This campground was highly recommended to us by several people so we decided to check it out since it’s only an hour a way from our house and my husband liked the other Spacious Skies campground we stayed at.

It was a rough group of campers. One dad called his young daughter the b-word in the pool in front of the kids and later on the slide, when my 7 year old came down he asked me what a “m-fer” was. A grown man was throwing it around on the slide.

The slide was a major attraction for my kids, but there was zero supervision. Kids would come down in groups of five and six and no one was paying attention to whether the bottom was cleared. We tried to divert our kids to the pool as often as possible.

The actual campsite was fine. A bit steep (it was cut into a hill)and a pretty far from the “amenities.” There was a mix of cabins, tents and campers. We had to walk through a kind of marshy trail that definitely needed some work to go past the arcade to get to the main area of the campground.

The camp store was nice and the staff was pleasant - they had some activities planned that we didn’t end up doing but it’s nice to know they were there as a Plan B. My kids loved the fishing lake - they caught (and released) a bunch of fish and there were kayaks and peddle boats that could be used for free.

I peaked into the bathhouse and laundry and they looked fine - nothing fancy but serviceable.

I did talk to the front desk about the other campers and she was nice. Ultimately, from what I heard in the pool sounds like they were regulars. I liked all the amenities even if I didn’t love the campsite, but I don’t necessarily want to spend the entire weekend listening to f-bombs.

We had some flubs with this campground. We put the wrong address in our GPS resulting in us arriving too late to use the pool. Then we neglected to pick up our paperwork and had to drive back to the main building to get it and we drove past the campground host on duty so we didn’t get firewood. Our campsite was pretty: flat, spacious, shaded with trees, but it was frustrating to drive past the even prettier spots right on the lake and realize that’s what I should have booked!! Several people were out enjoying evening fishing as we drove past to our more woodsy loop.

We were here all of 12 hours - it was a nice stopover on our route further south. Really quiet and absolutely spotless bathhouse! I really was bummed about not getting to the pool (it was not open the next day) - we will come back!

If it didn’t have the Gulf weather and bugs and or for that matter, the campers, this would be a five star campground. I sit here writing this review at the pool. I opened my book to read and the lady next to me brought out her Bluetooth speaker to blast music. Last night, a family chowed down on a can of pringles in the pool. Trash everywhere at the fishing docks. My husband went to put our wash in the dryer last night and dryers were filled with abandoned clothing. People have bicycles with horns.

We did make the mistake of coming here during one of the busiest weeks of July, but that doesn’t mean that every campsite should be littered with crazy amounts of gear, despite it being so obviously oppressively hot and muggy that much of it seems unusable. I want to reiterate: the weather is vile but I still can’t imagine bringing fans to plug in OUTSIDE of my camper. The campers next to us have a large trailer, camper bus, a large truck and a golf cart. In one spot. That doesn’t include the bikes, the chairs, the tents, etc.

The actual campsites and facilities are nice. Individual campsites are spacious and level and come with a grill and picnic table. Some site locations are much better situated than others (I would never want to camp along Campground Road - it’s insanely busy with cars and bicycles). It’s great to have a large pool w backside, clean and fairly large laundry facilities, a camp store and an exceptional network of bike trails. There is also a very awesome nature center, several playgrounds, pickleball courts, a boat ramp, and free bicycle rentals! There is ten bathhouses and while only three bathroom and shower stalls each seemed insufficient to me there wasn’t anyone in the bathhouses any time I utilized them. They were super clean and in reasonable proximity to all of the sites in the loop.

The campground, which is massive (500 plus sites) consists of several loops, and is smack dab in the middle of the State Park. Campers get free parking at several beaches in the Park, which we utilized (beach was pretty quiet in the morning). I thought that was a great perk. We didn’t get to bike much between the heat and rain but the trail system looks amazing and there were plenty of staged opportunities for both free and paid bike rentals.

The campground is located right smack dab in between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, which is ideal if you want to go play some miniature golf or grab a bite to eat.

I think coming off season is probably the best bet - we honestly didn’t even feel like we were in nature when we came and it was so darn humid I didn’t really want to nature anyway! I think the campground would benefit from allowing less vehicles at each spot - from my vantage point, I’m literally staring out at nine trucks for maybe three campers.

This campground has some exceptional features, but it also has some kinks to work out.

First, one advantage/disadvantage is it is located right off 40. If you are placed in one of the sites in the front it’s going to be very noisy. We were in the middle of the campground and it was occasionally loud, but not terrible. Being able to pop off 40 to sleep for the night and get right back on the next morning with gas two minutes away was great for us.

I wasn’t pleased with my check-in because I waited nearly 20 minutes to be helped as a group in front of me arrived with 1,000 questions and booked their campground in person. When it was my turn, I was given four seconds of attention. When my friend checked in there was three people at the desk and she had a good experience. Online registration was easy and we just had to drop off keys in a drop-box before leaving.

Then, the next morning we wanted to buy the bag of gems for the mining and the office wasn’t even open (12PM) before check-out (11AM). My husband felt it was the best camp store we had encountered on this trip, but how does that even help if it’s not open in the morning? My kids were so disappointed.

We were all disappointed because we had looked forward to the themed activity (tie-dye), but it was cancelled with no explanation given and there weren’t any other activities/programs even though it is presented like they have theme weekends.

I thought the layout of the campground and sites was kind of haphazard looking. The sites were gravel and there was plenty of grass and trees. The tables and fire pits all looked oldish. Hook-ups and WIFI were good.

The cabins were spaced really nicely. There was only one bathhouse, which looked absolutely great and was super clean. If you were camped at the front it would be a long walk. My friend stayed in the “primitive” cabin and she said the mattress was fantastic and she appreciated the Keurig. It was close to the bathroom and the loft space would easily accommodate a couple of kids.

What really shined about this campground was the woodsy landscape - the sandy playground (though it was older and the volleyball net was down), the fishing lake, and the really cool swimming lake, which was surrounded by rock, were all appreciated by our group and my friend said she was definitely coming back in the summer so her kids could swim. The hike to the waterfall was really lovely. We were hoping to see the cave, but the office was closed so we couldn’t inquire about its location (it wasn’t on the map).

All in all, we had a nice time and it was definitely more of a camping experience than many of the parking lot like camps we’ve stayed at. It seemed like a lot of guests were there specifically to dirt bike or off-road. I think it would be a nice campground to enjoy in the summer, but do wonder how much of an expansion is coming (their map indicates one is happening soon) and how that would impact the amenities.

Two other things worth noting - I appreciate that the campground prices don’t seem like they skyrocket in the summer. We looked at some summer dates and the prices were pretty similar to the price we paid for April. I also was impressed with the two people who were working - they seemed like they were all over cleaning and fixing things.

This is a huge campground and the price for a spot was at least double what we would pay elsewhere (nearly $100). We weren’t able to get a campground at Tom Sawyer and the reviews were all over the place for the rest of the Memphis campgrounds that we decided to go ahead and splurge on this one.

This was our first Jellystone and I was shocked at how many campers the campground accommodated - there are RVs everywhere. Most of the amenities and services are located at the front of the campground and includes a store and propane, playground, dog run, pool, showers and laundry, gold mining station, and sports courts (basketball, Gaga ball, and basketball). Further back in the campground, was another playground and dog run and a really cute little lake.

We were staying off-season so there was no activities and they actually deflated the jumping pad, but my kids still had fun and I could see this campground either being a blast in the summer or being a nightmare because of too many people. While we were there, I saw almost no children and several of the camper sites looked like the guests were staying long-term. For a campground that is marketed towards families, the demographics were a bit strange.

That said, it was super clean, well-organized, the landscaping and sites were maintained, everyone was friendly. We got two loads of wash done and my husband said the showers looked good. There were some restaurants and a Walgreen that looked like they delivered to the campground. WiFi worked and they had cable tv.

We reserved a basic site, but for more money you could get a site with Adirondack patio furniture and there were plenty of cabins as well. We reserved same day online and they have a system for late check-ins.

I’m definitely giving Jellystone another go - but next time during the summer. I’m not sure whether this campground is a good base for exploring Memphis - I think if you had a car it would probably be fine as it’s only 20 minutes or so.

We had a lot of fun at our glamping campsite. The gorgeous tent was on a platform and included a large bed and decorated interior. The site had a campfire ring and was close to the bathroom. The platform had some chairs and the campfire wood was there for us.

I did have a bear encounter on my way to the bathroom during the night, but we both just backed away slowly. This was actually the experience that made me pro-camper with a bathroom lol.

The camp host arrived shortly after we did to check in on us and to give us the lay of the land. He fortunately also came around the next morning when our car battery was dead and gave us a jump.

The best thing about Lake Powhatan is the the nice hike around the lake and the fun little lake beach. It’s the perfect size for kids. Plenty of people also seem to enjoy the biking, but it’s a bit uphill for me and there can be a fair amount of cars.

Lake Powhatan is a great little getaway!

We rented a cabin during the off-season and our cabin was cute - very old fashioned. What we found out quickly that was everything was pretty much closed, including the main lodge restaurant that we had hoped to eat at.

The indoor pool WAS open and a pretty decent size. Our kids had a blast romping around in it and the next day we hiked one of the Park trails and were able to do some geocaching, which they loved.

It would be a longish walk to the Lodge pool from the cabins. I don’t know if everyone has a golf cart in the summer, but I imagine it gets packed. There was some really cool larger cabins and at least the section we were in, you had a nice view of the marina.

We found the view of the lakes beautiful and would absolutely go back a bit more during the season to take advantage of the lake activities. I say that even though we found mice droppings in our kitchen - the staff took care of it right away and gave us a partial refund.

So let me start this review by saying we found the stretch of Odessa to Sweetwater a bit challenging as far as campgrounds. Several of the places we called were completely booked - the one campground told me that industry was booming and workers were camping because housing wasn’t available. This type of campground wouldn’t be my first pick.

However, it has many advantages - the gate was secure, the sites were level and had an extra parking space, the WiFi was good, booking online AND checking in online were super easy, it was reasonably priced and it was located right next to the interstate.

There is a pickleball court, sitting area and dog play area in the center of the campground (it’s not super large), but we could not find the laundry anywhere and we really needed to do laundry! The bathrooms were located at the front of the park at the gate, which seemed weird and it seemed like there was only two and that while your showering inside, someone who has no idea it’s occupied, is out there trying to punch in the code.

To me, if you need a quick and easy place to park for the night in an area where the other options are sparse, this is a great fit.

UPDATE There is no laundry - you have to go over to the truck stop to use laundry, but it’s not part of the campground.

This was a really large campground - there was hundreds of campers. It actually looked like an old KOA. We choose it for proximity to Carlsbad Caverns.

Level, gravel lots with picnic tables. There was a decent amount of trees. I only saw one dog area but I think there is more. The dumpsters were located all over in enclosures.

The laundry room was pretty spacious and had some recreational options, but the bathroom, which was fairly new looking, seemed small for the size of the campground. I didn’t see any playground - we did peek into the pool building and it looked kind of sketch.

I appreciated the ease of the late check-in and how we could use showers and laundry at any time by using a key card. I didn’t love the registration system (form email), but in the end, it worked just fine.

I don’t get the sense that there are destination campgrounds in Carlsbad so I think this is a pretty good option.

I messed up thinking I had booked this campground - I hadn’t. It was five minutes to seven pm and the staff called me back and got me a site for less than $50 for the night. It was a nice, level pull through site with water/sewer/cable/electric. I was pretty relieved that we would have somewhere to camp - no one else picked up their phones.

We didn’t arrive until nearly nine and the same staff person was still working - helping someone back into their site. She was very kind and welcoming.

The next morning I checked out the campground. The area was pretty industrial, but less than two minutes to the science museum and zoo. Individual spaces were generous (especially the tent sites - they would fit any tent size) and I liked the little patio we had. The playground was newish, the pool looked like it would be nice when filled, the laundry room looked great (but cash only - I prefer the card ones) and there was a lovely store and rec room. There were also showers and a small dog run.

This KOA had everything you could need - including excellent customer service.

20-25 minutes to White Sands National Monument.

We booked a site here on our drive back East in August 2023. I saw “resort” and was like “Sign me up” after some real hot and grimy parks earlier in the trip.

Ultimately, most of the amenities were closed by the time we arrived. The game room, the restaurant, and store were all closing or closed. My kids did get some pool time (it was a nice pool) and loved the blob (whatever you call the bounce pads). There was a nice playground, pavilion and courts.

What is weird is that this is almost two parks - the front is the “resort” or old-fashioned campground, but where we were placed was in the back with what looked like a lot of long-term, single male residents. It was a longish-walk to front where the pool and store was and it definitely didn’t feel like a resort.

There were spots open in the front closer to the pool and lake - if we had camped there I think the experience would have been different.

We reserved a site with full- hookups and our friends reserved a tent site. Our site was fine, but there wasn’t what I would describe as a tent site. Our friends ended up just camping behind our camper in the flattest area they could find. All of the sites are pretty close and out in the open.

When we stayed some of the activities/amenities weren’t available (there had been a fire or something at the kitchen). We had a pretty decent time, though. We rented kayaks and paddle boards and explored the lake and they had a huge inflatable slide that our kids spent hours on. The ramp to the swim beach was ridiculously slimy but kids all enjoyed swimming in the lake and jumping off the dive platform. The camp had a movie in the evening (Jaws) and gave out popcorn. There were basketball courts and beanbag toss. Lots of people were out on their fishing boats.

So potentially plenty of activities for the kids, but the campground sites could be a bit nicer for the price. Any staff we interacted with were super pleasant.

This is a decent campground. The tall trees provide lots of shade and give it a forest feel even though there are a ton of RVs. You will want to reserve ahead a time - spots are pretty competitive.

We liked the proximity to the store and laundromat/showers, as well as the lake and hiking trails that were just across the way. There was also an Interpretive center that was really close and we were able to walk there for an evening program.

I’ve stayed twice at Trailer Village (there is no Camper Village). It’s the only campground in the Park that has hook-ups (you can camp at Mather Campground w no hook-ups if you are under a certain length).

Our most recent stay the campground seemed almost half-empty and was quite nice. Our first stay we were packed in like sardines and that obviously destroys the ambience.

There are bathrooms, but we had no Wi-Fi and showers and laundry is located at Camper Services, a three minute drive or a twenty minute walk. You do have to pay for showers. So as far as amenities, not really many (though we had no issues w water like other reviewers). There was a nice grass space next to our campsite with a picnic table.

The advantage of this campsite is that the Park shuttle has a stop right at the front of the campground and you can explore most of the Park without a car by utilizing the shuttle. Additionally, the market is a nice 20 minute walk.

So super basic campground, but great location. And yes, more expensive than other campgrounds but 1/3 the price of the cheapest hotel room in the Park.

Gilbert Ray campground integrates the beautiful desert environment seamlessly with the campsites, which are very generous in size. Some reviews seem to suggest that sites are really backcountry and private, but I wouldn’t say that - most of the landscaping is low so you definitely see your neighbor and you can hear the cars on the nearby road.

We reserved ahead of time (I didn’t have a problem with the online system, but I did read a lot of complaints). We showed up after hours and I felt the information at the Administration Office was really straightforward, but I got stuck behind two sets of campers who couldn’t figure out what to do or where to go and seemed to expect me to walk them through the after-hours process. In general, most of the campers were older and we didn’t see a single family.

That may be in part because the chief amenity is the landscape and proximity to the Desert Museum and SNP. Sites have electric hook-ups and there is a bathroom, but no site water hook-ups and no showers. On our way out we drove to the dump station (located at a different loop) and water was available at that location.

The only other consideration is be careful what route you choose to enter the park. We started traveling according to directions only to realize it wasn’t recommended by the Park that RVs over 24 feet take that particular road.

The actual campground is pretty basic. Sites are woodsy and spread out, there is a picnic table and fire ring, bathhouses and water spigot can be a little bit of a walk depending on your campsite, and the atmosphere overall was quiet. We experienced terrible weather so we didn’t explore much and would agree with some of the other reviewers that the RVs seemed out of sync with the more rustic vibe. What I appreciated was how easy and quick it was to drive to the Visitor Center the next morning for our bright and early tour of Mammoth Cave (and yes, book ahead).

The KOA is literally at the base of Devil’s Tower - you aren’t going to get a better location. What I love about this campsite is that the actual campground is awesome, too. We loved watching Close Encounters (right at the scene of the action!) in the evening (the screen could be bigger). The playground was nice and so was the free miniature golf course. It was nice to get up in the morning and go to a really reasonably priced restaurant. The actual sites were not anything fancy - level and close together. It’s a great place to start or finish your day at Devil’s Tower!

We called from the road to get an overnight stop - the staff were super nice both on the phone and in person. When we arrived, the lady who checked us in gave me a coupon for the drive-in movie theater that was literally down the road. Normally, when we camp we arrive so late it’s impossible to take advantage of area attractions so we decided to go and can I tell you, it was awesome!!! The theater accommodated our camper and the food (cheese fries especially) at the snack stand was great. As far as the campground, our site was a bit hilly but we had a nice view of the lake and close proximity to the playground. My kids also enjoyed the pool. Solid place to overnight!

I’ve stayed at this campground, which is located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and run by Aramark, twice. The views are exceptional and that’s why I’ve paid the nearly $100 a night to stay there.

The campground is lovely - concrete pads that are nicely spaced. Each site has a table, grill, and campfire ring. Each loop has its own bathroom. There is a campground store with showers and a cash only laundromat that is located very near the lower loops, but might be more of a drive for campers who in the higher loops.

The issue with this campground is that the store closes at 5pm and if you arrive afterwards, you aren’t getting your tokens for the shower (so you have to pay) or the WiFi password. You are just getting the view - and it’s magnificent!

It’s important to note you are paying a resort fee when you camp here and I think (but might be wrong) that entitles you to using the resort’s pool. The location is super close the beach, the Glen Canyon Dam, and boat rentals.

We stayed here for a night in August and it was just a magical evening - from watching the buffalo herds in the distance, to taking a dip in the Great Salt Lake, to the vibrant sunset and then a wild lightning storm, it was just an absolutely beautiful place to camp. The campsites were generously spaced and at different heights so everyone has a unique view. The bathhouse was basic, but clean. Our campsite has a picnic table with a nice shade structure. We were only a mile from the beach and enjoyed the Visitor Center and the drive into the park.