Bud Simpson

Truth is, it doesn't take much to get a three-star rating from me. If everything works, you'll get a three. Four takes a bit more: good handling of reservations, a quiet park with hookups that are trouble-free and easy to access. It's big-rig friendly, and a number of sites have full hook-ups in their pull-throughs.

Our site was pretty level, and the cable TV hookup is good quality. Wifi is good, and reasonably fast, but it's wide open and unsecured. I would warn against transmitting sensitive information without adequate network security.

I have heard other travelers rave about the on-site restaurant, but we weren't able to try it out.

Since this park is right on a main East-West Interstate, it fills up in the afternoon, and in the morning, the flocks of RVs scatter. There are always plenty of people around if you're looking for conversation, but if you want to keep to yourself, that's easy enough, too.

Weimar, Texas is probably not on your destinations list for Texas this summer, but if you need a place to spend a night or two, it will look pretty good as you roll down Interstate 10.

Whispering Oaks is a friendly park with spacious, pull-through sites. The reservation system is easy to navigate, and check-in was effortless. You deal with family here, and it's a friendly place to stay.

Good news/Bad news: It's very close to Interstate 10, so access is very easy, but there's also a fair amount of highway noise. I'm a heavy sleeper, so this doesn't present a problem for me. Neither does the proximity of railroad tracks just to the north of the park. They were about 900 feet from our site, as the crow flies, and there are several trains in the night. I grew up close to tracks, so that didn't bother me, but you might have concerns.

Nice people, basic park, and reasonable prices.

We made reservations for Oasis Rv Park a couple of days in advance, and when we arrived, our site was ready and check-in was painless. The people at the front office are helpful and friendly.

The park has all the amenities you'd expect from a large facility like this one - 189 spaces - laundry, wifi, cable tv, pet friendly, kid's play area, propane, pool. Most of the sites are pull-through, and are level and spacious. Hookups are in great condition - water pressure is strong, the power connectors and cable are easy to get to, and the sewer is close by. There are a number of long-term residents in the park, but nothing run-down or shabby-looking. The park is extremely quiet at night

The park is ten years old, but kept in top shape. Situated just down the frontage road from Cadillac Ranch, access to the park is easy from I-40 at exit 60.

Only fluke I found was that the cable system had no local channels - we had to switch back to over-the-air for local weather information. Not a deal-breaker for either of us, to be sure.

We booked our stay at Ambassador as we worked our way from Arizona to the Pacific Northwest. It was one of the nicest stops we've had in a while - friendly staff and entry escort to our site, making sure our steps lined up over the concrete pad - the little touches. The trailer pads themselves are covered in large river rock - nothing tracks into your rig. The sites are separated by manicured grass strips, and there's plenty of room between rigs.

Walks around the park revealed a number of resident rigs, but the long-term residents are required to keep up clean sites, and all skirts are commercial - no plywood or sheet metal skirts.

The only park amenity we used was the laundry, and it was spotless and well-maintained.

Services are close by, and Highway 26, right outside the park, is a straight shot to downtown Boise.

A park similar to this one anywhere else would be a $50 a night park, at least. This is a place we'd definitely stay at again.

West side of the Central (C) loop has huge pull-through sites with electric and water. Water is not shared on these sites. Large, level, concrete pads with a table and fire ring. While these sites show as accessible. we were here mid-November, and there were plenty of open sites.

It's so quiet here at night you can hear your own heart beating.

This campground stays open year-round, but facilities are turned off as of December 1.

I wish we had more time to spend in this area. The park itself was lush and green, even in the middle of February. The campsites are huge - ours was 75 feet long, and at least 25 feet wide. If you can drive it in, you can park it here. The sites are nestled among the trees, and have good privacy. There are excellent restrooms, showers and laundry facilities in the park, as well.

Close by in Abbeville, Louisiana, we like Shuck's Restaurant. Always busy, it had the freshest oysters and great cajun food served in a family-friendly place. Avery Island is nearby - don't miss the chance to stock up on Tabasco stuff and tour the facilities.

Palmettos Island has a number of recreational opportunities - trails, canoe and kayak launch areas and a boat ramp. The park allows individuals to drive golf carts in the park.

If you're so inclined, there are get-togethers at the park. One Saturday morning, there was a pot-luck Dutch Oven breakfast.

All in all, a very pleasant place to stay for a while.

We booked our stay at Petit Jean with no prior information about the park, but when we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the park. Our site faced the lake, and our stay was quiet, peaceful, and definitely one of the best of 2016.

The approach to the park is a steep climb from the river valley from Morrilton, Arkansas, but the top of the plateau is a green and beautiful pine forest. The staff is pleasant and friendly, and the park has hiking trails to explore, excellent meals at the Park Lodge.

We wanted to keep this place a secret, but we'll share, anyway. Petit Jean is worth the trip.

This is why you travel in an RV. The lots here are within a few hundred feet of the Admiralty Inlet - the main transition waters between the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound. You can hear the surf crashing at night, and the seagulls and ravens by day. The very first day I moved in here on a two-month extended stay, I watched a Navy submarine headed back toward the Pacific under escort. I have seen aircraft carriers, container ships, and every kind of sailing vessel imaginable. You can set your watch by the Port Townsend to Coupeville Ferry. You'll also get to hear practicing fighter jets from the nearby Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Might be an acquired taste for some. Otherwise, it's a quiet and relaxing stay. If you're coming in on shoulder seasons, be prepared for Pacific Northwest weather. Not so much rain here in the Rain Shadow, but some serious winds and tides at times.
What do you get for your money? A pretty basic, unpaved, parking spot, 30 amp service with water and sewer. There is strong community-provided wifi. Good laundry facilities, though not cheap. (Better than anything you'll find in town, though.) These things, and the most incredible eastern sunrises over the Cascades imaginable, walking distance to the Victorian seaport town of Port Townsend, good food nearby, and a helpful staff at the marina office and friendly camp hosts.
I came in for a short extended stay (thus the small daily price tag) at the end of the winter off-season and worked part-time in town. I stayed in the RV row away from the beachfront sites. I truly wish I didn't have to leave.

There so few choices for full-hookups close to Kansas City, that we were very happy to find this campground in Fleming Park. Pull-through sites, with ample power and tons of water pressure, though our site presented a slight leveling challenge. Fifteen miles to the Truman Sports Complex for Royals or Chiefs games, and another five or six to downtown KC.

The campground is gated, and hosts are always on site near the gate. Fleming park is largem with a huge lake, boating, fishing, hiking trails, and more. An enjoyable camping experience close to the city.

Mustang Island State Park is close to the beach. That sums up the reasons to stay here. It is really a large parking lot with 48 back-in water-electric spaces that are able to accommodate any size rig. We parked our fifth-wheel, unhooked, and drove our truck out on the beach for extended beachcombing and chilling.

The sites are fairly close together, but everyone was well-behaved and respectful. The restrooms and showers are at the far end of the facility with the park office, so it's a pretty good hike if you're not self-contained.

The Gulf is your constant companion here. You can hear the roar of the surf 24/7, and from our site at the far end of the campground, it was a short 1/2 mile walk to the beach.

A local told me that Mustang Island was pretty much wiped out after hurricane Ike hit in 2008, and extensive renovations and redesign were planned, but the budgets were cut and Mustang Island got very little of the promised funding.

It's a pity. This would certainly be a destination park with just a few upgrades. For now, though, it will certainly be on our list of places to stay along the Gulf Coast, if only for the beach.