Need Recommendations on where to stay?
Over the years we’ve stayed at a variety of campgrounds and a few hotels too! Up until recently the campgrounds have mostly been private or state parks, but as we are getting deeper into #vanlife we are staying at all types of locations. Free, Harvest Hosts, state or national parks, and private campgrounds. Below is our ever-growing list of places we’ve stopped at along our travels to share with you.
Sunshine Key RV Resort – Big Pine Key, Florida keys – this might sound crazy but, I was felt SO LUCKY to book a spot, at the last minute at this super popular Thousand Trails RV Resort. The Florida keys are THE PLACE to be in the winter, making it hard to find places to stay. This RV Resort was lovely. It is quite large, all the spaces are gravel and quite big! You can easily fit a large rig, we were surrounded by them! They have a nice pool, fun activities throughout the day for the kids, a delicious on-site taco stand, and everything is clean, bathrooms were recently renovated and the people are nice! Not too far from a few places to eat and about 45 mins from Key West.
Mount Pleasant/Charleston KOA – Mt Pleasant, SC – this was our first ever REAL camping trip with our then owned Travel Trailer. – Beautiful, clean, family-friendly campground about 20-30min outside Charleston SC.
Anchor Down RV Resort – Dandridge, TN – Anchor down is HANDS DOWN our favorite private RV resort we’ve been to. EVER. It’s the only place we’ve gone back to 2x and have a 3rd visit already on the calendar. It is beautiful, fun, clean, they have waterslides, lake activities, kayaking, SUP rentals, a gorgeous dog park, and more! It is 100% RV’s only. Van’s are fine – as we’ve gone with our Pocket. It is approx 30min outside of Pigeon forge TN. Lots of fun kid-friendly things to do.
Blue Mountain Campground– Saugerties, NY – We purchased our TT in October 2018 and my daughter requested to go camping for her birthday that year – in November! Finding a campground on the east coast past Halloween is hard to come by. BMC is open YEAR ROUND! It was cold, but we had a lovely time. The bathrooms were clean, they have a playground and pool – but we did not get to take advantage. It is about 15 mins outside of Woodstock, NY – making it a great little campground for upstate NY.
Sun Outdoors Ocean City – Ocean City, MD (formerly Castaways) – THIS PLACE IS FUN! It is a WONDERFUL RV resort for kids. LOTS to do for the kids and adults alike! They have an adults-only tiki bar, splash pad, pool, lakefront “stuff” to do, close to Ocean City MD, Sun outdoors is next to Assateague island with its own shuttle to the beach so you can spend the day watching the wild horses. I won’t lie, it gets crowded in the summer months. If that is something you can deal with, it’s a great spot for kids and families to enjoy.
Mongaup Pond State park campground– Livingston Manor, NY – MPSP campground was our first toe-dipping into staying at a state park as RV campers. We went for a long weekend with friends of ours who were tent camping on an adjoining campsite. It was a lot of fun, the location was beautiful with boat rentals for the lake. The campground had bathrooms – they were “meh” but did the job. The sites were not super level- lots of roots and rocks, but a nice place nonetheless. We probably would have not enjoyed it as much as we did if we were not with friends.
Beaver Pond Campground – Harriman State Park, Harriman NY – This was our FIRST Van overnight camping trip. We briefly had a 1989 VW Vanagon AND it was covid, but we went camping! The campground was quiet and big, they had a communal outdoor wash station for dishes, and a bathroom as well – neither of which we used at that point in time. Beaver pond is walkable to Lake Welch, which is a public, swimmable lake. My girls and I had lots of fun! But watch out for ticks!
Lancaster/New Holland KOA – Lancaster, PA – A LOVELY small KOA in Amish Country in PA. This KOA doesn’t have a ton of amenities, but it DOES have beautiful views, clean, clean bathrooms, and a great location. Across the street is a small Amish run, out of the home donut shop! A-MAHZ-ING! We had a wonderful time here – you can check out our Lancaster PA Roadschooling trip to learn more about how we spent our time in this little pocket of PA.