I'm halfway home from a trip from Florida to California and back. I have been quite surprised by how many RV parks tell outright lies on their websites. Calling themselves a "resort" when all they have is basic hookups. Calling themselves "pet friendly" when the only place to walk a dog is a foxtail and sandspur infested strip of rock hard dirt along the pavement. Advertising free cable when there is none, advertising free wifi that doesn't work. Saying it's quiet at night when they back up to a highway. Squeezing RVs together within inches of each other. Making no attempt to provide level sites.I realize these are minor things to many people. For me, it's a problem. I base my travels on my next stop and seldom stay in a place for only one night. Usually I'll reserve for a minimum of 2 nights. Frequently I base those reservations on what I read at the RV Park Reviews website and the park website.My 2 dogs are quite old and I like to provide them with a little off leash time whenever possible. It's also better for them if the potty area isn't too far away.I'm pretty sedentary myself and spend a lot of time on the computer or reading or watching TV. I like to open up all the windows and sit with the dogs and just enjoy my surroundings.It is darn disappointing to arrive at a park that I have already paid for 2 nights at only to find it's a run down place full of permanent residents and marginal (if any) amenities.I'd say this applies to a good 30% of the parks I've been to. I suppose they get away with it because of the transience of anyone who might care. I wish people posting RV park reviews would give more details and note such discrepancies, as I do.There. I'm done ranting now. Thank you.

just a couple points....offered with a smile of sympathy.you're not going to find many rv parks that have a fenced area to let your dogs run freely. I think I've only seen one, and that is a city campground in Dumas, TX, if it's still there.you say you like to spend your time reading, computing or watching tv, and maybe just sitting and watching people, etc. that's fine, but you can do that without any amenities.now, if you want pretty surroundings, trees, grass, water, scenery..you're going to have to check into state parks and BLM rec. areas. Those usually have fairly nice campgrounds.some states, like kansas and nebraska... if you get off the interstate and run the state roads, you'll find that most the little towns have a tiny city campground with hookups. some of them are in the city park, others are right in the middle of town. interesting places. Marysville, KS comes to mind, a nice park. Great Bend, KS is another and Moberly, MO has a nice one. Some of these have a bathroom, most just have elec hookups and water. some have a dump station.

I agree with much of what you are saying and would add that I have seen many web and print advertising photos that inaccurately depict an rv park. The photo shows one small part of the park from a flattering angle while the rest of the park is a run down shambles. I think we would both admit that there are many rv parks that are very honest in their advertising. It is those few bad apples that need to be properly reviewed.

bertnspike wrote: I wish people posting RV park reviews would give more details and note such discrepancies, as I do.As one of the volunteer administrators who manage the RV Park Reviews website, I applaud what you are saying and would encourage others to put more detail into their reviews. We're not expecting people to write essays, but reviews such as "nice place, will return" don't provide much assistance in determining if a particular campground is one you might enjoy. If you really liked a CG, try to describe why and if you didn't let people know your reasons for that as well.IMHO it's less important what numeric rating you give a CG than what you say about it. You may have given it a "3" because it didn't have a good dog walk, but someone without a dog may not care so they can mentally "adjust" your rating to reflect their situation. However, if you don't provide your reasoning there is no way for anyone else to make that sort of adjustment.

TexasShadow wrote: some of them are in the city park, others are right in the middle of town. interesting places. Marysville, KS comes to mind, a nice park. Great Bend, KS is another and Moberly, MO has a nice one. Some of these have a bathroom, most just have elec hookups and water. some have a dump station.thanks for these! I will add them to my list. City parks are so hard to find.To the OP, I tend to avoid private parks specifically for the reasons you listed (I have only stayed at one and regretted it). State Parks and COE parks are great places to be able to spread out. I think I have only been disappointed once out of the 100 or so I have stayed at all over the country.

RV Park Website lies rant | Good Sam Community

docj
Explorer
May 05, 2013
bertnspike wrote:
I wish people posting RV park reviews would give more details and note such discrepancies, as I do.

As one of the volunteer administrators who manage the RV Park Reviews website, I applaud what you are saying and would encourage others to put more detail into their reviews. We're not expecting people to write essays, but reviews such as "nice place, will return" don't provide much assistance in determining if a particular campground is one you might enjoy. If you really liked a CG, try to describe why and if you didn't let people know your reasons for that as well.

IMHO it's less important what numeric rating you give a CG than what you say about it. You may have given it a "3" because it didn't have a good dog walk, but someone without a dog may not care so they can mentally "adjust" your rating to reflect their situation. However, if you don't provide your reasoning there is no way for anyone else to make that sort of adjustment.
Two_Hands
Explorer
May 05, 2013
I agree with much of what you are saying and would add that I have seen many web and print advertising photos that inaccurately depict an rv park. The photo shows one small part of the park from a flattering angle while the rest of the park is a run down shambles. I think we would both admit that there are many rv parks that are very honest in their advertising. It is those few bad apples that need to be properly reviewed.
lostmarbles
Explorer
May 05, 2013
http://www.rvparkreviews.com/
TexasShadow
Explorer II
May 05, 2013
just a couple points....offered with a smile of sympathy.
you're not going to find many rv parks that have a fenced area to let your dogs run freely. I think I've only seen one, and that is a city campground in Dumas, TX, if it's still there.
you say you like to spend your time reading, computing or watching tv, and maybe just sitting and watching people, etc. that's fine, but you can do that without any amenities.
now, if you want pretty surroundings, trees, grass, water, scenery..you're going to have to check into state parks and BLM rec. areas. Those usually have fairly nice campgrounds.
some states, like kansas and nebraska... if you get off the interstate and run the state roads, you'll find that most the little towns have a tiny city campground with hookups. some of them are in the city park, others are right in the middle of town. interesting places. Marysville, KS comes to mind, a nice park. Great Bend, KS is another and Moberly, MO has a nice one. Some of these have a bathroom, most just have elec hookups and water. some have a dump station.

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