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 arrived at Lums Pond at 11 in the morning only to be told that we couldn't enter until 1 that afternoon. Check out time is noon and the park host take the hour to clean each site before a new camper pulls in. We were able to park the coach just outside the gate in the shade, disconnected the dinghy and used the two hours to run into Costco, then have lunch. Lums Pond is another beautiful state park. All the roads and sites were paved with lots of space between sites. The campground was all green grass. The park host stopped by and told us that the car pass that he put on our post would give us access to other parts of the park. He didn't tell us what all the park had to offer. Since we were just staying one night so we didn't check it out. In writing this I copied their website's description to add below and after reading it, I guessed we missed out on most of what the park has to offer. We will have to visit here again. Very nice clean park with full hook-up sites.
http://www.destateparks.com/park/lums-pond/index.asp
Lums Pond State Park is built around the largest freshwater pond in Delaware. The park features excellent camping, fishing, sports facilities, hiking trails, and an unforgettable Go Ape! Treetop Adventure Course featuring rope ladders, tree-top crossings, Tarzan swings and 5 zip lines — four of them over water! Lums Pond itself covers 200 acres, and although there is no swimming allowed, boat rentals and fishing provide water-bound recreation. A boat launching ramp and two piers allow easy access to the water.
Park History
Before the pond existed, St. Georges Creek flowed through the hardwood forest and was the site of several Native American hunting camps. The creek was dammed in the early 1800's when the C & D canal was built. Water from the pond was used to fill the locks of the canal and power a small mill. This area was first used as a state park in 1963.
Hiking, Picnicking, and Learning
Hikers have the opportunity to explore a variety of habitats along the 7.5 mile Swamp Forest Trail circling the pond. Lums also features over 10 miles of multi-purpose trails (horses, bikes, and hikers). The Whale Wallow Nature Center hosts a variety of programs for visitors during the summer season (Nature Center will be open daily from noon-6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day.). For outdoor dining, picnic areas are scattered throughout the park, and three pavilions can be reserved for larger groups.
Sports
Ball fields and game courts abound at Lums Pond State Park. Choose friendly competition in baseball, softball, football, soccer, tennis, basketball, or volleyball. Sharpen your skill in horseshoes or disc golf. Equipment rentals are available during the summer season. Children can work off their excess energy on the playground.
More Fun
As the weather grows colder, winter activities include hiking, year-round camping, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Hunting is also permitted, but consult the park office for maps and regulations.
About Camping at a Delaware State Park
Delaware State Parks have a great deal to offer in family camping. Take your vacation amid towering trees near a freshwater pond or enjoy the scenery of rolling sand dunes and sparkling bay waters.
All of the campgrounds provide drinking water outlets, modern shower and sanitary facilities, and sewage dump stations. Campsites are equipped with a picnic table and may include a fire ring (campfire regulations). Many have electric and water hookups.
During the summer season and in high-use areas like Delaware Seashore and Cape Henlopen State Parks, campers should register for the entire length of their stay, up to 14 days.
Don't Move Firewood!
Help us protect our trees by preventing the spread of harmful insect pests to Delaware's parks and forests. Use the firewood sold at the campground or from local sources near the park you are visiting. Please do not bring firewood with you into Delaware!
As with most of our KOA visits, it is just for a night stay-over while driving through because there were none of our membership parks nearby. The Lordsburg KOA was no exception, it appeared that 90% of the RV’s in the park were just there for a night as well. We hit some bad weather driving down from Mesa and pulled into the park at one in the afternoon and it was lightly snowing. By the time we were in our site and set up the sun was out and it warmed slightly. The park has full hookups with both 30 and 50 amps sites. There was an extra $3 for a 50 amp pull-through. I can’t say anything bad about the park but plan to spend forty to fifty dollars for a place to park overnight. The whole campground is a large gravel parking lot. It does have all the standard amenities like most all KOA campgrounds do and a few more niceties that we missed because of the weather and the shortness of our visit, like “kamper kitchen,” the activity building, the pool, and the general store. It is also easy to get to from the freeway. We would return to the park again if we were traveling I-10 through New Mexico.
You'll feel an away-from-it-all serenity at Lordsburg KOA, despite its easy-access location off I-10 halfway between Tucson and El Paso. Desert beauty surrounds you with scenic views of the Pyramid Mountains and big-sky sunsets. Tour ghost towns, search for opals and agates at Rockhound State Park, see the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, hike in the Gila National Forest or climb the dunes at White Sands National Monument. At this KOA, you'll find a swimming pool in season, game room, free cable TV, free wireless internet, special holiday treats and a Camping Kitchen ready for group events. An activity center is available for groups as well as food service on certain days. This is the place for relaxation in the Western desert. Pool: May 15 - September 15. Max pull thru 80 feet.
Stub Stewart is a great park that we found in the Coast Range. It features two large RV camping loops with large flat sites each with a very large flat pea graveled area. It also has a horse camping area with full hookups, complete with horse stalls. There are several cabins for people who want to enjoy the park but may not be set up for camping. Also, it is one of three Oregon State Campgrounds with a disc golf course. (Champoeg & McIver being the other two) While we were there, the rangers had a night talk on the stars. There are trails for hiking, trails for horses, and even special trails for mountain bikes. Overall, the park is outstanding. Near the park is the Bank-Vernonia State Trail.
"Banks-Vernonia State Trail is the first “rails-to-trails” linear state park built in Oregon. The trail follows an abandoned railroad bed that stretches 21 miles between the cities of Banks and Vernonia. Most of the route consists of an eight-foot wide hiking and bicycle trail paralleled by a four-foot wide horse trail. The gentle grade in all but one area allows hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and people of all abilities to enjoy the scenic mountains, fields, and forests of Washington and Columbia counties." Stub Stewart is just about midway along the trail. The link is a PDF about the trail and its history.
Our second visit to the park was a last minute thought on Jackie's part. At 4:30 in the afternoon the day before a camping trip to the beach, Jackie suggests that we find a place to camp on the way to the beach to avoid Monday morning traffic through downtown Portland. Thirty minutes later we were on the road heading here. We pulled in a little after six in the evening hoping there was a space available. Fortunately, there were plenty of sites and we got a great one. (they are all great sites) The next morning it was an hour drive to breakfast and then back to the campground and off to Nehalem Bay via the scenic route.
After a not-so-fun drive through Spokane we arrived at Little Diamond Lake Campground. The campground is both a Thousand Trails and a KOA campground. It is divided as such, but only in aspects of campsite locations. When we arrive a couple of days before the Labor Day weekend, the KOA section was all but empty, but once the weekend hit, both sides of the campground filled up. The KOA side being newer had lots and lots of great sites. The TT did too, but there was a difference. The staff were all KOA people, but that didn’t really make a difference, everyone was quite nice. As campgrounds go, this one is really nice. Only, we stayed too long and with smoke from wildfires kept us and most of the rest of the campers inside after the Labor Day weekend.
The Campground features a small lake with a dock and paddle boats to rent. There is also a nice clubhouse with pool tables, ping pong, and others. There is a nice outdoor pool and an indoor spa. Also, a laundry, a store, and a small room for wifi, with books, videos, puzzles, and a TV. Overall the KOA people do a great job of keeping this rather large campground clean and well maintained.
From the campground, we took a couple of drives before the smoke took over. We drove down and explored Coeur d'Alene and Sand Point, Idaho. Both are great tourist towns with shops and things to do and explore. The best part of our visit here to Little River was the friend that we met, Lynne & Dean, and Patti & Dwayne. Meeting great people is one of the best perks to full-time RV'ing. Lynne & Dean introduced us to a website called RVillage. It is like Facebook for RV'ers. We signed up, saw who else was in the campground and met Patti & Dwayne.
Panoramic views of Northeast Washington are just one of this campground’s attractive features. Warm weather plus a trip to Little Diamond RV Campground in Washington is the perfect combination for summer fun. Our resort offers plenty of activities for the whole family, including fishing for Kamloops, paddle boating or lounging by the swimming pool. The popular nearby Silverwood Theme Park makes for a fun day out.
A fun family getaway starts with a reservation. Book your Little Diamond RV Camping trip today. Our on-site activities and full-service amenities are designed to give you exactly what you’re looking for in your next Washington RV camping trip!
We didn't start out with this park as a destination, but after canceling our week in Yellowstone, we moved things around to stay a couple of days in Leeds so we could visit Zion National Park. As the weather got really cold while visiting Bryce, we decided to add another day just to get some warmer weather. This gave us two days to visit Zion, one to go into the park and use the shuttle to follow the Virgin River up the canyon stopping to hike the trails along the way. The second we followed Route 9 through the tunnels to the other end of the park, seeing a whole different section of the park that can't be seen from the shuttle. My only issue with the park is the number of people, but I guess that's a good thing. The last stop on the shuttle offers a short paved trail up the river to the start of the Narrows. I think that everyone who visits the park takes this hike, or so it seems. The Narrows is something I would like to hike in the future. It is a trail up the middle of the river through the narrow canyon. There is a rental place at the park's entrance to rent waterproof gear to make the hike.
As for the park itself, it was truly one of the nicest parks that we've visited. All the sites have shade, full hookups, a concrete patio, and picnic table. There are grass park areas for tenters and picnickers. The owners were very helpful in accommodating our reservation change in making sure that we didn't have to change sites after our last minute decision to come a day early. Although the park wasn't in either of our membership campgrounds, it is one that we'll visit again in the future.
The best part about the park was the people we met while there. In our short time there we met five other couples. Four of which we shared an evening of libation and laughs. Somehow we always meet the nicest people on our last day in a park. We're looking forward to running into our new friends in the future.
With some poor planning on my part we arrived at Leavenworth on a Friday morning, fortunately, we were early enough to beat most of the weekend rush. By that afternoon the campground was pretty full, Sunday afternoon, just the opposite. Leavenworth is a campground as opposed to being an RV park. We found mostly weekenders and very few members living there full time. You get the best of both worlds, a regular campground for enjoying a campfire in the woods (when there isn't a burn ban) with lots of small squirrels to tease the dogs and a resort with a great pool, clubhouse, sports courts, etc. The only drawback that we found at the campground was the dust. We had to keep our RV closed up with the AC running to try to limit it, but then we're camping, and sometimes that comes with the course.
The campground is about a twenty-five-minute drive to the town of Leavenworth. Leavenworth was a dying logging town, the railroad had moved to an easier way over the mountains, then someone came up with the brilliant idea of making it a theme town. They did their homework and change the look of the town to resemble a Bavarian town. It started with a few storefronts, then expanded from there. Most of the business in town hold to the theme, including Starbucks, McDonald's, and even the 76 station. There are enough shops, restaurants, and things to do and see in the town that we took a couple of days to just poke through the shops. After we had left the area while visiting the Grand Coulee Dam we learned of the Leavenworth fish hatchery and its importance in keeping the salmon population going after the dam was built. We'll have to return to check it out. Leavenworth also has quite a logging history which is also worth looking into.
Overall, this was a great campground and one I'm sure we'll return to. (Maybe during the week, next time) We were there for the eclipse which we experienced while playing shuffleboard. We were too far north for the sky to get dark, but it was a weird light and the temperature noticeably dropped.
Leavenworth RV Open Year Round
What's your activity of choice? Hiking? Fishing? Snowmobiling? Sledding? Book a Leavenworth RV Camping trip and you won't have to choose! We offer countless activities for every season. This beautiful RV camp in Washington boasts a serene location situated amid 300 acres of forests and meadows. Visit in the winter and you'll have access to over 200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Snowshoeing, sledding and cross-country skiing are other popular snow sports, with plenty of on-site hills to choose from. Our hills are even tailored to skill; Chipmunk Hill for the kids and Grizzly Run for the daring adults.
Is summer more your thing? No problem. Warm, sunny days provide picturesque conditions for sunbathing, river rafting, kayaking, paddle boating and more on Alpine Trout Lake and Otter Pond.
Additional off-site recreation is right around the corner. Leavenworth RV Camping is just 29 miles from Steven's Pass Ski Resort and four miles from Fish Lake, a popular ice fishing spot. For additional sights, visit the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth for seasonal festivals, historic architecture and German culture just 17 miles from this exciting Washington RV campground.
We arrived at the park right after a pretty solid rain. A lot of the park was flooded, but all the sites we built up and elevated to minimize the water issue. However, not all the issues... it seems that the ants were also looking for a drier place to live. Small sugar ants used our electrical cable as a gangplank to come aboard. I'm sure that conditions were just right for this to happen, the cable must have been laying across an anthill. Outside of the ants, the park was great. Very well maintained, super clean, and has the friendliest rangers. In the evening, listening to the noise of the local wildlife was amazing. It is a park that we will return to, only next time we'll stay more than just one night so that we have time to visit the Okefenokee Swamp that just a couple of miles away and we'll be a little more attentive to the ants.
From the Park's Website
"Wander among the pines at Laura S. Walker, the first state park named for a woman, an oasis that shares many features with the unique Okefenokee Swamp, where you can enjoy the serene lake, play rounds on a championship golf course, and stroll along the trails and natural communities in this southeast Georgia haven."
Located near the northern edge of the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp, this park is home to many fascinating creatures and plants, including alligators and carnivorous pitcher plants. Walking or biking along the lake’s edge and nature trail, visitors may spot the shy gopher tortoise, numerous oak varieties, saw palmettos, yellow-shafted flickers, warblers, owls and great blue herons. The park’s lake offers opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating, and kayaks and bicycles are available for rent. The Lakes, a championship 18 hole golf course, features a clubhouse, golf pro and junior/senior rates. Greens are undulating rather than tiered. Each fairway and landing area is defined with gentle, links-style mounds that accent the course’s three large lakes. New Sportsman's Cabins sleep six. The park’s namesake was a Georgia writer, teacher, civic leader and naturalist who loved trees and worked for their preservation. Read the story of Laura Singleton Walker.
Lake Minden was a campground of convenience. It was on our way north and it is fairly close to where our daughter lives. Again our GPS detoured us around the quick and easy way to the campground, but this time it only added a mile or two. The ranger at check-in was very nice. She reached across the counter to shake our hands. The campground is nice and well taken care of. We camped in Section D on the other side of the lake. Unfortunately, all the sites are 30 amps with no septic. We got set up and took a walk around the lake. We saw several people fishing along the bank of the lake. There are two nice sections for dry camping and two sections with hook-ups, only Section A near the lodge has septics. The park does have a restaurant that is seasonal and wasn't open during our stay in March. On the second day, we drove to Grass Valley to have lunch with our daughter and her boyfriend.
Lake Minden RV Campground in California
Local attractions and fun things to do are never scarce at beautiful Lake Minden. Located on the grassy plains of the Sacramento Valley, Lake Minden RV Camping Resort provides endless recreation and adventure. Fish, boat or just enjoy the water on our private 41-acre lake, where fishing for catfish and largemouth bass is a year-round pastime. Hiking, picnicking, attending local festivals and enjoying the wildlife are also popular at Lake Minden RV Camping Resort, as the California scenery creates the perfect backdrop for many outdoor activities.
Our central location close to major cities makes for a convenient weekend getaway or a week-long retreat. While we are open year-round, outgoing adventure-seekers will especially enjoy our April through October season. This is our most active time and the campground will be bustling with guests and tons of things to do!
Book your next trip at Lake Minden RV Camping Resort. Our relaxing atmosphere paired with a friendly staff is bound to create a memorable vacation.
Below is a link to the Thousand Trails Campgrounds that we have visited.
- Indicates Trails Collection Resort