Campground Reviews

June 13, 2021 by J Chickery Leave a Comment

Best Waterfront Campgrounds For Every Budget

We love camping by the water any time of year, but it sure is extra nice when the temperatures are soaring outside. Nothing beats the breeze coming off a lake or ocean to cool you down. We are so fortunate that there are so many waterfront campgrounds across the country including those on rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and the ocean. Below are a few of our favorites divided into categories by cost: free, budget, and luxury options for RV camping by the water.

Free Waterfront Campgrounds

Boondocking or dry camping is a great way to enjoy free camping on the water. Thanks to the Bureau of Land Management, there are many opportunities around the U.S. Just search “free camping by the water” on the internet or your favorite trip planning app and you’ll find that there are numerous options, particularly out west. A popular option due to its proximity to Las Vegas is Lake Meade National Recreation Area. There are several different areas where you can camp off grid at Lake Meade — one even has bathrooms. Just note that while boondocking is free there, you will need to pay an entrance fee if you don’t have an annual parks pass.

If you’d like to save money, but also have some water and power, consider camping at one of the amazing Corps of Engineer Campgrounds across the U.S. These waterfront campgrounds are situated along rivers, dams, and reservoirs that are maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers (COE). If you have the Senior or Access National Parks Pass, you can even get 50 percent off your stay.

Budget Waterfront Campgrounds

There are three basic options that we’ve found for moderate or budget waterfront campgrounds: state parks, Corps of Engineer locations, military campgrounds, and mom & pop no-frills campgrounds.

Three of our all-time favorite state parks are located on rivers. Most of these state parks are reasonably priced and they often offer additional discounts for seniors or state residents.

It’s hard to pick just one favorite, so we’ll share two. The first is Rainbow Springs State Park in Florida. It is located on a crystal clear, freshwater spring-fed river. Seriously. The water is so clear it looks like a swimming pool. Another great thing about this state park is that the campground is separate from the main attraction area so you can enjoy a quiet day looking over the river.

Shenandoah River State Park in northern Virginia has 5 miles of waterfront access along the Shenandoah River. Another great thing about this campground is that it is only a 10-minute drive to Shenandoah National Park. That makes it a great place to stay as an alternative to the national park.

Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds offer some of the best waterfront camping in the country. They are managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and available to the public. Even better, as a federally managed campground you can get a 50% discount if you have the senior or access (disability) national parks passes. We’ve loved every single one we’ve stayed at, but here’s just one example, Gunter Hill COE Campground.

If you can access military bases, there are some phenomenal waterfront campgrounds to enjoy. Read our Guide to Military Campgrounds. We have several that we’ve gone back to more than once. One of our absolute favorites was Sigsbee Campground in Key West, Florida.

A second runner-up was Patrick Air Force Base. It is located on the Banana River and the ocean is just across the street from the main base. I had a lot of fun trying to learn how to do stand-up paddleboard there.

Don’t forget about the small, locally-owned campgrounds. Sometimes they are located in the most magical spots. We stayed at the Wagon Circle campground along the Red River in Heber Springs, Arkansas for only $26 a night.

Luxury Waterfront Campgrounds

Luxury and waterfront often go hand-in-hand. We’ve stayed at some top notch resorts along our RV travels. Here are just a few of the best.

The first is Catherine’s Landing, an absolutely gorgeous RV resort with a mile of water frontage on Lake Catherine. It is only about a 20-minute drive to Hot Springs National Park. The resort is packed with amenities and plenty of activities like boat & kayak rentals, zip lining, disc golf, and a huge pool.

We love beachfront RV resorts and two of the best (Gulf Waters Beachfront RV Resort in Port Aransas, Texas, and Bluewater Key RV Resort in the Florida Keys) have privately owned lots with cabanas. They offer different levels (pricing) of sites depending on what amenities you want.

As you can see, the options for camping along the water are abundant across the United States.

Do you have a favorite waterfront campground? Please tell us in the comments below.

Sharing is caring! Please feel free to share this post on social media or save the image below to Pinterest.

Learn about the best waterfront campgrounds for every budget. Includes free camping, military campgrounds, budget waterfront camping, and luxury RV resorts.

May 30, 2021 by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

Military Camping in Key West

If you can access military bases, you are going to want to learn about camping on Key West! There are now three camping areas on Key West for anyone who can use military campgrounds, which includes active & retired military, reserve & guard, disabled veterans, and DoD civilians.

Watch the video below or read on to learn more about these fabulous options for your next camping adventure in the Florida Keys.

Military Campgrounds on Key West

The campgrounds are:

Sigsbee RV Park – Combination of 93 full hook up sites and a few hundred dry camping sites open year round.
Trumbo Point – All dry camping and only open seasonally from mid-Oct through April.
Truman Annex – New Deluxe Waterfront Sites.

This map shows the three military campgrounds on Key West. — While it may appear that Sigsbee is far from the action, it is only 4 miles from the campground to Duval Street in Key West.

We’re going to focus on Sigsbee since that is where we stayed and where we plan to stay again. Sigsbee is basically a housing annex for Naval Air Station Key West. There are two different RV and tent camping areas here.

Class C in a waterfront dry camping site at Sigsbee RV Park. — Waterfront Dry Camping Site at Sigsbee

When we were there winter of late 2019/early 2020, you had to rotate between dry camping and full hook-ups. It was known as the Sigsbee Shuffle, but it no longer exists. Now you make a reservation for one or the other. No rotating.

We would definitely go back even if we had to dry camp. They have a large dump station, several potable water fill stations, and a bath house and laundry. You can run a generator during the day, although it has to be a quiet one.

And of course, the thing we love about staying on bases is the commissary and exchange. In this case, since it is an annex and not many people live there, it is pretty small. Still it had everything we needed. There was also a 13’ tall car wash, a dog park, fitness center and outdoor track, a marina, and a bar & grill.

Another major change is how long you can stay. The maximum stay for Sigsbee & Trumbo is 90 days. After that, you have to be out for 60 days before you can return. The new Deluxe area at Truman Annex has a 1-week stay limit.

Read the Navy’s policies on the military’s Key West campgrounds.

Key West Activities

There are so many great activities for everyone around Key West. Whether you like dining, drinking, sun bathing, swimming, fishing, or touring historical sites, there is something for everyone.

Collage of activities in Key West, Florida

One of the best things about these campgrounds is that they are close enough to ride your bike everywhere. We only took the truck out of the campground once during our entire stay.

Hemingway House

Tour the house that the author Ernest Hemingway lived in during the 1930’s and its grounds. I especially liked all the six-toed cats (polydactyl) that have the run of the entire estate. They are all descendants of Snow White, a six-toed cat that a ship’s captain gave to Hemingway when he lived here. Fun fact: polydactyl cats are considered good luck to sailors. They were a common sight on long ship journeys because they made excellent mousers and had such good balance.

Little White House

This home was Truman’s vacation home every November–December and February–March. It was originally the commandant’s home of a naval submarine base. During his visits, Cabinet members and foreign officials visited regularly for fishing trips and poker games. Today regular guided tours take visitors through the site, and one can enter the rooms where the Trumans lived, worked and relaxed. Items such as President Truman’s briefcase, books, telephone, and his famous “The Buck Stops Here” sign are still at his desk.

Duval Street and the Key West Historic Seaport

If you are looking for shopping, dining, or drinking establishments, then Duval Street and the historic seaport have plenty of options. My favorite was Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop where they have the best key lime pie on a stick! It is coated in chocolate and probably the best dessert I’ve ever had. Historic Seaport also has charter boats and other water excursions.

Dry Tortugas National Park

The highlight of our trip was a visit to Dry Tortugas National Park. It is only accessible by private boat, the ferry, or seaplane. We opted to splurge on the seaplane — after all we were saving by staying at the base campground — and it was worth every penny! You get more time on the island where you can explore historic Fort Jefferson, snorkel, and sunbathe. They even have overnight tent camping if you’re up for it.

Where to Stay on the Way

If you’re looking for other great military campgrounds to enjoy on your way to Key West (Florida is a big state), consider these:

Learn More About Military Campgrounds

Read our complete guide to military campgrounds to learn more about who can stay, what type of campgrounds and amenities are offered, and more.

Sharing is caring! Feel free to share this article on social media or the image below to Pinterest.

There are three campgrounds for retired and active military in Key West, Florida. Offering a range of full hook up sites and dry camping, there is something for every type of RV from big rig to small camper.

May 18, 2021 by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA (Monroe, Virginia)

The Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA is my favorite KOA in the state! Located just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the James River, it has fabulous views all around the campground, not to mention all the recreational opportunities.

Watch the short video review below or continue reading for more details.

Sites

As you know, one of our favorite thing about KOA campgrounds is that they offer a range of campsites to allow everyone to pick the best one for their budget or preference. In addition to having several different site types, we loved how all the campsites in this campground were grouped together, away from the activity area. There was also plenty of space and trees between the sites.

Deluxe Patio Sites – These are full hook up pull through sites with a dining table, extra seating area with lounge chairs, patio swing, and fire ring. If these had not of been fully booked on our stay, we would have selected one.
Standard and Premium Sized Pull Thru Sites – We had a standard full hook-up pull thru sites that come with a picnic table and fire ring. As you can see, they were very spacious.

Large RV campsites at the Blue Ridge Parkway KOA

Back-In Sites – We really loved the back in sites that were around the outer edges of the campground. They all backed up to trees and made for a cozy area around the campfire.
No RV? No problem! They have tent sites and cabins to enjoy. The tents sites had power and water and were located down by the catch and release fishing pond. The cabins came in three types: Deluxe with a queen bed, sleeper sofa, and a sleeping loft for the kids. It also has a full bathroom with shower and a kitchenette with mini-fridge, stovetop, and microwave. The Studio Deluxe Cabin has a queen bed, bunk beds, full bathroom with shower, and a mini kitchenette. Finally, the rustic camping cabins have a full-sized bed, bunk beds, but no bathroom or kitchen. They do have fire pits with a grill and are located close to a bath house.

KOA has several different types of camping cabins.

Amenities

This campground has a lot of amenities to keep the whole family happy during your stay. They had a playground, foos ball and ping pong tables, basketball courts, and a jumping pad all located near a large open area for the kids to run around. There was also a swimming pool and a fair sized camp store. Located on one end of the campground was a dog park large enough for our dog to run around off leash.

Another great amenity was the huge catch & release fishing pond and several interconnected nature trails. It felt like a state park campground, but with KOA amenities!

Local Area

The Blue Ridge Parkway, known as America’s Drive is managed by the National Park Service. The Parkway’s 469 miles spans the southern and central Appalachians through Virginia and North Carolina. An access point near mile 60 of the Parkway is located only a mile from the campground. I went hiking to a fabulous waterfall at Apple Orchard Falls.

Blue Ridge Parkway overlook and hiking trails

Another nearby destination is the Lynchburg Riverwalk and Percival’s Island. The RiverWalk first travels through historic downtown Lynchburg. This section of downtown has become a truly unique area with a children’s museum, shops, bicycle rentals, and restaurants. The multi-use trail crosses onto Percival’s Island, a beautiful natural area with waterfront views.

The village of Appomattox Courthouse is only a 40-minute drive away. Managed by the National Park Service, this is the historic site of the surrender of General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865. There are several historic buildings and a ranger-led tour of the McLean House where the actual surrender took place.

Book Your Stay

Whether you are looking for a quick get away or family vacation, you can’t go wrong with this amazing KOA campground! Click here to make reservations and don’t forget to sign up for the rewards program to get 10% off every KOA stay. We love the rewards program because you also earn points to use towards discounts on future stays. We were able to get $50 off our weekend here using accumulated rewards points.

Interested in learning more about what KOAs have to offer? Click here to listen to Sean & Kenny’s interview with the President and CEO of the company.

Learn About Other Great Campgrounds in Virginia

Virginia has a lot of great campgrounds for every type of camping style. From state and national parks to luxury RV resorts and everything in between, Virginia has got you covered. Here are a few that we have personally enjoyed:

Fort Belvoir Travel Camp – If you’re fortunate enough to have access to military bases, this campground is situated along the Potomac River. It is also close enough to Washington DC to serve as a base for your visit to the nation’s capitol.
Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA – We love this quiet, wooded campground with easy access to Shenandoah National Park.
Luray KOA – This immaculate KOA campground is nestled between the Massanutten range and Shenandoah National Park. It’s also a close to the renowned Luray Caverns.
Shenandoah River State Park – Fabulous state park with 5 miles of riverfront access. The river is only a 2-minute walk from the campground which boasts huge sites and water / power hook ups.

Sharing is caring! Feel free to share this review on social media and save the image below to Pinterest.