OT:Best Campgrounds in America

[Us3]

Ok, we all know that Fort Wilderness is the BEST campground around....but is there a close second???? Where is your favorite place to camp (other than FW) and why?

 

[Us3]

I can't think of any that rank even close...but when we lived in Dallas we drove up to a campground in far eastern Oklahoma (near Arkansas) called Beavers Bend. It was pretty cool. It was in the mountains and you could camp on the river. There was a stable, cabins, and a mini train ride. If you drove 40 miles north there was a scenic route that crossed over into Arkansas. The mountains were very pretty. We enjoyed it and the kids did too.

 

[Shannone1]

Rafter J Bar campground in Hill City, SD. Near Custer State Park, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, Needles Highway, etc. The CG is large and laid back. Beautiful views of the stars at night, deer and other wildlife walking around, horseback riding and a large pool. Great place to stay while exploring the area.

Silver Creek RV Resort, Mears MI. The cleanest campground we have ever been too. Bathrooms/showers were even better than the fort. Large pool and hot tub, wide paved roads, extra large lots with big cement pads and beautiful green grass. Mears is home of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. You can rent vehicles to explore the sand dunes or let Mac Woods Dune Rides drive you around them. You can explore one of the oldest working lighthouses in MI and spend the day at one of the prettiest beaches on Lake Michigan.

 

[allisophie]

lake rudolph is a favorite of our dd's they have golf carts to rent.. just like the fort (only cheaper and larger sizes) the campers decorate for the holidays... really really close to holiday world.. paved larger sites for the monster size motorcoaches.. plenty of shade too.. nice new pool.. you can also rent travel trailers w king size beds.. they have weekend activities in the summer/fall ie bingo, karaoke,dancing, and offer church services for those who wish to participate.


hoping to get back to the fort in 08...

 

[Katie Dawn]

This is from a tent camper's perspective.

Our favorite is Big Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains. There are only 12 sites, it is tent only, and while it is technically "car camping" there is a 100 - 350 ft walk between your campsite and your car. You really feel like you're out in nature, but have the convenience of your cooler, etc close by. Big Creek roars with white water just below so there's a constant "water fall" sound and several of the sites overlook the creek. And as a summer bonus, because of the elevation it's about 12 degrees cooler than here in Knoxville.

It's first come, first serve though ... so you'll have to fight me for it.

 

[gon2wdw55]

lake rudolph is a favorite of our dd's they have golf carts to rent.. just like the fort (only cheaper and larger sizes) the campers decorate for the holidays... really really close to holiday world.. paved larger sites for the monster size motorcoaches.. plenty of shade too.. nice new pool.. you can also rent travel trailers w king size beds.. they have weekend activities in the summer/fall ie bingo, karaoke,dancing, and offer church services for those who wish to participate.


hoping to get back to the fort in 08...

I agree with that anyone looking for something other then the fort can't go wrong here. Check their web site HOLIDAY WORLD or LAKE RUDOLPH. Holiday world is the oldest theme park VERY clean, water park as good as any & food prices are great & FREE unlimted soft drinks would'nt that be great at WDW.

 

[Shannone1]

lake rudolph is a favorite of our dd's they have golf carts to rent.. just like the fort (only cheaper and larger sizes) the campers decorate for the holidays... really really close to holiday world.. paved larger sites for the monster size motorcoaches.. plenty of shade too.. nice new pool.. you can also rent travel trailers w king size beds.. they have weekend activities in the summer/fall ie bingo, karaoke,dancing, and offer church services for those who wish to participate.

We are looking at that place for a group camping trip maybe next summer. There is a lot to do and of course the kids love the idea of Holiday World and the water park next door.

 

[Tickla]

Hunting Island State Park-South Carolina. We LOVE listening to the ocean as we fall asleep!!

 

[mousebrain]

Holiday Travel Park in Va. Beach is an awesome campground. My first trip back in 22 years was this past weekend. I spent a summer working/camping there in 1985 and was trying to find something cool to do for the end of summer and thought it would be fun to go back, this time with my family. The place is very big, has 4 pools, hay rides at 6pm, bingo at 7pm, kid's karoake at 8:30. Live entertainment on the weekends! They also have a free parking lot by the beach that campers get to use. The Va Beach Aquarium is great and we got to pet sting rays and see penguins! Its only about 2 miles up the road from HTP.

Downside....
The pools close at 10pm, I love how Disney keeps theirs open 24 hours.
Tends to draw some kinda redneck people, lots of cussing....

I was amazed to hear the kids say they want to camp there next summer instead of the Fort

hmmm don't think so!

Mousebrain

 

[bradisgoofy]

KOA Petoskey, MI. Exceptionally nice with lots of organized activities for families and kids.

 

[scotiacat]

I have two to add: Lake George RV Park in New York and Ocean Lakes Family Campground in South Carolina.

 

[djblu883]

this is a small but beautiful State park and my family's fav. >>Buck's Pocket State Park. It's in NE AL and off the beaten path. There are a good many full hookup sites but, LOTS of trees that I might worry about rubbing the top of a TT with. I haven't gotten to go there in a few years with my work schedule like it is now....there are LOTS of trails to hike and a great place for rock climbing, about a 35 min. drive from Chattanooga for the aquarium, 30 min. from Oprah's fav Scottsboro AL. for shopping at Unclaimed baggage( been there many times), many great areas for boating ops, wildlife...and its about 10 degrees cooler in the summer there than about anywhere else (its down in a canyon thus named the "pocket")

 

[thesmittys7]

Nothing compares to The Fort but There is a KOA in Cherokee N.C. that my family loves!! We love the view of the mountians and they have a lot for our kids to do Welove to go in October
http://www.cherokeekoa.com/

 

[2tiggerriffic]

Kudos to Oceanlakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, SC. We camp there 3 - 4 times a year and it's a wonderful family campground. Another one we enjoy is Stone Mountain park campground in Stone Mountain, GA. Great for Families also, plenty to do in and around the park.

Didn't care for Hunting Island, SC. Mosquitoes were awful, will never go back.

 

[123Disney]

Subscribing. What a great thread! Thanks.

 

[CCIntrigue]

Okay, it all depends upon your definition of "best." To me Fort Wilderness is not the best in a lot of ways. It's cramped, hard to get in and out of, not very clean (and I'm saying this because of the cypress droppings, dead leaves and branches all over the ground, not trash), overpriced, and frankly if it weren't for the parks we wouldn't camp there.

First on my list is Outdoor Resorts at Port St. Lucie, FL. Also Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach, Treasure Coast Resort in Fort Pierce, and Outdoor Resorts on Hilton Head Island.

I know my opinion is different because we don't have young children to entertain. Other than a nice pool, which I've never been in, there aren't many amenities at the Fort for us.

 

[Us3]

CCIntrigue, your post gave me a "chuckle". I can appreciate opposing opinions of the Fort. However, the chuckle came from your opinion written next to your count down ticker until FW and your FW icon on your signature.

 

[CCIntrigue]

CCIntrigue, your post gave me a "chuckle". I can appreciate opposing opinions of the Fort. However, the chuckle came from your opinion written next to your count down ticker until FW and your FW icon on your signature.

I'm glad I could give you a "chuckle"! Don't get me wrong - I love going to FW. It's just that I think the campground itself is overrated -- especially for big rigs -- and Disney could do a better job for what we're paying.

Last December it took us 20-30 minutes to clean the cypress droppings out of our Schnauzer's hair every time we took her out. 5 times a day x 20 minutes is a lot of time having to clean her, and she hated every minute. We could barely make it onto our site and couldn't even put our awning out. There were lots of dead leaves and tree branches scattered around. I remember years ago when the campground was always in pristine condition -- guess those were the "good old days"!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

KOA Petoskey, MI. Exceptionally nice with lots of organized activities for families and kids.

Funny story about Petoskey, we went a few years ago when our oldest son was in Junior high. We pulled in and went to check in and ran into his band teacher who worked there during the summer. He was disappointed to see him and later told us that he didnt really like him. He avoided him during the 3 days we were there, we laughed about it and said he should have brought his insturment with him so he could practice. I agree that its a nice park also.

Scott

 

[bradisgoofy]

Funny story about Petoskey, ......
Scott

When we were there over this past Memorial Day weekend, we pulled into our spot, got out to check if we were in far enough ( had our trailer with the Harleys in it ) and in the site right next to ours was the owner of the car dealership we bought our last four vehicles from.