The latest news about camping and developments in North American campgrounds and RV parks from Janet Groene and the staff of RVtravel.com
DISCLAIMER: Information is believed current at press time but conditions can change quickly. Check ahead online for dates, rates and rules, as well as a campground’s location. No endorsement of any campground or product is implied by this reporter nor this website.
DATELINE: September 20, 2019
ARKANSAS FALL FESTIVAL AT FAIRGROUNDS
Reportedly 133 campsites are available at the Washington County Fairgrounds, where the county’s Fall Festival, sponsored by the Arts and Crafts Council, will feature demonstrator-vendors including a blacksmith and glass blower. See fall produce, autumn decor and gifts, homemade foods, antiques and crafts. More than 200 booths are reserved for the event October 17-19.
CANADIAN CAMPGROUND CLOSES EARLY
Hurricane Dorian caused the early closing for the season of Cavendish Campground in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) National Park. Although the campground was safely evacuated before the storm, major damage to large trees, roads and other infrastructure will require major cleanup and repairs. It is expected to reopen in 2020.
GEORGIA STATE PARK HAS FALL FEST
The annual Fall Festival held on the lake beach at Mistletoe State Park, Appling (near Augusta), on November 2 has hayrides for $3, archery for $1, free apple bobbing, s’mores, music, a scavenger hunt, games and much more! The park has 93 campsites with water and electric. Volunteers for the event are being sought. Can you help?
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Cades Cove was a community of mountain folks who were displaced when the land became a national park. Now the descendants and others who love the mountains get together once a year to remember old-time music, skills, clothing and food. Park rangers are on hand to coordinate Old Timer’s Day on the first Saturday in October. The Cades Cove campground can accommodate motorhomes to 40 feet and trailers to 35 feet. Research dates and places ahead. This is a vast park with many camping areas and many mountain events. Because of its high elevation, check last-minute alerts too for driving conditions.
IOWA CAMPGROUND REOPENS
Closed all season by flood damage, the locally popular Miller Riverview Park in Dubuque is now open. If the Mississippi River cooperates it will stay open until October 27. The pet-friendly campground has 97 sites, some of them pull-through and equipped with 30- and 50-amp electric hookups. The park has handicap accessible restrooms with showers, city water, a dump station, playground and a bike path along the river.
LOUISIANA PARK NOW HAS FULL HOOKUPS
As of October 11, campsites in Chemin-A-Haut State Park near Bastrop, Louisiana, will add sewer hookups to its amenities. Its 26 campsites already have water and electric.
MONTANA CAMPGROUND CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS
Closed for 2019 by construction on the Beartooth Highway, Fox Creek Campground in Shoshone National Forest will reopen at a yet-unannounced date. Near Cooke City, the 33-site campground can accommodate rigs up to 32 feet with electric and water. Reservations are not available. For information contact the Clarks Fork Ranger District in Cody, (307) 527-6921.
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE PARK HAS TRAIL RACE
Show your athletic skills at Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, New Hampshire, on October 12 when the Vulcan’s Fury Trail Race challenges runners’ endurance. Rugged trails and the elevation add up to a day of exciting competitions in a setting of spectacular autumn scenery. The park as 192 campsites but no hookups. Paddle or fish Pawtuckaway Lake, a reservoir known for its smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, white perch, chain pickerel and black crappie.
SOUTH CAROLINA FALL MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
RV campers are offered a variety of packages with and without hookups at the Woodlands Fall Music and Arts Festival near Charleston on November 8-9. The 6,000-acre private preserve is made up of 11 lakes, a black water swamp and endless natural beauties in all
seasons. Settle in for two days of music, arts, vendors, food, brews and good company.
Stay Tuned
In Michigan, Traverse City State Park is closed for renovations. It will reopen in May 2020, with upgraded electric hookups and a new bath house.
It’s approved and will open in phases in 2020. A new campground is going up in Lyndon, Vermont. Kingdom Campground will have 100 sites and a swimming pool among other features.
ADDITIONS FROM RVTRAVEL.COM STAFF
According to a press release, the four campgrounds at Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area in Pedro, Ohio, closed on Sept. 16 due to leaks in the main water pipeline. Water is off at the Oak Hill, Iron Ridge, Pine Knob and Two Points Group campgrounds. Reservations from now through the end of the camping season will be cancelled and refunded. The campgrounds may be reopened, if the pipeline can be repaired before the end of the season but sites will only be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hide-A-Way Lakes Campground in Yorkville, Illinois, has been cited for more than 50 violations after their recent annual inspection. The violations include 33 inoperable vehicle violations and 29 junk and debris violations. There had been recent activities including an apparent hit-and-run, an aggravated assault involving the unlawful use of a weapon, a crash involving a car and a train, and a residential burglary. The owner of the campground, Tom Tanner, accused the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office of unfairly targeting him and said he is in compliance with his county-issued special-use permit. Tanner said his campground has about a thousand sites and include daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal and yearly rates.
Several aggressive raccoons had to be euthanized this week at Chester Frost Park, Hixson, Tennessee, which has some people upset. But officials say it was necessary in order to make the park safer for people and to protect them from rabies. The raccoons were rummaging through trash cans, going right up to campers for food, and some could even unzip tents.
Thirty state parks along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in New York are offering 50 percent off for campsite reservations and vehicle entrance fees in its extended fall camping promotion. The promotion runs through October 14 and applies to reservations made between August 1 and October 14. A minimum two-night stay is required.
Janet Groene is the author of 25 books including Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition, available at Amazon.com. Her brand-new book, “February Felony – A Yacht Yenta Mystery,” is available at Amazon.com.
Please send us your campground news. Just fill out the form.
