Texas Campgrounds

[Sabbathday]

Need some advice on the Rio Grande Valley Campgrounds. We thought we would become Winter Texans for a change.

Our interests, golf, tennis, photography, biking & sightseeing. We like a roomy site as we travel in a large motorhome. Like a good pool, but don't require a lot of resort planned activities.

Input on parks, what to expect for weather Jan through March, and how to get the best bang for the buck would be appreciated.

If you have a favorite park elsewhere in the state, please share.

[paz]

We spent March several years ago in Mission, TX at Bentsen Palm Village. It was a very nice campground for the money (around $500 a month at that time). The RV park is located right next to Bentsen Palm State Park, which was good for bird watching and bike riding. The state park is right on the border.

The weather was fairly warm when we were there in March; but our experience, and the experience of several bloggers we follow, is that the weather is very windy almost all the time - day and night. We only had one day when we were there when we were able to sit outside.

[Sabbathday]

Is it so windy it drives you inside? We don't mind a breeze but a continuous wind night and day sounds a bit much.

[goldwingerx2]

We winter near just west of Harlingen. There are literly hundreds of parks in the valley. Some are small with little more than campsite to the Resorts with everything. We chose to stay away from the coast because we did not want the salt air on the vehicles. Sun and Fun and Victoria Palms are a couple of the Resort type, I think they will run up to around $800 a month plus electric. Yes it is windy but we fly kites on most days so we like that, as for sitting out we also do that most afternoons. Temps will get down in the freezing range a few nights but it warms up in the day. Not much in the line of rain. It will be in the 80's - 90's by the end of March.

Here is a link that might also help: Deep South Texas Campgrounds & Resorts

The RGV really does welcome the Winter Texans. We go down the end of Oct and come back north the first part of Apr.

[Bob and Inga]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabbathday Is it so windy it drives you inside? We don't mind a breeze but a continuous wind night and day sounds a bit much.

No, but the big problem is that you pretty much need to keep your windows closed. If you don't, you will be constantly cleaning the inside of your RV.

We spent two months at the Mission West RV Resort which is close to the Bentson Palms mentioned. We just stopped for a month last November to visit friends we met on our first stay and have remained in contact with. Mission is one of the better areas of the RGV in our opinion.

BUT, whatever you do, DO NOT book without first visiting the area. As posted there are lots of places. The really good, small ones will be filled, but there are so many that you will be able to get into one without a problem.

AND there are some really, really bad parks in really, really bad areas. You don't want to go by price alone. Our first time there we first spent two nights at the highly rated LLano Grande in Mercedes:

RV Park Reviews :: Mercedes, Texas ( TX ) - RV Parks and Campground Reviews

We went looking for another park after one night. Found Mission West and really enjoyed our stay. They have a short lousy 9 hole par 3 course, but twice a week they had pickup scambles where you drew for teams. These were simply a blast playing in and we met lots of great people playing in them. Mission West is one of the few parks in this area with a large hall and regular functions. Check it out for a couple of days. But be warned that the 'resort' in the name is being a bit generous. It is one of those you either love it or hate it kind of places. Good luck,

Bob

FWIW We much prefer FL over the RGV as we are out and about all the time and I do not care for a place where English is the second language.

[southland]

The Texas campground association has a very nice FREE package of info on Texas parks. It is "geared" toward their members so some parks may/may not be in the book. They also include a discount card for member parks.

[sunshineOH]

We spent one winter in TX. And the wind never quit. It was totally exhausting. Haven't been back because of it.

[rgvtexan]

Check out "Martin Valley Ranches" in West Mission, 5 diffferent parks, 27 hole golf course. Some of the parks are rental only and some are owned lots but rented by owners. I have a house in Leisure Valley and an RV lot for rent. We have been in the RGV for 6 years and love it. The Locals are very frienly and "Winter Texans" are most welcomed. Martin Valley Ranch No affiliation, just a Happy Camper.

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabbathday Is it so windy it drives you inside? We don't mind a breeze but a continuous wind night and day sounds a bit much.

Wind was probably at least 20 mph most of the time. You can't read outside - the pages flap too much. You can't nap outside - the gusts keep waking you. You can't put your awning out most of the time. In most other places we've been, the wind dies down when it cools off at night. Not in the RGV. Slide toppers can flap all night depending on the direction of the wind.

As I said, we only had one calm day the whole month we were there. One might think our experience was unusual, but I have read about others making similar complaints.

[Sabbathday]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob and Inga No, but the big problem is that you pretty much need to keep your windows closed. If you don't, you will be constantly cleaning the inside of your RV. We spent two months at the Mission West RV Resort which is close to the Bentson Palms mentioned. We just stopped for a month last November to visit friends we met on our first stay and have remained in contact with. Mission is one of the better areas of the RGV in our opinion. BUT, whatever you do, DO NOT book without first visiting the area. As posted there are lots of places. The really good, small ones will be filled, but there are so many that you will be able to get into one without a problem. AND there are some really, really bad parks in really, really bad areas. You don't want to go by price alone. Our first time there we first spent two nights at the highly rated LLano Grande in Mercedes: RV Park Reviews :: Mercedes, Texas ( TX ) - RV Parks and Campground Reviews We went looking for another park after one night. Found Mission West and really enjoyed our stay. They have a short lousy 9 hole par 3 course, but twice a week they had pickup scambles where you drew for teams. These were simply a blast playing in and we met lots of great people playing in them. Mission West is one of the few parks in this area with a large hall and regular functions. Check it out for a couple of days. But be warned that the 'resort' in the name is being a bit generous. It is one of those you either love it or hate it kind of places. Good luck, Bob FWIW We much prefer FL over the RGV as we are out and about all the time and I do not care for a place where English is the second language.

What happened at Llano Grande that you went looking for another park after one night?

[Luckiest Dre]

We went to Victoria Palms for 2 weeks last March to check out Texas after spending most of the winter in Ft Myers, FL. The park is nice with lots to do. The wind did blow but we ignored it mostly and enjoyed the time there enough to book 4 months next winter. They have a web site and the rates are posted there.

[Bob and Inga]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabbathday What happened at Llano Grande that you went looking for another park after one night?

It is not so much as something happening there, but that we did not care for the area in general. We also found that the people were not very friendly there. That could vary by section as there are a couple of sections there. When we stopped at Mission West, the couple working in the office went out of their way with us suggesting sites that would have good wi-fi. We pulled into one of the suggested sites, two couples from across the street came right over to greet us and tell us how much they liked the park and that they hoped that we would decide to stay there. We did and have never regretted it. Overall the facilities at Llano Grande are nicer, but you could not beat the people we met at Mission West. At Llano Grande they just kind of looked at you like you were from another planet.

Bob

[Sabbathday]

Thanks to all for your help.

[Rv'n]

STAY AWAY FROM Mission West RV Resort. This place is in receivership with the possiblity of bankruptcy. Rates have changed, golf course is questionable, no WIFI, my way or the highway attitude by the management. There are too many other places that are much nicer.