Maryland - Rocky Gap State Park

Campground: Rocky Gap State Park

Location: Cumberland MD, 10 miles east

Overall Rating: A-

Setting Rating: A-(located in the mountains; located in a kettle valley; setting is very picturesque though few campgrounds have a picturesque view; well forested area)
Site Rating: B+(well shaded sites and private to semi private sites; sites excellently spaced; gravel pads are well leveled, only a limited number of sites with electric; the electric are in high demand whereas the more numerous primitive sites are 50 to 60% occupied during peak season weekdays; water well spaced; some pull-thrus; could easily use 20 more electrics sites which would increase occupancy rates; 20 amp and 30 amp electrical sites; could use expanding the depth of a handful of electric sites to better handle 35’+ rigs; one of the best sized and designed fire rings we have experienced, would rate higher if the number of electrical sites were double current number)
Washroom Rating: B(Central modern washrooms with showers in each campground loop; basic in design and material; could use some maintenance attention; average cleanliness)
Recreation Rating: A(three different beaches…one in the campground, one in the day use area and one by the resort; numerous hiking trails in the park or nearby; canoe rentals; beach volleyball; in summer a daily nature program for children; some nights have family nature programs; fishing; golfing in the park; sightseeing opportunities throughout the area)
Conclusion: Last visited 2012.  This is a very quiet and enjoyable park to visit for an extended stay. The most significant shortcoming, not near enough electric sites. We have visited the park three times and will likely do so again.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/rockygap.html

Maryland - Indian Springs Campground

Campground: Indian Springs Campground

Location: Big Pool, Maryland

Overall Rating: C-

Setting Rating: B(Wooded area overlooking a valley with a mountain on the far side.)

Site Rating: C+
(24 sites, half of which are full-service; small concrete trailer pads that are not fully level; sites could be better maintained; adequate fire rings; well shaded; not a busy campground; very quiet area.)

Washroom Rating: B(modern washroom; centrally located; more than adequate showers; could be cleaner and larger)

Recreation Rating: F
(No recreation)

Conclusion: Stayed in 1999. This is one of those small hobby campgrounds that is adequate for one night when in a pinch but not for a longer stay.  By the summer of 2008 this campground was closed.

North Carolina - Cape Hatteras KOA

Campground: Cape Hatteras KOA

Location: Rodanthe, North Carolina

Overall Rating: A-

Setting Rating: A
(Outer Banks beaches; crowds are not as bad as they are further north; Cape Hatteras lighthouse nearby; broad clean endless beaches; few trees and shrubs with most being low shrubs)

Site Rating: B+
(The sites are close together; Gravel pads surrounded by beach grass and sand; Full-service to primitive; A good number of pull-thrus; Full sun, no significant shade; about half of the sites have a little shelter over the site’s table; no fires allowed at sites; 50 amp sites; cable TV available for a fee)

Washroom Rating: B+
(Three modern washrooms with showers well placed; generally clean; some showers were in need of repair/overhauling; now showers in main washrooms)

Recreation Rating: A
(High quality ocean beaches; two small pools with a sauna; adequate deck furniture; games room; basic mini-golf; staff run child activities throughout the day; numerous attractions nearby)

Conclusion: This is a popular area and a campground that should be reserved between June and Labor Day. The camp store is well stocked. This area is a great area for a beach vacation. The fees are high. Though there is a better campground in the area, this is still a solid campground for an extended stay.

http://www.koa.com/where/nc/33166/

Wisconsin - Black River State Park

Campground: Black River State Park

Location: Black River Falls, Wisconsin – about 2 miles east

Overall Rating: C-

Setting Rating: B-
(Heavily wooded area; rolling hills, located in a scenic area though no scenic views found in campground)

Site Rating: C+
(large wooded sites; 6 of the 37 sites are electric; water hand pumps are centrally located throughout the campground; no pull-thrus; average size fire rings; gate house was not staffed when visited in late June so payment was on the honor system; very quiet; not busy)

Washroom Rating: D
(centrally located pit toilets; clean and well ventilated)

Recreation Rating: F
(Outside hiking trails that run through the general region, there is no recreation at hand; swimming is about 12-15 miles away in another area of the park)

Conclusion: This is not a campground we would visit again unless we needed a place later in the evening and were pulling out in the morning. Those RVs with showers and toilets are best advised to arrive with full water tanks.

Michigan - North Higgins Lake State Park

Campground: North Higgins Lake State Park

Location: Roscommon, Michigan

Overall Rating: B

Setting Rating: B+
(Picturesque lake surrounded by cottages, wood covered rolling hills)

Site Rating: B-
(Primitive and electric sites; mostly grass sites; full to part sun; fair size open sites; large fire pits;)

Washroom Rating: B
(Modern aged facilities augmented by pit toilets; Additional showers are needed; Average cleanliness)

Recreation Rating: B
(A good sandy beach on a clean lake; the beach itself could be better maintained; picnic shelter and tables near beach; lake is excellent for boating; fishing; several hiking trails; well maintained and adequately equipped children’s playground)

Conclusion: Though we stayed at this campground for only two nights it is one which we could easily visit again with a longer stay. Groceries are at a distant so one should arrive with one’s needs in hand.


http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/ParksandTrailsInfo.aspx?id=478

Iowa - Coralville Reservoir, West Overlook

Campground: Coralville Reservoir – West Overlook Camproung

Location: North Liberty, Iowa – 10 miles N of Iowa City

Overall Rating: B

Setting Rating: B+(Manmade lake: Rolling hills and countryside with clusters of woodland)

Site Rating: B(A good number of sites overlook the lake; Sites overlooking the lake are mainly sunny; Concrete pads surrounded by grass; Sites on the hill are well shaded and with less grass; Average size fire rings; Primitive and electric only; Water at a distance from some sites)

Washroom Rating: C+(Modern; Well maintained and clean; Not centrally located; Too small when campground is above 50% capacity; Not enough showers to handle 50% capacity)

Recreation Rating: C+(Beach adjacent to the campground; Large beach; Water is murky and can get very warm late in the season; Motor\boating on lake; Some hiking trails)

Conclusion: This US Corps of Engineers campground is one of the better campgrounds in that area of Iowa. Boat noise can be heavy on weekends. We would consider staying again for up to 5 nights.

Ontario - Lake Superior Provincial Park, Agawa Bay

Campground: Lake Superior Provincial Park – Agawa Bay

Location: Montreal River, Ontario – about 45 miles south of Wawa, Ontario

Overall Rating: B+

Setting Rating: A
(Along the eastern shore of Lake Superior; A natural environment park, rugged and remote, rock cliffs and cuts; Heavy northern forest; Mosquitoes can be heavy if a wet spring and there is no breeze off the lake; Extremely picturesque area)

Site Rating: B
(Electric to primitive; Electrics have a good view of the lake, Most electrics are pull-thrus; This is not a busy park; Average size fire pits; Most sites are partly sunny and sandy; Some primitive sites are on the small size and are near the highway)

Washroom Rating: B
(Two basic modern with showers and laundry)

Recreation Rating: B+
(Though there is a beach it is rocky and the water is cold, numerous hiking trails in the park and a variety of canoeing routes; Native rock paintings and waterfall a short drive: Excellent fishing options nearby)

Conclusion: We enjoy visiting this campground just for its rugged beauty and the quietness throughout the day and the sound of the waved rolling onto the rocky beach. Food stores are at a distance, so make sure you have all your supplies for the planned stay. We like to stay up to four nights.


http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/lakes.html

Massachusetts - Minuteman Campground

Campground: Minuteman Campground

Location: Boston, Massachusetts – Littleton area, just of I 495

Overall Rating: A

Setting Rating: B+
(Woodland with rocky outcroppings; Well removed from highway noise)

Site Rating: A
(Primitive to full service; A handful of pull-through sites; Most sites are of a good size for a private campground; All sites are well shaded and sandy; Mosquitoes not a significant issue; Camping cabins available)

Washroom Rating: A
(Modern and heated washroom; Well maintained and very clean)

Recreation Rating: A
(A good sized heated pool; Adequate deck furniture; Games room; Ping Pong Table; Horseshoes; Easy commute to historic areas and transit station to downtown; A lovely playground, numerous other recreation activities nearby.)

Conclusion: We have visited this excellent campground twice. The camp store is well equipped and the staff are outstanding.


http://www.minutemancampground.com/

Ontario - Grundy Lake Provincial Park

Campground: Grundy Lake Provincial Park

Location: Britt, Ontario – 12 miles north of Britt off Hwy 69

Overall Rating: B+

Setting Rating: B
(Northern forests; rocky outcropping with bogs: numerous small lakes and rivers throughout the region).

Site Rating: B+
(108 of the 490 sites have electric; sandy sites; well shaded; most sites are moderate to large in size; most sites are semi-private and nicely separated from next sites; fire pits)

Washroom Rating: B
(numerous basic modern facilities found throughout the campground; augmented by pit toilets; could use more showers; average cleanliness)

Recreation Rating: A
(numerous small clean sandy beaches with diving rafts; cool water; canoeing programs offered; no motor boats allowed on any of the five small lakes – canoes only; fishing; numerous hiking trails; nature programs offered by staff for children and adults; evening programs offered in amphitheater two to three nights a week)

Conclusion: We wish we were in a position to visit this popular campground more often. This campground’s greatest asset is the numerous lakes and for allowing visitors to enjoy nature and canoe or hiking. This is an ideal campground for with young families and those in small tents and RVs)


http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/grun.html

Ontario - Blue Lake Provincial Park

Campground: Blue Lake Provincial Park

Location: Vermillion Bay, Ontario – just 4 to 5 miles north off 105

Overall Rating: B

Setting Rating: B
(Situated on a remote picturesque lake, heavy forested area, relatively flat)

Site Rating: B+
(104 of the 198 sites are electric, all but 6 electric are reserve sites, no water hook-ups. Family atmosphere. The large sites are sandy, good privacy and are part shade. Large fire pits. Mosquitoes can get heavy if the spring has been wet.)

Washroom Rating: B
(modern, centrally located. Could use one more modern. Showers in a separate facility and could use more to handle summer volume. Modern toilets are augmented by pit toilets. Well maintained and cleaned regularly. Pits can get full during the height of the season and therefore best not to have a site near next to a pit toilet.)

Recreation Rating: B
(A lovely quiet lake is one of the prime assets. Beach is very large. Like most northern lakes the water is clear and cool. Moderate sized motor boats on lake. Excellent area for hiking and fishing.)

Conclusion: This is a popular park for those with children. We enjoyed the park when our children were young. There is little external sightseeing and recreation. One of the greatest assets is that the park is a place to get away and relax. This is a lovely place to stop for the night or even for a week.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/blue.html

West Virginia - Harpers Ferry KOA

Campground: Harpers Ferry KOA

Location: Harpers Ferry West Virginia

Overall Rating: B+
Setting Rating: A
(The campground itself is located within civil war defense works, mountains and
valley, well wooded)

Site Rating: B
(Primitive to full-service, numerous pull-through sites; Most of the 280 sites are well shaded; Level gravel sites; Weekends can be noisy. Best to reserve well in advance for weekends.)

Washroom Rating: B+(Two modern central washrooms, well maintained, clean, numerous showers stalls accessed from outside)

Recreation Rating: A
(Large pool with plenty of deck furniture, gym, games room, performance hall, horseshoe pits, historic Harpers Ferry National Park located next door, whitewater rafting and tubing outfits in the area, hiking trails along the Potomac River)

Conclusion: Last visited 2007.  We have visited this popular campground twice and will likely visit again. The historic nature of the area and the range of recreation opportunities are the primary assets
http://www.koa.com/where/md/48107/

Why This Blog

Before I was five years of age I have camped with my family. Camping in one form or another has continued throughout my marriage to Evie. We both enjoy spending time in the woods, observing and listening to nature and cooking the evening meal over the fire.

Years spent under canvas upon the ground eventually gave way to our purchase of a small pop-up. Eight years later that small pop-up was traded in for an even larger one which itself gave way six years later to a Class C Motor Home. We are looking forward to many many years of camping in our larger RV.

Over the years we have traveled and stayed in over 100 different campgrounds across the United States and Canada. We have gathered notes on most campgrounds we have visited, even putting them into a database. Some campgrounds we have visited several times and would visit again. Others, a stay for one night was more than enough.

Over the years family and friends who enjoy camping ask what campgrounds we have liked and why. This blog is intended as a place for us to inform them of recent and past campgrounds visited, provide a brief impression of the campgrounds. We do not claim to be professional campground evaluators. We are just campers with opinions and who are willing to offer their personal preferences.

The blog can also serve as a place for others who are campers who stumble upon this blog and who wish to add their comments on a particular campground…the degree to which they would agree or disagree. We would also be interested recommendations on quality campgrounds to visit in the general area of the campgrounds we have noted on the site.

We will attempt to use the same matrix each time. Our rating formulas have four elements, with a slight skewing could take place because of a campgrounds outstanding location/setting or the quality of the recreation at hand.

Following is one campground which we consider as in the top ten we have visited. In the coming days we will be posting other campgrounds, normally two or three at a time.

***************

Campground: Kentucky Horse Park

Location: Lexington, Kentucky – about 10 miles N of I 75

Overall Rating: A-

Setting Rating: A-
(Rolling hills and horse farms. Located beside the Kentucky Horse Park)

Site Rating: A
(Level paved pads back-in pads, full-service, good sized, part shade, well grassed, good size fire pits)

Washroom Rating: A
(Good sized central washrooms, good sized showers, well maintained)

Recreation Rating: B+
(Large pool with lifeguards, pool hours end early evening, could use more deck furniture, little shade around pool, basketball courts, lighted tennis courts, horse park next door has horseback riding, basic playground)

Conclusion: A quiet park that we would be pleased to visit again for up to a week. It is a lovely place to relax and put one's feet up while reading a good book.