One more stop awaits us, this time at the Big Sioux State Recreation Area in Brandon, South Dakota. This park is a bit unique in that it lies within a suburb of Sioux Falls along the Big Sioux River, next to a housing development and local schools, a few miles off Interstate 90.
Grounds: Although Big Sioux is within a suburb, you'd never be able to notice it when you're inside the park. Once inside, it feels like a rural setting in the middle of nowhere. Drive a few miles, though, and you're able to resupply, fix your rig, or even make some improvements. The signage isn't the best when driving to the park, but is sufficient once inside.
Sites: The park boasts 50 sites and three cabins in a single campground area. As it's a state park, there's a 14-day limit, back-in only sites, electric only, and a single dump station near the entrance with several water spigots around. The site was fine-to-medium gravel, but there was a little difficulty finding a level spot. The pads were quite spacious, as we were able to extend our awning for the first time in a while. We did notice some fellow campers with larger rigs having difficulty entering their site.
Staff: Just after parking, we were greeted by two very friendly camp hosts who marked the site and provided helpful information without being overbearing. Based on this interaction, coupled with what we saw in the day use area, we could tell they took great pride in the park, and it was a very welcome place to visit.
Amenities: Big Sioux offers fine amenities for the area, including nature trails for hiking and biking, a disc golf course, and playgrounds where the younger campers can enjoy some time. If something else is desired, the city isn't far away, where pools and courts could be accessed. Cell phone signals are a little difficult due to a transmission line running through the park, which is a bit surprising for being within a suburb.
Atmosphere: Even during the very short stay, the fellow campers we saw on the trails seemed like they were having a great time. Some of the campers seemed they were kicking back on their own or finding day use fun elsewhere in the area, yet still had that vibe of "the place to be".
Overall, Big Sioux State Recreation Area becomes the first taxpayer-funded park, and the second since we began this adventure, to receive the illustrious 10 out of 10 rating. Yes, there's the added entrance fee if you don't have the annual pass, but for a relatively short stay, whether you're a casual camper taking a weekend trip, or in between locations as a full-time RVer, it is absolutely worth it. There's a little something for everyone, and what more could you ask for? This is a place where we will definitely return, and should our Internal Compass take us to Eastern South Dakota again, this park will be at the top of the list.
Time to pack up and head to site number three, the Lake Thompson State Recreation Area in De Smet, South Dakota. This park is on Lake Thompson, a few miles south of Highway 14 in east central South Dakota. Although being a lake in the middle of the country, Lake Thompson has regularly crashing waves and a breeze that will make you think you were near the ocean.
Grounds: Lake Thompson is one of the parks that is a bit off the beaten track, as a paved yet narrow farm road as part of the midwest's famous "grid" is needed to access this place. De Smet isn't too far away if you need to resupply, but don't expect too many largely known brands in this small town. The park is well signed from the highway, as well as within the grounds itself.
Sites: This park boasts 103 campsites, five cabins, and a group lodge within a single campground. As with the other state parks, there is a 14-day limit, back-in sites, and only electric at the site, with a single dump station near the campground entrance and several water spigots throughout the campground and at the dump station. Each site was fine-to-medium gravel and fairly level, although we had to re-hook and adjust our spot due to the winds coming off the lake seeming like they would topple our rig. The 30-amp breaker had its polarity reversed, requiring us to use an electricity alternative.
Staff: The host and maintenance crew were seen now and again, and generally attentive. When we reported the electricity issue to the hosts, they chose a late hour to contact us despite stating in the note to wait until we were gone to fix the plug.
Amenities: Unlike many of the other state parks, Lake Thompson doesn't have as much to offer. There is a swim beach, although the lake is filled with algae to give it a greenish tint, so we had to suffice with long walks while trying to avoid dead fish. There are also walking/biking trails and a few sports court options. Bathhouses and vault toilets were readily available, although the maintenance crew left a sprinkler on in front of the door, leading you to get a shower before and after taking a shower.
Atmosphere: This park had a very friendly vibe, so much to where it was very pleasant to walk the dog around the grounds, or just take a leisurely stroll yourself. The park is relatively family-friendly with kids riding their bikes throughout the area. It's a laid back place where you truly can enjoy yourself.
Overall, Lake Thompson State Recreation Area receives an 8 out of a possible 10 rating. The added entrance fee without annual pass is a usual sticking point. You'd usually expect this to be included as part of the site fees, but given the annual pass and its relatively good deal, it's understandable that the charges are separate, though a bit of "fine print". If there were a couple more amenities or a better kept beach, this would be perfect. We would certainly be willing to return, although we would try to find a site that wasn't on a hill and a little further from the water to protect against the high winds.
The second of the several state parks visited as a part of trip 10 was the Oahe Downstream State Recreation Area in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. The park is located on the Missouri River just off Oahe Dam, built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1948 to provide hydroelectric power to the area, while completely blocking off the river into two parts without any sort of canal to access the north, and the greenery of the hill makes the water run underground, avoiding the eye-sore of a concrete walled dam. Visitors can use a state highway to traverse the top of the dam and see the northern Missouri.
Grounds: Oahe Downstream is located just a few miles from the state capital of Pierre, and its sister city Fort Pierre. The easiest access is from the Fort Pierre side on Highway 1806 North. Signage from US 14 will mention "Oahe Dam", but the campground is in the same area. Time is quite a debate, as from Fort Pierre all the way north to the next state, the river serves as the border between the Central and Mountain time zones. One of the park's three campgrounds is in Mountain on the west bank, with the other two campgrounds, camp office, and amenities being in Central on a peninsula. Once you get to the park, the areas are easily accessed and well signed, with self-pay stations to handle entrance fees.
Sites: The three campgrounds boast 205 campsites and a dozen cabins. As with the other state parks, there is a 14-day limit, back-in sites, and only electric at the site, with a single dump station near the highway and several water spigots throughout the campground and at the dump station. The rig parking was on pavement and fairly level, although there was a bit of a drop-off to the spacious grass area with the picnic table and fire pit.
Staff: The staff, although there was a rig and golf cart in the campground host area, was effectively non-existent. This seemed to play a large role in an "anything goes" experience that existed around us. Once in a while, a maintenance staffer was seen to clean a restroom or do lawn care, but the park needed more conscientious attention to what was happening, and if it's going to have regulations, the hosts need to at least attempt to enforce them.
Amenities: Bathhouses are available at Oahe Downstream with showers, however there are curtains at the stalls instead of doors, having to go through one stall to get to another. A swim beach exists with waist-high water all the way to the safety buoys. The park also has a marina and disc golf course, and the nearby dam is a good place to visit and go fishing.
Atmosphere: If you're looking to relax and have a quaint, laid back experience, you will be sorely disappointed. The park was filled with large snooty groups, sometimes numbering almost 20 at a single site, nearly blocking the streets with the overflow of vehicles. Many dogs were let loose without leashes despite park policy, leading to our dog being attacked during his walk. The campers were not the best of character, either, as toiletries were stolen from us during a shower due to the lackluster stall setup, later found to be used and tossed by the same grifter that couldn't be bothered to bring their own. Although this was during a weekend where higher occupancy is expected, the campers and guests had little to no respect for their surroundings, especially with a non-existent staff allowing it to happen.
Overall, Oahe Downstream State Recreation Area receives a 4 out of 10 rating. Apart from the issues we had at the campground, as well as the added entrance fee charge without an annual pass, the flushing hose at the dump station didn't work well. The only saving grace for this park from being a complete disaster was the disc golf course. Needless to say, if our Internal Compass brings us to this area again, another park will need to be found, as we will not return to Oahe without significant changes.
Trip ten saw several parks visited within the same trip. The first of these was Angostura State Recreation Area outside of Hot Springs, South Dakota. This state park is located on Angostura Lake in the southwestern part of the state just off US Routes 18 and 385.
Grounds: If you're looking for a way to access some of Western South Dakota's famous landmarks, such as Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, or Badlands National Park, Angostura is a bit off the beaten track. In addition to the winding and hilly county road to merely get to the park entrance, unless you're looking to stay at the lake, you're looking at an hour-long drive each way to other destinations. That being said, Angostura is a beautiful lake with lovely beaches, making it not too bad of a destination in and of itself.
Sites: Angostura sports 169 sites and 12 cabins across four camping areas. There is a 14-day limit to stay, after which patrons must vacate for more than 24 hours. All RV sites are back-in only at about a 45-degree angle, with or without electricity of all standard amperage levels, along with two park-wide dump stations and a couple community potable water spigots at the dump station and in each camping area. Each pad with electricity is medium-to-fine gravel, with the non-electric being grass. A level spot was not able to be easily found, requiring the rig to be kept at a slight angle for the duration of the stay. The grassy areas around the pads were relatively spacious when looking back at some of the places previously reviewed in trips past, however be aware that ticks will welcome you to the spots with long grass.
Staff: The entrance guardsmen (government hired) and campground hosts (contracted for what would assume to be full hookup site only) were friendly and knowledgeable. Their presence was hardly known yet available for any issues that arise. However, they should be trained to check propane levels at their bathhouses, lest the campers be left without hot water for the showers, which did happen during our stay.
Amenities: Angostura has several swimming beaches, boat launches, and a marina across its vast grounds. A disc golf course and volleyball courts may also be found for campers and day use. For the campers at the sites, vault toilets and a bathhouse were found at each camping area, assuming the showers worked and you didn't have to go to another camping area.
Atmosphere: The camping areas were found to be family-friendly. Although many of the adults seemed content with keeping to themselves, you would usually see children riding their bikes around the camping area loop. Being a state park with additional fees for those visiting from out-of-state, many of the campers were in-state residents. Regulations weren't pushy at all, and the environment seemed lax yet under control.
Overall, Angostura State Recreation Area receives an 8 out of a possible 10 rating. Aside from the shower experience, one sticking point was the added entrance fee in addition to the campsite fees. If you stay for multiple nights or visit other state parks, such as Custer and its wildlife loop, the annual pass would easily pay for itself, and allow you to experience many of the other state parks for the rest of the year. In addition, our camping area was the one furthest from the entrance, making for an even longer and hillier drive that could be taxing on the rig. However, we were lucky enough to get our site on the bend of the loop, making for a straight and easy back-in. We would certainly see ourselves visiting this park again, although hoping to find a site closer to the entrance. The park fills up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays, with a 90-day window for reservations.
Trip number eight saw yet another stay-over. This time, we found ourselves at Mobile County's River Delta Marina and Campground. Situated in Southern Alabama, this publicly-owned park served as a haven for us for three nights as we planned our next move for the winter.
Grounds: The park is located a few miles off Exit 22 of Interstate 65. Those who are using paper maps from a leading national brand should take warning, as this exit may not show even on the most recent maps, but it is there. The signage on the road only speaks of a marina and welcome center which can lead to slight confusion, but it is the same place. The city of Saraland is nearby for re-supply and restaurant opportunities.
Sites: There are 60 RV sites with full hook-ups, assorted between back-in and pull-through, along with a few cabins. There is a 30-day limit for stays. When reserving, credit and debit cards are not accepted, and there is a refundable cash-only deposit related to the state of the site. Many of the campsites are right next to the busy highway, which can be heard throughout the night. No map of the sites was available, but was easy enough to figure out. Each site is primarily grass, but there is small-to-medium gravel for the rig parking. Alcohol is strictly forbidden, but they permit it kept exclusively within your camper, as it is understood that some full-time RVers will carry it with them. An ant colony greeted us at the water spigot when going to hook, and the spigot is low to the ground, meaning a water filter needs to be placed rig-side.
Staff: The staff, although with an uncomfortable physical presentation inside the office, was generally friendly. Maintenance was helpful and kept the park in great condition, There was a security guard at the gate to handle check-ins and entrants when no one was at the office. Workers are government hired.
Amenities: If you enjoy boating, you're going to enjoy staying here. At the entrance to the park are prominent boat launches for both campers and day users to be able to spend time fishing or just relaxing on the river. Even if you don't have a watercraft, or being on the river isn't your thing, take a walk along the quarter-mile spur, a raised, platformed nature trail to view the delta, along with a houseboat presumably for fish cleaning, and maybe a few alligators. A small pond with fountain exists near the campsites, where you can see snapping turtles, and some patrons also enjoy fishing. Laundry facilities are found within the bathhouse at a reasonable price, and there is a pool and swing set to complete the set of things to do at the park.
Atmosphere: With the way our previous trip abruptly ended, we really needed a place to relax. This was certainly an easy-going place. Although very much a public park, it seemed like the quintessential southern home in the countryside. Although the rule signage was bordering excessive, which one would come to expect in a government owned site, it was a nice place to take a break near the start or the end of what could be a long journey to or from the Gulf of Mexico.
Overall, River Delta Marina and Campground receives an 8 out of a possible 10 rating. Despite all the site issues we had, along with what seemed like an attack of the ants, the saving grace for this park is the price. For what you get, what you pay is unbeatable. Even if only half the amenities were there, it would still give midwestern campgrounds a run for their money, and it's only an hour from a popular seashore. This is a good spot for a paid dock or even a short-term stay, but we would probably only stay again for as long as we did or shorter, hopefully with a different site.
Trip number seven brought a new experience for us the form of a paid dock, where we decided to stay at a campground. However, unlike the splitting of trips 4 and 5 because the stay was for a bit longer, this one is being treated as a dock. Although it is less expensive to dock at RV/Truck stops, sometimes you need to replenish the "essentials", dump the "extras", and live in a little more comfort. For us, this one night stay was at the Campground at Barnes Crossing, located outside the city of Tupelo, Mississippi. Tupelo is famously known for being the birthplace of the widely impersonated late singer Elvis Presley. This was originally supposed be a longer stay, but due to circumstances described in another blog post during this trip, it was cut to a dock. Still, like any place where we are paying customers, it will receive a proper review.
Grounds: This park is conveniently located off US Route 45 and the Natchez Trace Parkway, near the newly designated Interstate 22, otherwise known as US Highway 78. Although in a rural setting, the campground is near the Barnes Crossing commercial strip, allowing visitors to resupply as well as receive restaurant delivery services. Found off a minor state highway, this place is very well marked, however drivers should be very aware of narrow shoulders with steep drop-offs, as well as hill grades that may require lower gears during descent. Several "For Sale" signs were found along the campground road; it is unknown whether the park management will soon be changing hands, or if extra undeveloped land is being offered for additional usage.
Sites: Fifty-four RV sites adorn the campground, all with full hook-ups and an assortment of back-in and pull-through sites. Be warned, when reserving a site here, that credit/debit cards are not accepted; you will need to pay by cash or check. The sites were gravel with a small concrete pad to mount a trailer or fifth wheel front. Some pull-through sites are doubled up along a line, which could create an awkward "back out" situation, although we were placed at the front of one of these strips. A well defined indentation made lining up the trailer for hookups very easy. Water pressure was very high even with a regulator, and the sewer cap was hinged, causing some issues in securing the hose. Most, if not all, of the sites are on a hill, which even with leveling blocks, may create a "tilted" experience, as well as make traversing the park difficult.
Staff: Staff interaction was fairly minimal. Although some staff had an uncomfortable physical presentation, they were otherwise generally helpful at check-in. It is unknown whether there are workampers, if all workers are salaried, or is otherwise family operated. The staff seemed to maintain the park fairly well for what it had.
Amenities: The campground offers limited amenities, although visitors have the town nearby for entertainment. A couple pet areas are scattered around the park. The sites are in a loop that many campers enjoy walking either by themselves, or with their pets. A bath house with shower exists, but is limited to nightly guests; monthly campers are prohibited from this facility. Laundry also is available, along with a horse corral.
Atmosphere: This park seemed a bit more friendly than others, with a number of happily greeting guests. If you have children, they'll need to be entertained as a family unit. Although the stay wasn't long enough to truly grasp the harmony that may or may not exist at a campground, even just the one night makes the camper feel at home.
Overall, the Campground at Barnes Crossing receives a 7 rating out of a possible 10. In addition to some of what was previously mentioned, the park had fairly low value in terms of the price paid to stay and what was offered. In addition to the lower rating, the price point is also reason to select a different place to stay if you visit northern Mississippi, especially if for a short-term stay.
For trip number six, on the way to the south, another stop was had. Landing Point RV Park is an approximately 80 site ground on the outskirts of the city of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Our stay at this full-year park was for one full week.
Grounds: This park is located a couple miles off Interstate 55 and its corresponding Business Loop through the city. It can be accessed by a rural minor state highway from the north, but access from the south requires you to take a busy thoroughfare. The signage for this place, although very unique in an old trailer, is placed parallel to the access road, resulting in the park being missed more than once. The park is located near a residential area of Cape Girardeau, along with a storage unit, restaurant, and golf course. The city, with big box and national chain convenience, is merely a short drive away.
Sites: Landing Point has approximately eighty living sites and several storage pads, all for RVs and travel trailers, mostly back-in but a few pull-through. Each site has a level concrete pad and concrete patio on which your decorations are minimally expected to be. Appropriate shade from shared trees exist. All sites have full hook-ups, including basic cable TV. Be sure you have a water pressure regulator, as the water comes from an open-close pump instead of a variable faucet. In addition, we noticed a constant smell like a non-airtight black tank not observed in any other stay. A small fire pit exists off the patio. Each site is very well marked, with a map although not up to date, easy to understand. Plenty of room is available for a tow vehicle to enjoy what Cape Girardeau has to offer.
Staff: The park's staff leaves plenty of room for improvement. Although we ensured a worker (assumed to be the owner) was at the office for an appointed check-in time, this was the extent of our good fortunes. Office staff at other times visited was either discourteous or non-existent, choosing not to man the office during some of the listed hours. Grounds staff almost immediately saw the need to bark at us about regulations, an overbearing list the park chooses to deflect on a corporation to suit their controlling desires, while ignoring an unattended dog tied outside a site that never seemed to move. Meanwhile, the aforementioned staff was seen doing "busy work", mowing lawns twice in a day instead of addressing noticed amenity deficiencies. On one occasion, the owners decided to have the entire park's water shut off because of a purported heater tank issue at their regulation-breaking not-so-portable site, and refused to notify anyone at the park. The next day, they chose to shut it off again, although notifying guests by voice mail, during when campers are trying to sanitize their grey/black tanks and fill potable before check-out, instead of scheduling for the time between check-out and first check-ins when most continuous guests are out for the day.
Amenities: The grounds offer limited amenities, although most visitors will more than likely want to experience the nearby city. The sites are on an approximately half-mile paved walking loop. A small dog park exists, although moved from where the map shows. This dog park was adorned with waste that some owners refuse to clean, and untouched by maintenance staff for what seemed like weeks in some cases. Children may enjoy a small playground. Bath houses had a very odd layout, one of which contained two shower stalls and one toilet, another of which was a powder room with no shower stall, along with the "Managment" [sic] placing an over-abundance of signage about their regulations and wanting to evict people. A community fire pit also exists, although doesn't seem to ever be in use, as what seemed like weeks of tree trimmings were piled high on the area, and never a fire seen on any day of our stay. A laundromat exists, although a bit on the pricey side, was able to suit our needs.
Atmosphere: This park seems more like a place where long-term guests just stay while doing other things. Hardly any interaction was seen during nightly walks around the grounds. Not much excitement was seen about the park, so if anyone was there, we didn't see them. Once in a while, a friendly neighbor would offer greetings. Hot and sticky weather may have contributed to these feelings, along with an abundance of rain when we arrived, but even in fair weather, activities and fun times would be noticed. Even when talking with locals around the city, no excitement is drummed about this park.
Landing Point RV Park receives a 4 rating out of a possible 10. Although the price point was on a more moderate level, it doesn't make up for the lackluster experience had. Even over-hearing a comment from another camper about getting what we pay for, we've found better experiences at lower prices. Needless to say, unless a change in management is had, we will not be returning to this park. If we ever visit the area again, there is one other RV park within the city area to try.
Trip number five found us visiting the Dakota Sunsets RV Park and Campground in Salem, South Dakota. Equidistant from Sioux Falls and Mitchell, Dakota Sunsets lies within the prairies of the eastern part of the state. We originally elected to stay for a week, but due to circumstances, elected to extend our stay by a couple more days.
Grounds: This park has an easy access off Interstate 90 on US Highway 81, near 255 Road. Although a billboard exists, signage at the park is somewhat blocked by a tree when driving north, meaning you might miss the park the first time through. Never fear, the town of Salem lies just north, with a couple fuel stations making it easy to turn around. Farming fields surround the property, with a clear view of the plain as far as the eye can see.
Sites: Fifty-two sites adorn this park, mostly for RVs but some tent availability, with an assortment of back-in and pull-through sites having full and limited hook-ups. Park your rig on the very level dirt and miniature stone pads, with plenty of room to extend your awning around the tree and personal fire pit area. The sites are well marked with an easy to understand map, along with access warnings for one of the pull-through rows. If you tow, some diagonal parking may be needed to fit your additional vehicle, but it can fit rather decently.
Staff: Hoping that we do not ruin anyone's "street cred", the husband and wife owners of the park are some of the nicest people ever. They are the only workers with their house on the grounds, and the park being small and easy-going enough to handle. They are always welcoming to the human and canine visitors, even giving graham cracker pieces to the pups.
Amenities: Extras the park has to offer are minimal, but sufficient for the visitors finding their own entertainment. Many guests will walk the road loops to visit with the very friendly other patrons. A small playground exists for children, along with a large open grass area in the back to exercise, meditate, or view the sunset. Find peace on the small stone maze as you make your way to the center of the work. A pool was under demolition during our visit, intending to be replaced with a gated dog park. The bathhouses were very clean and well-maintained. Showers are coin-operated, so many RV visitors will choose to use what comes with their rig. A small, reasonably priced laundromat exists on the premises, as well as the opportunity to purchase basic camping consumables. Borrow a DVD or book during your stay if that's your cup of tea.
Atmosphere: When you come to this place, you truly feel like you're at home. You'll want to take a couple walks around the park each day to say hi. Not too many children visit, so that entertainment will need to be done as a family. Everything is easy going; even if you want to sit outside your RV to enjoy the world around you, it's a very relaxing time. Even after just a few days, you'll want to stay forever.
Out of a possible 10, Dakota Sunsets has become the first of our stays to receive the elusive 10 rating. The price was very reasonable, and it justs fits the lifestyle of the full-time RVer. You're just close enough to a small town for everyday needs, and the larger city of Sioux Falls is a reasonable distance away. This park is on the short list of places to return, and the next time your internal compass takes you to eastern South Dakota, this is the place to go.
Fourth trip was a little interesting, as it involved an unplanned destination, the Arrowhead Park in Neola IA. Found in the Loess Hills area of Western Iowa, Arrowhead Park is a county-owned campground and day use area, offering short-term accommodations for visitors and locals alike. A two night stay was had for us.
Grounds: The park is conveniently off Interstate 80, just a couple miles from bypass loop Interstate 880 (formerly I-680) to allow for easy access from all four cardinal directions. After a slight bit of rural driving is a well-marked park that is very easy to navigate with any size of RV. A tiny rural town can be found on the other side of the highway, and only 20 miles from Council Bluffs to re-supply.
Sites: There are approximately 54 RV sites, an additional complement of tent sites, and a few cabins available, all first-come first-served. Six of the sites in the first set are pull-through, with the rest backing in. Paths within the camp area are one lane wide, making for a difficult chore to back-in to a side site. More luck may be had with the corner sites, as the bend of the road can be used to your advantage. Our stay had us lucky enough to find a pull-through with unpaved loose stone. No map is available, but adequate signage makes it easy to understand the layout.
Staff: Any staffing at this site was minimal to not seen at all, seeing how permit and fee payments were done by unmanned envelope station, and likely someone patrolling the grounds to ensure everyone at the park has properly checked in. Maintenance does happen, as the picnic table at our site was moved around our second night, presumably to maintain the small amount of lawn. The check-in envelope offered volunteer opportunities. These aren't out of the ordinary for a municipal park given government budgets, and they maintain the site relatively well.
Amenities: Only electricity is available at the sites, with only one 50-amp and two 30-amp plugs for each electric box covering two sites. Each campground area provides a pit toilet and hydrant to be able to fill potable water by jug. Along the road inside the park is a single dump station for sewer access. A quaint pond is on the grounds for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. A bathhouse adorned the center of the park with six unisex clean modern bathrooms and free accessible showers.
Atmosphere: Those looking for somewhere quiet to relax and connect with nature have come to the right place. Even with other RVers nearby, the grounds are somehwat secluded to allow you to feel at peace. Dogs will have plenty of places to run around, and with the day use amenities, it's just as easy to be able to stay all day as it is to head out to the Loess Hills or the Council Bluffs and Omaha area.
Overall, Arrowhead Park receives a rating of 8 out of a possible 10. For the economical price, we received a good value. The narrow campground paths, along with the lack of a swimming hole, dock some rating points. If you're looking for a short-term place to park on your way to another destination, this is a good place to be, and is going to be on our list of places to return.
The third trip, and first without a return, saw us visiting the Lake George Riverview resort in Warrensburg NY. Situated on the Schroon River, Lake George Riverview provides a family camping experience for visitors to the southern Adirondack Park. Like the last review, we'll rate the site on five criteria and give our overall impressions.
Grounds: The location of the campground is very conveniently located off the interstate highway. However, its only entrance is along the only thoroughfare connecting the highway and the hamlet of Warrensburg, a popular tourist destination in the summer months. A left turn along this stretch to get to the highway can be daunting, especially with a long RV. Not much can be done to improve the situation, but traffic is light enough that a turn can be made.
Sites: The campground has around 150 sites for either RV or tents. Most require a back-in, but a number of pull-through are available. Our site wasn't exactly the most level, but nothing that a few blocks couldn't fix. Unpaved loose stone seems to be the method of choice for the RV sites, a bit unfairly judged against the last time, but you live and learn. The map was easy to understand, although the pull-through sites were only marked on one side. At least one fully grown tree was at the site providing adequate shade while still allowing for the awning. Hookups were easy, although the water at their side had a tendency to "spit".
Staff: Check-in and check-out staff was friendly. Maintenance and security was attentive, as we unfortunately had to witness on account of some badly-behaved neighbors. All of the staff is on salary; there are no "workamping" opportunities, but with everything running smoothly, they don't seem to need any additional hands.
Amenities: For the price that was paid, you would expect some decent amenities, and the park gives some. These include a pool, a beach, an arcade and playground for the children, horseshoes, and a bocce setup. Even simple walks around the property are a joy. Construction was happening during our stay so some amenities changed from what was listed, such as volleyball and a pool bathhouse. A single sheet addendum or sign at the main house would have helped guests understand what was happening. One of the men's shower stalls had a lock that wasn't lined up to the hole, making it impossible to lock. One of the women's houses could have used more regular cleaning, and one of the women's shower stalls had a floor that seemed ready to break.
Atmosphere: If you want something that is family friendly, this is a good place to go. Children, whom we once again had in tow for this special trip, have ample opportunities to make friends and remain entertained. Although many guests will spend the day exploring attractions the surrounding area offers, even those preferring to stay in one place won't be disappointed. The park is also very dog-friendly, many animals of which receive great love and praise from most other guests.
Overall, Lake George Riverview receives a rating of 8 out of a possible 10. The price was the biggest stickler for point deduction, as this is less geared towards the young full-time RVer, and more towards the city dweller. Sure, the amenities were nice, but it doesn't make up for the lack of value for money, especially when premium pricing was not involved. With better rates, it is worth returning, but until such time, other locations may be better.
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