On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we are reviewing one of the best state park campgrounds in the country. Our friend Allie Kreuz returns to the show to break down her family’s spring break RV trip to Gulf State Park in Alabama—and it truly sounds like the ideal combination of destination camping, resort-like amenities, and unforgettable family fun.

This isn’t just a campground review—it’s a full trip-planning guide. Allie shares everything from site selection and amenities to restaurants, activities, and insider tips to help you plan your own incredible visit.

If you’ve been looking for that “perfect” RV destination for a week-long trip, this episode is packed with inspiration.

To listen to our interview with Allie please subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows! To check out her last appearance on the RV Atlas (about New River Gorge in WV) podcast please click here.

Gulf State Park is located on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, just about nine miles from the Florida state line. It’s a long haul for many RVers—especially those coming from the Midwest—but as Allie made clear, the destination is absolutely worth the drive.

What makes this park so unique is the balance it strikes. You’re in the middle of a vibrant beach vacation destination, with easy access to restaurants, attractions, and tourist hotspots—but when you return to your campsite, it feels peaceful, quiet, and surrounded by nature.

That combination is hard to find—and it’s one of the reasons this park stands out.

This is not your typical state park campground.

Gulf State Park features:

The campground is extremely big-rig friendly, with long paved pads, spacious layouts, and easy navigation throughout.

Ali emphasized that there truly isn’t a bad site in the campground. Whether you want:

—you can find a site that fits your style.

All sites include:

One notable difference: there are no built-in fire rings, so you’ll need to bring a raised fire pit if you want a campfire.

The campground is laid out in a way that gives you options:

Ali’s site—#29—was right on the water and exceptionally large, offering plenty of room for relaxing and enjoying the view.

The heart of Gulf State Park is what they call the Hospitality Hub—and this is where things really start to feel more like a high-end RV resort than a traditional state park.

Here you’ll find:

The pool alone is one of the most impressive features. It’s large enough to accommodate both energetic kids and adults looking to relax—without ever feeling crowded.

One of the standout features of Gulf State Park is its extensive bike trail system.

There are over 28 miles of paved paths and boardwalk trails that wind through:

The park even includes bike overpasses so riders can safely cross busy roads.

Allie emphasized that bringing bikes is essential—her kids spent hours riding every day, and even learned to ride on this trip.

There are also free bike rentals (for adults) and additional rental options nearby, including e-bikes.

The beaches at Gulf State Park are exactly what you hope for on a Gulf Coast trip:

You can reach the beach in just minutes by bike or by using the park’s shuttle service.

Even better, your campground stay includes free parking access at multiple beach areas.

The Gulf State Park Pier is another highlight—and a major draw for visitors.

Allie’s daughter spent time fishing there, and the experience became a highlight of the trip. The pier also creates a sense of community, with people helping each other land fish and sharing tips.

One of the most surprising aspects of this park is the number of dining options.

Within the park itself, there are multiple restaurants, including:

The Woodside Restaurant stood out as a favorite, with a fun outdoor atmosphere and plenty of activities for kids while parents relax.

Outside the park, Gulf Shores offers everything you’d expect from a major beach destination:

This is where the trip can flex depending on your style—you can stay immersed in nature or lean into the full vacation energy of the area.

Allie shared several standout dining experiences:

A must-visit for families:

A legendary beach bar right on the Florida-Alabama line:

A quirky, fun restaurant where guests decorate the space with duct tape messages—plus great seafood and waterfront views.

A must-stop for oversized, flaky, croissant-style donuts with creative toppings.

Gulf State Park is one of those rare places that truly lives up to the hype—and then exceeds it.

It combines:

It’s not just a campground—it’s a full vacation experience.

And as Allie made clear, it’s a place you’ll want to return to again and again.

We’ll see you at the campground.

The post An Epic Family RV Trip to Gulf State Park in Alabama with Allie Kreuz appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On this week’s special Halloween episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we’re taking you on another leg of our Haunted RV Road Trip series with our resident “Camping Librarian,” Shannon Minner. In previous years, Shannon guided us through haunted campgrounds and spooky destinations from coast to coast. This time, she’s serving up something a little different: haunted bars and restaurants where you can grab a drink, enjoy a meal, and soak up some eerie atmosphere before retreating to the comfort of your RV for the night at a nearby campground.

From the haunted speakeasies of New Hampshire to the witchy taverns of Salem, the ghostly pubs of Charleston, and the haunted saloons of the Wild West, these are some of the best destinations for a spooky (and delicious) RV road trip.

The Omni Mount Washington Hotel

Perched at the base of Mount Washington, this grand white hotel looks like it was designed to star in a ghost story—and in many ways, it has. Built in 1902 by wealthy coal magnate Joseph Stickney, the Omni Mount Washington became a playground for the elite. When Stickney died soon after the hotel’s completion, his wife Carolyn inherited it. She later remarried a French prince but reportedly continued to visit the property—and some say she never left.

Guests and staff often report sightings of Carolyn, especially in Room 314, which still contains her original bed. The hotel features three restaurants and three bars, including the prohibition-era speakeasy known as “The Cave.” It’s a cozy, candlelit lounge beneath the hotel where staff have reported unexplained activity—most famously, a set of teacups that mysteriously flew from behind the bar before shattering on the floor.

The Omni is a spectacular stop for travelers exploring the White Mountains, even if you just drop in for dinner or a drink. The 1902 Restaurant serves breakfast and dinner in a grand dining room, while Stickney’s Pub and Steakhouse offers upscale comfort food and mountain views.

Nearby Camping:

Bonus excursion: Ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway for panoramic views—and maybe a few ghostly chills on the mountain’s summit.

Turner’s Seafood and Rockafellas

You can’t talk about haunted America without mentioning Salem, the site of the infamous witch trials of 1692–1693. The town draws visitors year-round, but it truly comes alive (and perhaps a little undead) in October. If you’re planning to visit, make reservations early—many attractions and restaurants are open only on select days of the week, even during peak season.

Turner’s Seafood sits on the site of Bridget Bishop’s former apple orchard. Bridget was the first woman executed during the witch trials, and many believe her spirit lingers near the restaurant. Patrons have reported seeing a woman in a flowing white gown at the top of the staircase and catching whiffs of phantom apple scents. For a signature drink, order the Campfire Espresso Martini—a fitting toast for Halloween campers.

A few blocks away, Rockafellas occupies a striking old bank building that once stood on the site of Salem’s first church. Its resident ghost, Sarah “The Blue Lady,” was supposedly murdered by a jealous sea captain and is still spotted in the alley and on the restaurant’s security cameras. Rockafellas leans into the legend with themed cocktails like the Blue Lady Martini, and if you’re lucky, you can reserve a private table inside the restaurant’s bank vault—an eerie and unforgettable experience.

Nearby Camping:

The Blind Tiger Pub and Poogan’s Porch

Charleston may be known as the “Holy City,” but it’s also one of the most haunted cities in America. Its cobblestone streets and centuries-old buildings hide stories of scandal, heartbreak, and restless spirits.

At the Blind Tiger Pub, housed in a 200-year-old building once used as a speakeasy, patrons have reported a ghostly woman in a black dress who tugs on the hair of female guests. Despite its spooky reputation, this Charleston classic is renowned for its lively patio and award-winning menu—especially the Infamous Bowl, a comfort food concoction of mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken nuggets, and cheese.

Just down the street, Poogan’s Porch offers a slightly gentler haunting. The restaurant occupies a restored Victorian home once inhabited by two sisters, Zoe and Elizabeth, and a loyal dog named Poogan. After their deaths, guests have spotted Zoe wandering the halls in her long black dress and the ghostly pup darting across the porch. Whether you come for the Southern fare or the spooky ambiance, Poogan’s Porch remains one of Charleston’s most beloved dining spots.

Nearby Camping:

The Prospector Restaurant and The Gold Pan Saloon

In the mining town of Breckenridge, the ghosts of the Gold Rush still linger. At the Prospector Restaurant, once a 19th-century boarding house for miners, staff and guests have reported encounters with a ghost named Sylvia, a hostile female spirit said to dislike women. The restaurant’s old-fashioned charm and hearty fall menu—complete with housemade pumpkin pie—make it a must-visit, even if you’re keeping an eye on your surroundings.

A few blocks away, the Gold Pan Saloon claims to be one of Colorado’s oldest continuously operating bars, dating back to 1861. It survived Prohibition and countless barroom brawls, and its upstairs apartments are rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a former madam who gently touches tenants’ cheeks as they sleep. The bar now includes the Carboy Winery, where you can sample wine alongside the spirits of another kind.

Nearby Camping:

La Carafe and Dean’s Downtown

Everything’s bigger in Texas—including the hauntings. In Houston, two historic bars bring together good drinks and ghostly company.

La Carafe, housed in the city’s oldest commercial building (built in 1847), is a candlelit wine bar where visitors report flickering lights, moving shadows, and the eerie feeling of being watched. Some locals say the energy here is more mischievous than menacing—but it’s still enough to raise a few goosebumps.

A short walk away, Dean’s Downtown occupies a five-story building from 1893—the first steel-framed building in Houston and one of the first in the country to have an electric elevator. Originally a department store, it later became a bar where staff still encounter “trickster spirits” that move or hide objects. The craft cocktails are designed by a former wine sommelier, so even if the ghosts don’t appear, you’ll still have something special to sip on.

Nearby Camping:

Whether you’re sipping a martini in Salem, listening for whispers in a Charleston pub, or spotting shadows in a Houston bar, these haunted restaurants and campgrounds prove that Halloween doesn’t have to end on October 31st.

To hear all the spooky stories and travel tips from Shannon’s A Haunted RV Road Trip series, tune in to this week’s full episode of The RV Atlas Podcast. Then start planning your own ghostly getaway—with the comfort of knowing your RV is your safe, non-haunted home base.

The post A Haunted RV Road Trip Pt. 3: More Spooky Spots Near Campgrounds with Shannon Minner appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Discover Big Meadows Campground and Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah National Park. Learn where to camp, dine, and stay for the perfect Blue Ridge Mountain getaway.

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we dive into one of our favorite destinations in the East—Shenandoah National Park—and explore two equally incredible ways to stay there: Big Meadows Campground and Big Meadows Lodge. Whether you love rustic camping or prefer the cozy comfort of a lodge, Big Meadows is a national park experience that delivers both serenity and convenience.

You can find more recommendations for exploring Shenandoah National Park in “Where Should We Camp Next?: National Parks.”

Shenandoah is unlike most national parks. Instead of being a single large expanse of land, it stretches along a narrow, 105-mile ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park follows Skyline Drive, a scenic highway that connects Front Royal in the north to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the south. Along the way, you’ll find overlooks, trailheads, lodges, and campgrounds—all perched high above the Virginia countryside.

For travelers coming from the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast, Shenandoah is a surprisingly accessible park. It’s roughly five hours from New Jersey, three from Washington D.C., and four from Philadelphia or Baltimore.

At about the halfway point on Skyline Drive, you’ll find the Big Meadows area, which serves as the park’s central hub. This area includes:

Everything in this area is walkable, making Big Meadows one of the most convenient and rewarding base camps for exploring Shenandoah.

Big Meadows Campground is a quintessential National Park Service camping experience—peaceful, wooded, and surrounded by trails. We think it’s one of the most beautiful and best-located campgrounds in the eastern U.S.

The campground typically operates from late March through late November, weather permitting, and reservations can be made at Recreation.gov. Fall weekends fill quickly, so early booking is essential.

Big Meadows is a large, heavily wooded campground with several loops and a mix of sites for tents, pop-ups, small trailers, vans, and mid-size RVs. A few sites can handle larger rigs, but most are better suited for smaller setups due to tight turns, trees, and sloped terrain. When booking, it’s worth scrolling through the photos of each site on Recreation.gov to find one that fits your rig and camping style.

Sites are spacious and private, with thick tree cover that gives the campground a quiet, natural feel. It’s not unusual to see deer grazing right beside your site at dawn or dusk—and sometimes even in the middle of the day.

This is dry camping, so there are no hookups, but amenities are solid for a national park campground:

Big Meadows doesn’t have a playground, pool, or Wi-Fi, but that’s exactly what makes it special. It’s peaceful and timeless—perfect for travelers who want to experience the beauty of Shenandoah without distractions.

One of the best perks? You can walk from the campground to Big Meadows Lodge, where you can grab dinner, catch live music, or enjoy a sunset view from the great room before strolling back to your campsite under the stars. Few national park campgrounds offer that kind of convenience.

For travelers who prefer comfort—or those who want to add a little luxury to their park stay—Big Meadows Lodge is a perfect companion to the campground. It’s open seasonally from May 5 through November 9 and offers a mix of traditional rooms, suites, and pet-friendly accommodations. Prices vary depending on the day and room type, typically ranging from $175 to $450 per night.

Built in the 1930s, Big Meadows Lodge has the rustic architecture and warm, welcoming feel that define classic national park lodges. The building blends stone and timber construction with a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Guests gather in the great room to play board games, sip coffee, or simply take in the panoramic sunset views over the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Big Meadows Lodge feels like a step back in time. There are no televisions in the rooms, cell service is spotty, and yet you won’t miss any of it. The combination of natural beauty, history, and community makes this one of the best-kept hidden gems in the national park lodge system.

We especially love the idea of combining both experiences—camp a few nights at Big Meadows Campground, then move up to the lodge for a couple of nights of real beds, hot showers, and dining with a view. For tent campers or travelers in smaller RVs, this “hybrid stay” offers the best of both worlds.

Shenandoah National Park is an ideal destination for anyone looking to experience a classic national park setting without flying across the country. The Big Meadows area is the perfect basecamp—where you can hike to waterfalls, spot deer in the meadow, and end the day with dinner and live music at the lodge.

If you’re ready to plan your trip to Shenandoah—or to any of America’s incredible public lands—pick up our guidebook Where Should We Camp Next? National Parks. It’s packed with expert advice, campground reviews, and itinerary ideas to help you create your next unforgettable national park adventure.

The post Big Meadows Campground and Big Meadows Lodge in the Heart of Shenandoah National Park appeared first on The RV Atlas.

We recently headed down to South Jersey to spend a few days at Spacious Skies Country Oaks, a medium-sized campground in Dorothy, New Jersey. This property is part of the Spacious Skies Campgrounds collection, and it struck us as one of those rare campgrounds that hits a sweet spot: affordable rates, a relaxed vibe, and a solid list of amenities and activities.

If you’re looking for a base camp to explore the southern New Jersey coast—or if you just want a quiet escape to relax by the pool or sit around the campfire—Country Oaks is a great option.

One of the biggest draws of Country Oaks is its central location in southern New Jersey. From the campground, you can easily day trip to:

But you don’t have to hit the road. Country Oaks also makes a great weekend retreat if all you want to do is relax at the campground

Country Oaks has about 150 sites, a mix of pull-throughs and back-ins, nearly all with full hookups (30/50 amp).

There are also a handful of rustic cabins, vintage-style RV rentals, and some tent sites. If you’re camping with friends or family, there are good opportunities to group sites near each other, including options by the cabins.

One of the things we appreciated most about Country Oaks is the reasonable pricing. During September, a full-hookup site ran about $65 per night—a rate that felt like a “throwback” to pre-pandemic camping prices.

This places Country Oaks in a sweet spot between:

At $65, you get a clean, friendly campground with a full list of amenities and activities, without breaking the bank.

Amenities and Activities

Despite its affordable rates, Country Oaks offers a solid lineup of amenities:

On weekends, you’ll also find organized activities like wagon rides, tie-dye crafts, and live entertainment, especially during the summer season. Spacious Skies campgrounds are good about planning fun, family-friendly events, and Country Oaks fits right in with that tradition.

We loved the friendly, relaxed vibe at Country Oaks. Seasonal campers were decorating sites with lights and welcoming visitors, while weekenders gathered with friends across multiple sites. The campground feels like a place where families return year after year, and many campers were already booking their next trip before leaving.

The staff and managers were consistently warm and helpful, creating a welcoming atmosphere for both first-timers and long-time regulars.

Spacious Skies Country Oaks is a great fit for:

Spacious Skies Country Oaks: The Perfect Family Camping Retreat

Spacious Skies Country Oaks impressed us with its value, vibe, and location. It’s rare to find a campground that offers full hookups, family-friendly activities, and a relaxed atmosphere at such a reasonable nightly rate.

Whether you’re using it as a launching pad for South Jersey adventures or just as a place to kick back for a few quiet days, Country Oaks is a campground we’d happily return to.

To learn more or book your stay, visit the official Spacious Skies Country Oaks website.

And check out our other Spacious Skies reviews on Spacious Skies Woodland Hills in New York, Adirondack Peaks in New York, and Shenandoah Views in Virginia.

See you at the campground,

Stephanie + Jeremy

The post Campground Review: Spacious Skies Country Oaks in Dorothy, New Jersey appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Guest post about Cherry Creek State Park by Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial on the Road.

This is part two of a two part series about Denver State Parks. Click here for episode one about Chatfield State Park.

Cherry Creek State Park

RVing near big cities often means paying a premium price for a cramped slice of a gravel parking lot…but things are different in Denver. Two of Colorado’s excellent state parks—Cherry Creek and Chatfield— are a quick drive from downtown Denver and offer up lovely, spacious RV sites with full hookups and very affordable rates. 

Our oldest son moved to Denver last year and we were quick to jump on the opportunity to plan our summer trip around a visit to him and his girlfriend and to spend some time getting to know this great city at the doorstep of the Rocky Mountains. We chose Cherry Creek State Park as our base camp for our two week stay in the area and found it a wonderful place to come back to after our days out exploring. 

Cherry Creek State Park is in Aurora, Colorado, about 15 miles from downtown Denver. The campground has 139 campsites spread out in several loops; most are full hook-up RV sites, but they also have around 30 sites without hook-ups, suitable for tents or smaller RVs. The full hook-ups sites are huge, with long driveways and tons of separation between sites. They’re mostly very level with concrete pads, picnic tables, and fire rings at every site. 

Most all of the sites looked great, and we were very happy with our site in particular: we had site 81 in the Gold Rush loop, a long back-in with a couple of trees, which gave us a bit of privacy and some much-appreciated afternoon shade. 

Amenities within the campground include laundry, pay showers, and a visitors’ center where you can buy firewood and souvenirs and get information about the state park. There are evening ranger programs on weekends in season as well. 

The campground is open year round, and it books up very quickly during the peak season. Reservations open up six months in advance; I set an alarm the night reservations opened for our dates so that we could make sure to get a site. Full hook-up sites are $41/night, and basic sites are $28; note that park entry is not included in the nightly fee and is an extra $11/day unless you have an annual pass (which it’s worth buying if you’ll be spending more than a week at Colorado State Parks). 

Outside of the campground, there’s a huge variety of recreational opportunities in Cherry Creek. The main attraction is the 850 acre reservoir with a swim beach and marina with boat rentals. There’s also horseback riding, a model airplane field, a shooting center, and several hiking trails. We spent a couple of evenings enjoying the Butterfly Hill Trail, with tons of wildflowers, birds, sunset views over the mountains, and a very active prairie dog town. 

Denver Botanic Gardens

The Denver Botanic Gardens feature a huge variety of gardens, with both native western plants and internationally inspired collections, and are a beautiful and serene place to spend a day wandering. In addition to the gardens, there are rotating art exhibits, two cafes, and a “Meet Your Habitat” indoor science exhibit aimed at younger visitors. 

Wings Over the Rockies

Wings Over the Rockies is a an air and space museum located in a hangar in the former Lowry Air Force Base. It’s home to more than 50 aircraft as well as exhibits on the history of aviation and space travel, simulators, and rotating temporary exhibits. 

History Colorado

I love a good state history museum, and Colorado’s might be the one of the best ones out there. We thought three hours should be plenty of time to tour History Colorado but were dismayed when closing time showed up leaving us with a whole floor of exhibits unexplored. This is largely because of how much time we spent waxing nostalgic and exploring the recreation of a Blockbuster Video in the current exhibit all about the 90s, “Last Decade Before the Future.” But we also loved the well-curated “Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects” exhibit, and our 12 year old appreciated the hands-on activities in “Destination Colorado” about life in a 1918 eastern Colorado farming community. 

Take a hike in the mountains

Denver is famous for sitting a mile above sea level, but you’ll have to head out of town a bit to really be in the mountains. Fortunately, there are endless options a short drive outside of the city for getting in some hiking and enjoying the cooler temperatures that come with higher elevation. We drove to the charming little town of Evergreen, where we enjoyed lunch at Lariat Lodge Brewing Company and hiked the Three Sisters Trail. The Three Sisters are a group of rock foundations, and the hike to them is a fairly easy 2.5 mile loop with great views and some rock scrambling opportunities that kept our 12 year old interested. 

Golden

Golden, Colorado, home to the Colorado School of Mines and Coors Brewing Company, is only 25 minutes from downtown Denver and very much worth the trip. We spent a morning at the Colorado Railroad Museum, then headed to the adorable downtown area for some souvenir shopping and the buffet at Woody’s Wood-fired Pizza. We finished off the day with a stop at the small but engaging (and free!) Golden History Museum and a walk along Clear Creek. 

Boulder

Boulder is another fun college town a short trip from Denver. We made the drive here one day to check out the I.M. Pei-designed National Center for Atmospheric Research. Inside there are exhibits about weather and climate (and public tours several days a week). Outside there are hiking trails that really let you see how well the building fits into its stunning surroundings. Then we spent the afternoon strolling the pedestrian-friendly Pearl Street Mall. 

Atomic Cowboy

Atomic Cowboy has several Colorado locations (and even one in Kansas City). In the morning it serves breakfast as Denver Biscuit Co, and in the evenings it transforms into Fat Sully’s NY Pizza, serving up enormous slices of pizza for $5. We ate at the Colfax Avenue location one evening before walking over to nearby City Park for a free jazz concert. 

The Cherry Cricket

The Cherry Cricket has been selling burgers and milkshakes at its 2nd Street location since 1945. The restaurant maintains an unpretentious, neighborhood bar vibe, even though the area around it has grown into an upscale outdoor mall. Great spot for creative burgers and local craft beers. 

Jelly

Breakfast and lunch spot in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. In addition to the usual brunch fare, it serves donut holes in an interesting assortment of flavors and will keep you entertained with a wall of vintage cereal boxes while you wait for your food.

The post Campground Review: Cherry Creek State Park in Denver CO, with Gretchen Holcombe appeared first on The RV Atlas.

We all know RVing to a city can be a special challenge since most cities don’t have great campgrounds, but Denver is an exception. It not only has terrific campground choices, two options are state parks, which come with the recreation, views, large sites, and low prices you would expect at a state park campground, all within 20-30 minutes of downtown. We happened to have two RV Atlas regular correspondents visit Denver this summer, and we are doing a 2-part series with their campground recommendations and details about all the things to see and do in Denver. Check out this campground review of Chatfield State Park.

Kerri Cox, from Travels with Birdy, is sharing her campground review of Chatfield State Park in the guest post below, and Gretchen Holcombe, from Boxy Colonial on the Road, will share a review of Cherry Creek State Park. Chatfield State Park is located on the southwest edge of Denver in Littleton, and Cherry Creek State Park is due east in Aurora.

To hear Kerri and Jeremy discuss this campground review of Chatfield State Park and things to see and do in Denver, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas in your podcast app.

On many of our trips to Colorado, my family has added a stay in Denver on our way west. One reason for this is that Denver is a great town to visit, but another is to give us a chance to acclimate to the elevation before we go higher up in the mountains. Famously, the “Mile High City” is 5,200 feet above elevation (while our Missouri home is a mere 1,300 feet and the campgrounds we head to deeper in the mountains after we leave Denver are above 8,000 feet).

Chatfield State Park is on the southwest side of the city, located just off Highway E-470, which is a tollway that routes you around the city. It’s super easy to navigate to the campground while towing, which is an important consideration when staying near a city.

While we have always used Chatfield State Park as a base camp for visiting Denver, many travelers and Coloradans actually visit the state park for the recreation, primarily on the lake. Chatfield Reservoir is a 1,500-acre lake that offers boating, paddling, fishing, and  swimming. There’s also a boat launch and marina. 5280 Paddle Sports offers paddleboard and kayak rentals onsite. In fact, there’s a shallower part of the lake the bigger boats can’t access that is super popular for paddlers.

On land, Chatfield State Park has 26 miles of trails, a 69-acre off-leash area for dogs, a model airplane field, and horse rentals. Seriously, you could spend several days enjoying all of the activities in the park, but unfortunately, we haven’t done so! In fact, I just learned there is a waterside restaurant that I’ll have to check out on our next visit.

Chatfield State Park has a campground with 197 sites. Since the campground is on a hilltop, many of the sites have great views of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains–but not all sites do, so it’s a bit of a gamble. While the Colorado State Park website doesn’t have photos of each individual campsite, CampsitePhotos.com does! This doesn’t always help you figure out if you’ll have a view due to the angles, but it’s still nice. This time, we were really surprised to find a great view from our site.

Most of the campsites in Chatfield State Park are large level sites with concrete pads. Colorado State Parks does this unique thing where they have pull-thru sites that are shaped kind of like the letter D, with the campsite being the outer arc. So, you pull off the road onto your site, and you have a nice large “yard” beside your rig. Oftentimes, we have had spots on the outer loop where we can’t even see our neighbors. The park makes strategic use of cedar trees to provide even more privacy. Plus, the sites have tent pads, too!

What makes Chatfield State Park exceptionally nice is that the majority of the sites are full hookups, with a handful offering electric only. The electric sites have plenty of access to potable water, and the park has a dump station. The price is amazing at $36 for electric-only and $41 for full hookups. You will have to pay the daily entrance fee for your carload (not per person) to enter Chatfield State Park, which is $10 per vehicle.

Now, let’s talk about showerhouses. As we’ve downsized from a travel trailer to a Class B, we’ve returned to using the campground showers (we have one in the van, but it’s a bit annoying to set up the curtain to protect the cabinetry since it’s a wet bath that isn’t a true wet bath). Showerhouses at state parks can be questionable! But, the ones at Chatfield State Park were nice. One important note: The campground loops have older showerhouses (with a sloped roof) that do NOT let you change the water temp, but the newer showerhouse has adjustable temps. While some of Colorado’s state parks require quarters for a shower, these have been reconfigured to be free! They were surprisingly clean.

To hear more of this campground review of Chatfield State Park, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas podcast. Make sure to check out the paired post and podcast about Cherry Creek State Park for another great campground review and even more to do in Denver!

We have now visited Denver five times and still have so much left to see, but here are some things we’ve enjoyed:

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre: Even if you can’t see a show, it’s worth a visit. You can go in just to walk around or to do yoga or see a film. But, if you can see a show, this is a bucket-list worthy destination! The acoustics are phenomenal, with the massive rocks creating a natural amphitheater. I’ve seen the Avett Brothers there twice, and it was magical! The food onsite is truly good. The sunsets over the city add even more magic. Since the venue is on the smaller side, many big-name artists do multiples shows for their visits. The 2025 season has included Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, Sting, Mumford & Sons, the String Cheese Incidident…and shows from Brandi Carlile, Gracie Abrams, and so many more are to come. Also, the small town of Morrison is a great spot to eat, with lots of cute local restaurants and rooftop patios.

Meow Wolf Denver’s Convergence Station: This is one of five Meow Wolf interactive, immersive art experiences in the nation with 2 more to come. We previously talked about the original in Santa Fe. Russell and I like odd, quirky things, and Meow Wolf fits the bill! You can wander around, exploring the environments created by hundreds of artists. Or, you can work to solve the mystery. We did the open-ended approach. The food and drinks onsite are actually very good, so I recommend checking them out. This is fun for both kids and adults.

Casa Bonita: Continuing the trend of odd, quirky establishments, Russell and I checked out Casa Bonita. The chain started in the late 60s in Oklahoma City, but the Denver location built in 1974 is probably the most famous. Inside, it reminds you of something you’d find at Disney, with a restaurant designed to look like you are walking around a village in Mexico at night, complete with stars in the skies above. What takes this restaurant over the top is the elements like cliff divers, live mariachi bands, talking parrots, magic shows, and other performances. You might even spot a roaming gorilla! You must book reservations far in advance (we set up an alert, though, and got a cancellation). Since I didn’t grow up with Casa Bonita, watching the documentary Casa Bonita Mi gave me a whole new appreciation of why the South Park creators bought and restored it.

Larimer Square: We checked out Larimer Square, the oldest commercial block in the city that is now a dining and entertainment district. The street is closed to vehicle traffic, creating a nice place to walk around and find open-air dining, which we love!

The Wizard’s Chest: Russell likes to visit game stores in every town, and Denver’s Wizard Chest is probably the coolest one I’ve seen, as it is absolutely gigantic and designed to be a magical environment with toys, games, costumes, and all kinds of nerd collectibles!

Lair O’the Bear Park: If you want to get out of the city and get a bit more into the foothills, this park has a nice trail along Bear Creek. There’s a variety of trails, nice shade, and some great open views.

Overall, Denver is a great place to camp, with plenty to do in the city and easy access to the mountains. We enjoy this midpoint layover on our way to the peaks, so I’m sure we will return again. If we do, we will definitely stay at Chatfield State Park again since you really can’t beat the price or the setup!

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This is the second episode in a two part mini-series with Jeremy Wayland from Camp West BBQ. In episode one Jeremy covered four great campgrounds in northern California and southern Oregon that he visited with his family on an epic 17 day road trip earlier this summer. In this follow up episode he picks up where he left off and covers four more great campgrounds that his family visited on the second leg of their trip.For more information about all of these campgrounds check out this detailed blog post here or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you listen to your favorite shows! Huge thanks to Jeremy from Camp West BBQ for sharing this epic journey with the RV Atlas community!

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Northern California and Oregon are home to some of the nation’s most beautiful landscapes and amazing campgrounds. With all of the options, how do you decide where to stay? Recently, Jeremy Wayland from Camp West BBQ planned his first long RV journey and chose this beautiful section of the Pacific Coast as his focus. His 17-day journey includes 8 great campgrounds in Northern California and Coastal Oregon. We are so glad he shared all of his tips and reviews with us!

Thanks to Jeremy for sharing his family photos for this post! 

We know Jeremy Wayland as “CampWestBBQ” online where he shares great BBQ content using his Traeger grills, with so many recipes and tips that are perfect for your camping adventures. He has been a weekend warrior, taking short trips with his family for over five years. This year, he planned his very first extended trip for his family of five (including three kids and the family dog!) in their 26-foot Coleman Lantern 263BH. Their 17-day journey took them from Elk Grove, CA, along the Northern California coast, the Oregon coast, to Salem, and back through Bend, OR, and Mt. Shasta. They hit eight campgrounds along the way—and we are so excited to hear all about them!

Along with these reviews of 8 great campgrounds in northern California and coastal Oregon, Jeremy Wayland shared his thoughts on the shift from being a weekend warrior to a road-tripping pro, including how he went about planning such an extensive trip with his family and tips for first-time road trippers. We had such a great conversation that it is spread across two podcast episodes! To hear more about Jeremy’s journey and tips, click play on the media player above to find Part 1 of his interview or look for The RV Atlas in your podcast app. Make sure to check out Part 2 of the podcast, as well, to hear more.

If you want to visit the historic Cape Mendocino Lighthouse and have incredible coastal views, check out Shelter Cove RV Campground. The campground offers full hookups. You won’t find a ton of resort amenities in the park, but you won’t miss them because there’s so much to explore in the area. Every evening, you can enjoy sweeping views of the sun setting over the ocean. Here’s a fantastic insider tip: Jeremy  recommends grabbing a shrimp po’boy at the campground deli.

While this area isn’t good for swimming, the beaches are rich with tide pools. Jeremy’s family loved that they could walk to them right from their campsite to find sea urchins, sea stars, anemones, and crabs. A short drive away, you’ll find the Black Sands Beach, which has a stretch of black sand created from volcanic minerals and rocks. 

The Lighthouse Cove RV Park gives you great access to both the beach and the redwoods. It’s situated right on the coast near the Redwood National and State Parks.  This city-run campground has some full hookup sites. The best feature is that you can walk right to the water, where there’s a nice shallow harbor to play in. 

Nearby, Jeremy’s family enjoyed visiting Battery Point Lighthouse (heads up: It’s only accessible for tours during low tide) and the Ocean World aquarium, which has a 45-minute tour with a touch-and-feel tide pool experience. It gives kids a chance to pet a shark, and a see a sea lion show. His kids loved it! Jeremy also recommends checking out SeaQuake Brewing for delicious beer, kombuchas, brick oven pizza, and locally caught fish dishes.

Mount Shasta KOA Holiday served as a rest spot for Jeremy’s family on their way back home from Oregon, but the campground still deserves a shout out. It’s a smaller campground, but it has some great views of Mt. Shasta and a lot of kid-friendly amenities, with a pool, a park, and a game room.

Remember, you can hear Jeremy’s full reviews of these 8 great campgrounds in northern California and coastal Oregon and more tips for planning your first long roadtrip by clicking play on the podcast player above or looking for The RV Atlas in your podcast app. Check out both Part 1 and Part 2!

Not only was Sunset Bay State Park Jeremy’s favorite campground of his trip, it just might have earned the title of best campground of all time. This state park has the huge, private sites you might associate with a state park, combined with full hookups, making it the best of both worlds. He described it as having “Jurassic Park vibes” due to the lush surroundings.

This is a great area for hiking and biking, with trails accessible right from the campground. He especially recommends the Sunset Bay to Cape Argo trail for beautiful sweeping views of the ocean and cliff side. This brought back so many memories of our own great visit to the Oregon Coast in 2017.

While Jeremy’s family was sad to leave Sunset Bay State Park, the South Beach State Park ended up offering the best beach experience out of all of the campgrounds. There are extensive bike paths and trails that make it easy to reach the beach. The sites weren’t quite as private here, but the amenities were all well maintained.

Jeremy’s recommends checking out the Oregon Coast Aquarium, which is spread across 23 acres with indoor and outdoor attractions. It is ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the nation, with over 15,000 animals and 300 different species. His family especially enjoyed the Washed Ashore exhibit, which features sculptures made from debris found in oceans.

Roam America’s Tillamook RV Resort puts you close to the Tillamook Creamery, a must-see on any tour of the Oregon Coast. Jeremy W. was so impressed with the campground, especially the views from the 400 Loop and the excellent facilities. Even the bathrooms earned 5 stars! There’s a lot to do in the campground itself, including a new club house with a sauna and an elevated obstacle/ropes course designed for kids. 

A bonus highlight here was that you could take a train ride to Rockaway Beach with a train station right at the front of the campground. Rockaway Beach is a great spot to stroll the shops, find food, and access the beach. Then, of course, there is the Tillamook Creamery, which was fantastic, with a guided tour, ice cream and cheese tastings, an awesome gift shop, and lunch.

From there, Jeremy’s family headed inland a bit more to Salem, where they stayed at Premiere RV Resort. This was the nicest campground they stayed in overall, with beautifully maintained grounds. The park offers a cool recreation room for kids, basketball courts, a pool, hiking trails, and more. 

Downtown Salem is just a 10-minute drive, and Jeremy’s family enjoyed checking out the Oregon State Capitol and Riverfront City Park, which has a carousel and hosts city events. This was a nice chance for everyone to recharge their batteries, without staying quite as busy as they had on the coast.

Next up was the popular town of Bend. The Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver was a great base camp for exploring the area, with beautiful, tree-filled sites and an excellent pool area. The site they had was water/electric only. 

Though the campground is around 20 minutes outside of Bend, they also enjoyed checking out the village of Sunriver, which has cute local shops, bookstores, coffee shops, breweries. Even in the midst of all the great things they experienced on this trip, one of Jeremy’s favorite memories was seeing his kids sit down to read right after buying new books in Sunriver. In Bend, Deschutes Brewing Company is a classic! He also recommends checking out Lone Crow Bungalow to find a great selection of gifts.

As you can imagine, this was an epic adventure for Jeremy and his family! Make sure to find him on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as CampWestBBQ! In addition to his camping adventures, you can find a lot of great food tips and recipes! We really want to thank Jeremy for giving us all of these details and recommendations!

Make sure to click play on the media play or look for The RV Atlas in your podcast app to find both segments of our full discussion, as Jeremy shared full reviews of these 8 great campgrounds in northern California and coastal Oregon along with so many great reflections on the trip planning and family experience of being on the road! If you are planning your first long RV road trip, he has some amazing tips. You can also find more great Oregon recommendations here.

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Since 2020, New River Gorge has held the title of the nation’s newest national park. Travelers are just discovering the magic of this fantastic slice of West Virginia. If you’re planning an epic family RV trip to New River Gorge National Park, we have a special guest here to help you decide where to stay and what to do. There’s so much more to this region than its iconic bridge.

Allie Kreuz is a special member of our RV Atlas Facebook group who has been so helpful in sharing tips and advice with our community, so when she reached out to share all of her trip details for New River Gorge National Park, we were excited to welcome her on the show. We last talked about New River Gorge in 2021, so it was time for an update. Allie has such great recommendations!

Allie traveled to New River Gorge with her husband and three girls who camp in their Jayco 224BH. Their family likes to visit national parks, especially ones that are pretty easy to reach from the Midwest. Allie is going to tell us about two campgrounds, Adventures on the Gorge and Battle Run COE Campground. Plus, she has some great tips for what to do and where to eat during your stay.

Allie shares a lot of great tips for planning a trip New River Gorge National Park adventures on the podcast! Check it out by clicking play on the media player above, or look for The RV Atlas wherever you find your podcasts. Thanks to Allie for providing photos for this post!

Adventures on the Gorge comes highly recommended as a base camp for visiting New River Gorge National Park. Allie describes it as the perfect blend of a beautiful state park combined with a resort with great amenities. We all know how hard it is to find this combo!

One tip Allie shared is that the gravel sites are not super level, like you might find at state parks, so take your levelers, especially if you have a longer rig. The campsites are not huge but they are wooded, giving them some privacy. You just might have a perfect spot to hang a hammock since the sites are all tucked into the trees. If you don’t have an RV, you will also find a large variety of cabins, as well as tent spots. Everything has a woodsy vibe that Allie describes as being like a “90s summer camp.”

The pool rivals what you might find at resorts like Margaritaville at Pigeon Forge. with multiple areas for both kids and adults. But, the best part is that the pool deck has gorgeous views of the New River Gorge. There’s a sunbathing deck that has better views than the park’s visitor center. We all love when you can take the kids to a national park for outdoor adventures by day and then return to the campground for their fun and relaxation n the evening.

Allie also gives a special shoutout to the food onsite at Adventures on the Gorge. Not only was it convenient, it was actually good! The park has multiple dining spots, including a pub, restaurants, and a poolside snack bar. The virgin piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris were a huge hit with her girls, who might come to expect this at every campground. Even if you aren’t staying at the campground, Allie recommends coming for a meal.

Also, you don’t have to leave the campground to truly experience the beauty of the New River Gorge. The pool isn’t the only spot to take in views. You’ll also find walking trails, scenic overlooks, and restaurants with a view. This is such a unique amenity to find in the campground and really adds to the experience!

Allie recommends starting your trip at a visitor center. The rangers can give you great trail recommendations, you can pick up your junior ranger booklets, and you can learn all about the park. There’s a great observation deck right at the visitor center. Plus, you can pick up all your merch and maps.

Inside the park, Allie recommends Stone Cliff Trail for a fun hike (it’s more of a walk). This 2.7-mile trail follows an old road along the New River, so along your walk, you will see the rafters going by. It’s a fun way to get excited about a rafting trip. Plus, you can take a break and put your feet in the water.

For a more adventurous hike, check out the Bridge Trail, which is more strenuous since it takes you to the bridge itself for up-close views. You really get a sense of the size of the bridge as you get close to it. This one includes some fun rock scrambles.

Did you know New River Gorge National Park has a ghost town? You can tour the town of Thurmond. It has a visitor center inside an old train station. This was a bustling coal town in the early 1900s, but now, it has a population of two. You will have to drive there, but the drive itself is also fun, as it takes you over a one-lane bridge. You can peek in the windows of the downtown buildings and imagine what life was like a century ago.

While the park is known for its views from above, one of the best ways to experience the park is in the deep river valley with a rafting trip. Allie recommends doing your visit in the summer, so you can get the full rafting experience. You can find whitewater options for more the more adventurous and calmer sections for rafting with kids and others who may want a calmer experience. Allie booked her rafting trip directly through Adventures on the Gorge. They could walk to the meeting spot right from their campsite, which was a major benefit. If you want to plan your own epic family RV trip to New River Gorge in West Virginia–consider rafting a must!

Allie’s family thoroughly loved the rafting trip, from the bus ride to the rapids! Though she was initially nervous, the trip was calm enough to relieve those nerves but fun enough to be an adventure. She does recommend taking dramamine if you get motion sickness. After having a taste of tackling the rapids, her family hopes to return someday to do the Lower New River for bigger rapids!

Allie booked a rafting trip that included lunch, and she was surprised by how good the spread was. Plus, at the end of the day, you can join the group to watch a video replay of your adventures. She thoroughly recommends Adventures on the Gorge for planning your raft trip.

Allie shares a lot more great tips for planning your rafting trip on the podcast! Check it out by clicking play on the media player above, or look for The RV Atlas wherever you find your podcasts.

You could use Summersville Lake as a base camp for your visit to New River Gorge, or you can make it a day trip. Either way, it’s another great place to enjoy the landscapes of West Virginia. This is a 300-foot-deep crystal clear lake surrounded by sandstone cliffs. While you can stay busy exploring New River Gorge, Summersville Lake adds that relaxing summer element, where you can hang out in hammocks and enjoy the views and activities.

On the lake, you can go paddling or boating. It’s a great spot for swimming, scuba diving, and even rock climbing (with fun drops into the lake). While Allie didn’t rent a boat this time, if she would return, she absolutely would do so on the next time to explore more of the 3,000-acre lake. There’s also newer state park right on the lake, which offers camping, hiking, and other activities.

If you want to stay on Summersville Lake, Battle Run is a great Corps of Engineers campground. Allie gives two excellent tips for staying here:

As awesome as Adventures on the Gorge was, Battle Run was just as awesome in its own way. Allie recommends pairing the two parks for your stay. Doing Adventures on the Gorge first gets the excitement of rafting checked off the list, allowing your family to really relax by ending your RV trip to New River Gorge National Park at Battle Run.

This park has 110 campsites, many are waterfront and electric only. Not only was the campground beautiful, it provides great access to the waters. Allie’s family had fun exploring an island just offshore. You can kayak and swim right from your campsites. The park has a terrific newly updated playground, as well as a fishing dock and boat launch.

We can’t wrap up this great post about planning a trip to New River Gorge without talking food. Allie recommends Pies and Pints. Fayetteville, West Virginia, is home to the original location of what has now become a small chain. Allie says it’s some of the best specialty pizza she’s ever had! Not only are the pies and pints truly great, the atmosphere is the perfect place to relax, with indoor and outdoor seating and a playground.

We want to thank Allie for sharing all of these great recommendations with us! She’s already considering a return trip since New River Gorge truly stole their hearts. If you’re planning an epic family RV trip to New River Gorge National Park, you have everything you need right here to start your reservations and itinerary!

The post An Epic Family RV Trip to New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia with Allie Kreuz appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Located in the bustling outdoor playground of Grand Junction, Colorado, Camp Eddy offers a camping experience that seamlessly combines modern amenities, river access, and proximity to the vibrant downtown area. This unique campground, situated alongside the Colorado River, captures the best of both natural tranquility and urban convenience. 

You can listen to our complete campground review wherever you get your podcasts!

Camp Eddy is beautifully situated on the banks of the Colorado River, conveniently located just minutes from downtown Grand Junction. The campground combines the rustic charm of riverside camping with close proximity to local attractions, restaurants, and outdoor adventures. It’s an ideal spot for both outdoor enthusiasts and travelers looking for comfortable amenities.

Camp Eddy offers a range of lodging options for visitors. We stayed in an RV rental while we were there, since we flew into the Denver airport. 

The amenities at Camp Eddy are the star of the show, creating a hip, fun camping environment that mirrors the vibe of the surrounding region.

One of the greatest advantages of staying at Camp Eddy is the excellent variety of outdoor adventures available nearby. With its central location in Grand Junction, the campground offers quick access to exciting activities like river rafting, hiking, scenic exploration, and more.

Directly onsite, Grand Junction Adventures (GJA) makes exploring the Colorado River exceptionally easy. Visitors can rent equipment such as paddleboards, kayaks, and tubes without leaving the campground. GJA offers excellent guided float trips, including a particularly enjoyable route from nearby Palisade back down to Camp Eddy. This relaxing float provides scenic views and is highly recommended for a leisurely adventure suitable for all skill levels.

Only about 15 minutes from Camp Eddy, Colorado National Monument is a must-see for campers. This remarkable national park features stunning red-rock canyons, towering cliffs, and unique geological formations, often compared to those found in Utah’s famous parks. A drive along Rim Rock Drive is a highlight, offering spectacular viewpoints like Grand View and Coke Ovens. Early morning visits provide excellent photography opportunities and cooler temperatures. Popular trails within the monument include the Canyon Rim Trail and the short Otto’s Trail, which offer breathtaking overlooks accessible for most visitors.

Grand Junction offers ample hiking opportunities close to Camp Eddy. Devil’s Kitchen Trail, a moderate 1.5-mile round trip, leads hikers through beautiful red rock formations. Additionally, Monument Canyon Trail is notable for stunning rock formations such as Independence Monument, ideal for hikers seeking slightly longer routes with impressive views.

For thrill-seekers looking for off-road excitement, adrenaline-pumping ATV tours are available in the Grand Junction area. These guided tours provide opportunities to explore more remote terrain, discovering breathtaking overlooks and rugged backcountry areas inaccessible by regular vehicles. Tours typically range from easy scenic rides suitable for beginners to more challenging adventures for experienced riders. Companies such as Adrenaline Driven Adventure Company (ADAC) provide reliable guided tours that showcase the natural beauty of the region.

Grand Junction is also popular as a mountain biking destination. Nearby trails offer everything from beginner-friendly paths to challenging expert terrain. Popular trail systems include the Lunch Loops area and the Kokopelli trails, providing a range of options to satisfy all skill levels. These trails offer stunning desert scenery and technical rides for those seeking adrenaline-fueled experiences.

Downtown Grand Junction is a quick drive from Camp Eddy and offers numerous attractions. The charming downtown district features boutique shopping, art galleries, and local cafes. The area is perfect for window shopping, enjoying local food joints, and exploring galleries.

Visitors may also want to make time for a day trip to nearby Palisade, known for its orchards, vineyards, and wineries, perfect for wine-tasting excursions. Palisade offers unique opportunities to explore Colorado’s thriving wine country with numerous tasting rooms and vineyard tours.

Grand Junction offers exceptional dining options within easy reach of Camp Eddy, adding significantly to the overall enjoyment of the visit:

Camp Eddy was a delightful place for us to kick off our Colorado and Utah summer adventure. Its unique urban riverfront location provides unmatched convenience to downtown Grand Junction, local dining, and outdoor adventures. The campground offers modern amenities, unique lodging options, and thoughtful design that appeals to a wide range of campers—from adventurous couples to families or groups of friends.

For those prioritizing both outdoor experiences and urban amenities, Camp Eddy delivers the perfect combination, creating a memorable and enjoyable camping experience that reflects the best of what Grand Junction has to offer.

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