RV Park Soup...

I have been asked a couple of times to rate the RV parks that we have used so far in the trip. I have been keeping a photo record and some comments on each RV park. I am tempted to come up with this rating system based on:

-Price per day
-Pull through spaces
-Spacing between RV spaces
-Appearance, cleanliness of the park
-Amenities (wifi, showers, laundry)

We have learned quite a bit about reading the layout of the RV parks in relation to how to maneuver a looooong rig.
Our Trailer is 30 ft long
Our truck is 20 ft long
The Hensley Hitch set up is 5 ft long.
We are talking about a 55 feet long set up here!

We learned the hard way that successfully backing up into a site is not good enough.
In order to un-hitch, we need to have the trailer and the tow vehicle (TV) at a relatively straight angle. Some sites do not have enough space in front of them to have the trailer and TV straight.
Some pull through sites, are so curved that they do not allow that needed straight angle, so they are just as bad as a backup site.

Here is the draft list so far...


This is Dakotah Meadows RV park, next to the Mystic Lake Indian Casino. This is probably one of the best private RV parks that we have stayed at so far. Full hookups, nice showers, wifi, laundry room, diesel pump on premises (wow!) , LP refills on premises (double wow!), nice well planned pull through sites.
***** Rating: 5 silver-whales


We found this RV at the Milwaukee State Fair grounds. It was outrageously expensive--almost $50 bucks a day! for a plain parking lot park. Full hookups and location are the "saving graces" of this park. It is near downtown and the city waterfront.
* Rating: 1 silver-whale


This is not an RV park, it is the parking lot of the Free Methodist Church in Wakeagan Illinois. The spot was generously offered by my cousin Alma, which is the pastor at this church. We had a wonderful time here and the spot was supper easy to drive in and out.
*****Rating: 5 silver-whales


This is Weldong Springs State Park in Illinois. We "crashed" in this location after our burned brake magnets incident while traveling between St. Louis and Chicago. Only electricity and a dump station. No water.
**Rating: 2 silver-whales


Don't let the exotic name of this park, Safari RV Park, fool you. This was one of the skankiest sites so far. About $25/day for back up sites with a single driveway to get out and into the park. You need to do a U turn to get out. Lots of broken glass mixed in the gravel surfaced lot. The only mildly appeal of this location is that is somewhat near St. Louis riverfront/downtown and very near Cahokia Mounds Historic site.
*Rating: 1 silver-whale

Hava RV Park in Missouri was the only RV park near Versailles MO, the town were my wife wanted to do some genealogy research . Full hookups, somewhat cramped pull through sites, the kind that you need to park your TV on the side after un-hitching. Friendly staff.
**Rating: 2 silver-whales


This is not an RV Park. This is Uncle Bernie's nice backyard. It came with 20 amp hookup!
Thanks uncle Bernie! Minus one silver-whale for the maneuvering to get out. Sorry for rolling over several of Renee's flowers.
****Rating: 4 silver-whales


Petit Jeane State Park in Arkansas was super nice. In my mind, the way nature RV camping should be. Mind you that this was the "overflow" area. Just a big grass field next to a lake! Better than the back up sites in the designated areas and at a discounted rate of $14/day! Electricity and water with near by dump station.
*****Rating: 5 silver-whales


This is the site we chose to be near Little Rock Arkansas, Maumelle Park. It was nice and a bit crowded. It has some pull through sites and some of the back up sites are wickedly, sadistically hard to get into. We got lucky and snatched a full hookups pull-through site.
***Rating: 3 silver-whales


This is the Gulpha Gorge campground of Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. Very nice site all around, full hookups and no pull through sites. Only some of the back up sites are properly angled to backup a long rig.
*****Rating: 4 silver-whales


(Missing Photo) This was Paris RV park in Paris TX. Sort of OK. Pull through sites, full hookups, and maybe the only option to stay close to Paris TX the town. Sort of expensive, $25 for such featureless location.
*Rating: 1 silver-whale


This is the 1000 Trails campground on Bay Landing. It is big and spaced generously. Only a handful of pull through sites, but the backups have enough space to maneuver big rigs. Electricity, water, and dump station.
**Rating: 2 silver-whales


(Missing Photo) This is "Possum Kingdom" State Park. It looked so nice in the Texas State Park booklet that we decided to go out of our way to visit it. It was a utter disappointment. Not only did we manage to scrape the trailer on the tight turns and tight spaces, but the park was not that nice to justify the aggravation and distance we traveled to it.
----Rating: minus 3 silver-whales


Monahan Sand Dunes State Park is a nice park and has pull through sites...but lots of sand! Electricity, water and dump station.
****Rating: 4 silver-whales


At Davis Mountains State Park campground we found nice pull through sites and full hookups + cable! at state campground rates. The sites are near trails and overlooks that are spectacular.
*****Rating: 5 silver-whales


This is Cottonwood Boondocking campground in Big Bend. No pull-throughs, but enough space to maneuver long rigs. The only sane option to photograph Santa Elena canyon under early morning light. Daily visits by a herd of javalinas is free.
****Rating: 4 silver-whales



(Missing Photo) Terlingua RV Park has full hookups and nice pull through sites. But it is super dusty and the water is sooo hard that you will develop instant kidney stones.



This is Fort Stockton RV Park. Full hookups and good enough for an overnight stay. Nice ample pull through sites.
***Rating: 3 silver-whales


McNinney Falls State Park in Austin TX has electricity, water and a dump station. Many of the sites are pull-throughs, but they are horribly curved...poison for Hensley Hitches!
****Rating: 4 silver-whales