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.
Yuma Lakes is a private RV campground owned by Colorado River Adventures. It is also a Coast to Coast campground and typically we are the mercy of the campground to chose our site. On arriving we asked at the gate to be near friends who were already in the campground and it wasn’t a problem. The campground had the same feel as Emerald Cove but without so many boats and ATVs. Most of the campground is gravel with some asphalt streets that have no defined edges. With the exception of the sites that are leased, all the camping sites are 30 amps. Like most campgrounds, people are friendly and easy to meet. The campground puts on many activities from breakfasts to dancing. From what we were told, Internet is available, but far from good. Our AT&T Internet worked well and we were able to stream most of the time. Pedestrian access in and out of the campground available so it was easy to walk the dogs outside of the campground versus using the single dog walk on the far side of the park from where we camped. Overall, we liked the campground, it has plenty of shade for the Yuma sun. I think that the biggest drawback that I had to the park was that it is a ten plus mile drive to get to anywhere.
Type: Deluxe
Good Sam Rating: 7.5/8.5*/7.5
Address:
6275 South Ave 8 1/2 East
Yuma, AZ 85365
Phone: (760) 663-4968
Fax: (760) 663-4945
Reservations Phone: (760) 663-4968
Reservations Fax: (619) 663-4945
Resort Information: In the southwest corner of Arizona, located just 6 miles from Yuma. On a refreshing lake offering canoeing, row boating and fishing as a contrast to the desert beauty of the area. Yuma offers shopping and dining. San Luis and Rio Colorado in Mexico are a short drive away for additional touring opportunities.
Web Site:coloradoriveradventures.com
EMail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Full Sites: 180
Check-In/Check-Out Times: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.
RV Site Minimum Stay: 1 night
Peak: Dec 1 to Apr 1
Open: Sep 15 to May 14
Maximum Electrical Service: 30 amps.
WiFi Available: Yes
Maximum RV Length: 40 feet
Elevation: 0
Amenities: Recreation hall, outdoor pool, hot tub, dock fishing available, boating available, hiking trails, horseshoes, shuffleboard, canoeing nearby, row boating nearby, fishing nearby, shopping nearby, restaurants nearby, tourist attraction nearby. Internet and Wi-Fi access in clubhouse only.
RV Notes: Drive-ups not accepted.
Accepts Pets: Yes
Visitor Mail Accepted: No
After planning the first month we decided to join 1000 trails. We had planned a longer stay at Trinidad Lake, but I wanted to fit Verde Valley into pit trip, and so we cut some days out of our plan and put six days into staying at Verde Valley. I’m glad that I did. Since it was in Arizona, we figured we needed 50amps, so we called ahead and reserved a 50amp site. Unfortunately, there wasn’t going to be a 50amp site available our whole stay so we knew that we would have to move after a few days. I now understand that about 30% of the campground is people who lived there full time and when we asked for a 50amp service it put us in more of a residential part of the park and less of a camping part. After our first night of looking at someone’s shed out our window, we asked to move to a different section. The staff was more than happy to help and we moved into a 30amp site close to the pool. This site was great with green grass, shade, and a picnic table right out our door. The next day, we got neighbors right next door, Tom & Paula, and their dog Logan. They turned out to be great people and added to our enjoyment of the campground.
From the campground, we found several nearby things to check out. First, we checked-out Cottonwood. It had an older section of town with shops and restaurants. After that, we headed up to the town of Jerome, a supposed ghost town built on the side of a hill. It is an old mining town with an interesting history and now mostly a tourist stop with more shops and restaurants. Just outside of town is an old junkyard of cars and trucks which have also been marked as a ghost town. Unless you are really interested in rusted old cars, trucks, buses, tractors… save your five dollars and avoid this place. We also visited Sedona. I would recommend coming into town from the east through Oak Springs Village on 179. The red landscape of rocks, mesas, desert trees, and plants looked like a scene from a Roadrunner cartoon or as my daughter put it, “where Cars was filmed” The area is a must see. We had the time to explore the town and return for an early morning hike around Bell and Courthouse Rocks. On another outing, we visited Montezuma’s Palace. It’s another interesting part of history that I wasn’t familiar with.
Almost a year and a half later, we visited the campground again. It was obvious that they had been putting a lot of work into the park. Roads have been widened and a great deal of electrical improvements have been made. The new electric pedestals have been wired for both 30 and 50 amps, but a lot of the 50 amp outlets haven't been connected until the park installs new transformers. Also, since we were here last we have taken up pickleball and we were able to get in a couple of games almost every morning before it got too hot. Our site was similar to our last site, only we had the 50 amps. There is an extra $5 per night for a 50 amp site, but seeing the electrical improvements made to the park, it is well worth it. We're looking forward to our next visit here.
Naturally Beautiful RV Campground in Arizona
Arizona is known for its expansive desert and mountain backdrops. At Verde Valley RV Camping, you’ll enjoy the best of everything Arizona has to offer. Situated on the scenic Verde River, Verde Valley RV Camping offers 300 acres of picturesque beauty. Explore the majestic Red Rocks to the north, Mingus Mountains to the west and the Hackberry Mountains to the south. With a moderate year-round climate, this RV campground in Arizona is an ideal location for your next retreat.
Rich in geological and cultural history, the area surrounding Verde Valley RV Camping offers hours of exploration and sightseeing. Kayak down the Verde River, explore the famous ghost town of Jerome, take a drive through scenic Sedona, or sample wines at local wineries. The possibilities are endless when you spend your next vacation at Verde Valley RV Camping!
Our visit to Ridgeview was great. The campground is very well maintained and improvements are evident. We visited in the offseason as the park was fairly empty. When we arrived the park set us up with a nice site, which offered evening shade, which is always a plus when the temperature is above 100 most of the day. The sites are a mixture of sand and gravel and the roads are all paved. To look around at the surrounding desert, you have to appreciate the amount of work that had to go into the campground to make it the resort that it is. The facilities are very nice, especially the pool and spa.
The resort sits on a hill overlooking the Colorado River with Laughlin, Nevada just on the other side. While at the campground we visited the casinos a couple of times but didn't do well. We also took a 45-minute drive up to Oatman, an old mining town where wild burros roam the streets. The old path of Route 66 runs through the town and it has become a fun tourist destination.
Sunrise Adventures Ridgeview Resort is located less than a mile from the captivating Colorado River in Bullhead City, Arizona and is directly across the border from Laughlin, Nevada, where ten casinos offer 24-hour gaming, restaurants, and exciting entertainment and much more. The resort is located less than two hours from Las
Winter, spring, summer or fall – the Bullhead City/Laughlin area is the area of all seasons. The area is known for 360 days of sunshine a year that allows numerous outdoor recreation activities year-round, which makes Ridgeview RV Resort one of the premier RV destinations in the country! Vegas, and one hour from the famous London Bridge in Lake Havasu City. The Resort offers countless amenities like a large Clubhouse where various family and fun activities are held, a swimming pool and jacuzzi to relax after a long day. There’s Shuffleboard, Hiking Trails, Vacation Rentals and much more!
In addition to the Colorado River, you also have the opportunity to play on the pristine waters of Lake Mohave that is located minutes north of the Resort. With the abundance of water play space on the Colorado River and Lake Mohave, there is a wide variety of activities available near Ridgeview RV Resort.
Bullhead City and Laughlin both offer some of the best Shopping in the area with Malls and various stores located minutes from the Resort. If golf is a highlight of your Ridgeview Resort vacation, then we have you covered at one of the many golf courses the Bullhead City/Laughlin area has to offer. With year-round sunshine and several courses conveniently located minutes from the resort, Ridgeview RV Resort is an ideal place to tee up for the perfect RV golf getaway.
Trailer Village RV Park, what can I say. The best thing about the RV park is its location, right in the middle of the West Grand Canyon Rim National Park. The RV park and the National Park are better described separately. The RV park has over 100 pull-through sites of varying length and facilities. We did manage to reserve a site long enough for our coach, but we had to cheat and park the dinghy off the driveway and in the camping site. Actually, most of the sites had about ten feet before the next site began and it sort of felt like a parking lot, although there were trees. The biggest issue I had, (and I’m sorry to admit this) is that there was no cell or Internet service. At least not via AT&T. However, we did find plenty to do without the internet. But at the end of the day, it would have been nice to send pictures back to friends and family. (with 5 million people visiting the Grand Canyon every year, you might think that the Internet would be a no-brainer) But like I said, the park’s greatest asset is its location. From there, we could walk to the rim and follow it to the west to the end of the “tourist area” and take the free shuttle back to the campground. On the second day, we walked the east end of the rim trail from the campground. If you have a couple of days to spend in the park I would very much recommend this RV Park for its convenience.
The one thing I can’t express enough about the Grand Canyon is its overwhelming awe power. When we saw the canyon for the first time, it was truly intense. The size and the beauty that just can’t be caught in a picture. This is a place that everyone should put on their bucket lists. We couldn’t get enough of it and fortunately the rim trail is several miles long. Long enough to get out of the public from time to time and just enjoy its beauty for ourselves. Not only is its beauty a great part of its attraction but the history of the canyon itself is very interesting as well. We also took our car along the rim to the east twenty-five miles to Desert View Watch Tower. Along the way we found several spots to stop and take photos of the canyon. Unfortunately, we got there too late in the evening for things to be open, but just in time for the sunset. The park is well maintained, most trails are paved and except for the east end of the rim trail, bicycles are not allowed. The one thing I did notice about the tourists in the park is that they were more than willing to step off the trail and hang out over the canyon for the perfect photo shot. It was pretty scary to watch at times. The other thing about the park is that they don’t sell bottled water. You have to buy their twenty-dollar souvenir water bottles and fill them with spring water from several different locations throughout the park. However, they are not working until summer, so while there, in late May we were hard-pressed to find drinking water short of going back to the campground. Overall, we loved the park and plan on returning often. I would recommend buying $80 one year National Park pass that’s good for four people. It’s $30 to enter the park each visit.
This is the trip your RV was made to go on. Trailer Village® RV Park is the only in-park RV park with full hookups and it's incredibly close to the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Set within a high desert landscape, the Trailer Village RV Park is a paved pull-through site perfect for vehicles up to 50 feet long. Best of all, it's open year-round.
FULL RV HOOKUPS INSIDE THE GRAND CANYON
Important information:
Hours of Operation (Registration Kiosk)
Jan. 1 to March 25 = 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
March 26 to Oct. 21 = 7 a.m. - 9 pm.
Oct. 22 to Dec. 31 = 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
For guests arriving after the Registration Kiosk has closed for the day:
Cactus Gardens is an Encore RV park and our first “Trails Collection” resort. It is also our first 55+ resort. The first thing we noticed and liked about the park was that the roads were paved and all the RV’s and park-models were all neatly lined-up. The park rates run around $300 a week, but with the Trails Collection added to our Thousand Trails membership, the park was free and we stayed for two weeks.
The RV sites are very tight, but they all have full hookups with 50 amps including cable. It’s a really great community with lots of things going on from water-volleyball to cards, to dancing, breakfasts, lunches, dinner, darts, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and many others. They are lacking pickleball courts though. We walked the park and their sister park next door (Desert Paradise) every day, meeting people at every turn. Both parks are Encore parks and are very similar. We floated back and forth between them daily. We met one couple using their Trails Collection membership to jump between the two parks every four days so that they would never have a timeout week. One two sides of the park were alleys not being used by cars but by dog walkers. With both sides having concrete walls they were designed for water run-off. They are wide and long so that dogs could get off leash and run. Overall, we loved the park and the people made us feel very welcome. We are looking forward to returning there in the future.
While in Yuma, we took advantage of the inexpensive dental work in Los Algodones. The campground had a 5% off coupon for Baja Dental. We called around and found that their prices were better than most so we decided to use them for a cleaning and possibly a bridge for me. The office was very clean and modern. The staff was very professional and the doctors seemed to very experienced. I was sold and decided to have the bridge work done there. They went from cleaning mode to x-ray mode, to prepping the side two teeth for the bridge without the doctor every leaving my side. In very short time I was out of there with two new temporary caps and an appointment to return in a couple of days for a bridge. On the second trip, the bridge was fit and refit and polished so that my bite was perfect. That took less than twenty minutes in the chair. I have had the bridge for a week now and can’t tell that it’s not my real teeth. All my fears of going to Mexico to have dental work done are gone. The cost of everything was just over $600, about ¼ of what my dentist in Portland quoted me after insurance. Plus the process would have required two or three visits to Portland and over a month’s time to get all the work done.
A fun Yuma RV resort near the mighty Colorado River
With over 300 days of sunshine in Yuma, Arizona, Cactus Gardens RV Resort is a perfect destination for a trip away from it all. Enjoy 14 acres and 428 sites at this Yuma RV Resort. Fishing and boating on the nearby Colorado River and Imperial Dam are popular activities for residents and guests.
Back at the resort, our Activity Director keeps things interesting with numerous activities including: weekly jam sessions, Saturday breakfast, Sunday church service, Tuesday and Thursday homemade doughnuts, Wednesday biscuits and gravy, bingo, live entertainment, shuffleboard, horseshoes, darts, daily pool exercise, line dancing, and assorted card games.
Book your trip to Cactus Gardens RV Resort today! 158 of our sites are available for reservations. Our staff is eager to make your retreat the best it can possibly be!
Below is a link to the Thousand Trails Campgrounds that we have visited.
- Indicates Trails Collection Resort