Overnight recommendation in Kamloops

[rightyouareken]

Hello all,

We've got a fabulous two week trip planned and reserved this summer from Seattle to Banff and Jasper. The last remaining detail to get ironed out is where to stay on the way home. Currently, because of time constraints, I think we're going to be making a beeline back home from Jasper via Hwy 5. It looks like Kamloops is about exactly half way for us, so I thought a quick overnight there would be a good idea.

Any recommendations for a reasonable overnight stop with electric? With the likely summer heat we're going to want to run the AC, so I think a Costco/Walmart camp is probably out for us. Not looking for anything other than a quick stop and crash really. We're probably going to be sightsee'd out by then, so scenery isn't a priority, so long as the place is clean and safe and reasonably presentable.

I did a search and came up with Knutsford Campground and Kamloops RV Park as possibles.

Any thoughts about these, or other suggestions?

Thanks!

[luckyd]

"The Merritt WM is more suitable for overnight camping"

Walmart IS NOT FOR CAMPING.
When are you people going to get it????????

It is no wonder that more and more Walmarts are
refusing overnight "PARKING"

[BC_Explorer]

paulj wrote:
On Google Maps Streetview, the main entrance sign form WM also lists Michaels, Payless Shoes, Pier one, etc. And from sat view, there's no out-of-the-way corner of the parking lot where RVs could cluster and be away from the other stores.

The Merritt WM is more suitable for overnight camping. It's just off the freeway, out of town, the only neighbors is the airport and a Husky station with a large empty parking area.

I have seen a lot of RV's at the Merritt WM any time I have passed through. Surprised they have not clamped down on the abusers who have their whole campsite setup in the parking lot.

[paulj]

On Google Maps Streetview, the main entrance sign form WM also lists Michaels, Payless Shoes, Pier one, etc. And from sat view, there's no out-of-the-way corner of the parking lot where RVs could cluster and be away from the other stores.

The Merritt WM is more suitable for overnight camping. It's just off the freeway, out of town, the only neighbors is the airport and a Husky station with a large empty parking area.

[luckyd]

Two problems with W/M in Kamloops.
There was a group of RV's that came in, put their slides out, jacks down
on new pavement, set up barbecues, etc. They were asked to pack it all up as they were only allowed "parking", not camping. They refused and the police
had to intervene.

W/M does not own the land and that is why the signs went up.
Has not been overnight parking for several years....as stated.

[Johnny_G1]

Tothill wrote:

luckyd wrote:
Two CG's in Kamloops. One is Kamloops RV park. Noisy and high price.
The other is at Knutsford RV Park. Quiet, off the highway, lots of shade,
BUT, most sites are 30 amp.
Coming from Jasper on Hwy 5. there is a CG about 15 miles north of
Kamloops.

For a major center, we really are lacking in CG's.

You are not allowed overnight at Walmart.
Costco lot is very small now with the gas pumps and cement islands.

When did they stop over nighting at Walmart in Kamloops? We spent the night there(with store permission and about 15 other rigs about 6 years ago).

About 3 yrs ago, signs everywhere, maximum 3 hrs parking with an RV.

[dfm]

Chinook cove golf and Rv Park is just 3 miles north of Barriere, B.C. right off highway . They have 18 sites with full hookups. Nice and quiet and around $30.00 a night. We stay there numerous times during the summer because it has a great 9 hole golf course.
Barriere is only 40 minutes north of Kamloops.

[Tothill]

luckyd wrote:
Two CG's in Kamloops. One is Kamloops RV park. Noisy and high price.
The other is at Knutsford RV Park. Quiet, off the highway, lots of shade,
BUT, most sites are 30 amp.
Coming from Jasper on Hwy 5. there is a CG about 15 miles north of
Kamloops.

For a major center, we really are lacking in CG's.

You are not allowed overnight at Walmart.
Costco lot is very small now with the gas pumps and cement islands.

When did they stop over nighting at Walmart in Kamloops? We spent the night there(with store permission and about 15 other rigs about 6 years ago).

[luckyd]

Two CG's in Kamloops. One is Kamloops RV park. Noisy and high price.
The other is at Knutsford RV Park. Quiet, off the highway, lots of shade,
BUT, most sites are 30 amp.
Coming from Jasper on Hwy 5. there is a CG about 15 miles north of
Kamloops.

For a major center, we really are lacking in CG's.

You are not allowed overnight at Walmart.
Costco lot is very small now with the gas pumps and cement islands.

[fanrgs]

docj wrote:
We have dual pane windows in our RV and didn't think the noise was particularly noticeable with them closed.

The OP's truck-trailer combination is much closer to ours than to a 40-ft. coach. We might have had a 60-ft. pull-thru if we had been in a Class A MH. But we weren't, so ended up with a 20-ft. back-in space for a 21-ft. trailer with no place to put our truck. I would stay away from Kamloops RV Park.

[docj]

fanrgs wrote:
We stayed only one night at the overpriced Kamloops RV Park last summer. We were given a space that only had room for our trailer, but not our truck (and our trailer is only 21' long). The Trans-Canada truck and CP train noise was so loud during the night that we had trouble sleeping even with our normal ear plugs in.

I personally wouldn't stay there again. Instead, I would suggest someplace outside town and away from the highway and railroad track if at all possible.

We have dual pane windows in our RV and didn't think the noise was particularly noticeable with them closed. The staff are very nice and the park is next to the BC Wildlife Park which, although it is just a zoo, was an enjoyable place for the kids to see some grizzly's up close. IMHO the short backtrack back to the highway to Jasper was not a big deal; I've drive a lot farther off course to get to a CG.

Kamloops is a good place to stop either coming or going from or to Jasper. The shopping is good so it's a great place to stock up or re-stock, as the case may be.

[Baxtersparents]

See if this place fits your needs :

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/British_Columbia/Barriere.html

http://www.chinookcovegolf.com/

[rightyouareken]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

[Johnny_G1]

KOA in Clearwater 75 miles north of Kamloops and other camgrounds here also. Quite reasonable.

[Tothill]

Savona is not too far West of Kamloops (on the Trans Canada Highway)

Steelhead Provincial Park is one of the few BC Provincial Parks with electric (15 amp). We spent the night there mid July and did not need the AC as there was a lovely Breeze off the lake.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/steelhead/

I would stay there again.