Overnighters

CALinSC · 07-06-2020, 12:11 PM

In the four and a half years we were on the road full time we visited all of the lower 48 and five CDN provinces.

We never boondocked or used someone's parking lot. We did carry a Honda 2000 generator for emergencies.

We stayed at numerous RV Parks/CGs we called overnighters. Sometimes for two nights if we wanted to explore something close by the CG or just do some shopping.

These postings will not follow any particular time frame or geographical areas. Just glimpses of places - almost always FHU - we found on our long journey.

When headed for Yankee land we avoided the large coastal cities. Normally we went up I-81 to I-84 and other US highways to get into New England from the south.

We found Korn’s CG near Middletown, NY. The first time we stayed there they were developing more land for the CG and it was out behind their original CG. The sites were going to be very large and all with FHU with 50 amps. We got one of the very first ones ready for rent.

Our normal travel day was 250 – 300 miles. We normally broke camp after the early rush and got to our next stop with plenty of time to hook-up and enjoy the rest of the day. It also gave us time to find dish TV signals in the event the CG didn’t have CATV.

Here’s a picture of our monster site at Korn’s CG.

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CALinSC · 07-08-2020, 08:57 AM

One afternoon heading west on I-20 we started looking for a place to spend the night. There was a billboard advertising Roosevelt State Park near Morton, MS. We seldom consider state or national parks because their sites are normally small – we want to stay connected and we are 57’ when connected - and they don’t often have FHU services. But, we did call to inquire and found that they had FHU service and the attendant said there were a couple back in sites about 60’ Available.

It proved to be a very pleasant stop and I could walk a short distance down a path behind our site and fish until dark.

The link is active and the picture can be enlarged when you click on it.

https://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinat...arks/roosevelt

Roosevelt SP - Morton, MS - .JPG

CALinSC · 07-13-2020, 04:26 AM

After a couple of weeks on the Texas gulf coast we headed north on US-59.

Our first overnighter was at Shady Oaks RV Park at Ganado, TX. Clean park with nice long, flat pull thru FHU sites.

Ganado, TX Shady Oaks RV Park 1.jpg Ganado, TX Shady Oaks RV Park 3.jpg

Wannabervin · 07-13-2020, 09:04 PM

Don’t ya just love these for overnighters?

Dan50 · 07-14-2020, 10:32 AM

More Please!

CALinSC · 07-14-2020, 11:50 AM

When we both retired and sold just about everything we owned, we had lived in FL for 23 years. Our children and grand children all lived there. During our full time years and even after we purchased our retirement home here in the SC foothills, we have always made an effort to spend a week or two every spring and fall in FL.

There are a lot of ways to leave FL. Were never in a hurry so we travel lots of US highways and rural state roads. One of our favorite routes north out of FL includes traveling on US-84 & US-231 up through the center of AL.

On US-231 at troy, AL you will find a very comfortable place to stay at Deer Run RV Park. For overnighters it’s great. They have large FHU pull-thru sites with CATV that are level and well manicured. We have stayed there probably a half dozen times and have always enjoyed the hospitality of the owner manager team that lives on site.

Deer Run Troy AL1.jpg Deer Run Troy AL2.jpg

CALinSC · 07-16-2020, 10:51 AM

When traveling around the country with no particular place to go we just “wing it” (no reservations).

Our scheduled traveling days were somewhere between 250-300 miles. We avoid the rush by pulling in early and leaving CGs late.

A great number of our overnight stops were found on roadside billboard advertisements. While meandering across KS using US-54 we spotted a billboard with the Iola, KS RV Park P/N. We called and asked if they had any open sites, they had plenty.

It turned out to be a rather new and modern, smallish, RV park/storage facility. The owner/manager was a young fellow with a goal of 1st class service for all customers on the top of his list.

We spent two nights there. Had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant recommended by the RV park manager. The next day we visited the Veterans Memorial Wall and took a Trolley ride around town.

Stop by and spend a night if you’re passing through. You might extend a day to take in the atmosphere.

KS - Iola RV Park 1.jpg KS - Iola RV Park 2.JPG

CALinSC · 07-21-2020, 12:11 AM

While heading west with our friends on I-80 in southwestern NB, we spotted a little golf course backed up to a reservoir lake with a huge power plant on the far side. We saw a few smallish RV trailers parked there so we decided to investigate. It was a little early in the day and we had no reservations. The little RV park at the golf course had nice large FHU sites right on the lake. The sites were level and by the time Don and I got our rigs set up for the night, we had a golf cart and were headed for the first tee. While Don and I were off golfing the girls decided to go to town so they disconnected one of the trucks and went on their adventure. The little 9 hole golf course was in very good condition and we enjoyed the afternoon chasing little white balls. Later, as the sun was going down, we had a nice supper on the lake while watching the birds coming and going. They were getting their last drink of water before heading to their roosting places.

This is one of those places you just don’t find in the books or on the internet. Thank you Sutherland, NB.

Not many pictures taken here. Some were shot into the sun and the quality isn’t very good. Just click on them to get a larger view.

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CALinSC · 07-25-2020, 07:56 AM

T-Ricks RV Park

Over the years we have often traveled I40 and always have our eyes peeled for quick easy places to spend a night at an economical price. T-Ricks at exit 193 fits the bill. It’s a fueling stop with a store and a smallish - well laid out - RV park with FHU service. Stop at the store and pay the site fee and then go across the street and pick-out a site. On this stop we got there in the early afternoon and all sites were empty. By bed time it was three quarters full.

They have diesel and gas there so in the morning we topped the truck off and got some of their fresh breakfast sandwiches and hit the road all refreshed.

T- Ricks RV Park -Hazen, AR - 1 .JPG T- Ricks RV Park -Hazen, AR - 2 .JPG

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CALinSC · 07-28-2020, 09:41 AM

Midessa Oil Patch RV Park

We’ve been across country on just about all of the Interstate highways. This stop was while traveling west on I-20. It was just a two night stop for a little rest, shopping and to get the laundry caught-up.

Very nice RV Park with all the connections we like to have. A very good country store. Our sites were close to our neighbors and we couldn’t get side-by-side with our traveling friends. (We didn't have reservations). But, the sites were easy to get into and out of, level and long enough to stay hooked-up if we wanted to do that.

The link is active.
　
http://www.midessaoilpatchrvpark.com/

Midessa Oip Patch RV Park - Odessa, TX - 2007 - 6 (1).JPG Midessa Oip Patch RV Park - Odessa, TX - 2007 - 4.JPG

Midessa Oip Patch RV Park - Odessa, TX - 2007 - 1.JPG

CALinSC · 07-29-2020, 01:11 PM

One year while we were visiting family and friends in Maine, we decided to go west on US-2 (and other US & Rural highways) all the way to ND. It was still early in the year and there were lots of stops along the way.

Keeping with the message this thread is providing (overnighters), I’m just going to highlight short one or two night stops along this trail west.

We seldom stayed at state parks during our nearly 5 years of full time traveling. Looking back I can count them on one hand.

Coles Creek State Park is a 1,800-acre state park located on the Saint Lawrence River on the west bank of Coles Creek. The park is in the Town of Waddington in St. Lawrence County, New York.

Nearing the end of a traveling day we were searching for a place to spend the night. FHU sites were our favored places to stay. However we would accept sites with 30 amps and water providing they had a dump station. Nearing the State Park entrance we decided to see what they had to offer. We drove the rig to a ranger station/park office. A nice young man got a golf cart and drove us out to look at a site he thought we would like for an overnighter. Problem was it was a 30 AMP electric only site. On the way in to the site we could load-up the fresh water tank. Dump stations were located on the park exit roads.

Upon viewing the offered site we decided to stay for two nights because it was already late in the day. The pictures will help explain why we would accept an electric only site.

We never boondocked or used public parking lots. This was the closest we ever came to boondocking. We had a Honda 2000 generator but it was for emergencies only. We also had a 30 gallon “blue boy”. I can only remember using it twice. Once at Myrtle Beach state park and another at Walnut ridge RV Park, IN. Both places were W/E only.

NY Coles Creek SP on the St. Lawrence River - 5.jpg NY Coles Creek SP on the St. Lawrence River - 3.jpg

NY Coles Creek SP on the St. Lawrence River - 8.JPG Sunset Coles Creek SP 11.JPG

Dan50 · 07-30-2020, 10:40 AM

Have stayed at Coles Creek many times as well as Robert Mosed And Kring state parks not too far away. We are from Quebec but love NYS parks. Sure miss them this year.

CALinSC · 08-02-2020, 05:37 AM

We have used Fort Chiswell RV Campground numerous times over the years. We usually get there when heading up to I-81 from I-26 or I-77. It’s a very comfortable place to spend a night or two. It’s quiet, has a nice camp store and a fishing pond. They provide FHU sites with basic cable.

The link below is active.

http://properties.camping.com/fort-c...source=GoodSam

Fort Criswell VA 2.jpg

CALinSC · 08-06-2020, 02:08 AM

Barstow/Calico KOA

One time when going west out of Las Vegas on I-15 I ran over a huge black road gator. Just barely missed it with the truck tires but both right side trailer tires ran over it. The lead tire exploded immediately and the aft tire was flat by the time I got stopped. Our friends were following and completely missed it. I was blinded from it by an 18 wheeler in front of me. It wasn’t until after he swerved to miss it that I saw it….too late.

We used our spare and our friends spare and went on looking for a place to get more tires. Barstow was the first place with a sizeable tire retailer so we stopped there at the KOA for a couple of days. Got some new tires and looked around the local area.

At that time the CG was being worked by local college students. They were very friendly and helpful with everything.

The CG is probably the most disarranged lay-out of any we have stayed at. There was no way they were going to cut down any trees or shrubs when they put in the infrastructure. So, sites were zigzagged and misaligned throughout the CG. But there are still some large ones and the amenities were FHU with CATV just to mention the ones we covet.

The link is active.

http://koa.com/campgrounds/barstow/overview/

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CALinSC · 08-15-2020, 02:55 PM

When traveling the western states there is an abundance of Indian Casinos. Most of them offer places for RV parking. Some are very primitive with no hook-ups but free. Others may be free with some sort of W/E service. Others have FHU and fees

When we stayed at this one - Dancing Eagle - near Grants, NM, the sites were all FHU with a $10 per night fee. At that time the fee could be redeemed by going to the casino and applying for a player’s card. With each players card we got a $10 coupon good for fuel at their reservation service station. It’s right across the road from the RV parking area.

The RV Park was sparse but very easy to use. It had an eight foot concrete wall with an excess – well lit – path to the casino.

According to their web site they now have a $17 fee. They are currently closed because of the pandemic.

Dancing Eagle RV Park - NM - 2008 - 5.JPG

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CALinSC · 08-24-2020, 11:16 AM

The Lafayette KOA just off I-10 at Scott, LA is very easy to use, making it a desired overnighter. We have used KOAs for overnight stops all around the country.

This one has FHU/50 AMPs and CATV. The pull thru site we were in was about 65’. Our rig is 57’ when connected and you can see in the picture there was plenty of extra room on both ends.

Sometimes on short stops like this one was, we don’t put our living room slide out. We do use the FHU services because it’s our habit to wash cloths at every stop. It might be just socks, underwear and a dish towel/hand towel.

KOA Scott LA 1.jpg KOA Scott LA 5.jpg

CALinSC · 08-25-2020, 09:05 PM

We have visited numerous RV Parks/Campgrounds up and down the I-81 corridor. Often times just an overnight stop-over and others for days to weeks, and some more than once, especially the easy to use stops for quick fuel and highway access.

The Western Village RV Park falls into the category of site size and ease of access. However, over the years, to add parking sites, some of the larger pull-thru sites have been modified to accommodate two back-to-back sites for smaller trailers.

In these pictures we have another couple - Linda’s sister and her husband Tommy - traveling with us. We were on a month long journey to up-state NY and then over into New England before returning our guests home. We had to off-load nearly a thousand pounds of our stuff from the truck & trailer to accommodate our guests and their stuff. It was a great trip.

Here are a few pictures. You can click on any of them to get a larger view. The link to the RV Park is active

https://westernvillagervpark.com/

Western Village RV Park - Carlisle, PA (2) (1).JPG Western Village RV Park - Carlisle, PA (3).JPG

Western Village RV Park - Carlisle, PA (5).JPG Western Village RV Park - Carlisle, PA (6).jpg

CALinSC · 09-21-2020, 08:06 AM

Whenever traveling across I-20 in central Alabama we will stop here at the Lakeside Landing RV Park & Marina. Sometimes it’s just for an overnighter and others for a week or longer. It really depends on the time of year and the availability of the Black Crappie. Black Crappie is the fish I covet. Easy to clean and cook and has a great taste, void of the fishy taste many other similar pan fish have.

I always carry an electric trolling motor and extra marine battery so I can rent Jon boats.

This park is always full whenever the NASCAR folks are racing at Talladega. There are at least four major fishing activities on this chain of water every year and the park will be loaded for each of them.

As you can see in the pictures; the sites are quite level and large enough to stay connected when just spending the night.

We get in early enough for me to do some pier fishing. The Park store is well equipped and has everything needed for fishing including all sorts of bait, including crickets, worms and minnows. I think shiners are seasonal.

The link is active.

https://www.lakesidelandingrvmarina.com/

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CALinSC · 09-26-2020, 10:04 AM

We have traveled extensively across Interstate 40 and have found a lot of friendly places to spend the night that are not overly expensive, have a friendly family owned and managed atmosphere and are easy to access and depart.

This one is the Bean Pot Campground. If you’re traveling across TN on I40 you’re probably going to have to spend the night somewhere. During our traveling years - full time or otherwise - we never boon docked or used those free parking lots. It was just our way. So, we found a lot of overnight stop-offs. Sometimes, like this one; it’s a family campground with areas for seasonal parking and other areas with nice pull thru sites for those that just want to stop for the night or a day or two. This one has a nice office with a well stocked store.

The link is active and the pictures can be enlarger by clicking on them.

http://www.beanpotcampground.com/

Bean Pot.JPG Bean Pot - 5.JPG

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CALinSC · 09-26-2020, 10:13 AM

We have traveled extensively across Interstate 40 and have found a lot of friendly places to spend the night that are not overly expensive, have a friendly family owned and managed atmosphere and are easy to access and depart.

This one is the Bean Pot Campground. If you’re traveling across TN on I40 you’re probably going to have to spend the night somewhere. During our traveling years - full time or otherwise - we never boon docked or used those free parking lots. It was just our way. So, we found a lot of overnight stop-offs. Sometimes, like this one; it’s a family campground with areas for seasonal parking and other areas with nice pull thru sites for those that just want to stop for the night or a day or two. This one has a nice office with a well stocked store.

The link is active and the pictures can be enlarger by clicking on them.

http://www.beanpotcampground.com/

p.s. Sometimes when we leave a review of a RV Park or CG we also add a picture of our parking site. In the Amenities section of the Bean Pot link, the cover page is of our rig.

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