Campgrounds you don't like

[pete42]

In another thread I ask about campground fees someone mentioned they "hated" KOA campgrounds.
There is a KOA in Tampa Florida that charges a lot to stay and it looks like crap bad roads dirty baths ect
but the KOA near sevierville TN was very nice and since we used it during the winter very cheap

that got me to wondering if there are some campgrounds you won't stay in and why?
If this has been hashed out before please forgive me I'm old and I have a short memory

pete

[BillZ]

I want to know what others have experienced also. I could see the subject being a good main topic, "campground reviews". People could post their experiences and pics.

The only campground my wife and I had a bad experience in was Cedarville State Forest in Southern Maryland. But that was mainly because of the partying neighbors we had. The campground was a little run down because of budget cuts but not too bad otherwise.

My family used to camp in KOA's back in the 70's and 80's when we took cross-country trips every few years. My dad looked for them specifically because the amenities were predictable and us kids wanted a pool to swim in. Usually we just needed an overnight place to stay. Because I was a kid at the time, I can't remember if the conditions were good or not. KOA's never seemed to me to be a place to really camp but rather a place to shack up for the night and move on early the next morning.

99% of my vacation camping currently is in state or national parks. Maryland has some pretty good ones. New Germany State Park in the Western Panhandle is the best in my opinion.

The main issues around here is not the park itself but more the city dwellers invading with their noise and parties and inconsiderate treatment of the grounds and facilities. Generally, the closer the campground is to high population, the worse it is.

[Oldragbaggers]

Thanks for giving me that insight into how to pick my local campground, Bill, as I am also a Marylander (as you know). Common sense should tell me but I may have not had it in mind.

[Phooey]

Not really fond of Casini Ranch campground in Duncan Mills. It's really designed for the big motor home types and large trailer haulers. Pretty wide open, not very private and the people are a bit on the snotty side. We went to a rally of vintage trailers there and were put off to the side, kind of like the ugly step sister. Not doing that again! Teardrop gatherings ONLY for us.

[David S]

We always stayed at the local state camp ground till one weekend after a hail storm the camp ground was full of roofers from,,,how do I say this and be PC ?
lets just say they were from south of the border.
The Camp Host (a volunteer job with free camping) was one of them.
There were construction trucks all over,they played their music loud,and talked loud.
When we complained to the host of coarse it did no good and when we asked the Ranger if he could do anything ,he said as long as they changed camp sites every 2 weeks there was nothing he could do.
It was the worst camping experiance we ever had.

[pete42]

about changing campsites every two weeks some states have a rule two weeks means you must go somewhere else before you can stay another 2 weeks.
one of the great surprises for me was camping in Tunica mississippi at one of the casinos very nice and they refunded your fee for credit if booked in advanced you could spend the refund or cash it in, we spent it but did win enought to finance the trip and other camping spots.

[legojenn]

Phoenecia Black Bear Campground in Phoenecia New York in the Catskills. It was a disgusting campground owned by scummy people.

[Bigwoods]

Our worst experience was in a U.S. park at Bemidji Mn. We wanted electric hook up as there was a chill and it was my wife first outing since her stroke. I wanted her to be comfortable. At this site we were some close to 4 other campers that literally we were all just 5 feet apart. To top it off, across the road was a 5th wheel that had 4 adult dog, and about 6 pups that barked and howled constantly. The owners drank until 3 in the morning, Then we discovered it we would have went to the tent area the sites were yards apart and they would allow small trailer there too, We will go back sometime.

[TJinPgh]

I can't say that I've ever stayed in a campground that was so bad that I wouldn't camp there again. But then, I tend to research such things before I go.

With respect to the KOA, I've seen good and bad ones.

The one in Washington, PA, has a pretty bad rep. Not the greatest place.

I have to say, though, that the one in Erie, PA, was fantastic. I ended up staying there last summer out of pure necessity.

Was driving back from Virginia's Beach Campground, down the lake just a tad, toward home and a seal on the aftermarket engine oil cooler I'd installed blew. Stuck on the side of the road. No way to fix the problem.

GPS said that there was a KOA about a 3 mile walk from where I was. Walked there... in 90 degree heat with a bearded dragon in a pet carrier!! Not only did the manager of the place drive out to pick up the trailer we were using at the time (which, though it was a 3 mile walk was about a 20 mile round trip given where the exits were) and brought it back to the campground and set it up for us, he drove me BACK out there the next morning, with tools, to fix the TV.

Awesome folks.

[Wolffarmer]

In recent history I have stayed at one KOA and one that use to be a KOA. Locals still call it the KOA and that was about 20 years ago. But here is my take. They are expensive for what you get, in my opinion as a teardrop camper. And at both of them the shower stalls are tiny. As well as the toilet stalls. And I think they would still be small if I was near perfect weight. The real KOA is in Ely Nevada and the x KOA is near Rupert Idaho. The one in Ely has most of the camp spots cheek and jowl. The one in Rupert at least has a bit of grass in between. The one in Rupert has plenty of trees at most of the spots. The one Ely is working on them but trees don't grow good there. Just me but I really do not like commercial grounds all that much.

Randy

[len19070]

I'm going to separate my answer into 2 parts.

Campgrounds I like. But don't like for Gatherings.

Elk Neck State Park in Northeast MD. is a great Park for family Camping, one of the Nicest I've ever been to. Maryland really does a great job..but, its a bad place for a gathering.

On a Gathering there 2 years ago they separated us non pet owners from the pet owners so we were really in 2 groups, almost a mile apart. When we asked if we could all move to the pet section to all stay in one group (months before) we were told we couldn't camp in the pet area unless we had a pet.

Then once we got there when our friends from the pet area came over for a visit, they had to leave because they had pets.

Then when we went over to the pet area to visit them we were asked to leave because we didn't have Pets.

They've changed that policy a bit but now its a No Alcohol park.

I understand that there needs to be rules, but we're a group of people where the average age in in there mid 50's and all adults. The days of Drinking all night and jumping naked through the campfire are long gone.

Happy Trails

Len

[Wolffarmer]

I understand that there needs to be rules, but we're a group of people where the average age in in there mid 50's and all adults. The days of Drinking all night and jumping naked through the campfire are long gone.

Happy Trails

Len

Well, I agree with the no jumping part.

[Wolffarmer]

I understand that there needs to be rules, but we're a group of people where the average age in in there mid 50's and all adults. The days of Drinking all night and jumping naked through the campfire are long gone.

Happy Trails

Len

Well, I agree with the no jumping part.