Stay Date: November 2010
Our Rating: GOOD – 9
This is a well-maintained, full-service campground and RV park on Lake Nasworthy, about 10 miles from Goodfellow AFB. Interior roads are gravel, but there are concrete pads on loops that provide easy entry/departure. Sites are large, with table and most have shade. Nearby is a marina with boat rental and swimming beach. Quiet this time of year, but can be noisy during the day in the summer months. Sporadic office hours, but an on-site host will check you in. Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. There's not much in the area, and this is a hidden jewel of a park, at an exceptional price. Military or DoD ID Required. Goodfellow AFB Recreation Area
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Shady Oaks RV Park, Brownwood TX
Stay Date: November 2010
Our Rating: BAD – 5
Just a gravel parking lot along side the highway, this park offers nothing more than a place to overnight. Some large trees offer a bit of shade, but sites have no grass, tables, and are only identified by the hookups. Almost exclusively long term residents; we were the only transient RV during our stay. Free cable TV and good Wi-Fi, and Verizon cell was marginal and there was no Aircard service. The manager was very friendly, and the park is convenient to shopping and dining in Brownwood. This is the only park in town, and next time we'll adjust our schedule to avoid overnighting in the area. Brownwood RV Park
Our Rating: BAD – 5
Just a gravel parking lot along side the highway, this park offers nothing more than a place to overnight. Some large trees offer a bit of shade, but sites have no grass, tables, and are only identified by the hookups. Almost exclusively long term residents; we were the only transient RV during our stay. Free cable TV and good Wi-Fi, and Verizon cell was marginal and there was no Aircard service. The manager was very friendly, and the park is convenient to shopping and dining in Brownwood. This is the only park in town, and next time we'll adjust our schedule to avoid overnighting in the area. Brownwood RV Park
Davis Mountains State Park, Fort Davis TX
Stay Date: Multiple, last November 2010
Our Rating: GOOD – 9
This is one of Texas' best state parks - large sites with picnic pavilions and fire rings, full hookups with cable TV, and a great scenic drive. Paved interior roads and sites, but sites are not always level. No Verizon cell phone but strangely, Aicard worked (but slowly); and the Indian lodge (which has a fair restaurant) has free WiFi. Most sites have a clear shot to the satellite. This is a great destination park and also a good place from which to visit McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis National Historic Site, and the "Marfa Mystery Lights". Fort Davis has a fair variety of restaurants, one grocery store, and two gas stations; all are pricey so stock up before arrival. This is the part of Texas we saw in the old Westerns – mountain vistas, rocky canyons, miles of sage brush, and you’ll see deer and Javelina while you’re there. A great place to stay, full hookup sites are a steal at $20/night. Davis Mountains State Park
Our Rating: GOOD – 9
This is one of Texas' best state parks - large sites with picnic pavilions and fire rings, full hookups with cable TV, and a great scenic drive. Paved interior roads and sites, but sites are not always level. No Verizon cell phone but strangely, Aicard worked (but slowly); and the Indian lodge (which has a fair restaurant) has free WiFi. Most sites have a clear shot to the satellite. This is a great destination park and also a good place from which to visit McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis National Historic Site, and the "Marfa Mystery Lights". Fort Davis has a fair variety of restaurants, one grocery store, and two gas stations; all are pricey so stock up before arrival. This is the part of Texas we saw in the old Westerns – mountain vistas, rocky canyons, miles of sage brush, and you’ll see deer and Javelina while you’re there. A great place to stay, full hookup sites are a steal at $20/night. Davis Mountains State Park
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Big Cypress RV Park, Pittsburg TX
Stay Date: November 2010
Our Rating: GOOD – 9
What a find! A pretty park with nice sites, good hookups, and and a new, free laundry for the Passport America rate of $12.50/night. Gravel interior roads and pads, terraced slightly but level, with grass, newly-planted trees, and a table. Long pull-thrus are in the middle and have a clear view of the sky for the satellite, large back-in sites have trees and shade. No cable TV, but good 
free WiFi. Nice little laundry with two each washer/dryers are free. Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Very quiet and peaceful, no road noise. Not a family destination park, but a great place to spend a few days. The owner and host are friendly and went out of their way to make our stay pleasant. Cash or checks only. Big Cypress RV Park
Our Rating: GOOD – 9
What a find! A pretty park with nice sites, good hookups, and and a new, free laundry for the Passport America rate of $12.50/night. Gravel interior roads and pads, terraced slightly but level, with grass, newly-planted trees, and a table. Long pull-thrus are in the middle and have a clear view of the sky for the satellite, large back-in sites have trees and shade. No cable TV, but good 
free WiFi. Nice little laundry with two each washer/dryers are free. Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Very quiet and peaceful, no road noise. Not a family destination park, but a great place to spend a few days. The owner and host are friendly and went out of their way to make our stay pleasant. Cash or checks only. Big Cypress RV Park
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sunrise RV Park, Texarkana AR
Stay Date: November 2010
Our Rating: BAD – 5
Located on the frontage road of I-30, this is basically a big gravel parking lot with hookups. Long, staggered pull thru sites without trees, grass, tables, or view. Very noisy at night; besides the freeway noise, the park is at an exit with a Flying J, and the decelerating trucks will rattle the windows. Lots of long term residents who leave early in the morning, and the loud crunching of tires on gravel is noticeable. Good free cable TV and WiFi, and Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Friendly managers and an escort to the site was nice. A safe place to stay off the road, but not exactly a serene place to spend the night. At $32/night with discounts it’s a place we’ll pass by next trip.
Our Rating: BAD – 5
Located on the frontage road of I-30, this is basically a big gravel parking lot with hookups. Long, staggered pull thru sites without trees, grass, tables, or view. Very noisy at night; besides the freeway noise, the park is at an exit with a Flying J, and the decelerating trucks will rattle the windows. Lots of long term residents who leave early in the morning, and the loud crunching of tires on gravel is noticeable. Good free cable TV and WiFi, and Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Friendly managers and an escort to the site was nice. A safe place to stay off the road, but not exactly a serene place to spend the night. At $32/night with discounts it’s a place we’ll pass by next trip.
Little Rock Air Force Base Famcamp, AR
Stay Date: November 2010
Our Rating: BAD – 6
We had mixed feelings about this campground; it was fairly easy to access, on a nice base with good facilities, and inexpensive ($12). On the other hand, it had enough against it that we don’t consider it a place to return to. The 10 full-hookup sites with 50A were all taken (they don’t take reservations), and at least 5 of them were long-term residents. The remaining sites were pull thrus, 30A and water only, and had concrete pads. The pads were wide but not long enough to leave your tow attached, although the guy behind us did and semi-blocked the road. The patio area was deep pea gravel, which made walking in it a chore, but there was a nice table. Our view was of a ramshackle trailer, complete with tarp cover, chain-link kennels, and lots of junk plus at least two cars. No cable TV or WiFi, but our Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Imagine our joy when at 7:00 AM on Monday morning we were treated to reveille played loud enough to rattle the windows. We’ll pass on this location in the future. Military or DoD ID required. Little Rock Air Force Base Famcamp
Our Rating: BAD – 6
We had mixed feelings about this campground; it was fairly easy to access, on a nice base with good facilities, and inexpensive ($12). On the other hand, it had enough against it that we don’t consider it a place to return to. The 10 full-hookup sites with 50A were all taken (they don’t take reservations), and at least 5 of them were long-term residents. The remaining sites were pull thrus, 30A and water only, and had concrete pads. The pads were wide but not long enough to leave your tow attached, although the guy behind us did and semi-blocked the road. The patio area was deep pea gravel, which made walking in it a chore, but there was a nice table. Our view was of a ramshackle trailer, complete with tarp cover, chain-link kennels, and lots of junk plus at least two cars. No cable TV or WiFi, but our Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Imagine our joy when at 7:00 AM on Monday morning we were treated to reveille played loud enough to rattle the windows. We’ll pass on this location in the future. Military or DoD ID required. Little Rock Air Force Base Famcamp
Friday, November 5, 2010
Sam’s Town Casino RV Park
Stay Date: November 2010
Our Rating: GOOD – 8
Not a resort, but a good, comfortable, and quiet place to stay. Friendly check-in, with a reminder to get our players’ cards from the casino to qualify for the $16/night rate. Paved interior roads with long, concrete pull-thru sites, each with a picnic table, grill, grass, and convenient hookups. Minimal cable TV, but clear shot to satellites. No WiFi, but Verizon cell a
nd Aircard worked well. Some light at night from adjacent casinos, but not bad. Fenced, with security patrols, but we didn’t see a shuttle and it’s a 1/2 mile walk to the casino. Shop the casinos for bargains – we ate every night for free with a minimum of gaming. A good place to stay if you’re here to explore the casinos. Sam’s Town Casino RV Park
Our Rating: GOOD – 8
Not a resort, but a good, comfortable, and quiet place to stay. Friendly check-in, with a reminder to get our players’ cards from the casino to qualify for the $16/night rate. Paved interior roads with long, concrete pull-thru sites, each with a picnic table, grill, grass, and convenient hookups. Minimal cable TV, but clear shot to satellites. No WiFi, but Verizon cell a
nd Aircard worked well. Some light at night from adjacent casinos, but not bad. Fenced, with security patrols, but we didn’t see a shuttle and it’s a 1/2 mile walk to the casino. Shop the casinos for bargains – we ate every night for free with a minimum of gaming. A good place to stay if you’re here to explore the casinos. Sam’s Town Casino RV Park
Parker Crossroads RV Park & Campground, Yuma TN
Stay Date: October 2010
Our Rating: GOOD –7
Marginally good. Easy access from I-40 via a four-lane highway, and although it's a steep climb into the park, it's paved and not a problem. We had an escort to the site, a long (70') pull-through. Interior roads and sites are gravel, and our site was not very level. There’s a nice lake with free catch and release fishing. No trees, a crumbling table, and a fire ring at each site. Free cable TV and good free WiFi. Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Our coach was lit at night by a large, bright security light adjacent to the pull-through sites. The hosts state that the new owners are putting a great deal of work into the park; it's an old KOA and it needs it. Not a bad stay, but not a memorable one, either, especially for $28/night. . Parker Crossroads RV Park & Campground
Our Rating: GOOD –7
Marginally good. Easy access from I-40 via a four-lane highway, and although it's a steep climb into the park, it's paved and not a problem. We had an escort to the site, a long (70') pull-through. Interior roads and sites are gravel, and our site was not very level. There’s a nice lake with free catch and release fishing. No trees, a crumbling table, and a fire ring at each site. Free cable TV and good free WiFi. Verizon cell and Aircard worked well. Our coach was lit at night by a large, bright security light adjacent to the pull-through sites. The hosts state that the new owners are putting a great deal of work into the park; it's an old KOA and it needs it. Not a bad stay, but not a memorable one, either, especially for $28/night. . Parker Crossroads RV Park & Campground
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Singing Hills RV Park & Campground, Cave City KY
Stay Date: October 2010
Our Rating: GOOD –7
We gave this pretty average campground an extra point for the friendliness of the owners and the great Passport America rate ($16/night for 50A). Getting into the campground requires a difficult right turn so be careful of the mailbox and fence. Interior roads and sites are gravel, mostly on rolling hills and not too level. Free secure WiFi was strong, and there’s no cable TV and some trees. Ver
izon cell and Aircard worked well. The 50A plug was close to the ground which took some heavy bending of the surge protector, and a power pole guy wire and bush required some careful maneuvering to make sure the slides were clear when extended. But, for the low rate and partly because of the owner’s concern for your comfort (they give you a card with their cell number and instructions to call them if you need any help – in or out of the park), we enjoyed our stay and would stay here again. Singing Hills RV Park & Campground
Our Rating: GOOD –7
We gave this pretty average campground an extra point for the friendliness of the owners and the great Passport America rate ($16/night for 50A). Getting into the campground requires a difficult right turn so be careful of the mailbox and fence. Interior roads and sites are gravel, mostly on rolling hills and not too level. Free secure WiFi was strong, and there’s no cable TV and some trees. Ver
izon cell and Aircard worked well. The 50A plug was close to the ground which took some heavy bending of the surge protector, and a power pole guy wire and bush required some careful maneuvering to make sure the slides were clear when extended. But, for the low rate and partly because of the owner’s concern for your comfort (they give you a card with their cell number and instructions to call them if you need any help – in or out of the park), we enjoyed our stay and would stay here again. Singing Hills RV Park & Campground
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