Technomadia » campground

Campground Review: Columbus Belmont State Park, Kentucky

Chris Dunphy — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:00:26 +0000

Working our way down the Mississippi from St. Louis towards Tennessee, we were hoping to find a scenic spot along the river to stop for two nights.

We struck gold when we stumbled into Kentucky’s Columbus Belmont State Park just before sunset. The view looking west from high up on the bluffs overlooking Mississippi River literally took our breath away.

We paid $2 extra per night to camp in one of the “premium” spots located right on the bluffs with a commanding view of the river. It was SO worth it to be able to watch the barges on the river right out our back window…

These bluffs have long been known for their domineering position on the river. During the Civil War the Confederate fort built on the bluffs was referred to as the “Gibraltar of the West”, and the Confederate army actually installed a massive chain across the entire Mississippi river to block Union supply lines and gunboats.

There remains a lot to do in the park for Civil War buffs. The remains of the fort are located a short walk from the campground, the giant chain is on display, there is an old cemetery to walk through, and there is even a small museum on site. Every October historic re-enactors swarm the park to recreate the 1861 Battle of Belmont, the start of the Union’s western campaign and General Ulysses S. Grant’s first active engagement in the Civil War.

But we weren’t here for the history – we just wanted a place to relax, enjoy the view, and get some work done.

The parklike lawn offered a beautiful environment for working outside. Until the lawn care crew showed up with their power tools, that is…

Unfortunately, our cell phone data signal was slow and intermittent, and our booster wasn’t much help.

Even worse (from the standpoint of relaxing and getting things done), a lawn care crew spent the entire day mowing and trimming and edging and buzzing about. The downside of a beautiful parklike setting is the work that goes into maintaining it, I guess…

We loved sitting and watching the giant barges plying the waters heading up and down the Mississippi.

But once the lawn crew dispersed, the view from the bluffs well worth the annoyance. Magical, tranquil, and serene.

I would definitely recommend staying here. But unless you are coming for the Civil War history, make sure that you get one of the bluff-side camp spots. The rest of the campground area is rather typical and generic, but the spots along the river will take your breath away.

Summary Details:

View: Barges on the Mississippi!

Sites: 38 sites. Only a few with views.

Facilities: Toilets, Showers.

Hookups: Sites have 30 amp electric. Water is available.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – Weak but usable.

Sprint - Marginal CDMA 1xRTT. (Dropped in and out…)

Cost: $20/night (no view) – $22/night (amazing view). $2/night surcharge on weekends.

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Campground Review: Meriwether Lewis Park (near Hohenwald, TN)

Chris Dunphy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:06:38 +0000

We journeyed to Hohenwald Tennessee in May to visit the Oliver Factory to handle a few issues with our trailer. Afterwards, we wanted to find a nice place to camp where we could put down roots for an entire week to get caught up on projects and just spend some time enjoying being at home.

The folks at the Oliver factory told us about the nearby free campground located along the Natchez Trace Parkway – so we decided to check it out before venturing further afield to find check out a few promising state parks.

We were blown away.

This place is free?!? Wow!

The 444 mile Natchez Trace Parkway runs from just south of Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. It is administered by the National Park Service, and it is one long interrupted greenbelt that completely isolates you from modern buildings, commercialism, advertising, and even trucking. This route has been in use by travelers and animals for hundreds of years, and the only indication of what century you are in is the ribbon of asphalt cutting through the trees instead of a dirt trail. The Natchez Trace is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the country.

The forest is beautiful and quiet. Even over Memorial Day weekend the campground did not fill up.

There are three free campgrounds located along the Natchez Trace, and the one located at the Meriwether Lewis Park near Hohenwald is a beautiful wooded oasis. We found the sort of tranquility we were looking for, and we even had a workable cell signal to get some work online handled too!

The Meriwether Lewis National Monument is located within the park, and it marks the grave of the famous explorer. Lewis (most likely) committed suicide in 1809 while spending a night at an inn while traveling along the Natchez Trace. He was journeying from St. Louis to Washington D.C. to handle some problems with reimbursement of his expense reports for the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Clearly frustration with bureaucracy is not a new invention…

The park offers no hookups (not even a dump station), but fresh water is available from centrally located faucets and there are very clean bathrooms with flush toilets.

All of the sites are in the trees, which is great for shade but which limited the effectiveness of our solar system. We ran the generator for an hour or two every other day to keep our batteries topped off.

Despite being free, the Meriwether Lewis Park campground is beautifully maintained, and it is even staffed with a campground host to keep an eye on things. The bathrooms lacked showers, but flush toilets and running water are available.

Meriwether Lewis Park is a gem, and we thoroughly enjoyed a chill week catching up with ourselves there.

In the future we will certainly return, perhaps while journeying the full length of the Natchez Trace southward.

Summary Details:

View: Beautiful forrest.

Sites: 31 well separated sites.

Facilities: Toilets, Fresh Water.

Hookups: None.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – Weak, but usable.

Sprint - Very slow but still usable CDMA 1xRTT. (D: 115Kb/s, U: 56Kb/s, 669ms) (Sprint indicates roaming – probably on Verizon)

Cost: Free!!! (14 day limit)

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Campground Review: Gulpha Gorge @ Hot Springs National Park

Chris Dunphy — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:08:32 +0000

Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, AR is one of the most unusual National Parks in the nation.

First off, it is the smallest National Park, by far. And secondly – rather than the usual focus on preserving natural features – most of the hot springs here have been thoroughly developed, and the primary attraction is actually the row of preserved historic bath houses lining the main street through downtown.

There is however one campground to be found in the park, and Gulpha Gorge is a beauty indeed!

Gulpha Gorge is located in a lush and shaded valley, with a creek and rapids running right alongside many of the campsites.

The Gulpha Gorge campground is located on the other side of Hot Springs Mountain from the bustle of bath house row and the rest of the city, but it is only a short drive or a few miles of hiking to get to the main attractions.

We absolutely loved camping right along the creek. The sound of the rapids was wonderful to fall asleep to.

The Gulpha Gorge campground is currently being renovated and “upgraded”, and most of the 44 sites are being converted to offer full hookups. The price for these sites is going up from $10 to $24, a very steep increase. The hookups will also mean that the beautiful creek noises will likely soon be complimented by the hum of RV air conditioners. Fortunately, the remaining non-hookup sites are the best of the bunch – right along the creek and the rapids.

All of the campsites at Gulpha Gorge are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Another of the renovations is that instead of using a typical ‘iron ranger’ honor system to pay for your spot, they have a computerized self check-in kiosk that accepts cash and credit cards. We really like this trend, and have dubbed this system the ‘Digital Ranger.’. It gets the technomad seal of approval!

If you visit Hot Springs National Park, be sure to treat yourself to a bath. Look for our video report on our bathing experience to be posted soon!

Overall, Gulpha Gorge is a beautiful oasis – and I would love to return again for a longer visit. I only hope that the campground is not diminished too much by the new focus on larger RV’s.

Summary Details:

View: Creek and rapids!

Sites: 44 sites. Only 12 remain without hookups.

Facilities: Toilets, NO showers. Dump station.

Hookups: Most sites have water, electric, and sewer.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – Strong EDGE – no 3G.

Sprint - Two bars EVDO rev A. (D: 722Kb/s, U: 286Kb/s, 118ms)

Cost: $10/night ($24/night with hookups) - Paid by a self check-in computerized kiosk (aka ‘Digital Ranger’) with credit card and cash only, no checks.

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Campground Review: Martin Creek Lake State Recreation Area (Near Tatum, TX)

Chris Dunphy — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:30:03 +0000

Making our way from Austin towards St. Louis, we decided to put our Texas State Parks pass to use one more time with a stop for the night at the Martin Creek Lake State Recreation Area.

The campground at Martin Creek Lake reminded us of the fabulous McKinney Falls State Park we had stayed at near Austin. The Texas State Park systems knows how to do campgrounds right, and like McKinney Falls, Martin Creek Lake has beautifully wooded widely dispersed sites with water and electric hookups.

We paid $15/night for a lakefront (sort of) site. We could have saved $2 by camping across the street, but it was a worthwhile upgrade.

We had our own private trail down to Martin Lake, right behind our campsite.

At some campgrounds the drone of RV generators can spoil the tranquility. At Martin Creek Lake, the drone you hear isn’t from other RV’s, but from the giant power plant located right across the lake.

It is not too loud, but it IS omnipresent. The power plant lit up at night is an impressive site for fans of civil engineering, but the light pollution does drown out the night sky too.

Even though we were only parked overnight, when we were packing up in the morning we discovered a large intricate BIRD NEST in our bumper storage compartment! A wannabe hitchhiker, perhaps?

Overall we found Martin Creek to be a worthwhile stop for the night. I was concerned that the power plant would be a bother, but the constant hum was faint enough that it quickly blended into the background.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to return, but if we were ever passing by again I would certainly spend another night on the shores of Martin Lake.

Summary Details:

View: Woods, lake, and a giant power plant!

Sites: 80+ sites, several dozen rental cabins.

Facilities: Toilets, Showers. Fishing pier.

Hookups: Water & Electric. Dump station provided.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – Moderate.

Sprint - Strong EVDO. (D: 390Kb/s, U: 101Kb/s, 179ms) (Sprint indicates roaming – probably on Verizon)

Cost: Lakefront: $15/night, Regular: $13 (plus $2/pp without Texas State Park pass)

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Campground Review: Landa RV & Campground in New Braunfels, TX

Chris Dunphy — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:42:57 +0000

One of our reasons for visiting Texas was to meet up with Cherie’s family at her father’s submarine veterans reunion in San Antonio, and visit her brother in Austin. We decided to stay just a short drive between the two in the scenic town of New Braunfels, at the Landa RV & Campground located right on the Comal River.

Landa RV had been recommended to us by folks in the NuRVers community, some of whom had spent over a month making Landa RV home. With affordable full-hookup campsites literally right on the riverbank, we heard that Landa RV was a great place for an extended stay. In our case though, all we had time for was a weekend mostly spent out in San Antonio.

You will literally have tubers right out your window if you choose one of the riverside campsites…

Landa RV has three types of sites – the “non river” area is a traditional (and rather run down) RV parking lot up on top of the hill and costs $30/night, the hillside sites with river views are $35/night, and the riverfront sites are $40/night.

We’re not entirely sure if our spot was considered the “hillside” area (sites 520 – 524), which were little more than a narrow area to pull off the road, lacking in privacy, space and even a picnic table. We weren’t particularly pleased with our spot. There were other very large spots coming down the hill in the 600 range that may or may not be considered ‘hillside’.

Some of the riverside sites on the other hand are particularly unique and worth the extra charge for a short visit. The ones further upstream are particularly secluded and worth checking out, but these sites lack hookups. There’s also a row of riverside sides all lumped together that have little space between them, but would be great for a group gathering or for those who don’t mind closeness.

The time to visit Landa RV is apparently the off season. From mid-September to mid-April, all the sites are just $15, and monthly rates start at $225 (plus electricity).

The upper area of Landa RV is a generic slightly run-down RV parking lot. The “hillside” sites offer river views, but they are not right on the water.

New Braunfels is known for its German heritage and its amazing water recreation. The nearby Schlitterbahn park has been voted “the world’s best waterpark” ten years running, and features acres of water slides that are more akin to roller coasters than not. Another highlight of New Braunfels is the crystal clear Comal river, known as the “world’s shortest” and a mecca for float-tripping tubers.

Next time we visit we will make sure we have time to enjoy both.

There is actually a “toob” rental kiosk right at Landa RV. After your float down the the 2.5 mile long river, a shuttle bus will bring you right back to the park.

A few concerns with Landa RV…

There are train tracks that literally pass right through the park, and several times a day (and sometimes at night) a train will pass through. Personally I love the sound of trains and it was quite novel for our short stay, but Jim & Rene of Live. Work. Dream. were traumatized after living by the tracks at Landa for a month at the extended NuRVers rally.

Also – we were not overly impressed with the management at Landa. They pressured us to “Please book asap as sites go fast .” But the weekend we spent there the park was over half empty. High-pressure sales tactics never leave a lasting good impression. Also, when we inquired about a site we were quoted $30/night for spot 520, but were charged us $35/night without explanation for the change in pricing – and we honestly never brought it up either.

Despite our issues, I think we would give Landa RV another chance and stay there again. Next time, we would make certain to get a riverfront site though. I am looking forward returning either in the summer to play on the river and at Schlitterbahn, or in the winter for an extended cheap stay right on the riverside.

Summary Details:

View: Tubers on the Comal river!

Sites: 90+ sites. (Less than 20 on the riverbank…)

Facilities: Toilets, Showers. Tube rentals.

Hookups: Most sites have water, electric, and sewer.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – Strong signal.

Sprint - Strong fast EVDO rev A. (D: 1479Kb/s, U: 476Kb/s, 167ms)

Cost: $30-$40/night. ($15/night in off season)

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Campground Review: McKinney Falls State Park (near Austin, TX)

Chris Dunphy — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:05:31 +0000

Cherie grew up in Austin, and her brother and his wife live there today. It is a cool town, and a place we will want to return to often in our travels.

Camping near a major urban area is always a challenge, but in McKinney Falls State Park we have discovered a great place to stay that is at once both secluded and accessible.

The campsites at McKinney Falls all are equipped with power and water hookups, essential for running air conditioning to battle the South Texas humidity. But the spots are also huge, beautifully wooded, and well separated.

During the mid-week, the campground was also mostly empty. We felt like we had the entire forest to ourselves on some nights!

The falls that the park is named for are nearby, though when we were there they consisted of little more than a trickle of water spilling over a limestone ledge. But the swimming hole at the base of the falls is a wonderful place to cool down.

There are several miles of beautiful trails nearby, and some well-regarded cliffs for bouldering.

Overall, we found McKinney Falls State Park to be a fabulous place to stay – and fabulously close to the bustle of Austin too! I am certain that we will return – it is harder to imagine a better place to park our home when we visit Austin.

Summary Details:

View: Woods!

Sites: 80+ sites. Tents welcome.

Facilities: Toilets, Showers, Hiking Trails.

Hookups: Water & Electric – some 50A too. Dump station available.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – Strong 3G signal.

Sprint - Strong fast EVDO rev A. (D: 1254Kb/s, U: 178Kb/s, 123ms)

Cost: $16/night (plus $5/pp without Texas State Park pass)

Note: In addition to the $16/night camping fee, McKinney Falls charges $5 per person per night for admission to the park. Since we were staying for nearly a week, it made sense for us to buy a Texas State Parks annual pass for $60 to be able to waive this fee.

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Campground Review: Mather Campground @ Grand Canyon National Park

Chris Dunphy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:53:05 +0000

At the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, there are two choices for camping – the beautifully wooded Mather Campground, or the crowded parking lot known as Trailer Village.

If you have a big RV that can’t live without its electrical umbilical, you will be paying $32/night to stay here:

Trailer Village: The unappealing alternative to Mather Campground…

On the other hand, if you can live a day or two without plugging in – stay at Mather. The entire campground is beautifully wooded, the spaces are widely separated, and even if the sign on the registration shack says “tents only” they can almost always accommodate small trailers.

Mather Campground has widely separated beautifully wooded sites.

We woke up our first morning to elk grazing just outside our window. In Trailer Village, I imagine there are better odds of waking up to the sounds of your neighbor’s satellite TV.

Mid-week in April we found Mather to be mostly empty, but during the peak season and on weekend reservations are HIGHLY recommended. The cost is just $18/night.

Both Trailer Village and Mather are just a short walk to the rim of the canyon, or you can skip the walk and catch the free shuttle bus service that takes you to multiple spots throughout the park.

Mather is a perfect place to stay while exploring the majesty of the Grand Canyon. And if you want to spend some time indoors getting some work done online, the EVDO signal is strong and relatively fast too!

Some snapshots from one of the most beautiful spots on Earth…

Summary Details:

View: Elk grazing out our window!

Sites: Numerous sites, widely dispersed. Tents welcome. 30′ max RV size.

Facilities: Toilets, Pay Showers Nearby, Scattered Fresh Water Spigots

Hookups: None. Dump station available.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – Weak 1 bar EDGE (booster helps slightly)

Sprint - Strong EVDO. (394Kb/s, 183Kb/s, 230ms) (roaming)

Cost: $18/night

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Campground Review: Cottonwood @ Joshua Tree National Park

Chris Dunphy — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:24:48 +0000

Passing through Joshua Tree National Park, we spent the night at the Cottonwood Campground near the park’s south entrance. This is the closest campground inside Joshua Tree to Interstate 10.

There are no hookups at Cottonwood, but there are nice flush toilets, and an RV dump station is available. All of the sites are spread out, and surrounded by desert rock and scrub. It is easy to feel isolated from your neighbors.

Each campsite includes a picnic table, and a fire pit – perfect for fresh grilled kitten.

The real highlight of Cottonwood was the night sky. We arrived just in time to watch the full moon rise over the nearby mountains. It was stunning!

The only thing Cottonwood is missing is a usable cell signal. Even the nearby visitor center and park entry gate is lacking – you have to pay cash since they have no way to ring up credit cards.

Summary Details:

View: Desert & Mountains. Amazing night skies!

Sites: 62 sites. Tents welcome.

Facilities: Flush Toilets, Fresh Water Spigots, RV Dump Station

Hookups: None. Good shade-free sun for solar.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – None!

Sprint - None! (Remote signal detected, but could not connect even with a booster)

Cost: $15/night

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Campground Review: Thornhill Broome Beach Campground

Chris Dunphy — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:02:42 +0000

On our drive down the Pacific Coast Highway we desired some beachfront camping. We first tried Pismo Beach, but after getting stuck in the sand once and needing a bit of help getting out from a friendly dude with a huge pick-up truck, we opted to move on down south. We soon found our perfect beachfront respite at the Thornhill Broome Beach Campground, in the Point Magu State Park region of the coast, just south of Oxnard and north of Malibu.

This campground offers parallel style parking for RVs and/or tent camping right along Route 1, and right along the beach. There are no hook-ups, so RVers should come prepared with a full battery and water tanks (although, there is fresh water available). Sheltered porta-potties are provided. The camping fee was just $15/night, and for us – it was a perfect way to spend some time along the ocean. We were able to receive cellular signal on both AT&T and Sprint, so we stayed here two nights and even enjoyed an afternoon visit by a pod of dolphins.

Summary Details:

View: Ocean Waves & Rocky Beach

Sites: 66 sites, all parallel to and right along the beach. Tents welcome.

Facilities: Pit Toilets, Outdoor Beach Shower, Scattered Fresh Water Spigots

Hookups: None. Good shade-free sun for solar.

Cell & Data Coverage:

AT&T – Strong EDGE (no 3G)

Sprint - Strong 2.5G (1xRTT)

Cost: $15/night

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