeting new people, but I like privatecy too.
7. Trash pick up at least twice a day.
8. One fee for up to 6 or 8 people per night, instead of one fee for 2 people and more fees for extras. Hide the dog!

[pwall]

"8. One fee for up to 6 or 8 people per night, instead of one fee for 2 people and more fees for extras. Hide the dog!"

This one drives me nuts! We're a family of eight (long story), having to pay extra for kids makes me want to find another campground.
At least the provincial campgrounds dont charge for families over 6 people.

[stanbnv]

Close to a nice golf course!!!

[bert64]

No neighbors, prefer to be in the park when no one is there. Some campgrounds will have a area that has no hookups and those areas are usually empty, thats where we go. I see enough people in my day to day activities, so when I am away, I really just want to focus on the family. This is my time to spend one on one with my 14 year old.

Close to lakes for fishing and water skiing.

Off the highway enough so that at night time it is dead quiet.

Same here for the most part. We are not anti social, however I like the quiet time. We have a love of winter camping simply because of the lack of people.

The sounds of nature not the sounds of a neighbor playing his radio of outdoor tv.

State and Govenment parks seem to offer more of this unless you go on long weekends.

If there are trees and trails the kids don't need playgrounds they have more fun walking and exploring.