Nancy W.

The Dyrt Pro

Pensacola, FL

Joined May 2017

Wildlife biologist who enjoys traveling to America's beautiful places in an RV.

Absolutely Fabulous Campground

This is one of the best campgrounds we have visited in many years. This small campground opened in 2021 and has amazing waterfront views and nice full hook-up sites. Rob and Peggy are wonderful campground owners who are super engaging and friendly. They take lots of pride in the campground and have planned group events like lobster and oyster dinners, campfires and music, and are always available or answer your questions or provide information on the local area. Definitely check out their website which has an extensive amount of information about the campground and local activities. West Bay has a great online reservation system that lets you see what sites are available and pictures of each site so you can pick what works best for you. Sites range in price from$125-165/night depending on the season (with possible additional charges for electricity usage). There are 26 sites in this terraced campground all of which have full hook-up with a water view. Sites in the Woodlands Section(and#18) have nice tall trees for shade; whereas, the others are in full sun. Most sites have two sewer hook-ups which is convenient because hook ups vary depending on RV type. Roads and campsites are gravel and all sites are level. There is no cable but the Wi-Fi is so awesome that you are given free reign to stream, zoom, or surf without restrictions (in fact they pride themselves on their great Wi-Fi). We love the free community garden which has a wonderful selection of produce including strawberries, tomatillos, fresh herbs, beans, lettuces, etc. Feel free to pick whatever you will eat, just leave some for others. There is no bathhouse so all units must be self-contained. The campground is right on the water and there is a nice path leading to an overlook and down to the water which is tidal. 

There is a beautiful, cleared spot with a swing so you can enjoy the view and watch the tides (and seals come and go). They were super smart and put in an outdoor shower so you can rinse the salt water off. Rental kayaks and paddle boards are available, or you can bring your own and leave it down at the water's edge. Just make sure you paddle around high tide or else you will be slogging your watercraft through a soft mucky clam flat. Another great thing about this park is that it is a certified dark sky park. Campers are asked to turn outside lights off so there is no light noise to interfere with the beautiful sky full of stars, planets, and meteor showers. Recently added is a short nature trail and off leash dog park. 

The campground is approximately 45 minutes from downtown Bar Harbor and the main section of Acadia National Park. Just ten minutes away is the Schoodic Woods section of Acadia– a less busy and equally beautiful area of the National Park. Plus, there are many nearby nature preserves and public lands that have great hiking. There is a wonderful organic farm down the road and a couple of local wineries are nearby. The nearby town of Gouldsboro has a delicious little ice cream stand and the Pickled Wrinkle restaurant serves great food. Live lobster can be bought off the dock at the nearby town of Corea.

Nice Campground, lots to do, easy interstate access

The Shenango Recreation Area is a large campground with some 300 plus sites located on a lake in western Pennsylvania. Access to the campground is fairly easy and about 12 miles north of I-80. Most campers come here to enjoy the boating, fishing, and relaxing in the lake. Some of the sites are right on the water and provide nice scenery and easy access but, if you are not at a water site, your only access is at the boat launch or public beach area. 

All sites can accommodate tents or RV’s and some are dry camping without utilities while others have 30 amp electric (99 sites) and 50-amp (15 sites). There are no water spigots at individual campsites so you either have to come in with water on board or fill up at a spigot in the campground. You can make reservations on recreation.gov and seniors get half price. The online reservation system has pictures of each site. There are bathhouses scattered around but the one I went in was not very clean and they are pretty old. The bathrooms are heavily used since sites don’t have sewer and water. 

We only stayed two nights as we were just traveling thru the area and had a nice stay. The only complaint we had was a pesky neighbor who came over the minute we started backing into our site and didn’t leave until we were all set up and went inside just to get away from him. Our site was long and level and the electric worked fine. Our site was at the beginning of a loop with a one-way road so there was a bit of traffic. The campground was very quiet at night. 

FYI, alcohol is not allowed in this campground and we did see rangers and camp hosts driving around the campground so we kept ours hidden when outside. Not sure if they were looking for violators or just driving around for other reasons. Check out is not until 4 pm so be careful arriving too early. We noticed in the that a lot of people are fairly local and spend the day on the water before packing up and checking out.

Beautiful, secluded primitive campground

Just outside of Greenville is the Little Moose Pond Public Lands. This campsite is one of five primitive campsites located in the tract. The easiest and quickest way to access the campsite is from the Little Moose Ponds Loop Trailhead on Old Squaw Road. From the Loop Trailhead, the campsite is just about a mile walk. The trail is well-marked, just follow the signs and the orange blazes until you see the sign for Little Moose Pond campsite which is just off the main trail. 

The campsite is tucked in the woods so you get some shade and privacy. Since you are right on the water, there are great views of the pond and surrounding woodlands. The site is on the north side of the pond so the morning sunshine greets you and the sunset lights up the southern hillside in the evening. Picnic table, fire pit, and a makeshift toile are provided. The toilet is essentially a toilet seat on a wooden box so there is no privacy but it is tucked away from the trail and campsite enough that it can’t be seen. You will need to call 207-695-3721 to see about obtaining a burn permit before starting a fire. The only water source is from the pond but there is a rake in case embers land outside the fire pit. A couple of canoes are stashed at the campsite and we were not sure who owns them but one was unlocked and there were two paddles propped against a tree. 

The campsite (and access to the Public Lands) are free and you can stay at the campsite up to 14 days. There is no trash receptacle so you must carry all your trash out with you. The campsite is first-come, first-served. If it is occupied, you can trace back about half a mile to the Big Moose Campsite and see if that is available

Good location to Baltimore/Frederick Attractions

We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick. The campground is quite large with lots of seasonal sites but there are some transient spaces that can accommodate big-rigs. In addition to RV sites, there are tent sites and cabins. 

We stayed in one of the transient sites (#FR14) across from the RV storage lot. It was a long gravel back-in with 50-amp FHU. The water hook-up is in a pit so it doesn’t freeze so look under the cover. It can be a bit difficult to reach and you have to get on the ground to hook-up. Based on the location of the spigot, we were not able to attach our water filter (we drank the tap water anyway and it was good). The electric worked fine and were able to reach the sewer with our 20’ hose. The view out of our front window was of the storage lot which was not the most scenic. However, parking in the FR row is the easiest place for big-rigs to park since some roads in the park are tight and hard to navigate with the trees and with the two-way traffic. 

There are lots of amenities and it seems some people come here for the activities and things to do. It is a destination for many campers. They have lots of themed events, the most popular being the entire month of October celebrating like Halloween. They set up a haunted walk through the woods, have pumpkin carving, trick or treating, a costume contest, haunted hayride, and site decoration contest every weekend. If you want to camp on the weekends– book early because we found it very difficult to get a reservation during October and you have to pay in full and there are no refunds for cancellations. Other weekends have live music, bingo, hayrides, cornhole tournaments, crafts, and more. Basically, there is something every weekend. 

Huge fishing pond, shuffleboard, horseshoes, large dog park with agility, game room, playgrounds, jump pillow, heated swimming pool, and exercise room (which was decent but didn’t have a television to occupy your time), 18-hole mini golf. A short but nice hiking trail winds through the woods and is nice for walking dogs. There is a large covered pavilion with picnic tables for big gatherings. There is free Wi-Fi but it doesn’t reach sites in the back of the campground. Wi-Fi is great if you are near the office/store. The camp store is fairly large with some food/beverage items, t-shirts, large amount of RV supplies, and misc. other items. There is a coffee maker with free coffee.

Primitive Campsite on a Beautiful Pond

The Big Moose Pond campsite is located approximately 0.45 miles from the Little Moose Ponds Trailhead. The trail leading to the campsite starts with a downhill trek (of about 150 feet) before becoming relatively flat and an easy walk to the campsite through the woods and over some wooden planks in wet areas. There are actually two campsites at this location. The campsites are well-marked so follow the signs directing you off the trail a short distance to the site. The beautiful campsites sit along the bank of Big Moose Pond in a nicely wooded and shaded area with plenty of room of tents. Each site has a large picnic table and fire pit with cooking grate and paths leading down to the pond. There is an enclosed vault toilet located between the two sites. The campsite farthest from the trail has lot of canoes and boats chained to trees so you can expect people to walk thru you site to access their canoes/boats. Campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. You need to call 207-695-3721 to see if you can obtain a permit before starting a fire. 

As this campsite is not too far off the main trail, you may hear other hikers or find other people wandering into your campsite to check it out or use the toilet– this is a very popular trail in the region. There are lots of trail in Little Moose Public Lands tract. The Little Moose Ponds Loop Trail is about 4.3 miles with an elevation change of 646 feet and lots of beautiful scenic views of the ponds and surrounding mountains. The best views are from Big Moose Mountain which is a climb of 1,800’. 

Downtown Greenville is a great little mountain town. If you are looking for great pizza, check out Jamo’s and the Dockside has good food and a fun waterfront bar. Northwoods Outfitters in town is a great store with a great selection of outdoor gear (including a wide assortment of flies) and offer rental equipment including camping gear, fishing equipment, canoes/kayaks/paddleboards, ATVs, snowmobiles, and mountain bikes.

Basic Campground on a Beautiful Maine Harbor

Jonesport Campground is a little campground on the coast of Maine with excellent ocean views. The views are quintessential Maine with lobster boats bobbing in the water and the tides moving in and out. If you like hanging out in the unpopulated rural areas of Downeast Maine, then this is the place for you. Off Route 1, drive south for ten miles and you come to the end of the peninsula where the campground is located. The campground is small with some 20 or so campsites in a loop with some sites right on the water and others behind them. About a third seasonal campers who mentioned they have been coming there for many years. Electricity is 30 amp and there is no sewer or potable water (so make sure you fill up before you come. Roads are gravel and have a few potholes. The campground is low and flat so there is a bit of standing water after it rains. Sites are gravel/grass/dirt with a picnic table and fire pit. There is a vault toilet and a port a potty. There is also a honey wagon service that comes around weekly if you need it. A dumpster is onsite for trash. Our Verizon phone and hotspot worked well. Not sure about over-the-air television because we used our portable Dish satellite because we had a clear view to the sky. 

Since you are right on the ocean, it can get quite windy so be sure not to leave your awning out if you go away. Screen rooms are a good idea because the black flies and mosquitos in Maine can be quite pesky in the spring and summer. There is no website or online reservation service so you have to call the town office (207-263-8315 or 207-263-6576) to talk to the campground manager. 

Jonesport has a hardware store, small grocery store, two places to get pizza and a few other shops scattered here or there. You are best to bring everything you need (you can stock up in the grocery in Columbia Falls before you head south off route one). The nearby town of Milbridge is bigger with a grocery, laundry, shops, hardware store, fuel, and restaurants. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are about an hour and a half away.  Schoodic Woods section of Acadia NP is approximately an hour away.  The best thing about this campground are the views. If you have a kayak, definitely bring it because this is a great place to paddle. This is definitely not an RV resort and not for everyone, but if you like a rustic campground in a beautiful place, check out Jonesport Campground.

First to Review
Great Camping Spot Near Historic Lodge

 There are a few times in your travels when you find someplace you never want to leave. It’s the kind of place where you pull in and it just feels right and we found ourselves at the registration desk extending your stay…and again…and again. The Birches Resort and Campground in Rockwood, Maine was that slice of paradise we absolutely loved. 

The Birches is perched on Moosehead Lake about 30 minutes north of Greenville which is a pretty small town (we’re talking population 1,600) with a few restaurants, a fly fishing shop, a great grocery/outdoor/camping/clothing store and a scattering of interesting attractions like an old passenger ship offering lake excursions. There is a ferry over to Mt. Kineo which has spectacular hiking and definitely worth spending an afternoon. There is great fishing in the area in numerous rivers and lakes. 

The Birches has a magnificent historic lodge dating back to the 1930’s that is warm and comforting and smells of wood burning fires, fresh coffee, and salty bacon. There are only a handful of campsites (for RV’s and tents) and a bunch of cabins all with great views. Don’t be expecting to have all your creature comforts of television, wifi, and phone service because they are nonexistent or sketchy at your site. However, the lodge provides all those services where you can enjoy them by the fire or at the bar. There is also a full-service restaurant serving three meals a day with delicious comfort food like Thanksgiving turkey dinner, slow roasted prime rib, and French onion soup. RV sites can be a little tight for larger RVs but we were able to manage. The best campsite (#5) backs up to the lake so your patio and fire pit are right there on the water and provide spectacular sunrises. Our site was 30-amp which was fine for us as we were there in October and didn’t need air conditioning. Since no one else was coming into the site next to us, we were allowed to pull in such that we took up two spots and overlooked the marina. There was water but no sewer however the dump station was easy to access and never very busy since the campground is so small. The tent sites are located farther away from the lodge and facilities but are spacious and private with great water views. The sites are surrounded by trees so you get some shade if you want or can be in the open sunny areas. Each tent site has its own garbage can so you don’t have to trek over to the dumpster. There are also picnic tables, rock-lined fire rings, low electric hook-up, and a water spigot. The restroom/showers were older but clean and we did not mind showering there which meant we didn’t have to pack up the RV and dump our tanks during our stay. They do have a hot tub for those who like to soak in steaming water. 

We absolutely loved our stay at the Birches. Having the lodge for warm fires, cold beer, and hot meals was a definite plus. There are so many outdoor activities between hiking, fishing, paddling, and just enjoying the natural beauty. There are boat rentals and seaplane flights you can book for sightseeing and a launch for boats/paddle craft. We will definitely be back.

Great State Park in a Beautiful Part of Maine

This is a beautiful state park in a quiet part of the state and ideal for those looking for a quiet getaway with lots of outdoor activities. The park is surrounded by Cobscook Bay on three sides so you definitely get a feel of being near the water. As the 20+ tides come into the bay so does an abundant of aquatic life (our favorite being the seals and otters) and bird life which makes for great wildlife viewing. Cobscook has 106 campsites which vary from pull-thru to back-in, RV or tent, and all are set in a nice wooded environment. The best sites are those right on the water. Some of the sites have really long driveways while some of the pull-thrus are close to the road. The thick woods provide some shade and lots of privacy and the campground is pretty large so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbors. Campsites have pretty large level spots for setting up camp. We loved our site that was deep in the woods and had lots of privacy. 

There is one bathhouse with showers near the ranger station. Otherwise, you have to use vault toilets which are scattered about and not super close to lots of campsites. A dump station and water fill sit are also near the park entrance. On Sundays when all the weekend campers were leaving, the line for the dump station was pretty long so bring your patience. 

One drawback of this campground for us was that the trees lining the roads needed to be trimmed back and we scraped quite a few trees overhanging the road when coming and going. Something else to consider are the bugs! Ticks, mosquitos and black flies (these tiny little bugs that gnaw on you and create huge welts) are prevalent. Definitely bring insect repellent and/or a screen room. Later in the fall the bugs are not nearly as bad. 

There are two short hiking trails and one has a short spur leading up to a view point overlooking the tidal river. If you are looking for longer hikes, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to the park A nice paved boat launch with large parking area is located within the park. We launched are kayak and paddle board there at high tide when the water is slack and paddled across the river to a nature preserve for a hike. Make sure you watch the tides because the water can really rush in and out at certain times. 

Not too far is a great little restaurant called Sue’s Coobscook Café. We stopped in for lunch but they were serving breakfast all day and we quickly switched to the delicious brunch menu. The Greek omelet was amazing and the breakfast was huge with great portion sizes and reasonable price.

Great Location, Very Clean

We really liked this park! It was clean, very well cared for, supper nice people and a decent price($43/night) for camping in coastal New England. The park recently added new 50-amp full hook-up sites (some of which are pull-thrus) so there are plenty of options for big-rigs. Half of the park is seasonal campers (which is a lot more cramped and more junked up) and the other half is for transients. The two sides are separated by a tree line where the tent sites are located. The park is in a good location and pretty close to the beach, restaurants, shopping and access to Route 1. You are also just twenty minutes or so to Portsmouth and Newburyport which are some of our favorite New England coastal towns. 

Our site (#124) was one of the new sites which they had just completed. It was a gravel back-in which was plenty long and level. They recently seeded the area so new grass was starting to grow. The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in. Lucky for us nobody was parked in that site. We hate driving over grass as our coach can really make some ruts, but we had no choice in this situation. The ground was dry and hard so we didn’t make deep ruts. The park does not have cable and we were not able to get reception on our satellite because of the trees and could not get any over-the-air channels. No television was fine because we enjoyed sitting by a campfire after our long day of exploring. We had a picnic table that was kind of small if you had 4-6 people but fine for just two of us. Our firepit was a light weight portable one which we could move. The older sites had heavy fire rings that were not to be moved. None of the sites have a lot of space between them and I bet this park could feel quite cramped when it was full. We were there in the off-season (May) and didn’t have any neighbors so it was pretty quiet. 

There are not too many amenities in the park which was fine for us since we really don’t use them. There was a very large playground, horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, basketball, and camp store. This park really cares about appearance and grounds-keeping is top notch. Our site had a nice grassy space with a small garden planted with flowers. The laundry was very nice, clean and had big front-loading machines. Check-in was super easy and fast. All the staff were very nice. 

About 5 miles to the east is Hampton Beach and a little farther is the town of Rye which are worth the drive. There we discovered Ray’s Seafood and Petey’s Summertime Seafood where you can get a great meal right next to the water. After lunch pop over to Wallis Sand Beach for an afternoon relaxing by the sea. We love visiting the Kittery Trading Post (in Maine) which is a good outdoor outfitter and eating at Bob’s Clam Hut.

Beautiful, quiet waterfront campground

This campground is a gem in the Lakes Region of Northern Vermont. It sits right on Lake Champlain and has the most amazing sunsets. It is a small adult only campground so it is pretty quiet which is exactly what we like. The campground is kind of off the beaten path but that makes for a nice, quiet place to stay. It is a no-frills campground in total contrast from the big “resort” campgrounds– no pool, no Wi-Fi, events, store, etc. 

The park has just a few big rig-friendly sites. About half the campers were seasons but their sites were very tidy and not cluttered up like many they are at other places we’ve stayed. The roads are narrow and dirt/gravel but the able to navigate if you go slow. The owners are extremely helpful and friendly and they really take pride in their campground. They lead you to your site so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. The campground doesn’t have a defined layout, instead, campsites are scattered about which is nice because there is more privacy. Some sites are right along the water with great views while others have partial. The grounds are amazing with lush grass that is kept mowed. Not a speck of trash anywhere in this park and all the dog owners were really good about picking up after their dogs. Apple trees provide nice shade. Bring your cash or checkbook as they don’t take credit cards. There is beach access but keep in mind it is rocky so it can be slippery walking in the water. The campground is located near a local ferry dock which does provide a bit of noise when the boat comes and goes. There is no cable or Wi-Fi. Our Verizon phone and hotspot worked fine and we used our portable satellite dish for television (you might be able to pick up Burlington stations using an over-the-air antenna). 

If you are looking for a quiet get-away in a beautiful part of Vermont, this would be a wonderful place to come. Just down the road is a nice local brewery and there are a few places to eat in South Hero. Definitely recommend going to Burlington which has nice shopping and restaurants. Grand Isle State Park is nearby and has some hiking trails and there is a great biking trail nearby.

Great for an Overnight Stay

We camped in this park for one night as we were just passing through Virginia on our way south. Overall, we liked the park and was what perfect for our overnight stay. The best thing about this park was all the space we had to walk our dog and the creek that runs at the edge of the property. We had been traveling for about six hours and were so happy to have a place to stop and one where our dog could get a good long walk and have clean, cold water to wade in. There is lots of green space and a even few benches to sit and relax on your walk. 

Since we did not want to unhitch our tow car, we chose a nice long pull-thru. The site was easy to get in and out of and the roads were easy to navigate. Our water spigot was way at the back of our site but luckily, I was able to reach it with our 50’ hose. The sewer was placed in the middle which was convenient. The sites are fairly close together but we didn’t have neighbors on either side so we didn’t feel cramped. Not all sites are level and would have been a problem for us, but fortunately, ours was level. We had a nice fire pit with pavers around it and a picnic table. 

There is not much in the way of amenities except for a pretty basic playground, pavilion for large gatherings, and laundry. Most of the campers are transients so there is a big daily turn-over. The seasonal campers seemed to mostly be on the back row and some of their sites were pretty junky. The campground was really quiet and a great place to stop for one night. The campground is located very close to Interstate 81 so road noise in unavoidable, but it is very convenient if you are traveling. There are a couple of fuel stations at the exit which is also handy.

Nice Campground, Close to Attractions

We really like the location of this campground as we wanted to explore the VA wine country, Monticello, Skyline Drive and other sites in the area. Overall, we liked the park which had nice campsites, was very clean and well-kept, and we liked our campsite which was level and had full hook-up. 

Our campsite was a back-in which was in a quiet corner of the campground. The site was long enough for our 45’ motorhome and tow car. The site was perfectly level, gravel, and had nice grass on the patio which our dog enjoyed. All the utilities were well-placed, so you didn’t need additional hoses. The cable hook-up provided us with plenty of television channels and the wifi worked well (albeit we just used it to check email and did not stream anything). Some campsites are pull-thrus (if you don’t wat to unhitch or back up) but it seemed this section was busier with transient campers coming and going and the sites seemed a little tighter. Some back-in sites have a wooded area behind them and more shade than our relatively open site. There are tent sites situated under trees for shade and to add a little privacy. Tent areas have a picnic table and fire pit along with a wooden bench and high table you could use for food prep. The campground does not allow hammocks so make sure you have a tent and were not planning on sleeping in your hammock. 

As you would expect with a KOA, there are lots of amenities and many that are geared towards kids (although we didn’t see too many during our stay). There are two really nice playground with slides, swings, climbing walls, game room, swimming pool, bouncy pillow, etc. There is a small little basketball area with one hoop and a paved surface which is adequate for shooting hoops but not playing a full-court game. The dog park was surprisingly big and we were impressed at the size which was big enough to throw a ball for our lab. Other nice amenities were the fishing pond and a½ mile nature trail in the campground.

First to Review
Small waterfront campground

The majority of campsites are right on the Dead River in a beautiful region in Maine called The Forks. This area is an outdoor paradise with tons of things to do kayaking, white water rafting, hunting, fishing, hiking, and nature viewing. Riverdrivers has a myriad of overnight accommodations including primitive tenting, RV with electric and water (some just 20A and water and the others 20A/30A and water), cabins with electricity and screened in porch, motel rooms, and a rental home open year-round that sleeps 14. 

There is a dump station onsite for RVs. There are picnic tables and fire pits at the camping sites and cabins. Wood is available for purchase at the good price of$10 for a wheelbarrow load. Sites are mostly grass and the road is smooth gravel devoid of any potholes. There are some trees for shade but not many and there is not much privacy between campsites. Obviously, the best sites are right on the water but the majority of those are without hookups. Check out their Facebook page because they offer camping discounts in the past if you mention the add. There are restrooms and showers with 14-hour access and a few port-a-potties scattered about. There is also a dishwashing station. Bathroom facilities were very clean as was the dishwashing station. Horseshoe pits are present but that is pretty much it for amenities, other than the great water view. No online reservation you must call or email them. 

The biggest complaint is the loud road noise from big logging trucks. The campground is located directly off Route 201 in West Forks which makes for easy access into the park (but you get the road noise). Across the street is Berry’s General Store with just about everything you need and is a fun old store to roam around. Just up the road is Hawks Nest Lodge which has a great restaurant with full bar. Their outside seating is great for soaking up the sun and watching the rafters on the river. Head over to Moxie Falls for a short hike into one of Maine’s famous falls.

Waterfront Campground with Lodge

Northern Pride is a 5-bedroom lodge and RV and tent campground. The property sits adjacent to the 8-mile-long Roach Pond (which is more like a lake because of its size and deep water but the state of Maine classifies body of water a pond if there is water flowing in and out of it versus a lake that is contained and has no input or outfall). 

The campground has a mix of tent and RV sites. The RV sites are 20-amp electric and water with the exception of one(transient) site that is 30-amp and water. Sites are level and are back-ins so your back window has a view of the pond. Tent sites sit right between the shore and RV sites with an unobstructed view of the pond. Tent sites are large, open grassy areas far enough from the RV sites so you don’t feel like you have an RV staring at you. RV sites are pretty close together and all but two are seasonal sites. The seasonal sites were pretty junky when we visited and many campers needed to do a little cleaning up at their sites. Most people just come for the weekend to enjoy the pond so it is pretty quiet during the week. Tent and RV sites cost$35 and$40(respectively) for two people. If you have more people, it costs$3/person/night which seems like it could get quite expensive for a family of five, especially since you only have minimal electric and water. There is no sewer and the pump out service was quite steep at$50/pump out (both grey and black) and is only available on Wednesdays- so plan accordingly. Hot showers are available so you can save tank space by not showering in your RV. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Many of the firepits looked like they were dumpsters as they were filled with cardboard, paper plates, and other trash. Firewood is available for$6/milk crate sized amount. The lodge serves meals if you don’t feel like cooking you can order a la carte or there is the Kokadjo Trading Post just a short walk away which has some groceries and good burgers. The owner is a registered Master Maine Guide and they offer fishing and hunting trips (for a fee). There also have kayak, canoe, and a 16-foot motorboat for rent. 

There is a public boat launch right next to the campground if you have your own boat. Since the property is right on the water it is convenient to launch a canoe or kayak and the views of the surrounding mountains make for a great paddling destination. The closest town with services is Greenville that is about 20 miles away. The road from Greenville is a newly paved road that is easy to navigate. If you come from elsewhere, it’s best to call for directions and not follow your GPS because many roads are for ATVs only.

Secluded Campgsite on Beautiful Pond

The Little Notch Pond campsite is located in the Little Moose Public Lands area in Greenville, Maine. The area provides lots of recreation opportunities including hiking, fishing, paddling, and wildlife viewing. The pond is located deep in the public lands area and nicely tucked into the woods away from any road noise or busy spots in the park.

Entrance to the trailhead leading to the campsite is well-marked and there is a nice large parking lot. Head down the relatively easy trail (about 250 feet elevation change) for about ¾ of a mile until you reach the campsite. (Just before the campsite, the trail will turn off to the left, stay straight to get to the Little Notch Campsite about another 20 yards.) The campsite if free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If this campsite if occupied, you can continue on the trail to the Big Notch Pond Campsite which is about a half mile away. 

The campsite is not very large so multiple tents may not fit but it is secluded and very nice. There is a picnic table, fire pit and water access. There is also a toilet which is essentially a toilet seat on an open wooden frame with chicken wire around it. There are some boats and canoes stashed in the area and I’m not sure if you are allowed to use them (some were locked to trees, others were not). Some look like they have been there for quite a while. There is no live bait allowed for fishing in the pond in order to protect the native brook trout population. You do need to obtain a permit (call 207-695-3721) prior to kindling a fire and can collect firewood but many of it is wet and unseasoned.

Nice Views, no Facilities

Dispersed Gravel Pit This is a large mowed area on top of a gravel pit. There are two fire pits but plenty of room for more than two campers. We drove up in our car before bringing our motorhome because we were a little suspicious of the site and didn’t want to get stuck in an inappropriate place. The gravel pit is located in Little Moose Public Lands on North Road. After the intersection of Big Squaw Road, continue on North Road for another half mile and the pit is on your right. The road to the pit is gravel and bumpy but you don’t need a 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle. The short road up to the camping area is quite steep with somewhat loose rocks. There are no utilities, potable water, restroom, or garbage facilities so bring the water your need and carry out your trash. (There is a dump station at the nearby Moosehead Family Campground.) 

Basically, it is a wide-open area with two fire pits.  You are permitted to collect downed wood for fires or there are numerous places to purchase bundles in town. The camping area is level and roomy with some pretty views of the surrounding mountains. The best thing about camping here is the easy access to the great hiking in Little Moose Public Lands. Great views are found along the Little Moose Pond Trail for people looking for a decent hike but not too much elevation change (approximately 4.3 miles and 650 feet of elevation change). Or hike up Big Moose Mountain for expansive views of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding mountains (approximately 4.4 and 1,800 feet of elevation change). This campsite is just a few miles from downtown Greenville where you will find a well-stocked large grocery, restaurants, outdoor oufitters, fuel, and a couple of small museums.

Waterfront Campground with Marina

This property is a mix of campground and marina which is perfect if you have a boat and love a water view. The campground sits on Lake Champlain in the“Lakes Region” of northern Vermont. The campground is small with just 28 sites in two rows. The sites in the front row have the best water views, otherwise, if you are in the back row, you are looking through those campers to see the water. Most of the campers are seasonal are in the front row with pretty extensive patios and stuff in their yards. As you might guess they put the transient campers in the row behind them. There is a downward slope to these sites so leveling can be tricky. The RV pads have some gravel but more needs to be added as they can be pretty soft and muddy, especially after a heavy rain. The water and 50/30/20-amp hookups are at the far back of the site but the sewer is more towards the middle so you don’t need a long hose to hook-up. Our sewer had a cinder block around it which I’m guessing is because people are not careful and end up driving over them. It was slightly elevated which meant it did not drain well. There is free Wi-Fi that worked o.k.– it was bad peak times and definitely not strong enough for streaming. A bathhouse with showers and toilets is housed in a newer looking building. You need a code to enter which probably helps limits their usage (we did not use them). The best aspect of this campground is being right on Lake Champlain. In addition to the dock, there is a short flight of steps leading to the water and a water spigot to rinse off when you come back. If you like to boat, this is a perfect place for camping and boating. Sunrises are amazing and well worth getting up early for. 

There is lots to do in the surrounding area and the food at Wally’s Place Bagel and Deli is delicious. Snow Farm Vineyard and Winery is a great place to sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine overlooking the vineyard.

Beautiful State Park with Lots to Do

This was our first visit to a Virginia State Park and we were impressed. The campground was really nice as our site was very long, had a huge patio, was level, and water and electric were well-placed. Our site (#43) was on the end of a row with our patio facing a hillside next to a stream that made for a very pleasant rushing water sound. The weather was great for the first few days of our visit so we made the most of being outside and exploring the park. We went for a few hikes which offered great views of the surrounding mountains, gave Spirit plenty of time to swim in the lake, and I paddle boarded around the lake. 

The park itself is over 3,334 acres and packed with recreational opportunities with the centerpiece being Hungry Mother Lake. There is a swim beach, boat launch, hiking trails, restaurant, boat rentals, fishing piers, convention center, nature center, and plenty of camping. The campgrounds are divided into three sections– Creekside, Burston and Royal Oak. All campsites in the Creekside section are reservable while only some in other sections are reservable. The Burston Campground has the largest sites and offers some full hook-up sites and water and electric sites (50 amp) with pull thrus and back-ins. Sites are level and can fit big rigs but the only problem we had were that some of the trees need to be trimmed back and scratched the upper sides of our coach. The Royal Oak section is for tents only (no hookups are provided) and has really cool wooden pads that give you the feeling of hanging over the hillside. 

The restrooms and shower house were very new and really clean. Each shower is in an individual room which makes for nice privacy. There is a laundry with two washers and two dryers costing $1.50/load. Also located here is a dish washing station with two big deep sinks and hot and cold water. There is free wifi at your site that worked fairly well and we were able to get about six over the air antenna television stations (albeit none were from major networks).

Nice Campground in a Great Area of NY

We were looking to spend a couple of nights near Watkins Glen to hit the wineries, waterfalls, and nearby museums around the finger lakes of New York and this park seemed to be in a good location for us to do all that. There were other options closer to downtown Watkins Glen but they were closed for the season when we visited. This park is quite large and can accommodate any size RV with plenty of activities to keep the entire family busy without even leaving the park (but we wouldn’t recommend that because there is so much to do in the surrounding area). 

Typical KOA with a wide range of RV sites and lodging options and tons of activities and amenities. We booked online and got our KOA discount, so check-in was easy and we were greeted by friendly people. There is a mix of site types which you can pick out online. If you don’t see the type you want online, give them a call because sometimes they can move people around to accommodate you. The roads in the park and campsites are gravel but the park is easy to navigate. They do have short fences at the front and back of sites which can make maneuvering into your site a little tricky. Not sure why they have these unless it is to keep people from driving or parking on the grass. Deluxe sites with fancy paved patios are available for a bit more$$$ than standard sites. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit.

Our site was level and long enough to fit our tow car. The pad was gravel but the patio was paved. Our fire pit stuck out pretty close to the road which was a bit awkward. Sites are definitely close so upon check-in we noticed that the park was not very crowded and asked that they not put us right next to people if at all possible. The women in the office told us that our neighbors were leaving the next morning and that was the only site option. Turns out they didn’t leave and there did appear to be other sites available. Oh well! 

The park advertises free wifi and we were skeptical as to how good it would be but it turned out that it worked well at our site for surfing the internet. Our 4G Verizon phone reception was good and the open pull-thru sites work well for those wanting to use satellite. There is cable which broadcasts 70 channels. 

What we liked about this campground was: the pastoral setting yet it was close to many attractions and things we wanted to do. The hiking trail was a big plus and really appreciated by our Labrador retriever. Wifi worked great and there were lots of cable channels. Our patio was paved which is nice but it is more expensive than standard sites with grass (so we ended up paying for that). 

By far the worst thing about this park is the price. If you come here in the summer and use all the amenities then maybe we could see paying $100/night. But we really just wanted a place to park and hook-up the RV since we spent very little time there during the day. The only amenity we were even slightly interested in was the heated indoor swimming pool. 

The surrounding area boasts lots of activities from exploring the natural wonders to wineries and museums. The region is known for its waterfalls including the popular Watkins Glen Gorge that has 19 waterfalls and many more in the surrounding area. Watkins Glen sits at the southern end of Seneca Lake and offers many opportunities to get out on the water for sight-seeing and a diner cruise. Close by are 40 some wineries and breweries that draw many visitors. A 30-minute drive south will put you in the town of Corning home to the spectacular Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Art Museum. Watkins Glen Speedway hosts major motor racing events including the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Click here for a link to our blog post about what we did

Would NOT Stay here Again

Ugh, this was one of the worst campgrounds we have stayed at in our twelve years of full-time RVing. First of all, the sites are very close together. Our site (which was#20 on the map but the number at our electric post was#102, go figure!) was supposed to be a pull-thru but we had to unhook the car because the site was so short and hard to get into due to narrow roads and tight turns with trees. The park is definitely not big-rig friendly, and all the sites are very close. There are many seasonals with old, dilapidated campers with lots junk around them. 

We assume they call themselves a “resort” because there is a swimming pool, mini-golf, pavilion, playground, rental cabins, ball fields, dog park and a fishing pond, but it didn’t live up to the standards we consider for a resort. The mini-golf was in horrible condition. Everything was old and run-down. The “chalets” where super outdated, there was trash everywhere in the campground. Lots of seasonal sites with junk everywhere at their site. Behind us was a family who left their mean-looking barking dog chained to the tree all the time. The bathrooms are super outdated, and we wouldn’t even go in. Luckily, we had a full hook-up site. The nicest looking area of the park is the 8,000 square-ft Clubhouse which has a café, game room, adult lounge, wide screen tv, fitness center, and jacuzzi. We were there early in the season so some amenities were closed. There are farm animals on the property and a petting zoo with pigs, horses, ponies, goats, ducks, etc. They have a busy summer schedule of events which I’m sure entertains the kids and adults, but we weren’t staying long enough to participate. 

Inside the brochure you get when you check-in are two-pages of guidelines and rules (which I doubt anyone reads). One of rules (#8) states that you have to clean up your area prior to departure, but since the seasonals weren’t departing I guess all the trash around their site was acceptable. That rule also states that fire pits have to be clean to fire pits but there were many fire pits full of trash.  

I was a little nervous plugging into our electrical post which was completely wobbly and barely attached to anything and literally held together with packing tape– visions of an unpleasant electrocution experience flashed in my head. There is no cable but we were able to get seven over-the-air antenna channels (only one major network– ABC). All the utilities were at the back of our site and it took me a few minutes to find the sewer outlet which was near our neighbors designated parking spot. I suppose the only good thing was that Skyline Ranch Resort is a Passport America park and we only paid $35+tax/night for a 50-amp FHU site (which would have been the ridiculous high price of $70 otherwise). The only reason the campground gets two stars is because it was cheap for FHU. We would NOT stay here again.