SmallRVLifestyle V.

Livingston, TX

Joined April 2020

I am a digital nomad living in a Class C RV when in the U.S. Take a look at my blog to see what my life is likeā€¦ the good and the bad and the ugly.

It's In A Small Town, Perfect For A Night

I was driving this way and I needed a place to stay overnight. I found this campground on Google, and added to Dyrt. It's in a small town called Fosston.

Nothing special about this, it's not a place to stay for multiple nights but it's great for an overnight.

There is a self-check-in, electric hookups and there is a dumpsite and water at the end of the campground. The price in 2020 September is $5 for a tent and $16 for RVs. 

It's quiet enough but you will hear road noise. 

I don't use public showers or toilettes but there was one.

AT&T and T-mobile reception both slow but manageable.

Quiet Campground In The Middle Of The Forest

I saw the sign for a campground on the road and I thought I check it out. It's a campground by a lake with a hiking trail, pit toilettes, and boat launch. 

People come here off-roading, fishing, boating, and hunting.

I was visiting in September, Labor day weekend, and half of the sites were empty. I got a really nice, large spot on the lake. It's a primitive campground, with no any sort of electricity or even garbage service. First come first serve, there is an envelope stand at the entrance.

Depending on what way you are coming from, you have to drive a few miles on gravel forest roads. It's not bad though.

I did try the trail that goes around the lake, it's about 3.5 miles long. It goes through the forest mainly, not a very exciting trail, very easy. There is a place where you can walk on the bog and sit down on a bench for a nice view. That was the pretty part.

So many mosquitos though, you better spray yourself before going on the hike. I forgot and bugs were chasing me. I couldn't stop at all, I was rushing through the trail.

Overall, a nice National Forest Campground, quiet it's perfect for an outdoorsy weekend.

I had a strong AT&T signal, enough to run Netflix and do online surfing.

Another Waterfall Campground

The campground was fine, just like other campgrounds in the area, in the forest. I spent only one night here with my RV, and it was raining all day, which really ruined my time here. The next morning I did see the falls. The falls are pretty close to a lower parking area. A trail also leads to it from the campground.

Please note that you need to make a reservation when you arrive online or via phone. There is no walk-in. You also have to pay the daily State Park fee which is higher if you have an out of state plate; even for camping. If you spend more than 4 nights in State Parks it's worth buying the yearly pass. If you are only traveling through and lucky enough to find an opening, it can be a bit costly. Weekends are pretty much booked all summer.

I've seen many falls in the area and I must admit this is an impressive waterfall. I wish I had a sunnier day I would have enjoyed it more.

LOVED it!

There are a few miles of dirt road you have to endure to get to the campground on forest roads but the road is not bad at all. 

I spent three nights here with my RV dry camping. The area campgrounds are usually in the forest with bad solar, but this one is by a lake and I had GREAT solar days. I was able to keep my battery charged.

Getting water is a real workout, you have to pump the water and it comes out really slow. Maybe I wasn't strong enough. I gave up after working out for 10 minutes for a couple of gallons of water, I was exhausted!!!

If you like kayaking, boating and/or off-roading you will really enjoy this place! There are off-road trails nearby. There is a boat launch. You can hike around the forest roadsā€¦.

The sites are pretty level, all come with a bench and fire ring. 

When I arrived, only two sites were taken, more people came the next day to spend the weekend there. Many off-roaders.

AT&T signal was amazing! I was able to watch Netflix and also get my work done. 

It's a national campground, you will have to self-check-in

Overall I really loved this place, it was quiet, pretty, and I will be back if Im in the area again!

One of my favorite place

I've been on an RV road trip to states I have not yet visited in the past. Wisconsin is one of them. Copper Falls State Park had it all. Multiple beautiful hiking trails, all by different beautiful waterfalls, Copper Falls, Brownstone Falls on the Bad River. 

It was a really nice campsite in the forest. There is not much to say about it, just like other campgrounds in the area, in the forest. The trail to the falls is an easy walk from the campground.

Please note that you need to make a reservation when you arrive online or via phone. There is no walk-in. You also have to pay the daily State Park fee which is higher if you have an out of state plate; even for camping. If you spend more than 4 nights in State Parks it's worth buying the yearly pass. If you are only traveling through and lucky enough to find an opening, it can be a bit costly. It cost me over $100 for two nights with electric hookup.

The cell signal was pretty bad down in the campground, it was way better up by the entrance area. There is a lake too with another hiking trail to a different waterfall.

Great Campground Above The Lake

The campground was higher up on the hill, it took a 5 minutes to hike down to the lake with lots of steep steps. Nice beach area. I spent two nights here with an RV. I had electric hookup.

Campground by the River

The campgrounds on the coast were completely booked and I needed a campground for a night with my RV. There was some empty spots, mostly tent campers, a couple of other RVs. I was at spot #18. There are only a couple of sites on the river, most of them are in the forest. It was nice for a night stay. Good AT&T coverage whic is important to me.

Nice Forest Campground By The Lake

I spent two nights at site #13 which was an electric site with my RV. There is a mile-long hiking trail in the park which is a plus. It was raining and was windy so I didn't get to enjoy it much but what I noticed that it is overrun with mice during the night. They kept me up getting in and running around. I put traps out during the night and I caught 6!!! I never caught six in one place during one night ever. I was talking to the neighbor and she said she also had mice in her rig. The park needs more owls :)

Anyways, it is a nice park, and I can see that it is lots of fun when the weather is nice, you can kayak, canoe on the lake, and kids can run around. I just didn't have the best experience there.

Little Gem By A Lake Completely Empty

I was driving by and I saw a CAMPGROUND sign, so I thought I check it out. It is labor day weekend and it is completely empty. There is self-check-in with an envelope, there are only 13 sites electric. I believe the other side is better for tents. It's right on a small lake with a boat ramp, you can kayak here. 

I am completely shocked to find this little gem, it was not on any map, that is why I believe it is empty. It belongs to the town Northome. 

They have a nightly price which is $14 and a weekly price is $70 for seven nights. The sites are kind of closed to one another but since it was empty, I had it all for myself.

In The Middle Of The Desert With Hot Spring Pools

I visited Sam's Family Hot Springs Park in early April and I am eager to go back again. I was told on the phone that the RV park is never full, which makes checking in easy. All I had to do was show up find a good spot then register. I have only ever stayed in the RV park, not the hotel, but this place is exactly what a desert oasis should be like. As the name indicates, this is a"family" spa, filled with very active kids and their parents. This is not the place for a romantic getaway. However I personally really enjoyed my stay. The 

Good: Four mineral water small pools set to different temperatures. The hottest is 104 degrees. These pools are powered by natural hot springs no added chemicals! There are also a dry sauna and a tiny steam sauna. There is a larger family pool filled with city water that has reclining beds and chairs and you can always find shaded areas. The park has its own lake with an abundance of wildlife. There are black swan and cranes, as well as plenty of ducks, fish, and turtles in the water in a beautiful setting. I found the bathroom to be clean, with keypad activated toilets and showers that are open 24 hours. 

The sites have full hook-ups for water, electricity, and sewerage. There is a limit on only one sleeping unit per site. It had 110V and the 30AMP and 50AMP. The RV park check-out is pretty flexible and you can use the facilities all day on your check-out day. There is a VONS five miles away so it is best to load up there before you check-in. Alternatively, there are several dining options around in a few miles distance, a Thai place, some Mexican restaurants, and a Burger place that caters for breakfast through to dinner. If you plan to stay longer, you can visit Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, or even a casino. The staff were very friendly and accommodating and altogether it was a nice experience that I am more than happy to recommend. 

The Bad: There is not much to do in the area. You will need to drive for everything. Joshua Tree is about an hour's drive away. It's a very family-friendly place. If you come on holidays or weekends it is packed and full of kids. They are basically taking over the large pool and screaming, jumping all day. I guess if you have young kids this is a place to bring them, but if you want peace and quiet, come during off-seasons and during school days. 

The Ugly: What I didn't like that the nightly cost for an RV site is expensive and they offer no discounts. Nothing. No Good Sam, no Passport, no deals nothing. It's not really worth it for me to spend days here when the Golden Village Palms with more amenities, cleaner, and with less wind- offers awesome deals all the time. What I don't understand, the park is basically empty during off-seasons but still no discounts. 

If they would offer weekly deals I would most definitely spend more time here. Internet: There is a Verizon tower in the park so Verizon is Awesome. I also had a good Sprint. AT&T is weak.

 Will I Be Back? I will but only for a night here and there when I am in the area.

It Was Good For One Night Stay, Not More!

I spent one night in Campbell Cove RV Resort in Lake Havasu City. I came here to see the lake and surroundings on my way back to Los Angeles. I wasn't impressed with the park. It is a glorified parking lot, my site was not level, there is gravel on the roads. They offer full hookups, even cable. I have a very tiny RV but the sites are very close to one another. The park has a view of the lake and it is about a block away from the State Park. I must say that it is kept clean. 

There were many permanent residents and snowbirds in January. They have wifi in the office and if you pay$2.50 you can have wifi from your site. I didn't pay, but my Sprint worked great in the area. I visited the park in January and it was very cold and windy. I couldn't really enjoy the area. I would love to come back when it is nicer. There is so much to do here. The lake is beautiful, you can go boating, there are lakefront parks and biking trails. There is the London Bridge which is a nice lakefront mall with shops and restaurants. They take Passport America, which is why I chose this park. I don't think I would come back again, I would choose a lakefront park.

Nice RV Resort Near Solvang

Flying Flags RV Resort& Campground is one of my favorite RV resorts.  It is located in Buellton, CA very near the historic town of Solvang, as well as Lake Cachuma and Los Padres National Forest. The campsite is in a beautiful setting surrounded by green rolling hills. April, May is the perfect time to visit. 

The resort features a plethora of housing options, including vintage trailers and airstreams, cottages, luxury tents, and RV/tent camping spots. 

Free WiFi, a full laundry facility, pools, and a hot tub, every aspect of your stay is covered. For a relaxing time, they have poolside cabanas, a communal fire pit, picnic areas, and a communal TV lounge with pool and foosball tables. 

If you have children there is a playground as well as bocce and horseshoes. There is a full fitness center in case you want to get your workout in without the heat. All of the amenities are very well maintained, including the bathrooms and showers. When you get hungry the campground/resort has a few options. 

There is a full fitness center in case you want to get your workout in without the heat. I rode my bicycle to Solvang, which is 4 miles away. All of the amenities are very well maintained, including the bathrooms and showers. When you get hungry the campground/resort has a few options. There is a convenience store and snack bar on-site, as well as the Campfire Cafe, an eatery with a full menu that allows you to eat in or even deliver to your site.

In case you are feeling like an adult beverage, Flying Flags has a fairly extensive wine and beer bar. There are also restaurants, convenience, and grocery stores within walking distance. The location of Flying Flags is perfect if you are looking to venture out for an evening or you are here for the wineries. 

There are several museums in the area, including the Solvang vintage motorcycle museum. There are also golf courses, breweries, wineries, a casino/resort, and the Solvang farmers market. This resort and campground overall is a very nice spot to stop on a long journey, or just to get away for a while. 

Well worth the trip. It seems like the RVs in the RV park are newer, the park is pretty upscale. I would assume most of the people are full-timers, retired couples who are spending some time in the park. Although it was beautiful weather, you hardly see people outside, it seems like everyone is keeping to themselves. I am not sure why that is.

Nice View Overlooking The Lake And Hills

On my way to Reno Iā€™ve stopped at Topaz Lodge RV Park and Casino for one night. I called them prior to my arrival to find out how late I can arrive but theyā€™ve said they are there 24 hours. I found the place easy, I needed to register at the main store, the lady was very nice, the price was right,$22/night with partial hookups. 

The view was nice overlooking the lake and hills. The showers were clean and required me to put down$10 deposit which was a bit weird, usually, parks keep their bathrooms open. I cannot tell more about this park since I only spent a night and I moved on the next morning.

Great For Families, Lots of Fun And Yummy Things To Buy

I chose Casa De Fruta because of their Passport America discount. I had to be in the area for a day, so Iā€™ve decided to try this one. It was half price for three nights. It is an older park, it has seen better days but the RV sites are full-hookup and concrete.

I saw lower sites that looked like tent sites, it is perfect if you want less highway noise. There are someā€œpermanent residentā€ sites in the back of the park. Bathrooms are kept clean. They have a pool, but it is not heated, so I couldnā€™t use it in October. It was in the ā€™70s during the day and pretty cold during the night. 

I had to use my small heater to keep myself warm. Itā€™s a great weekend place for families with cute fruit and candy stores, carousels for the kids, little train, and animals. The weekend I came there was a Rennesaince Faire in the back and Iā€™ve heard there are other fun festivities going on in the area, like the Garlic Festival, Strawberry Festival etc. One funny thing happened, I locked my bike to the bench but I lost the key. The office was kind enough to have maintenance to come out and help me. They cut my lock and finally, I was able to get my bicycle back. Typical me!šŸ™‚ Overall, I had a good time at the park, not much to do after you visit the little stores, but it is perfect for a night or two stays.

Small Little Park With Shade

After visiting the Yellowstone we were happy to find the Rustic Wagon RV park by the West entrance of the park. We tried other parks but they were all booked on this Saturday night. 

The guy at the office was really nice, helpful although the price is a bit high, you pay for the location. It was $45 for the night and they only accept cash or check. We had to go to a bank to get some cash, which was kind of painful after a day driving and visiting Yellowstone. 

The sites were shady, with lots of trees, the bathrooms were super clean, they had a keypad where you had to enter a code. We had a picnic bench where we ate breakfast the next morning. We only spent a night here, so not much to say but it was a nice park, I would recommend

This Is A Resort With All Amenities

I spent a few nights using my Passport America discount at Pechanga RV Resort. I really liked it there. This is now one of my favorite RV resorts in California except for the showers. It is clean, well-maintained, concrete, level pads, full hookups, 168 site spaces, 20-30-50 amp power, 5 luxury spaces that The park itself is clean, well-maintained, concrete, level pads, full hookups, 168 site spaces, 20-30-50 amp power, 5 luxury spaces that is fenced in with gazebo, and picnic tables. First of all, it is part of the Casino with entertainment and restaurants. This casino reminds me of the Vegas casinos and now is under construction to make it a real Vegas Style Resort. Itā€™s going to be finished sometimes in 2017. 

The RV resort itself has a nice heated pool, Jacuzzi, ping pong table. They also have a golf club which could be important for some. One thing I hated is the showers. The RV resort shower has a timer set to 25 seconds and the showerhead is not able to stand upright. So you basically have to hold the shower in one hand and keep pressing the timer every 25 seconds. Itā€™s December, itā€™s cold in the shower, especially because the water keeps shutting off. You end up standing soaking wet putting soap on yourself in the cold. 

I wonder if the hotel rooms have timer on the showers as well. The person who came up with this idea should take showers in there each night. It pet-friendly resort, they also have an area for dogs. If you heading to the casino, they have a shuttle service 24/7 which picks ups from and drop-offs to and from your space. You have to call a number and they are there to pick you up in minutes. 

About the WiFi! Itā€™s the best WiFi ever in any parks Iā€™ve so far visited! I wasnā€™t even close to the main building and had a great reception. I am able to use my Roku to watch Netflix and can use my laptop as well for work. I didnā€™t even need my Sprint or Verizon, but both work fine. Across the street, there is a 2-mile bike/walk trail. Using this and riding around the nice neighborhoods it was a fun way to get some exercise.

Calico is an old silver mining town in the desert

There are 253 different sites. There are primitive sites, only electric sites as well as full hook up sites. Section A came with the full hookup, I saw mainly large class A RVs parking there, probably came for a longer time. I took a space in camp B with only electricity, which is enough for me and my Class B. Basically when you drive to the gate, they tell you to go inside and pick a place for yourself, the ranger will come and collect the fee later. I liked that. 

The bathrooms and the park is clean, it has paid showers. Park admissions are also included for both days in your nightly camping fee. The town itself has many little tours that they charge extra for. I only tried the train ride. The ranger was around all day and at night, security took over. I visited in February and it was perfect weather to stay outdoors all day, however, in the summer camping, there might be too hot. I did not see many shaded areas. 

If you donā€™t go when there is a big event there it will be peaceful and quiet. It can get crowded and dirty when there are special events going on there, Halloween or New Years Eve.

Ortega Flats Campground - Nice Hiking and Mountain Biking

The park has a day-use area and 4 campgrounds: Ortega Flats(13 RV only sites), Live Oak Campground(tents and campers), Star Mesa Equestrian Campground, and Owl/Quail Group Campground. I reserved an electric site in the Ortega Flats Campground. I heard cars passing by all day and night. There were only port-a-potties by this campground but you could walk farther in the park for more decent toilets and showers.

The campsite was nice, shady with benches, a picnic table plus a fire pit. I had electric hookup but no water because of the drought. The rangers are friendly and patrol regularly which makes you feel safer. There is a cute playground for kids, a nature center where you can enjoy viewing through the telescope overlooking almost all of the 8,000 acres of the Caspers WP. If you like hiking or mountain biking this is a great park for you! The nearest shops are about 10-15 drive away.

More Like A Campground Than A Resort

I would not ever call this a resort. It is a campground. The road to the office was full of huge potholes, Iā€™ve heard that they are patching it each year, but it needs a major upgrade. It is hard to maneuver your RV around the potholes. The whole park is run-down but this doesnā€™t mean I didnā€™t enjoy my stay! 

I visited in December, the weather was perfect. It was in theā€™70s all day. They have accepted my Passport America discount for one night and my Good Sam discount for the other night Iā€™ve spent here. The sites are pretty large, gravel but not level. You better bring your leveling blocks. 

Why do I like this place? There is a lot to do here. Even though the pools are not heated, the pool area is closed for the winter; in the summer this place is fantastic for families. It is a huge park, lots of open space, kids are freely roaming around everywhere. There is mini-golf, ping pong, pickleball, volleyball, basketball courts. For the summer there is a water slide separate from the pool area. I found a 1.5-mile-long nature trail, which was very nice, but there are other hiking and biking opportunities in the area. You can walk down to the lake for example. The lake is farther down. Even though I like taking my showers in RV resort showers, this one was so run down that Iā€™ve decided to take it in my small RV. I didnā€™t like the looks. There is a convenience store by the main building, where you can buy some basic camping items and snacks. I saw a cafe attached to a nice outdoor area with a stage but it wasnā€™t open. They are making it ready for the upcoming New Yearsā€™ Eve party. Who knew that New Year Eve is a huge camping holiday? I had awesome Sprint coverage, I was able to tether and watch my Netflix too. I gave this place 4 stars because they call it a resort. This is not a resort, a nice campground with lots to do.