Canyon Trail RV Resort, San Marcos TX

Stay Date:  October 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 7
We’ve stayed here twice, but won’t return except for perhaps an overnight.  It’s a nice place; paved roads, level concrete sites, free cable TV and strong WiFi.  The sites are adequate in size with small trees and some grass.  Not a destination park, there’s no pool and the clubhouse is kept locked.  Friendly owner is a bit of a character, but will try and make your stay pleasant.  The problem is noise – the park is right on I-35 and the noise is constant; but worse is the daytime noise from the cement plant next door.  The cranes with their loud beeping alarms will drive you crazy.  Too bad, otherwise it’s a great place, although the price has risen to $32/day.  Canyon Trail RV Resort

Fort Stockton RV Park, Fort Stockton TX

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD –8
What a pleasant surprise - apparently shedding the manacles of KOA has given the owners an opportunity to improve the park. Sites were long, wide and level (gravel), trees provided shade, and hookups were convenient. The free Wi-Fi worked well until the morning when it disappeared. Verizon cell and Aircard worked well.  No cable TV, but clear shots at satellite.  A real treat was the on-site cafe which served a home-made meal each night - the country ribs were great! A very nice park, nicely priced at $27/night.  Fort Stockton RV Park

Circle B RV Park, Ruidoso NM

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 7
A nice, above average park with shade and fairly level sites. The sites are slightly terraced, gravel, roomy. Water pressure is very high, power good, and the free Wi-Fi worked very well. Verizon cell and Aircard worked well.  Cable TV and most sites have a clear shot at the satellite.  Some road noise of trucks on the upgrade into town, and large, bright lights can be a problem at night if you're under one. There are a large number of parks in the area, this is one of the better ones, at a cost of $34/night.  Circle B RV Park

Lee Acres RV Park, Farmington NM

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  BAD – 5
We stopped here after having changed our plans for a another campground. Bare bones dirt parking lot with hookups: all gravel sites, lots of dust with a few small trees. Check-in staff was friendly and helpful. No restroom, shower, or laundry facilities; there was a porta-john down the lane. No cable TV no WiFi; cash only.  Verizon cell and Aircard worked well.  Not a place we'd stay again, in fact we’ll avoid Farmington if at all possible. 

Lake Powell Campground and RV Park, Page AZ

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 7
Overall a nice park for the price. Entry/exit is a little tight (they should move the dumpsters), but the office staff was friendly, the utilities worked fine, and the free WiFi and cable worked well. Sites are long, gravel, reasonably level, and there are some trees for shade.  Free cable TV and working WiFi.  Some trees, but most sites have a clear shot to the satellite.  Verizon cell and Aircard worked well.  Nothing special, but a good place to stay, reasonable at $27/night ($3 extra for cable)  Lake Powell Campground and RV Park

Hitch-N-Post Campground, Panguitch UT

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 7
A decent little park with good 50A power, level gravel sites, and a friendly and helpful manager. Easy access off Main street. Sites were wide enough (barely) for 4-slides. Quiet and dark at night. The free WiFi was strong and fast. Cable TV, ask for site with satellite shot.  Verizon cell and Aircard worked well.  A good base for exploring the southern Utah parks. We'd stay here again, a bargain at $25/night.  Hitch-N-Post Campground

Lyman KOA, Lyman WY

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  Good – 7
A pleasant surprise; all by itself along I-80 in a town where the only restaurant is a Taco Time. Great owners, friendly - went out of their way to make sure we had a good stay. Open, level grass sites, not much shade but fine with us. Good utilities although water pressure was sometimes very low. Free WiFi was strong and steady. Verizon cell and Aircard worked well.  No cable TV, but clear shot at satellite.  Nothing fancy, just a comfortable place with helpful owners, for around $30/night.  Lyman KOA

Colter Bay Village RV Park, Grand Teton NP, WY

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 7
I'm afraid I'm not as enamored with this park as others; perhaps because the park is not particularly big-rig friendly. After waiting in line for 30 minutes while two inconsiderate motorhomers disconnected their tows (yes, while in line and after checking in), we pulled into our site, which was downhill and tight because of trees and untrimmed branches. It was necessary to disconnect the tow, then back up to the rear of the site to get fairly level and avoid trees for the slide outs. Hookups were OK, but no satellite due to trees. No cable TV, No WiFi, and no Verizon service.  It's the only hookup location in the area, but even then, $52 a night is too steep for what your get.

Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park, West Yellowstone MT

Stay Date:  Sept 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 10
A quality, professionally run RV park. Sites were well laid out, level, and beautifully landscaped. Paved roads and level paved pull-thru sites, nicely sized.  Impressive offices/store and professional and friendly staff.  Free WiFi and cable TV, most sites have a clear shot to satellite.  Verizon cell and Aircard worked, but slowly.  Convenient to park and just down the street from the Grizzly and Wolf center (well worth seeing).  West Yellowstone’s best, and priciest park at $55/night for a “standard”  pull-thru.  Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park

Rocky Mountain RV Park, Gardiner MT

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 7
Reviews seem to run hot and cold on this park, but our experience was positive.  After a steep climb to the check-in, we were met by a friendly staff and led to our site. The sites are close together but adequate; with slides out there was no room for awning, but we're not here to stay in the campground. Good power, OK cable, and good free WiFi. Most sites have clear shot to satellite.  Verizon cell and Aircard worked well.  Convenient to the North gate of Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs.  Gardiner's a cute little town, but stay away from the Chinese restaurant; the food was horrible and I've been in cleaner Forest Service outhouses.  Rocky Mountain RV Park

Fairmont RV Park, Anaconda MT

Stay Date:  September 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 7
A good value at the Passport America rate. We were led on a dirt to a fairly large, reasonable level gravel site with grass and a picnic table. Power and water were good; however, the free WiFi was weak and sporadic once the park filled and people started logging on. No cable TV, but good shot at satellite.  Verizon cell and WiFi worked well.  A perfectly average park, unfortunately, the manager stated that they were dropping the PA discount; not sure we'd stay here for the full price of $33/night for a pull-thru site.  Fairmont RV Park

Sunrise Campground, Bozeman MT

Stay Date:  April 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 7
Very friendly hosts; great check-in and escort to site. Sites were gravel, but level; hookups convenient and worked well. Free WiFi worked well, no cable TV,  but most sites have a clear shot to the satellite.  Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Road noise a bit of a problem but probably not as bad during summer when trees would block some sound. A wreck of an old RV (permanent camper) next to us, otherwise a well kept park. Woke up to 4" of unexpected snow and owner was helpful in getting travel information.  Reasonably priced at $28/night.  Sunrise Campground

Indian Campground, Buffalo WY

Stay Date:  April 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD –7
A very nice campground; on arrival we were greeted by the friendly and helpful owner & helped with refilling our propane tank. Sites are level gravel with large trees and convenient hookups. Free cable and good free WiFi. Satellite TV will require a portable dish due to the trees.  Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Next to the interstate but not too much noise. Close enough to walk to restaurants in a beautiful setting.  $38/night is too pricy; we’ll look for another place next time.  Indian Campground

Peregrine Pines Famcamp (US Air Force Academy), CO

Stay Date:  April 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 9
A beautiful park in the tall pines at the AF Academy.  See the web site for driving instructions, there’s a lack of road signs and it’s a fairly lengthy drive through the base.  Although the park layout is confusing, the gravel sites are fairly large but  not too level.  Very friendly host.  Ask for a site with satellite access; most sites are heavily treed.  Some train noise and dust in the summer months.  Good free WiFi, good Verizon cell and Aircard reception.  A great place to stay in this busy area, at a bargain price of $25 a night. Military or DoD ID required.   Peregrine Pines Famcamp

Las Vegas, NM KOA

Stay Date:  April, 2008
Our Rating:  BAD – 6
Kind of what think of as a typical KOA – overpriced unless used as a destination park for a family with kids during the summer (nice pool).  Friendly manager, but she was probably glad to see us, there wasn’t much business this time of year.  Gravel, sorta level sites, poor water pressure, all in all nothing special.  Convenient to the interstate but fairly quiet.  It’s the only place to stop for miles and miles…..and Las Vegas is certainly not a tourist stop.  We drove around town for an hour looking for a place to eat and finally found a forgettable steakhouse. Too bad they charge so much for a simple overnight stay; it wasn’t worth the $36 and in the future we’ll plan better to avoid a stop here.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, TX

Stay Date:  April 2008
Our Rating:  GOOD – 9
A one of a kind, magical place!  After a steep descent (10% grade for one mile) into the canyon, you enter a world of red and orange rock.  It’s a few miles to the campground, but well worth it.  Sites are spread out, have 50A, water, and incredible views.  Maybe not so level, no cell phone, WiFi, or broadcast TV………but who cares?  We were surrounded by wild turkeys, one of which beat on our door for food.  Desert Bighorn were visible on the canyon walls, and deer were everywhere.  It’s a large park, with a nice visitor center, museum, and small restaurant.  For $20 a night, it’s a bargain!  Palo Duro Canyon State Park