I prefer State Parks as the campsites are usually much more private and separated from each other.
I can understand that some people prefer being closer to other campers for more socializing opportunities. And the convenience of FHUs is definitely nice - but usually kind of crowded for me, especially private campgrounds.
At State Parks I often see several families camping near each other and spending most of their time together - obviously good friends and family gatherings. The kids especially seem to enjoy state park camping as they are running around together in the woods, fields and streams that come with state parks.
Private campgrounds don't have 1,000 acres of forests and miles of trails to hike and streams to kayak on. Unless they are next to a park or forest I suppose.
Tuckahoe State Park Secret: you can put kayaks and canoes in the creek at the non-electric camping loop and float downstream to Tuckahoe lake. You can even paddle up the creek if you want. I like to bring my dog kayaking there as there are a couple sandbars where we can splash around and enjoy lunch in the shade. Rentals are cheap.
Also at Tuckahoe if you bring along some long fresh water hoses you can string them together and refill your fresh water tanks pretty easily from the spigots along the camping loop.
No more Tuckahoe secrets. I don't want it to get too popular.
Ed
