Check us out on Campendium

We've moved our Campground & RV Park Reviews over to Campendium!  

REVIEW: Apache Flats RV (Ft. Huachuca)

Apache Flats is one of our top ten RV parks (so far).  We were monthlies here in the Spring of 2014 and again in the Summer of 2016 - both times I was assigned to Ft. Huachcua.  It is on the military installation and only open to Active & Retired military. 

Pros:

• Wildlife everywhere! Roadrunners, javelinas, deer, Arizona Redbirds, hummingbirds, turkeys, lizards, snakes, bunnies, and a few domesticated cats.  
• So many trails that can be accessed right from the RV park.  You could hike or ride for miles and miles without ever getting in your car. 
• Huge sites with lots of privacy.
• Quiet.  Very very quiet.  (Except at 0630 for reveille and 1630 for retreat)
• Beautiful views.  Mountains everywhere.  
• Big rig friendly; every site is a pull-thru with a nice flat concrete pad.
• Some of the sites have a decent amount of shade.
• At nearly 5,000 ft. of elevation, it stays much cooler than Tucson and Benson. 
• Fast free WiFi; clean and inexpensive laundry facilities; 2 miles to the commissary & PX. 

Cons:  

• Hmmmm......I've got nothing.

Beautiful sites at Apache Flats

Look at those views!
There is also a gate in the fence here that leads to the trails.

Plenty of shade from the Arizona sun!

Great layout - all pull-thru and surrounded by nature walks.

Sunrise at Apache Flats (from 2016)

If you're into birds - hummingbirds in particular - make sure you come in the spring during migration season.  Ft. Huachuca is smack in the middle of the hummingbird freeway of the San Pedro River Valley, and one of the only places you can volunteer to assist with banding.  Ramsey Canyon is another great place to see the wildlife and is just a short drive from Ft. Huachuca (but note that most of it is off-limits to dogs).   There are also at least two families of RoadRunners (is it "beep beep"? or "meep meep"??) who nest right in the RV park, and strut around like they own the place.   

If you're into wine, beer, breakfast or motorcycles (or like us, all four), then head out the "back gate" and take a leisurely drive to Sonoita.  Have a late breakfast at the Vinyard Cafe, make a few stops on the wine trail, maybe sit on the patio and enjoy the views over a beer at the Hop Farm.   

Best breakfast ever (and a gorgeous MC ride to get there)!

Wine with a view (from 2016)

Patio at the Hop Farm (from 2016)

And then there's Bisbee, just a short drive from the Fort.  There's a little something for everyone in Bisbee, whether you want to be a tourist, discover adorable little shops, get a workout in by climbing all the stairs, or just sit on a patio and drink beer.  About the same distance as Bisbee is Tombstone, the Wild West town that has been the set for many movies.  Tombstone is much more touristy and there's no brewery (but the American Legion Post serves up wicked cheap pitchers of Sam Adams with ice-cold mugs).  

One of our favorite places - Bisbee Brewing Co. (from 2016)

So yeah, bottom line, go to Apache Flats.  That is, if you are active or retired military.  😁

REVIEW: Distant Drums RV Resort (Camp Verde)

We used Distant Drums as just a stopping-off point between Tucson and Flagstaff, but could have easily stayed a few more days. 

Pros:

• Level, concrete pads and easy-to-maneuver roads (pic below).
• Super super friendly staff.
• Nice pool area (pic below) with hot tub.
• Relatively good internet at the sites and excellent internet in the lobby area.
• Shaded fenced-in dog area with benches and a water source, big enough for fetch.
• Proximity to lots of relatively local attractions.
• Plenty of lizards for the pups to chase.

Cons:

• No shade in the sites.
• No nature trails from the park.
• Highway noise.

If casinos are your thing, there's a small one right across the street.  If breweries are your thing, you will regret every decision you've ever made if you don't visit Verde Brewing (reviewed here).  You could make this your base for exploration of Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona, and definitely don't miss a side trip to the adorable mining town of Jerome.  And if you're a fan of Tool, you must visit the Caduceus Cellars in Jerome, the tasting room for Maynard's winemaking obsession.

Lots of pavement, but not a terrible view.

Sites are really close, but level and paved.

Pool & hot tub area.

REVIEW: LazyDays KOA (Tucson)

This used to be an independent campground, but is now a KOA.  The prices (of course) increased when they became a KOA, but they have also made a bunch of cosmetic improvements in the 2 years since we've been there.

Pros:

• Convenient to Downtown, Univ. of Arizona, Davis Monthan AFB.
• Co-located with LazyDays RV Sales & Service.  You can walk over to the showroom (to dream of all the rigs you can't afford) or to visit your rig the service area.
• Two nice pools w/hot tub, small fitness center, and good laundry facility. 
• Restaurant and full bar on-site.
• Clean & well-maintained. 
• Large fenced-in dog park suitable for ball-throwing and wrestling.
• The new solar panels provide much-needed shade in the summer months.
• In the spring, the citrus trees provide breakfast! 

Cons:

• In the middle of the city - no views, no nature trails, no natural shade.
• Lots of pavement/asphalt (which is very hard on dog paws in the summer!)
• Terrible (really really terrible) internet.
• A little pricey.

While we are here, I just want to give a shout-out to LazyDays, the RV dealer connected to the LazyDays KOA.  We bought our 2nd Toy Hauler there (after a really bad experience at another Arizona dealer who's name shall never pass these lips again) and the experience with LazyDays was fantastic. They were skilled at registering it out-of-state (which anyone in the military can attest is a PITA), no obnoxious up-selling, and great follow-up service.   In fact, it was such a great experience, that while we were there this time, Doug convinced me to go RV shopping, based on the argument that "if we're going to upgrade, we need to do it here where we can buy it from LazyDays."  🙄

Sorry no pictures in this review.  Just didn't get around to it.  The ones on their website are mostly representative of the experience. 

REVIEW: Hacienda RV

This is the 3rd time we've stayed at the Hacienda RV Park in Las Cruces, NM.  When we lived in AZ, we used to come over to Las Cruces pretty regularly, but always stayed at the KOA.  They are both nice parks - it just depends on what you want to do while you're here.  Hacienda is walking distance to Mesilla, which is a historic little town just west of Las Cruces, with many restaurants, wineries, and shops.  The KOA has killer views, but is a bit further from restaurants and stores. 

The Hacienda is a nice park with large level sites that feel very private.  It is one stoplight off of I-10 and is big-rig friendly.  The dog park is just a long narrow fenced run along the edge of the park, but Sunday says it was just fine for playing fetch (she also claimed there were lizards in the bushes by our site, but I didn't see them).   The staff was friendly and happily accommodated our request for a site next to the dog run.  There is also a very nice laundry room, large shower facilities, and a hot tub.  The free WiFi is super fast and reliable, even at 10 pm!

Our site - end site across from dog park

Beautiful long/wide and level sites

Half of the dog run

REVIEW: Ft. Stockton RV Park

This is the 4th time we've stayed at the Ft. Stockton RV Park.  Not because we have some kind of weird desire to visit Ft. Stockton, TX, but because its a good stopping point on the journey between San Antonio and Arizona. 

The RV park itself is pretty basic - everything you need, nothing you don't.  Spaces are gravel with a picnic table.  It's an easy setup in which to maneuver around a big rig.  The dog park is a huge fenced-in area and has benches and a water source (although the water was turned off on this visit).  It is less than 2 minutes off I-10, but yet in the middle of nowhere. 

Pretty basic angled spaces

View of dog park from our site - just a big fenced field

There is a cafe on premises that serves breakfast and dinner.  I haven't tried it, but Doug raved about their Biscuts & Gravy.  The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable of the area.  Rates are reasonable ($36 for a pull-thru with Good Sam discount).  I don't think there's much to do here, but it is a perfect spot to spend the night when traversing I-10 from Arizona/New Mexico to Central/Eastern Texas.

REVIEW: San Antonio KOA

We absolutely love the San Antonio KOA.  We were monthlies there for 18 months while Jen was getting cancer treatment at SAMMC, so this really became "home".

The whole property is covered in pecan trees, and there is plenty of shade to make the Texas heat bearable.  The sites are all gravel with small brick patios and a picnic table.  There is a large event hall they use for activities, live music, and movie nights.  In the past year, they have really stepped up their game in terms of family activities - it seems there is always something going on to keep kids entertained, and they just put in a brand new playground.  The dog park is large and covered with cedar chips, and has a few pieces of agility equipment, plenty of benches for humans, and a water source.  The pool area looks nice enough, although we never used it due to its popularity with children. 😉  Your dogs will also love the hundreds of squirrels who call the KOA home and have become experts at running up trees and laughing at your barking pooch.  The staff here are all friendly and really committed to keeping the park clean and comfortable for everyone.  Quiet hours are enforced, trash is picked up several times a day, and the workcampers are always working on some kind of project to improve the KOA.  There is also a cook shack where they serve up reasonably-priced breakfast food and sometimes dinner stuff on weekends.

Our site - look at all that shade!

Mookie doing gymnastics in our tree.  

The location is definite perk. The Salado Creek Greenway runs adjacent to the east side of the park, and is a paved trail that winds its way along the Salado Creek.  In both directions, it crosses though multiple parks with various facilities, including restrooms, basketball courts, water fountains, and playgrounds.

Salado Creek Greenway about a mile from the KOA

Just outside the main entrance to the KOA, there is a bus stop for the city bus line.  This is a great way to get downtown to all the touristy things you might want to do (e.g., Riverwalk, the Alamo).  Alternatively, an Uber will run you about $10-12 to get to the Alamo/Riverwalk area.  Parking down by the Alamo varies from $5-25, depending on what events might be in town and how far you are willing to walk.  I always park here when I go downtown -- its got big angled spaces suitable for a dualie and is only $5 for all day. 

From here, you are also an easy 10 minute drive to the historic Pearl area, where you'll find the best restaurants San Antonio has to offer, plus a brewery, a weekend farmer's market, a splash pad for kids, and a food hall.  Parking a dualie is easy and free in the lots under the highway, behind the bike shop.

If you're in town for military stuff, the KOA is a quick 5 minute drive to the main gate for Ft. Sam Houston (Commissary, PX, and Class 6 are right inside this gate) and 10 minutes to the main gate for San Antonio Military Medical Center.  In 20 minutes, you can easily be to Lackland AFB. 

The AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum are right down the road.  Here, you'll find the Spurs, the San Antonio Rodeo & Stock Show, and lots of concerts and other special events.  You can take the bus right out front or an Uber for about $5.  Or, you can walk along the Salado Creek Greenway from the campground just over a mile right to the AT&T Center. (Note:  I wouldn't do this after dark, but during daylight hours, its just fine.)

Although the rates may seem a little high, for the amenities they offer and the fantastic location, it is definitely worth every penny.  Some of the spaces require creative maneuvering around trees if you have a big rig, but there are plenty that are wide open and easy - just make sure you ask at the desk.  The free WiFi is fast and reliable, and there are adequate cable TV options.

Bottom line:  if your travels bring you near San Antonio, stay at the San Antonio KOA!

REVIEW: USA RV Resorts Houston

If you are ever unfortunate enough to be driving to/through Houston, USA RV Resorts-Houston isn't a bad place to spend the night.  Relatively easy on/off multiple highways and convenient to downtown Houston, Galveston Bay, and NASA.  It is essentially a huge flat concrete lot with back-in spaces around the perimeter and large pull-thru sites throughout the middle.

View from our site.

There is a very nice pool and hot tub, and a small fitness room with a few brand new cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical) and resistance training equipment.  There was a laundry room, but we didn't use it.  The park itself is brand new (as of May 2018), so everything is in great shape.  The staff were all super-friendly.  There was a very small fenced-in area for dogs, but nothing in it - not even a place for humans to sit.  There are no trees, which means you and your rig are exposed to the miserable hell-like Houston sun the whole time.  This really is a park of convenience - an easy place to sleep after a long day/night of driving, or a place of utility if you for some odd reason want to do things in downtown Houston or at NASA.  Or, I guess, if you're a student of highway flyovers, sleeping underneath several of them might do something for you.

Rates were high for what was there - $59/night and advance reservations were non-refundable.  No discounts at all (e.g., Good Sam, military, etc.), although the front desk lady said they were working with corporate on getting those set up.

An Uber to downtown Houston (Minute Maid Park) was $25 with tip in the afternoon, and $45 with surge pricing after the game.  There are two large grocery stores within a couple of miles (Kroger and H-E-B).  The drive to Kemah was an easy 25 minutes.

Finding the park is easy if you know what to look for.  Once you get off the highway, you are on a one-way access road with lots of merging traffic from all directions.  GoogleMaps will tell you to turn in the right place, but it looks like you are pulling in to a car dealership.  Turn exactly where Google tells you - it is actually a road (no road sign) and the car dealership is across from the RV park.  In other words, when your wife says "turn HERE" don't say "no, that's a car dealership" and keep going, because you'll just have to make a big complicated loop to get back to that turn!