Alex and Tee
Jacksonville , FL
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Joined: 05/19/2021
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As my wife and I plan to start our full time RV adventure in the next few months, we have been investigating places we would like to stay. Once we take delivery in September we will spend the first month or so in Florida “shaking down” our new home to make sure everything is working properly and then start making our way out west to AZ.
My wife has never camped before and has no interest in boondocking or staying in a Walmart parking lot so we are looking at higher end resorts. I’d like to know some of your favorite places you have stayed anywhere in the US and also any places that were absolutely horrible should be avoided.
Looking forward to your responses!
Alex & Teresa
2022 Allegro Open Road
2021 Colorado 4x4
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Crowe
Merrimack, NH
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Joined: 01/29/2002
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What is your definition of "resort" and how much are you willing to pay? "Resort" means different things to different people. That will help guide us.
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be Douglas Adams
RV-less for now but our spirits are still on the open road.
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Alex and Tee
Jacksonville , FL
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I guess I would define resort as a “full amenity” CG with paved roads and sites, nice clubhouse, pool(s), organized activities, etc. We realize that, depending on the season these kind of places are $80-$200 a night. However, having done my penance in my earlier life staying in tents and pop-ups on mosquito infested dirt sites, our later years will be spent glamping, not camping. I know this may come off sounding as rather elitist and not saying we would never stay in a CG with dirt roads but we tend to gravitate towards the higher end type places.
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TxGearhead
Texas
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Joined: 04/17/2016
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I've never stayed in a RV park that I thought...this is perfect. I find something wrong with all of them, but I've never paid more than about $60. The Disney RV park in Florida is supposed to be nice but I have no desire to go there.
I haven't seen too many upscale joints in the places we travel. Maybe tourist traps like Gatlinburg.
I believe there are RV parks that only accept Class A motorhomes. You may want to do a search for more advice in the Class A forum here, or look in a forum for your brand of MH.
I'm guessing they are not on every corner though, so you may have to overnight in a normal park in between stays in a upscale park.
Maybe there's a secret list somewhere I haven't seen.
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2oldman
NM
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This place in Indio CA is pretty high-end.
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BB_TX
McKinney, Texas
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Joined: 04/04/2005
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Our favorite RV park we went to for years is Fun Valley Family RV Resort. Resort in this case is a little misleading. It is not a high end/high dollar place. Resort refers more to what it has to offer. It is family oriented, but also has a lot of us old timers. We would take our 5er and our kids and grandkids stayed in cabins. It is large and strung out along a mile of the South Fork of the Rio Grand River in southern Colorado near Wolf Creek Pass. They have a restaurant, grocery, laundry, about 15 stocked trout ponds, paddleboats, tube floating on the river, miniature golf, real golf outings to nearby courses, horseback rides, street dances, C&W dancing in the barn, July 4th parades, etc. And short drive to Pagosa Springs, Creede, Great Sand Dunes, Cumbres & Toltec scenic steam railroad, etc. Or rent a jeep to go back country touring.
But it is a very active place. Some don't like it because there is a lot of activity, people out walking or bike riding, "train" taking people for rides around the park. It is a very old park and some of the sites are arranged somewhat haphazardly due to smaller size RVs in the old days.
We loved the place and had great time. Tons of memories of family vacations together.
Now for the disclaimer. We have not been since 2014 due to reduced travel. And the place sold about 5 years ago. New owners have done a lot of upgrades, but have also raised the prices over the very low prices we paid years ago. We have wanted to go back for years, but just have not been able to.
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folivier
Southeast Louisiana
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A few suggestions along I-10: Bella Terra, Pandion Ridge, both in Gulf Shores, AL
French Quarter Resort in downtown New Orleans
Buckhorn Lake Resort in Kerrville, TX
But like mentioned above a lot of campgrounds use the name Resort but are just plain campgrounds.
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Bob806
Ohio
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I get what you're saying, but if I were you I'd still consider mixing it up and stay at some state parks as well. Arkansas SPs, for example, have many FHU sites starting around $25, and they are very very nice.
We've been to a few "resort" parks over the years, and most have been pleasant. I just prefer to save $$ on camping fees so I can get more beer, golf, or a good steak on the trips.
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Sandia Man
Rio Rancho, NM
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Joined: 08/09/2008
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RvParkReviews.com is pretty accurate for the most part, sounds like you may not be on a tight schedule making it easy to just bring up any online RV park rating website and peruse listings for areas you plan to drive though. Most of the so-called RV resorts are typically off the interstate a ways, if you need to stay closer to highway KOAs are pretty decent with amenities that are well cared for in most cases. We stayed at plenty of RV resorts, still feels like being sardined in like any regular private campground. We are glamping whenever we are in our class A, we often enjoy the state parks in the four corner states, paved roads, concrete RV spaces, excellent power, and more room to breathe than most private parks can offer. Have fun out there wherever your travels take you, hope your new rig and the RV lifestyle is all you expect, and then some.
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ken56
Tennessee
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Higher end comes with higher prices. What $$ per night is going to be too much and you say no thank you? Your question is very subjective because what is nice to me may not be nice to you. I've been to a couple parks where you put your payment through the slot in the door...questionable at first look but turned out to be quite pleasant and enjoyable for us but we were only there for 2 nights.
Hilton Head Harbor RV park is very high end and beautifully kept. Be prepared to put up with nightmare traffic though on the island. I live near Anchor Down in Dandridge TN. High end and a beautiful setting that overlooks Douglas Lake and a view of the mountains. They have stamped concrete pads and stacked stone fireplaces. Very peaceful really.
Down towards you on the Gulf we like Abita springs RV park. It's on the north side of lake Pontchartrain and it's an easy drive into New Orleans and the plantations. Nice area to explore with lots of history and great Cajun food.
Out west we liked the Grand Canyon Railway RV park when we visited the Grand Canyon. Walking distance into town, Williams AZ right on Route 66. It is an hour drive to the GC though. Up in Pendleton Oregon we liked The Wildhorse resort and casino RV park. We had a nice spot though where I noticed some sites were not that desirable, to me at least. Still, I would go back in a minute.
Are you planning on joining anything like Passport America? Coast to Coast? Passport America can pay for itself in 2 nights. The thing you have to watch out for is the individual park restrictions. Still worth it for overnight stays when traveling destination to destination I feel. Coast to Coast requires you to join a membership park that can be quite pricey.
The world is your oyster. We live in a beautiful country and the best way to see it is in an RV. Get going.
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