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uncle_bob · 12-02-2017, 09:02 AM

Hi

I would never argue that the state parks (in any state I've lived in) measure up to the COE sites. Some states do a better job than other states. None of them seem to be able to do as good a job as the COE.

Bob

TouringDan · 12-04-2017, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

I happen to like the "random" process on the campsites. I like the idea of being able to pick a site *or* go in the find a site pool even more. Trying to pick a site with near zero info ... not so easy. We try to travel mid week. Rolling around an empty campground looking at spots is part of the fun.

Bob

Bob

I agree and it is part of the fun. We only make reservations when we absolutely have to and/or are familiar with the campground. At North Bend COE, we usually reserve a site but their policy is that they will allow you to move to another site if one is available. I like that.

Dan

Blackdog06 · 12-04-2017, 08:32 AM

Ya'll are making me jealous! We're weekend warriors and try to limit 3-day trips within 150 miles...travelling without reservations is darn near impossible in this (over)crowded area. Retirement can't come soon enough...

Too tall · 12-05-2017, 05:39 AM

Welcome Blackdog. This is starting to look like a solid group.

ExStreamin · 12-05-2017, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackdog06

Ya'll are making me jealous! We're weekend warriors and try to limit 3-day trips within 150 miles...travelling without reservations is darn near impossible in this (over)crowded area. Retirement can't come soon enough...

I agree for weekend trips just getting out of town (Baltimore or Washington) is the biggest challenge. The traffic on 495 on a Sunday night is unbelievable. When we camp we try to leave on a Thursday but that means taking a day off of work.

Blackdog06 · 12-05-2017, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExStreamin

I agree for weekend trips just getting out of town (Baltimore or Washington) is the biggest challenge. The traffic on 495 on a Sunday night is unbelievable. When we camp we try to leave on a Thursday but that means taking a day off of work.

We usually camp every other weekend as we both work a 9-80 schedule. Leaving Thursday night makes a huge difference but we still try to avoid the *95's and the Bay Bridge when possible. Traffic, work, popularity of parks, etc., takes all the spontaneity out of camping. Sad, but we've got all of our trips booked into mid-July already...

Soyboy · 12-05-2017, 07:26 AM

At our favorite/regular campgrounds, we generally make reservations as soon as we can (MD & DE: 1 year, PA: 11 mo. Federal: 6 months). That way we get the sites we like. Plus we can build other family/etc. activities around our camping dates. This is especially true at the beaches, as those sites get booked up early. We usually do 5/6 trips a year to the ocean. Of course, our reservation booking is mainly for the peak seasons, in the early spring and late fall we generally just pick one when we get there.

Sometimes we also bring our car along on our beach trips as there is nothing like driving with the top down along the ocean on a nice summer evening. This picture was taken just north of Delaware Seashore State Park, looking out over Rehobeth Bay on a perfect June evening last summer. For me, there is nothing like a sunset over the water.

riquahog · 12-05-2017, 07:27 AM

We have been impressed with Shenandoah River State Park. Nice trails. Great scenery. Good canoeing. Great campground. It is also one of several VA State Parks that is open year round. Not too far off 81.

Too tall · 12-05-2017, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riquahog

We have been impressed with Shenandoah River State Park. Nice trails. Great scenery. Good canoeing. Great campground. It is also one of several VA State Parks that is open year round. Not too far off 81.

Agreed. We will be back during warmer weather for some river fun. The dog loved it, we loved it and as you say it is a short drive from the burbs.

I'm working on a solo trip to LUMs Pond for some bike riding. I'll wait for this cold front to pass by first.

uncle_bob · 12-05-2017, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackdog06

Ya'll are making me jealous! We're weekend warriors and try to limit 3-day trips within 150 miles...travelling without reservations is darn near impossible in this (over)crowded area. Retirement can't come soon enough...

Hi

We got spoiled rotten when we lived out in Kansas. The COE had a lot of great locations that didn't fill up. We were in tents so that helped as well.

Once we got back to the east, we hit exactly the problem you describe. Toss on top of it two jobs and strange schedules from each of them. That made it all very crazy to do much of anything.

Indeed, getting back to camping is one of the great parts of (finally) retiring. I got "pushed", but I'm glad it happened.

Bob

Blackdog06 · 12-05-2017, 04:58 PM

TooTall - if you go to Lums the best sites are 31-41 on the outside IMHO. You can see the lake through the trees now.

Soyboy - thanks for recommending Rocky Gap! Just booked a spot for July...amazing how many of the electric spots were reserved already.

Dan_Rox - We chatted briefly about kayaks and Bald Eagle in another thread. How did you like it?

Too tall · 12-05-2017, 07:02 PM

@Blackdog - Just planning ahead, similar to yourself. Noted that Rocky Gap does not seem to have trailer spaces for anything > 20 ' long?! You made July sound so good I had to look! Maybe a website glitch.

Soyboy · 12-05-2017, 07:20 PM

Too Tall: Rocky Gap has plenty of room on many sites for even the largest Motorhomes and 5th wheels. The site listings are very unreliable as to trailer lengths. We park out 28' AS with ease on many sites. Almost every site on the electric/Ash loop will hold a large trailer and tow vehicle with ease. There are also a number of sites on the Ironwood and Gum loops that will too. I am not as familiar with the other loops. At the top of the Gum loop are a couple of large, pull through sites (on the inside of the loop, sites 189 and 192) that have a LOT of room. Not again that only the Ash loop has electric. But the Gum loop is beautiful, up on the side of the mountain. And as I noted earlier, the Ironwood loop has sites right on the lake. Great for kayakers. Those sites get booked really fast. Note that generators are allowed in most of the park between IIRC 8am - 10pm.

When making reservations, I know which sites work (there are many) and I simply put in whatever length (20/25') is the max, as the length of my trailer. I have never had a problem, nor anyone questions it. That includes a number of visits from the rangers checking out my Airstream. Might be worth an early season non-reservation trip to see the lay of the land. I don't know why they don't have more accurate info. I think they measured the size of the actual sites within the wooden gravel timber retainers but didn't consider the often long driveways.

Check out post 24 in this thread and you will see we have plenty of room for our trailer on the site in the pic. It's in the Ash loop.

Blackdog: RG is very popular, I think you will like it. That is one reason we book as early as we can. I figure I can cancel for a couple of bucks if need be, although we very rarely do LOL. I don't like to book a site if I am not going to use it as it can foul up others plans. BTW, one of these days I would like to check out Lums and watch the ships on the C&O canal. But it is so close to my first love, the ocean, that it is hard to do that. I'll have to hit it sometime for a couple of nights on the way to the beach, I think that would keep me happy LOL. BTW, flat is fine for my bike rides ;-)

Blackdog06 · 12-06-2017, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Too tall

@Blackdog - Just planning ahead, similar to yourself. Noted that Rocky Gap does not seem to have trailer spaces for anything > 20 ' long?! You made July sound so good I had to look! Maybe a website glitch.

It's a glitch...and they just added the 25/35' option but nothing matches it. Early this year Maryland switched to their own reservation system and all the reservations we'd made for a 25' trailer suddenly became >20' sites. We fit just fine!

I just looked at site 20 at Rocky and it's only for >20' trailers yet the site is 35' long...

Blackdog06 · 12-06-2017, 05:03 AM

Speaking of planning ahead and if anyone is interested, Seven Points COE at Raystown Lake still has a few waterfront sites available for the beginning of June. The Allegrippis mtb trail system is located there also.

Too tall · 12-06-2017, 05:56 AM

S.B. and B.D., perfect, that clears it up. Seven Points does look good. Mtb. and road rides galore.

Blackdog06 · 12-15-2017, 09:58 AM

Has anybody ever been to Colonel Denning, Fowlers Hollow or Cowan's Gap State Parks in Pennsylvania? If so, what did you think? They're on our list for consideration for next year, but I can't find much information on them. TIA!

uncle_bob · 12-16-2017, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackdog06

Has anybody ever been to Colonel Denning, Fowlers Hollow or Cowan's Gap State Parks in Pennsylvania? If so, what did you think? They're on our list for consideration for next year, but I can't find much information on them. TIA!

Hi

I suppose I could swing past Col. Denning ... it's on the way to the meat market

. You *are* in a (modestly) populated part of the state. You have stores and "stuff to do" somewhere in the area. You are not in an urban area, so don't take this the wrong way.

Bob

Blackdog06 · 12-16-2017, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

I suppose I could swing past Col. Denning ... it's on the way to the meat market

. You *are* in a (modestly) populated part of the state. You have stores and "stuff to do" somewhere in the area. You are not in an urban area, so don't take this the wrong way.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the offer, but please don't go out of your way. I just looked at the DCNR website and the Col. Denning campground is closed for the 2018 season for some sort of project.

For us, the further out in the sticks is all the better :-) and I've been wanting to hike parts of the Tuscarora Trail that runs through that area. We'll probably just make a road trip up there over the winter and check the parks out.

Thanks! Liz

KellyCreek · 12-16-2017, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackdog06

Has anybody ever been to Colonel Denning, Fowlers Hollow or Cowan's Gap State Parks in Pennsylvania? If so, what did you think? They're on our list for consideration for next year, but I can't find much information on them. TIA!

Cowan's is a really nice state park campground, nice lake with beach, boating, fishing, hiking trails, near the abandoned section of the PA turnpike which is an interesting bike ride. A first rate park, easy to get to. Highly recommended.