Community Forums

Superslif · 03-03-2014, 06:22 PM

I think private CG's will have a better selection of sites that are level, especially for larger RV's. State Parks you run the gambit where most sites are large and level and some parks where you better know what you are reserving because of not being level or trees blocking your awning. I'll keep a database of sites at the state parks we stay at. I'll also visit other state parks in the area for future stays and mark down sites with pictures to reserve at a later trip.

For this summer I just finished reserving 6 weeks (44 nights) in the state parks of OH,PA & WV. For the West Virgina State parks (2) I have not visited them, so I relied on Google maps, Bing, and one of our fellow IRV2 members.

I few state parks and national parks are posting pictures of every site in their parks on their website. Very helpful in determining if there are any trees blocking you getting in and being able to put out your slides and awning.

RickO · 03-03-2014, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katyscarlett

I think one of the best pieces of information I have gotten is the Google Earth idea. However, I don't know how recent the pictures are. Just for grins, I pulled our home location to see what it looked like on GE and the same picture was there for over a year. In any case, I agree with all of you. Great information. . .

It's a great tool but don't expect the photos to be updated very frequently... if ever. That's just not what they do.

Rick

Superslif · 03-05-2014, 08:47 AM

Quote:

It's a great tool but don't expect the photos to be updated very frequently... if ever. That's just not what they do.

Yes, I understand...Mostly I like to get a shady site..(state parks)..

Last summer was looking at a Google Earth of a Kentucky State Park...The site I was looking at appeared to be under water ??? in the lake from the Google map. How could this be? I called that park office...I asked " This may sound stupid, but it appears my site is underwater, I have a RV not a boat" And they confirmed, two years ago the lake flooded and rose 30'...What?? Yes 30 feet, The water made it to within 2 feet of the top of the shower building, hence, they had to rebuild the whole campground. They did a nice job of re-building Nolin Lake State Park KY. Hard to tell from the pictures, but the campsite was at least 15' above the water level.

Larry Young · 03-06-2014, 09:04 AM

I have found the internet to be very useful. You can search and area or a specific campground. Most campgrounds now have web sites so you can often see pictures of the campground and area around the campground. They also typically list there price and what they have available. If you look online there are also manny reviews for campgrounds in a given area I have found these to be useful.
Also while traveling if I see a location that interests me I will go in and look around and if I like the campground I will add it to places to go in the future.
Then after I have been to a location I may have some piticular sites that I especially like, so the next time I can request a piticular site.
Good luck happy camping.

Superslif · 03-09-2014, 11:16 AM

I use Flickr (online photo site) to help in my site selection for a state park in Ohio I have over-nighted there before, I had driven thru the park (Tar Hollow) and jotted down a few sites. The picture (Site with VW camper) on Flickr and Google maps helped to know the site will have at least some shade, especially since knowing the orientation of the sun will keep the site in the shade most of the day.

Now getting back to how updated a photo of Google map image is. For some reason I'm jinxed. About 4 times now I have reserved a site and when we arrived the trees are gone...I mean gone !!! Last year at a Ohio State park near Cincinnati, they took out 1000 ash trees just before the season. We happened to be at the same park the year before, so when we pulled in...I said while driving thru the park...Are we in the right park ?? something is very different....Lucky, we had a different site than the year before, because that site is now 100% sunny. Our new site had 2/3 of the trees taken out, but still offered some shade, but I noticed there were more trees tagged to be cut down in the future there.

Two years ago in a PA state park reserved a site that had two 5' diameter white pines in back of the site...for total shade. Arrived to now to find two 20' tall stumps (wind storm)...

Another Cincinnati park, reserved a site from a drive thru the year before. They had a tornado go threw that spring. 700 trees lost...Now the site we thought had 5-6 large trees, now had 1 left.

You just never know.. What mother nature gives, mother nature takes away...

katyscarlett · 03-10-2014, 05:45 PM

That's just really sad . . . . It is unfortunate that there aren't more reliable ways to check the sites. Hard to complain, thought. It wasn't so long ago, there was no such thing as google anything

Thanks for your input everybody. Every little bit is helpful.

DBOL · 03-10-2014, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katyscarlett

I don't know if this is the right forum to ask this, but I have never stopped at a camp site before. I'm just getting started in this and don't have my rig yet, but am trying to cover all the bases.
I have been reading everything on this site and have seen some issues with camp sites. How do you decide which ones to go to, especially if you are on a budget. I know a lot depends on the length of time staying, but what do you look for?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

All good answer's,but the fun part is just wing it and also agood learning time,but I do not recommend paying big $ for membership junk,remember you can alway's stay at Wal Mart

katyscarlett · 03-11-2014, 09:41 AM

What "clubs" are you referring to? What is so neat is that everyone has their own way of making RVing a great experience. Wish I could meet each and every one of you.

capearc · 03-14-2014, 05:25 AM

Please take a look at www.boondockerswelcome.com This may be a way to meet some very interesting people with similar interests and at the same time keep costs down.

RedWing Nut · 03-14-2014, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katyscarlett

What "clubs" are you referring to? What is so neat is that everyone has their own way of making RVing a great experience. Wish I could meet each and every one of you.

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