We landed this afternoon at Ely KOA Journey, pretty much right in the middle of Nevada, elevation, 6500 ft. This is just a stop-over for a night, but it really is a nice campground. We plan to drive around this after and check out the town.
From here we're heading north to Idaho. Our first stop is a place called Anderson Camp. We plan to spend a couple of days there so we can check out Shoshone Falls and what's left of Twin Falls
Click on "Top Panel" to see where are and where to next
Our original thought on choosing Natchez Trace to camp at was to visit Nashville, but we never made it there. We had planned on staying for six days and moving on toward Memphis, but the couple (Bud and Melanie) next to us at Diamond Caverns were heading there the day after us so we added four more days to spend more time visiting with them. (Also, Melanie was sewing us new curtains.)
Another couple (Ron & Glenda) that we had met at Diamond Caverns also joined us a week later. On our first day there we checked out the store/cafe and met some of the local people who invited us to join them at their table for breakfast. That wound up being a daily thing. We also met three other couples there, one park ranger and his wife (Thomas & Pam), the other two (Bob & Debi) & (Rick & Kim) had also been at Diamond Caverns while we were there but we hadn't met them yet. With all the truly great people there, we added another four days to our stay.
When we arrived at the campground we went off in search of a full hook-up with 50 amps, but the only one available was in a bad location in the sun and at the time our AC wasn't working. So we then looked for a 30 amp full hookup site and found only a few of them, but they were also in full sun. So we found a great spot under the trees (I had to trim some branches while standing on the motorhome for us to back in) It was 30 amps and no septic hookup, but it was a great spot and there was a full hookup 30 amp spot that Bud and Melanie could use when they came the following day. Our park ranger friend (Thomas) set us up with a pumping service, so after five days we ponied up $10 bucks and got pumped out. When Ron & Glenda showed up, there were a few full hookup sites at the beach and we all moved over there. We occupied four of the seven beach sites for the Labor Day weekend. It was camping at its best. Thomas offered up his pontoon boat to use while he was working and once we took him up on his generous offer, we drove it back to the beach and picked up the rest of the clan and enjoyed a couple of hours out on the lake.
The weekend before Labor Day the campground hosted a charity auto show which featured mostly "Rat Rods". It was an interesting take on restoring old cars. The campground is also located right next to the Natchez Trace. The Natchez Trace is a 444-mile long national park. It's a road starting from Natchez, Mississippi extending north almost to Nashville. No commercial vehicles are allowed on the road and it has a 50 mph speed limit throughout. It followed a trail that pioneers used as they traveled north through the area. The site where Meriwether Lewis is buried is pretty close to the campground. That, and the Amish community nearby are just about the only thing to see near the campground as Nashville is about an hour and a half drive.
From what we understand about the campground is that the previous owners were going bankrupt when Thousand Trails picked it up. There are over 500 sites and it's very spread out. Because of the park's age, most of the sites are 30 amp without septic. Most of the facilities are run down and are in need of a lot of work. There are only seven sites at the beach that are near the lake that are available for "transients", the rest of the lakefront sites are annual sites. Hopefully, with enough annual sites, the park will be able to make the improvements that it desperately needs. The campground also has a lot of cabins, which we didn't learn much about. I think the number one draw to the campground is the people who live there, work there, and live nearby. Everyone we met was so nice. The other nice feature is the cafe that serves three meals a day with the best prices. Jackie and I both ate breakfast there every day for around six dollars together. I'm sure that the campground will continue making improvements and we're looking forward to our next visit.
Natchez Trace RV Camping is a beautifully wooded RV camp in Tennessee that offers camera-worthy lookouts and a relaxing getaway environment. Located right off the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway, Natchez Trace makes RV camping an adventure. Its position within an 830-acre forested preserve means fewer crowds and more privacy. This nature-focused RV camp features some of the best outdoor resources and recreation in Tennessee: a large 3 mile long lake, pontoon tours, and excellent fishing for bass, shellcracker, crappie and more.
Getting outside of Natchez Trace RV Camping can be just as exciting. Nashville offers many sports and entertainment attractions including music, theme parks, and interesting museums. Other noteworthy day trips include Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch in Hurricane Mills and the home of President James Polk in Columbia, both of which can be easily accomplished from your home base at Natchez Trace RV camp in Tennessee.
General Policies:
Reservation & Payment Policies:
Helpful Information:
We do not allow pets in some accommodation types; however, we do allow service animals and a service animal may have stayed in a non-pet rental.
The Alabama cabin is the perfect getaway for the Crimson Tide fan. This newly remodeled cabin has everything for you to completely unwind. This cabin has 2 full beds and a nice size bathroom with a shower and is nicely decorated in Alabama colors. Be sure to enjoy the wildlife here while sitting on your deck.
The deluxe cabin sleeps 4 people and is located near the beach. These rentals include two full size beds. The back porch has a ceiling fan and patio table and chairs overlooking the lake. No pets.
The deluxe cabin sleeps 4 people and is located near the beach. These pet-friendly rentals include two full-size beds. The back porch has a ceiling fan and patio table and chairs overlooking the lake.
Welcome to the Fishing Cabin! Your perfect getaway for making memories. Screened in deck overlooking Chief Creek Lake right next to Natchez Trace Parkway. Fully stocked cabin: Towels, linens, pots, pans, stove, refrigerator, and a flat-screen TV. Sleeps 6 and 1 1/2 bathrooms
The newly remodeled Hunting Cabin is a perfect place for the family. It sleeps 6 and has 2 full bathrooms and the deck on the cabin overlooks Chief Creek Lake. Pack up the kids and food. The rest of your supplies is furnished in this cabin. A fully stocked kitchen, linens and towels, stove, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, and a flat-screen TV are here waiting on you. You and kids will make lifetime memories here.
Gather up the family and friends for a one of a kind experience at our lodge. Overlooking Chief Creek lake, this huge lodge has five bedrooms and three baths. With eight full-size beds, you can sleep 16+ people. Be sure to spend time out on the large gazebo right on the lake. With the gazebo's gorgeous, wrap-around deck, the lodge is the perfect place for outdoor weddings, family reunions or just making memories.
Phone Reservations Only - Please Call 888-551-9102 to Reserve Today .
The Nashville Cabin is the perfect place to get away and just relax. It has all the amenities of a home decorated in the music industries motif. Fully stocked kitchen, stove, refrigerator, towels, linens, microwave, and a flat-screen TV. Screened in the deck for you to enjoy the scenery and wildlife surrounding Chief Creek Lake located next to the famous Natchez Trace Parkway. Sleeps 4 with a large handicap bathroom.
The Pavilion has tables and chairs to seat 75. With a kitchen area, sink, refrigerator and more, it is an ideal location to host your wedding, reunions or party.
These three-bedroom cabins sleep 8 people and include two queen beds, two full-size beds in each room as well as one twin bunk. The large screened back porch has a patio table and chairs. Linens included. No pets.
Steps away from the lake and near a large grassy expanse, the big red barn is a great option for your wedding, reunions or party. This unique barn comfortably holds 75 and has a bonus loft space.
Venture back to the days of Route 66. This newly remodeled cabin takes you back to when times were more relaxed but has all the modern amenities. Lay back and relax on the 2 full-size beds that sleep 4 people, while watching your favorite movie on the flat-screen TV. After your shower in our spacious bathroom, go out on the screened-in deck and enjoy your favorite beverage.
These rental cabins sleep 4 people and are complete with linens and kitchens. Numbers are limited, so reserve one today. Call for availability.
These rental cabins sleep 4 people and are complete with linens and kitchens. Numbers are limited, so reserve one today. Call for availability.
Escape to the newly remodeled Tennessee cabin next to Natchez Trace Parkway. Perfect for the dedicated Vols fan!! Decorated with official orange and white Vols furnishings. The Tennessee cabin has 2 bedrooms with queen beds and sleeps, 4 people. The extra-large bathroom includes a full-size closet and a large handicap walk-in shower. This beautiful cabin features, AC/Heat, full kitchen, w/refrigerator, stove, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker and all necessary utensils to cook up a meal. After watching the game on the flatscreen TV, gather on the screened-in deck overlooking Chief Creek Lake. Memories made here will lure you back again and again.
We stayed at Victoria Palms for two weeks. The park is very nice with well-maintained facilities. A lot of the park is populated with manufactured homes and some permanent RV sites. The rest of the RV sites are rated as economy, standard, and deluxe, depending on the size of the lot. We had a standard site with a 16' x 60' concrete slab surrounded by green grass. Some of the deluxe sites were really big. If you were going to stay there for the winter it may be worth it to get one. We also found the people there to be very nice. With 55+ parks, we noticed a lot fewer weekenders who are too busy to get to know other people. There are lots of activities going on all week, from ballroom dancing to HO car racing. While we were there we had a range of weather conditions, but whether it was cold or hot, it seemed to be always windy. Which was nice on the really hot days, but it made it difficult to sit outside the RV and just enjoy the day. We also noticed that there are quite a few birds there. Every evening, parrots would come out and fly from palm tree to palm tree, making a whole lot of noise in the process. The Rio Grande Valley was fine but we did notice a poorer economy than most places we've seen. We will definitely return to this resort and recommend it to others.
Victoria Palms RV Resort is a premier age-qualified RV resort and manufactured housing community nestled in the tropical Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Open to guests 55 and up, this beautiful Texas RV resort features a tropical pool and outdoor spas, fitness center, full restaurant, two-story craft center and more. Guests also enjoy our convenient, central location near shopping, medical facilities, and other major amenities.
Victoria Palms RV Resort is proud to offer guests a variety of ways to enjoy their stay. We have pull-through and back-in RV sites complete with full hookups. Don't have an RV? No problem. Stay in one of our fully furnished rental cottages or manufactured homes.
Looking for the perfect RV resort in Texas? You've found it at Victoria Palms RV Resort. We enjoy an average temperature of 73 degrees and feature entertainment and activities offered year round, both indoors and out. We hope to see you soon!
When we arrived here we were assigned a site in the back 40. We found the site, backed in, powered up and leveled only to realize that we were one space over. So we moved to the correct spot and got all set up. This section of the park was mostly empty and the site we were given was right next to a homesteader with tarps over things and stuff all over. So we decided to go ask if we could move to one of the other vacant sites which offered more shade and wasn't right on top of this other camper. That worked for them, so we wound up with a much nicer site. The park has some nice picnic areas, miniature golf, pool and other amenities. However, with its proximity to Disney World, we really didn't use much of the park's services. It has manufactured homes to buy, park models to rent, deluxe paved RV site, full-hookup back-in sites on grass, and electric/water only back-in sites. The staff is friendly and the gate security is manned 24 hours a day.
Being from the west coast, Jackie and I have been to Disneyland many times, so of course, everything in Disney Wolrd was compared with that. Disney World has four parks while Disneyland has only two. We first visited the Magic Kingdom and it was like Disneyland light. It wasn't until we had visited all four parks did we see that pretty much every ride in California had the same or a similar ride here in Florida. It was just spread out among the for parks. Some rides were exactly the same, for example, the haunted house, while other rides used the same equipment but were different., soring over California is changed to soring over the world. The biggest difference is the Animal Kingdom. There is nothing in California even close to it. The Animal Kingdom is a theme park and zoo/safari all in one. I was really impressed!
An Unforgettable Year-Round Orlando Resort Experience!
Come explore all that our Orlando area RV park has to offer. Tropical Palms is that family getaway you remember from your childhood and now want to share with your children. It's flat-out Florida fun and good times, where you're close to everything and far away from the everyday. Tropical Palms is surrounded by wonderful places to enjoy a day of fun! Just minutes from the resort you can be at Disney World, Universal Theme Parks, and Sea World! You can spend the day at Daytona Beach, Kennedy Space Center, Busch Gardens, or take a stroll over to Old Town and celebrate the glory days of bygone times. Tropical Palms is far from the ordinary and close to the magic.
Our experience at Mission RV Park was a little bit different from the description offered up by their website below. First of all, the plus sides. It is right off the freeway so you don’t have to travel far out of your way to stay there. The host was friendly. It had a laundry and a pool with a hot tub of sorts. (the pool heater wasn’t working during our visit) There was a nice fenced in dog area. Oh, and our site was long enough to not have to detach the car. The park is south of the city and in the industrial area, not a neighborhood that you’d want to take a walk through. It looked as though most people were one-nighters with a couple of residents. The basketball and tennis courts were not very usable. The park looked like it was in need of some work. We will probably avoid it the next time we pass through El Paso.
Welcome to Mission RV Park
LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL EL PASO, TX
Affectionately known as Mission RV Park. Our 15.5 acres of a gated community was envisioned with large sites to accommodate all types of Recreational Vehicles, from minor Class As, all the way to the large Class Cs.
Mission RV hosts 188 expansive sites, averaging sixty to seventy feet with sufficient area for multiple slide-outs. To accommodate our community, Mission RV Park established a clubhouse, also known as recreational area, with a vision of customer entertainment. From relaxing and watching cable television to reading your favorite book while streaming the internet, all the way to swimming in our lovely pool or simply relaxing in the peaceful SPA, Mission RV is dedicated to bringing our community the best RV experience possible.
During your stay at Mission RV Park, you can lounge by our pool, play a game of tennis, take a relaxing stroll through the park and sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery. If you want to check out all that El Paso has to offer, you can catch a Triple-A baseball game, visit the El Paso Zoo, have dinner in downtown El Paso and much more.
On our way to Lake Conroe, we stopped at Camping World in Katy, Texas to have some work done on our hydraulic jacks. Thinking it wasn't going to take too long we waited. At 1:30 they were still troubleshooting but were breaking for lunch. So we decided to drive up to the campground and see about securing a site, because it may be after dark when we finally pulled in with the coach. Well, it was a good idea, however with Houston traffic, it took a very long time to make the 70-mile drive and as it turned out, we couldn't hold a site without our RV. We fought traffic to get back to Camping World and it was after closing when we arrived. The issue was fixed and for a lot less than I had expected. So we headed back up to Lake Conroe and arrived just after dark. Fortunately, they had just recently added 67 new paved sites at the front of the campground and finding a site was not an issue.
The new paved sites were very nice with full hook-ups. The rest of the campground was gravel. There are sections for full time manufactured homes, park models, RV annuals, and regular camping. The campground requires you to take a 50 amp site if you have a 50 amp RV and charges an extra $3/night. I'm not sure why, but the gravel sites were almost filled, while the new paved sites were pretty much empty. It's good to see a lot of work going into improvements on campgrounds. Besides the new sites, they were also in the process of building a new sales office. The amenities were pretty nice. There is a large pool and hot tub. There are tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts. Also, horseshoes, shuffleboard, miniature golf, and a softball field are available. We found the laundry to be disappointing and opted for one in town which worked out great. Overall, the campground had everything that you'd expect in a Thousand Trails Resort. It was well maintained and very green and welcoming. I would enjoy returning here in the future. We were told that the campground is very popular in the summer with lots of kids and the pool was always crowded. We visited in April and there was a duck in the pool, but that's about it.
While we were there we took a drive down to the south side of Houston to visit the Houston Space center. The museum part of the Space Center was well done and very informative. We took the 90 minute "Tram Tour" so that we could see more of the complex, like Mission Control. Unfortunately, that was disappointing. The young lady giving the tour was very well informed and really knew her script, but she spoke very fast in a high voice, which was impossible to understand over a speaker. I don't think that English is the first language for a lot of the visitors, so once they realized that they couldn't understand her, they conversed among themselves drowning out any possibility for me to hear the speaker. I believe that most of the staff were high school students and did a very good job, except for this one exception. There's a lot of history to take in and news about future Mars missions. Overall, it was pretty cool. It cost $30 per person.
Experience family camping at its best with a visit to Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort. Perfect for water lovers, this RV campground in Texas allows you to launch your boat right from the campground. Don't have a boat? No problem. Enjoy the 22,000-acre lake with a jon boat, paddle boat, kayak, or canoe available for rent. With the marina expansion and new beach, there is even more fun to be had at this RV campground in Texas.
For land-goers, mini golf, basketball courts, and a recreation hall are just a few of the on-site attractions. The RV & Camping Resort's convenient location also allows for nearby explorings like visits to Splash Town, the Houston Zoo, Sam Houston Museum, and the Prison Museum.
Don't wait! Set up camp at Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort, where 300 sites offer the perfect spot for your tent, pop-up or motorhome. Our friendly staff looks forward to making your trip one to remember!
Hilltop RV Park
We stopped at Hilltop RV Park for an overnighter because it was on the freeway and just not a whole lot to see. We were pleasantly surprised by how nice the park is. The park is very well maintained and was a welcome change from our prior night camping off the freeway. There are tiled patios, with picnic tables at each site. They also have a small courtesy fence between your site and your neighbor’s utility connections. The dog park was nice. There is a small pool and a community fire pit for people to share. Plus there’s a discount for paying with cash. Our nice 50amp site was $27 a night. Also, Fort Stockton is just a couple of miles down the road where we took advantage of buying groceries and gas. This is definitely a campground we’ll use again crossing Texas.
From the website:
We are the newest RV park in Ft. Stockton and the surrounding area. Our location is as unique as our park and the views of the plateaus, mountains and valley are truly awesome.
♦ All PULL THRU Sites with picnic tables |
♦ 50/30 Amp Service - ALL SITES |
♦ FREE WiFi (it works great) | |
♦ Extra Long Big Rig Spaces | ♦ Laundry Room Open 24 hrs |
♦ Beautiful Pool with Spacious Covered Patio |
♦ Easy Access to Interstate 10 |
♦ Enclosed Puppy Patch | |
♦ Private Shower/Bathroom Suites | ♦ TV Lounge (for Adults) |
♦ Base Rates start at $30 per night | ♦ Free DVD Lending Library |
♦ Sunset Firepit for Evening Fires and Great Conversation |
♦ 1 min. drive to Walmart, golf course, dining or shopping |
♦ Peaceful Desert Setting | ♦ West Texas Owners/Hosts |
♦ Monthly/weekly rates, please call | ♦ NO tent camping in the park |
♦ 10% discount for cash, on overnight rates |
♦ Check in time is 2:00 pm |
♦ Full-service hook ups at all sites |
Colorado River RV Campground is just outside of Columbus, Texas. It is on the Texas Colorado River as opposed to the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon. (Who knew? there are two Colorado Rivers) We were immediately impressed with how green the park is. It had some damage from Hurricane Harvey, but you couldn’t tell other than the bathrooms have been rebuilt and the banks of the river have fallen some, eating several campsites. The campground is divided into two sections, one being near the pool and courts while the other near the river. Both sections are equally nice. The sites vary from 50 amps with full hookups (where you have to pay $3 per night extra), to 50/30 with full hookups with the option of using the 50 or not and 30 amp sites with water only. Since we were only staying for three nights and the weather wasn’t too hot we opted for the later. The park has a small pool, and indoor hot tub, a mini-golf course, a basketball court and a pickleball court. The rec. facilities are in the welcome center at the park entrance. The Campground is well maintained and has a beautiful park-like setting, with lots of birds and deer. If you’re looking to get away from it all, this is the place to go. Nearby is the town of Columbus that is very picturesque with some historic buildings. An hour of walking around will cover it. Unless the Confederate Museum is open (pictured left). It cost a dollar looks like it may take some time to tour. Overall, we love the feel of this park and will definitely return here in the future.
Stay among riverside pecan groves at a Houston RV campground
Located midway between Houston and San Antonio, Colorado River RV Campground lies along the shores of the Colorado River. This Houston RV campground is nestled amid green fields and pecan groves. Colorado River RV Campground offers an abundance of outdoor camping activities such as hiking, canoeing, fishing and wildlife watching. With easy access to the freeway, guests can enjoy a trip to the big cities then return to the quiet sanctuary of this Houston RV Campground.
Below is a link to the Thousand Trails Campgrounds that we have visited.
- Indicates Trails Collection Resort