How to avoid bad campgrounds

[jaydub74]

My family and I just begun our trip down the 101 on the west coast? We've just left a Campground and found it rather sketchy. There appears to be a number of people who live full time in some of the spaces, and many of them were worry some looking. Very intimidating.

Just wondering how to avoid these types of campgrounds in the future? Looking for tips from more experienced campers then I.

Also looking for 101 campground suggestions!

Thanks
Josh

[korbe]

I have seen more than a few RV Parks that ultimately evolve into trailer parks. I can understand the economics. When I stay at one of these types of parks, and I step in dog poop as I first get out of my truck, it's difficult to keep an open mind on the situation.

[2oldman]

Go to a more expensive park.

[lfloom]

Another endorsement for RVPark reviews, but you have to actually read the reviews, don't just look at the score. There might be a review like this: "wow, they have a lot of rules! they would not let me run my generator all day, and they were angry because I played my music" And, some people would not want to stay there, but to me, that is great. Also, you will see people who downgrade a park because trees block their satellite reception. So, make sure what people love/hate about a park are the same things you would love/hate about a park.

[tsetsaf]

Research and www.campgroundviews.com are what we use. I like to see what we are getting in to.

[Jim_Shoe]

I've only been in one CG that scared me. I didn't do my usual checking on this place because I got stuck in a 4 hour traffic jam due to a bad accident on an expressway. Late in the day and nobody in the office. A few beat up TTs but no tow vehicles by them or anybody outside. For medical reasons I have to have at least electric. So I headed on down the road until I found a Holiday Inn Express. Bet it was the first time they had a Class C in their parking lot!

[rr2254545]

Sounds like a campground we stayed in Redway California, was dirty and many of the camping units would be condemned if they were houses. A really rough permanent crowd with dogs running free all over the campground

It was highly rated by Good Sam and I sent them a long explanation of what we found

[magnusfide]

jaydub74 wrote:


Just wondering how to avoid these types of campgrounds in the future? Looking for tips from more experienced campers then I.

Also looking for 101 campground suggestions!

Thanks
Josh

Josh, http://www.allstays.com/Campgrounds/ has reviews that are reliable and a complete listing of your campground options by city/state/region and the maps have filter options. TripAdvisor.com is also a great resource used by RVers. I always check these two sites for reviews.

I will also use Woodalls.com to narrow my initial search. I've found that Woodalls.com does a good job of listing the more reputable cgs for the most part. Allstays will give you a complete listing so be sure you look at the reviews there to see if there might be problems. Google Earth will give you an idea of proximity to highways.

[Dick_B]

We use the Good Sam and Trailer Life directories to choose campgrounds and like KOA's for their relatively consistent quality.

[rockhillmanor]

jaydub74 wrote:
My family and I just begun our trip down the 101 on the west coast? We've just left a Campground and found it rather sketchy. There appears to be a number of people who live full time in some of the spaces, and many of them were worry some looking. Very intimidating.

Just wondering how to avoid these types of campgrounds in the future? Looking for tips from more experienced campers then I.

Also looking for 101 campground suggestions!ThanksJosh

The state of the economy over the past years has had CG owners looking for more ways to increase revenue and CG's are allowing more and more residents into their CG's. And sadly over time this usually brings the CG down and not desirable/safe for RV'ers and their families.

What I do is call and ask how many 'residents' they have in the CG.

Don't get this confused with the term "seasonal". Those are RV'ers who leave their RV parked all year and only use them seasonally.

So short answer is call and ask how many "residents" the CG has.

[Paul_Clancy]

Good point. I've had more issues with the party crowd on holiday than any permanents. As asked 101 is quite long so if you are in cannon beach we love the cannon beach Rv park, visit yearly. Also just back from newport and the newport rv park and marina was nice but windy being right on the bay. Very scenic though. Fort stevens in warrenton/Astoria is very nice and the Koa there as well is top notch.

[Old-Biscuit]

If you waved, engaged, tried to be friendly you would find that those folks are also friendly.....more than likely they are just trying to make a living and are caught up in the routine of life vs being on holiday.


Majority of situations...treat people like you want to be treated (without fear and disdain) and you will in return be treated likewise.
Vice versa holds true also.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Where are you? "101" goes through three States.

[n7bsn]

We do a lot of coastal late-fall/winter/early-spring camping.
There will be some people in the campgrounds at all times, but certainly few crowds.
About the only time they are "crowded" is on Clamming Weekends (sometimes actually full)

[jaydub74]

I'm not really against permanent or semi pernanent people in rv parks. I suppose that is a bad stereotype I'm more uncomfortable with some of the rougher crowds that appear to be living or visiting the parks

[jaydub74]

Thanks for the responses. I'll use the review site as suggested going forward.

I suspect the state parks have less people living in them but will we be alone. We're kind of sheep and prefer the company of others. It's laye oct, what will the crowds be like on the coast?