Sorry state of most campgrounds.

[Jthigh]

My biggest pet peeve is the electric outlets and tree limbs. I can’t tell you how many times I had to trim limbs or fix/move to another site due to bad electrical outlets.

[Jay D.]

I'm kinda with the O/P we traveled Canada to Alaska and most camp grounds were run down severely no real upkeep. some government campgrounds were nice a few weren't. I guess my only real complaint would be the parking area. I don't need black top or cement, gravel is fine. BUT someone had to build the sight with some kind of machine. most that we were at were so unlevel you couldn't park on them. it just irritates me that the machine operator couldn't make the site level or at least close, why not do it right! I had to block about 8-10 in. on one side and the front was just as bad. it was about a 50/50 deal some were nice some weren't .
On are way back we stayed in a large gravel pit about 100 mi. north of Hope it was the best place we stayed the whole trip level quiet it was great.
Jay D.

[Fanrgs]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

I'm kinda with the O/P we traveled Canada to Alaska and most camp grounds were run down severely no real upkeep. some government campgrounds were nice a few weren't. I guess my only real complaint would be the parking area. I don't need black top or cement, gravel is fine. BUT someone had to build the sight with some kind of machine. most that we were at were so unlevel you couldn't park on them. it just irritates me that the machine operator couldn't make the site level or at least close, why not do it right! I had to block about 8-10 in. on one side and the front was just as bad.

On a per-mile basis, Alaska has the highest highway maintenance costs in the nation. Why?

Climate! The northern 2/3 of the Alaska highway system is built on permafrost--either continuous or discontinuous. Read a book about the construction of the AlCan Highway by the Corps of Engineers during WWII: D-8 Cats disappeared into the muck from melting permafrost. Even today, frost heave will occur the first winter after Alaska roads are completely rebuilt if they are located on permafrost.

So, now suppose you own an RV Park in Alaska. You have spent tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars installing at least 30A power and water to every gravel-covered site. You have built an office, restrooms and showers, a dump, picnic tables, and a Website. You pay to advertise in state tourist office publications and The Milepost. If you are in Chicken or other remote locations, you even have to install a commercial generator to power everything as you are off all power grids. And finally you are ready to open for businessl

But you have to wait for Memorial Day--no customers before that. And you have to close immediately after Labor Day--no customers after that. So, you have to pay a year's worth of principle and interest on your loans plus all of your labor, utility, and maintenance costs from less than four month's income. And it would be nice to make a little profit too, wouldn't you think?

Now, I have never owned an RV Park in Alaska. But I did begin working on engineering projects there in 1972, when an all-you-can-eat king crab buffet dinner in Anchorage cost $5/person! So, I have an understanding of the difficulty of owning any kind of tourist-dependent business in the Great White North. That's why I don't mind paying Alaska prices for RV parks, gasoline, food, and tourist attractions. And I don't complain about their frost-heaved roads or their gravel-covered "parking lot" RV parks.

[sam-3]

Spoke with a KOA owner that said he spent eighty five thousand dollars to upgrade the electrical at his park. Can't afford to stay at KOA on our fixed income. State parks fit into our budget. Another private park we stay at has dropped the Good Sam discount because they are full most of the time.

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by Craneboy302

You can put a concrete pad in bad weather area if you do it right. Has to have a good packed gravel bed under it. Also good drainage with rebar mesh in it.

Agreed. The point is that it is not cheap on one hand and has a short season payback on the other. It seems most of the places with concrete are also places without freeze issues and with long seasons.

[twojayhawks]

I'm sure some KOA's in peak tourist areas do fine. I also think many that dot the landscape in forgettable towns probably eak out a meager living. One of our favorites is in Wellington KS as we use it for a first night & last night on some of our trips as it's about 3 hrs from home. Like many CG's that aren't in warm areas they have to do all of their business in select months. I would think there are several months a year they do virtually no business and a few more with very little business. Yet as a business owner the bills keep coming.

[Jay D.]

Originally Posted by Fanrgs

On a per-mile basis, Alaska has the highest highway maintenance costs in the nation. Why?

Climate! The northern 2/3 of the Alaska highway system is built on permafrost--either continuous or discontinuous. Read a book about the construction of the AlCan Highway by the Corps of Engineers during WWII: D-8 Cats disappeared into the muck from melting permafrost. Even today, frost heave will occur the first winter after Alaska roads are completely rebuilt if they are located on permafrost.

So, now suppose you own an RV Park in Alaska. You have spent tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars installing at least 30A power and water to every gravel-covered site. You have built an office, restrooms and showers, a dump, picnic tables, and a Website. You pay to advertise in state tourist office publications and The Milepost. If you are in Chicken or other remote locations, you even have to install a commercial generator to power everything as you are off all power grids. And finally you are ready to open for businessl

But you have to wait for Memorial Day--no customers before that. And you have to close immediately after Labor Day--no customers after that. So, you have to pay a year's worth of principle and interest on your loans plus all of your labor, utility, and maintenance costs from less than four month's income. And it would be nice to make a little profit too, wouldn't you think?

Now, I have never owned an RV Park in Alaska. But I did begin working on engineering projects there in 1972, when an all-you-can-eat king crab buffet dinner in Anchorage cost $5/person! So, I have an understanding of the difficulty of owning any kind of tourist-dependent business in the Great White North. That's why I don't mind paying Alaska prices for RV parks, gasoline, food, and tourist attractions. And I don't complain about their frost-heaved roads or their gravel-covered "parking lot" RV parks.

THANKS for the crash course in Alaska economics especially the 5.00 crab buffet diner. as I said its the low cost maintenance that you don't see. it doesn't cost nearly anything to go out and rake a campsite or run a weed eater and a lawn mower or trim a few shrubs. it just seamed so run down, lazy people? real poor upkeep. I can live with the highways and the generator supplied electricity or the prices in most campgrounds.
Jay D.

[GaryKD]

To show another side. The OP might consider staying at ownership resorts whenever possible. This is what I do and have been very happy. These are kept up very nicely. When staying at a KOA I choose the concrete pad sites. A bit more money but it might solve the OPs concerns. The OP should be able to find what they are looking for. Might not like the cost, but it is what it is.

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

THANKS for the crash course in Alaska economics especially the 5.00 crab buffet diner. as I said its the low cost maintenance that you don't see. it doesn't cost nearly anything to go out and rake a campsite or run a weed eater and a lawn mower or trim a few shrubs. it just seamed so run down, lazy people? real poor upkeep. I can live with the highways and the generator supplied electricity or the prices in most campgrounds.
Jay D.

It's still a time and money issue. Say a half hour per site x the number of sites and figure the prevailing rate for semi skilled help. The owner is busy running the office so that leaves paid staff if there is any to do the work.

[IC2]

I can't recall the last time we stayed in a CG with a paved pad. I do recall a few in the west that have had a curbed and raised picnic and fire ring pad. Why is a paved pad so important? It's camping. At least you wont be sleeping in a tent with an RV. If you need a paved pad, many destination ($$$) resorts are paved. Casinos, highway rest areas, truck stops (some even have 30/50 amp hookups!) and Walmarts are usually nicely paved.

I, too defend KOA. Most are pretty decent though I can recall a couple that were dumps. Yes, they do charge a few bucks more but some of that is a franchise fee percamper. All have their standard amenities, most that I'll never use but others look for and will. Not all private CGs have the 'standard' amenitiesof a KOA. Then they have a good on-line reservation system which will add a wee bit more of our fee.

[Johnhb]

Thanks to all who replied, it shows they variety of people hitting the road. My son-in-law camps, tent sleelping bag and cooks over a fire, RVing on the other hand is taking your home with to explore this great country. We bring the comforts of home with us. I for one expect nothing less. If I go to a state park to just get out of the city, that’s one thing but if I am traveling to destinations (nat Parks, Monuments, unique areas) I don’t want to sit in crap, having to use two or three mats to avoid tracking in dirt, gravel, etc into my coach. Not sure about your wives, but mine does not want to spend time cleaning and dusting needlessly! Level concrete/asphalt pad and patio is a must. Most parks advertise “we want to make your stay......but do not deliver. And as several of you have indicated, “they are full most of the time so where is the incentive to improve” and that is my point! I think they need some incentive.

[Jay D.]

Originally Posted by nothermark

It's still a time and money issue. Say a half hour per site x the number of sites and figure the prevailing rate for semi skilled help. The owner is busy running the office so that leaves paid staff if there is any to do the work.

other campgrounds do it .there are some nice campgrounds though not many. Its just poor management and laziness, we stayed at a campground with an RV wash station, it was so filthy I when to the office and ask for a shovel so could scoop the 2-3" of mud off the wash pad. I untangled all the hoses so I could use the brush that look like it had washed 1000 rvs. then picked up garbage around the place and dumped the overflowing garbage can into the dumpster about 20 ft away. all this time there are 3 people in the office and at that time no customers. now if I were the manager I would have said sweetie its kinda slow in here why don't you go out and clean the rv wash station. then i had to pay 15.00 to wash my rv
Jay D.

[GaryKD]

Hi IC2,
There are different reasons why a paved pad and entertainment area are important. My reason is my wife. Nobodies business why, enough said?

[CampDaven]

We are in year 7 of fulltime, after camping for 5 decades.
In the 60s there were camping guides the size of phone books, clumsy but effective! Today there is the Allstays app. They have both been highly effective for all these years.
Through the years, we’ve been happy with our campground choices, including selected KOAs.
You are only as good as your resources, no matter what your goal is.
RVs can be manually leveled, for those so experienced. And paved pads are strictly in non-frost-heave zones.
BTW, the Carolinas, as does the rest of the country, have superb campgrounds, if you know where to “look”