roadtripper789437

We really enjoyed our stay at Hunsader Farms. There's plenty to see and do there, from the petting zoo to the playground to the stores. The WiFi coverage for the campground area was very fast (70+ Mbps). The bathhouses were new and clean. The produce market had fresh vegetables grown on the farm at much lower prices than you'd find at a grocery store. The general store was stocked with essentials and gifts. A huge dog park that must have been over an acre. We'll definitely return in the future.

Suggestions:
1. We had arrived around 6 PM, and the office was closed. Try to arrive before then so you can meet someone to get checked in.
2. Buy a quart of ice cream from the store instead of a cone or a cup!

Cary State Forest campground is a rustic, no-frills location for a great camping experience. There is no check-in process, nobody to greet you, and nobody to bother you. Just drive in and hook up. Sites are very spacious and w-i-d-e-l-y separated. All are embedded in the forest and surrounded by the tall pine trees. Sites have concrete pads for your RV, picnic tables, grills, campfire rings, and benches. Even though I had to back-in to my site, it was super easy given the generous width and turn angles.

While not sitting by the fire, I enjoyed walking the well-kept trails and viewing wildlife. I did not have any trouble or complications at Cary State Forest...it is perfect getaway to experience nature. Except for some noise from the nearby highway, the setting is private and serene without disruption.

We think Colt Creek State Park is a perfect 10 in the Florida wilderness. The moment we pulled into the campground, we were highly impressed with the well-manicured grounds, the wide spaces between sites, the raked and level gravel pads, and the overall cleanliness of the park. We did NOT find dusty, sandy roads, highway noise, or mosquitoes and flies swarming us.

We took a several-mile nature trail on one day through the woods and prairie; it was peaceful and serene, with butterflies everywhere. Still no mosquitoes to be found even in the wettest parts of the trail. Every part of the trail we walked on was covered in thick, mowed grass.

At the campground exit, there are two dump stations that are plenty wide. Verizon cell service was 2-3 bars, but was presenting consistent 20Mbps download speed.

This will be our new local favorite campground, it sets a new bar.

We chose Mountain View Campground because it is a top-rated Campendium site. We also picked late October so we could see the fall colors and experience some cooler weather. This was a winning combination for a very enjoyable stay in the mountains of northern Georgia.

Mountain View is laid out well, not too big or sprawling, with centrally-located facilities. It is well-maintained and reasonably priced. The family who manages the campground has a passion for their business and it shows. They are helpful, friendly, accommodating. The campground has fast and reliable WiFi, which is good, since cell signals aren't so great in the mountains. There is a laundry available for campers which was always available and clean.

Driving into the campground from the main road was not difficult at all, so don't worry about that. Pulling a travel trailer through winding mountain roads in the rain -- well, that's another story, but it goes with the territory.

There's plenty to do in the overall area, with hiking and mountain views galore. There's shopping and dining options in the nearby town, 10 minutes away. You can tell that the town caters to tourists, but it isn't overly commercialized.

We look forward to returning to Mountain View Campground next year!

For someone needing to drop anchor for a night or two while on the way to a destination, this KOA would be a good choice. It is clean, close to the interstate, and has a nice pool to cool off in. Unfortunately for us, we were disappointed by a few important findings:
1. Although Wifi is advertised, it was non-functional. When we asked staff about it, they said acknowledged the problem, but had no idea what was causing it. I understood this to mean that they are taking no action to fix it.
2. The campsites are way too close together. A big rig pulled into the site next to us, and I could have reached out the window and touched it. Our entire row was empty but they were parked adjacent to us. This also meant we could not light a campfire which we had intended to do.
3. There's really not much to do at this campground other than visit the pool. It's fine if your purpose is just to rest overnight, but it diminishes the possibility of this being a destination. There was a newer playground for kids but it was uncovered in the scorching Florida sun.
4. There's no entry gate to the campground and no secured access to the pool. It looked like non-visitors, non-residents were driving in just to use the pool, and there was nothing/nobody to screen them.
5. Although the campground is close to the interstate, it is actually difficult to find the place. The signs were not marked well and there is so much traffic congestion in the area that it became a frustrating experience just to find our way in.
6. Although this isn't the fault of the KOA, there no cellular bandwidth. We had 4-5 bars of Verizon, but the network congestion was so apparent that any sort of mobile data usage was impossible.

KOA would do well to get their Wifi fixed and add some security to the premises.

Our arrival at Lake Griffin State Park was greeted by a friendly and helpful park ranger. We quickly found our way to our pull-through site and were able to quickly hook-up since it was level and easily accessible. The overall campground is fairly small and all sites are a close walk to the bathhouse. The bathhouse had laundry facilities and hot showers. Overall, the campground is very well maintained; park staff and hosts were constantly on the move. There was a lot of tree coverage for shade. A few sites had concrete pads and sewer hookups, but most of the sites had neither. Verizon cell coverage was strong and we were able to do our online work quite well. There was also a well-kept recreation park, a boat launch, and a couple trails. The park itself is in town, so there are plenty of stores and supplies close by.

Unfortunately there are a few negatives that couldn't be overlooked. It was deer fly season and they were out in force, especially in the evening. One could not sit outside without being attacked, even with repellent and fans. Also the sites are said to be gravel but most were just powdery sand. When combined with any movement, the sand covers everything, inside and out. The roads and sites could all use a decent layer of gravel to help tame the sand. Yes this is Florida, and some of it is to be expected. However this wasn't beach sand, it is somewhat dirty and powdery. The last issue was some campers who were said to be homeless, got drunk, and started yelling at each other in the middle of the night. All other campers were friendly and quiet, but the homeless folks spoiled the atmosphere.

Our experience was a 3-star, but the campground has the potential to be a 5-star, therefore I'm splitting the difference with a 4. If you visit in spring or early summer, be prepared for the biting deer flies.

This was my first beach-side RV experience and it was well worth it. My site was adjacent to the beach, only separated by a narrow sand dune. I could hear the waves from inside the RV.

Gamble Rogers, if you can get a reservation, is a great destination. It's a few miles from the nearest town, which is just perfect for me. Far enough from the lights and sounds but close enough for a quick trip to an ample supply of shops and restaurants. The campground condition is not really the best; it is on a worn-out sand plot that really needs smoothing out and maybe a layer of gravel. The bathhouse is not the cleanest (by no fault of staff) or newest. But honestly, who cares? You're at the ocean, and that's really all that matters. There are plenty of staff working to maintain the place, but the cocina sand is sticky and tracks everywhere. It's all part of this unique experience.

Visitors should take note that there are multiple entrances to the beach. The entrance at the public park was closed due to erosion, but the entrance within the campsite was open and just fine. When you walk out to the beach, a couple hundred feet away there is a sign that marks the park boundary; once you step past that line, dogs are allowed. There are no lifeguards anywhere and the slope of the beach to the water is rather steep, so at times the waves can be difficult to handle (be very careful, especially with kids). On my first day, there was seaweed everywhere and the surf was too aggressive to manage. On the last day, there was zero seaweed and the surf was as gentle as a bath.

Alafia River State Park is best known locally as a hot spot for mountain biking. Whether you are there to bike or not, the campground at Alafia River State Park is a relaxing and beautiful place to stay. The sites are very spacious with plenty of elbow room between neighbors. Some are pull-through and some are back-in, but they are very well laid out for either configuration. The bathhouse was clean and functional but there's no laundry facilities. We particularly enjoyed the clear and quiet night sky. It's Florida, so bring bug repellent. Check-in was simple and quick; no hassles. Verizon cell service was excellent -- the serving tower is either on or adjacent to the park itself.

Note that the hiking trails are not connected to the campground.