Top 100 RV Parks

[dale farley]

For anyone who might be interested, this is a link to Good Sam's top 100 RV Parks: http://www.trailerlifedirectory.com/plan/TopParks.aspx?utm_source=cheetah&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GSC08837_12192009_GSC_Insider

[Loc]

Dale,

I always find the Woodalls / Trailer Life ratings to be interesting. We have been to 14 of the top 100 resorts on the list. Some are very nice and others make me wonder how the ratings can be consistently applied. For example American Heritage Park in Williamsburg is not in the same class as a Sunset Point or Dakota Ridge and most do not compare to ORA Las Vegas or The Lakes RV and Golf Resort. I always wonder what the people on rvparkreviews.com use as their standards as well. I am sure that I have different standards but to me the following are important:

1. Paved parking pads with reasonable pad width for the unit and for sitting outside and eating - I also prefer paved roads;
2. Adequate ingress and egress for big rigs (this was highlighted last night as we stuck the bus in the mud at a campground because of insufficient pad width and vehicle encroachment) - this includes proper tree clearance to avoid pinstriping or issues with slides;
3. Good power (50 amp) that can withstand everyone running full AC's on a hot summer afternoon with at least 112 volts or better remaining with peak demands;
4. Sites with reasonable space between you and your neighbor;
5. Good location of power, water and sewer hookups (if the hookups are too far from the site they are worthless - we have been to a couple of parks where the hookups were 10 to 15 feet behind the site);
6. Other amenities - nice clubhouse, bath facilities, dog run, pool, cable, playground, etc (not always necessary, but nice);
7. Management that understands that they are in a service business.

I wish we could get more people to post about their campground experiences on POG.

[GDeen]

I wish we could get more people to post about their campground experiences on POG.

I agree completely Loc. Seems threads about trips and places to visit get very little traction. Also seems like there are lots and lots of lurkers out there who are reluctant to join in any discussions. I can understand some not wanting to get involved in the technical stuff, but everyone could provide insightful input on places to go and things to see and do.

[Alek&Lucia]

Hi,

Does anybody has any experience with Big Rigs Best Bets campground book ?
How often do you buy a new edition ?
Because we are not fulltimers, I like to get a used one, to see if it will work for us, anybody ?

Alek

[Loc]

Alek,

We have used the Best Bets Big Rigs since it first came out. For the most part we agree with Ken and Ellie's reviews. A couple of times we have been less than impressed, but it is the best source that we have found. The earlier books only had a few states. With each successive version there are more states and campgrounds covered. It is well worth the price.

[tdelorme]

Loc, WalMart Supercenters score four out of seven on your list. Give um a try. Once you get a hang of where to park so the night deliveries aren't a problem, it's well worth the price. But, not a one made the top 100 list.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

We use the Big Rigs book and when traveling we look for convenient campgrounds before we decide to use a rest area or parking lot. It has been a good resource.

Loc's list is an excellent one. I have been in campgrounds with limited space due to parking of rigs or other vehicles, narrow roads or trees, and I have a simple policy I have not violated thus far. Unless I know what is beneath my wheels will support the bus, I will not put the wheels on the surface. That means I will not cut the corner because someone has parked in my way, or attempt to enter a site in which I need to go across the grass. I have asked people to move their vehicles, or backed out of a pull through space to avoid getting mired in soft ground.

There have been some excellent RV parks that I have been in that were poorly planned and there was insufficient room to make the swing. I have no problem heading back to the office and making them give me another site, or guaranteeing the grass I drive over will carry the bus.

Having been in the business of supplying electric boxes to RV parks I know for sure some electric distribution systems are poorly done and will not carry the summer AC loads. I know we cannot know this until we get hooked up and find we have 105 volts when we should have 120. I have no solution for this problem other than to move to a diferent site which may help, or find a RV park without the problem. Nobody I know of rates the quality of the hookups.

[Loc]

Ted,

I am not a fan of Wal-Marts. I will give them numbers 1 and 2 on the list, but other than that they do not meet the criteria. The biggest problem is that you typically can't find a spot to park because of there are too many Libertys parked there (no offense Jon). Did Jan make you sleep on the couch again last night?

Jon,

Unfortunately for us, we pulled into a campground Wednesday night about 10:30 pm in order to avoid a stay at Wal-Mart. The campground had a large number of more full time residents who believe that parking their truck or car three to four feet into the common driveway is okay, but it sure makes it hard to properly line up to get in a narrow space. Add a couple of inches of rain over a few days and you get a chance to meet the local wrecker company. Fortunately the road service with FMCA was relatively quick and we were out within an hour and a half. We did leave a rather impressive set of ruts in the grass. When a space is only 10 feet wide and the approach is limited it can be a problem. I should have checked the grass or just driven the additional 90 miles home (which we ultimately did after our introduction to Chuck the wrecker truck driver). Anyway it was a memorable way to spend the last hour and a half of our anniversary.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Another reason I do whatever it takes to make my driving in the dark very infrequent. I don't mind getting up early to drive, but I just hate driving from daylight into darkness. One of the reasons is the very reason you state.

[GDeen]

I am a neophyte compared to most on here, but having the Big Rig book in my console has proven handy more than once. Leaving northern AR fairly late in the day last summer, I pulled into the TX welcome center near Texarkana to park for the night ahead of driving on home the next day.

As I started to unwind I couldn't get relaxed with all the 18 wheelers driving 30 mph in and out of slots adjacent to me. Too much stress and noise for a good night of sleep. Pulled out the Big Rig book and found http://www.shadypinesrv.com/miscpage_001.asp. Sure it was 5 miles out of the way but man what a change of venue. Immaculate grounds, all paved, peaceful, and a much more restful night of sleep. Up early and on the road.

Also found a place right on I-35 this fall tripping home from Alabama just north of Waco. Last minute decision not to drive all the way home. Pulled up to gate at 10:30 PM and owner drove out in his cart saying I can't allow a Preeevost to find his spot without an escort.:cool:

We used it several nights on the drive home this summer from MT to locate good spots near the interstate. Overall good results thus far. I do also log onto www.rvparkreviews.com/ to get the latest updates and recommendations, and confirm what the BRB has to offer.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Rest area advice. This is free advice so consider it worth every cent you pair for it.

If the Big Rig book does not have a campground near where I want to stop for the night, or if the one near there is a gazillion miles from the interstate our next choice is a rest area.

We have learned if we decide to use a rest area for the night that we stop early. Early is easily defined. It is the time we must stop to get the first parking spot on the end nearest the entry ramp. This spot is ideal for several reasons. By being an end spot there is only a 50% chance someone will hit you, whereas the middle spaces have traffic coming on both sides.

One side of the bus is exposed so anyone outside that monkeys around is visible to traffic on the highway or vehicles entering the rest area.

By being on the entry end we are at one of the furthest points from the toilets so the transients that stop to use the rest rooms, coming and going all night are not likely to park next to us. We generally end up with other overnight parkers.

When we stop early, usually before dark the rest area is not full, and other RVs stopping to overnight there will tend to park next to us. We do not worry about other RVs and they are good neighbors because they don't have the reefer unit kicking on and off all night long or cattle clomping around in an aluminum trailer. They also don't idle their diesel all night long with the air compressor kicking on and off.

Finally, by stopping early and getting the end spot once stuff settles down for the night it tends to be quite quiet relatively speaking. There are some rest areas that we know and we use the auto parking areas for the night. They are few and far between, but they tend to be very good. We still wish campground owners would offer overnight parking with no hookups just for RVs.

[truk4u]

It's relatively quiet because everyone else moves after hearing an hour of "a one ana two ana here are the Lennon Sisters!":D

[merle&louise]

Just a quick tip for sleeping in rest stops: carry a small fan (the noiser the better) it will drown out the road noise. Also a good set of ear plugs works great!:D

[rfoster]

Hey Truck - Its not only that, but it's all those bubbles bouncing & popping on my bus leave a soapy residue.

[sawdust_128]

parking spots and tactics:


Quick Overnights
-Interstate Rest Stops - have done many. The X's must not be as well insulated as the H's. I hardly ever have a noise issue. Park at the far end or park where there are other RV's. Fan is a good idea. Not real keen on ear plugs. Single-malt scotch better.
-Walmarts - O.K. We usually manage to do our stock-ups as well.
-Cracker Barrels O.K. sometimes not so easy to access and maybe cramped space.
-Sam's Club - Very good. Better than Walmart unless you need to purchase something late.
-24 Hour Super markets, I usually go in and ask the manager if it's O.K. -- especially those near Waffle Houses or Dunkin' Donuts. I tell my wife it's safe because the cops go there. Honest truth, I like the donuts.
- Casinos - Yes!!!! Thank you Jamie Bradford for that one!!

Longer term stays:

I use RV.net as a source for info and recommendations on campgrounds. They have thousands of members and many large-rig owners involved. Usually I get several recommendations back for an area in just a few hours. It is very helpful and I have run across other POG mmbers there as well. The site also has a bonndocking forum with lots of good tips.

POG just does not have the membership numbers to be a huge resource in this aspect of the adventure.

[sticks]

Thanks Jon for rest area tips. Another tipster said to park on far end toward entrance ramp so that if you want to put bedroom out a trucker won't accidently sideswipe your slide out. I haven't found a Cracker Barrel yet that can park a 45' with tow vehicle, even though they all advertise RV parking. Tried to hole up at a Walmart in Albuquerque recently but too crowded with cars and iffy clientele so went short distance away to a Catholic church. The priest happened to be outside so I went up and asked if we could park the night ( it was shortly before Christmas so I figured " how could he refuse" ). After assuring him it would be just for the night he said YES and blessed us. Best night sleep we had all trip.

[rahangman]

In our limited 2+ yrs with our Bus, we have utilized many of your ideas, and thought I might pass along one more thought. We have used Fair Grounds whether County or State. Generally they will only have Elec and water to take on, and occasionally a dump station seperate from where you park Good deal on $$$ too. Usually in local phone book. Just one more way to skin that elusive cat.

[rfoster]

Last year while traveling to Oysterfest, we pulled into a WalMart south of Birmingham off I 65 to spend the night. A large parking lot - fairly level, ran the slides out and got all comfy. Then the kids starting cruising through with the loud radios, and exhaust and lined up abourt four rows over from us. Damn - how long they gonna hang out? Well a storm started brewing and they cleared out but about 30 minutes of nice quiet then wham - felt like someone shot the bus with a 410 ga. Got up and went out and the wind had blown a shopping cart across the lot and smacked the bus at about what felt 30 mph leaving a lasting impression in the Stainless and my hind end.

Moral of the story- make sure you park on the up hill side, and up wind!

[merle&louise]

Roger,

Believe it or not, a similar thing happened to me. I was driving up to a Lowe's parking lot in Mt. Pleasant, TX and it was windy. I noticed a shopping cart moving at about 10 mph across the parking lot. My buddy Robert suggested parking on top of the hill - glad we did!

We were lucky to have advanced notice - somebody upstairs was looking out for us!

Are you guys going to PSL?

[ken&ellen]

Ellen & I stopped late one evening on a run from VA to Atlanta to enjoy a break, something to eat, and a nature call. This particular Wal-Mart location was closed as it was after midnight. We noticed another coach parked for the night. As we were finishing our snack we heard the screeching of tires and blaring car horns. Looking out the windows we noticed four car loads of....well pick your own adjectives ....driving straight at the parked coach then turning at the last possible moment. We were already running and just pulled out and continued on our trip. We noticed the local authorities coming toward the ruckus as we departed, but who needs that BS while traveling.
If any of our Prevost friends are in and around Savannah, Ga and decide to stay at the Rincon, GA Wal-Mart....we are only 5 miles away... 2 acres of flat dry grass area....water, dump, and with a little notice either 30 or 50Amp...I guarantee a safe nights stay ! Ken & Ellen

[phorner]

We have also found a good nights stay in the parking lots of empty strip malls, some of which were brand new. Usually adjacent to the interstate or other major highway.

Sad sign of the economic times, but the wide open space was welcome.

[Alek&Lucia]

We found that Camping World parking lots are perfect spot to stay overnight.
Big, flat, parking spaces built for motorhomes and trucks with campers. Close to highways with easy in and out.

Alek

[Orren Zook]

Here's a nice plug for the Prevost lifestyle that I ran across this morning: http://www.rvfoodies.com/2010/01/30/the-550-a-night-rv-resort/

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

Hey Orren, your avatar says you have a new bus, how about some pictures and fill in the signature. :):)

JIM:p