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06-15-2017, 07:32 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Greensboro NC
Posts: 1,140
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campgrounds Myth vs reality
Anyone else who reviews the campgrounds on this site use the sat images on google maps? I have seen many highly rated campgrounds based on reviews, I go to the site and see pretty campground pictures etc, get interested, and then go to a sat image on google earth of the site and instantly check it off my list because its basically a parking lot.. Frustrating. Wish the websites would be a little more accurate, But I guess thats the trend.. Hotels, beach rentals all do the same thing I suppose.
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06-15-2017, 07:36 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 643
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I always Google the grounds before i go, if not before i book it. Its nice to know if you'll be dealing with tight areas while pulling in or out as well along with know what it really does look like before you get there.
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2012 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8312SS riding on Gladiator rubber.
2004 Ford F350 (Black Beauty) CC, SB, 6sp, 6L work horse.
Camped
2016 - 21 nights
2017 - 42 + scheduled....
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06-15-2017, 07:47 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Minnesota ( wishing we were boondocking in the New York Catskills )
Posts: 567
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Absolutely, we "reality check" what we can with the satellite imaging. Doesn't always work best when the sites are buried in dense trees ... but, guess that still proves that "shade" means there might be shade.
Can't speak for all states and counties, but the State park system here in Minnesota, and several of the counties, have nice online reservation systems, where you can actually drill / click down to the individual camp sites and see an image of exactly what that slot looks like before you commit your buxx and lock the deal.
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Jeff and Abby
Fur Babies - Xandra Sophia (GSD) and Neo (Min-Pin Mutt who thinks he is a cat)
2015 Tracer Air 235 (previous 1994 Veri-Lite 1130 TC)
1998 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab - 360 - 46RE (Built)
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06-15-2017, 07:48 AM
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#4
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Broken Toe
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Imperial (St. Louis) MO
Posts: 3,745
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Most of the time I book a campsite, they provide a picture of the site. First time I went to Lincoln State Park in Indiana, I spent probably 2 hours looking at the site pictures to find the one I wanted.
Tim
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FROG Member MO-0008-571 Since 20124444444444My Project Blog: https://cowracer.blogspot.com/
"Camper" 2016 Rockwood Signature Ultralite 8329ss
"Casper" 2017 Ram 2500 Laramie Diesel
..ProPride 3P Hitch - "Yeah. It's worth it."
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06-15-2017, 07:49 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 168
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I use GE religiously. A couple of things I've noticed is that it doesn't give you a really good idea of tree coverage, and another is that local elevation is difficult to determine. I've seen roads on GE that look like superhighways, turns out they are actually two-track adventures. So, I view the images with a skewed eye. Checking out campgrounds, though, it is a great tool.
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06-15-2017, 07:50 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Jefferson County, MO
Posts: 5,449
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I take all reviews with a grain of salt. The first distinction I look at when reading reviews is whether the campground is a commercial enterprise or a publicly funded campground. Commercial campgrounds almost always have sites closer together, they have to make a profit so I don’t hold that against them. I just have a better idea of what to expect.
Any yes, Google Earth is wonderful.
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Bob and Joyce
2013 CC Silverback 29RL
2010 Ford F250 XL Crew Cab 6.4 liter diesel
ATU Local 788
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06-15-2017, 08:04 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Saint Louis
Posts: 1,458
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irony is that the worst picture of the campsite I can see on Google earth, the better its probably going to be.
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2015 Ram 2500 4x4 6.4l with 2015 Sandpiper 25RLS
Wife, myself and 2 furry kids
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06-15-2017, 08:13 AM
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#8
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(Dry Huunday)
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 2,298
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Yep always use Google Earth, not only for the campground but the route as well. I also check tripadvisor...not so much for the reviews but sometimes people post pics of the place. Another good tool is campsitephotos.com . Pretty good website to use as a reference tool. Not all campgrounds are on there but the pics they do have are pretty good.
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Beau & Sue
FurKid Express
2015 Coachmen Catalina 303RLS
2016 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD Duramax
The more people I meet, the more I like my dogs!
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06-15-2017, 08:28 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Posts: 9,230
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Use GE for the CG and the route. Now that they have ground view, even better for looking at routes!
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2012 SunSeeker 3100SS Toad-1962 Futura Average 100 + days camping
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06-15-2017, 08:51 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Pfafftown NC
Posts: 2,353
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__________________
There are 10 types of people in the world.
Those that know binary, and those that don't.
2013:31 / 2014:51 / 2015:58 / 2016:37 / 2017:46
2018:16
Total 239
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06-15-2017, 12:52 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Evereddie
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We've used this website extensively.
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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06-15-2017, 12:57 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,724
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a photo of a campsite or a picture from space NEVER shows the reality of the site.
Just got back from a campsite that looked great in pictures but after a wet spring/early summer the low ground surrounding the parking pad was wet enough that the state park campground staff found it wise to leave 1/2 bale of hay to help sop up the mud surrounding the firepit and camp table.
Every NEW camp that I go to, I find myself walking the loops and making smartphone notes of sites to NOT rent on future visits.
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"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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06-15-2017, 01:07 PM
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#13
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(Dry Huunday)
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 2,298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsdata
a photo of a campsite or a picture from space NEVER shows the reality of the site.
Just got back from a campsite that looked great in pictures but after a wet spring/early summer the low ground surrounding the parking pad was wet enough that the state park campground staff found it wise to leave 1/2 bale of hay to help sop up the mud surrounding the firepit and camp table.
Every NEW camp that I go to, I find myself walking the loops and making smartphone notes of sites to NOT rent on future visits.
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Nothing will ever replace actually being there, but different research tools sure do help narrow the search!!
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Beau & Sue
FurKid Express
2015 Coachmen Catalina 303RLS
2016 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD Duramax
The more people I meet, the more I like my dogs!
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06-15-2017, 01:25 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Posts: 9,230
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But even the picture you take today that a site looks good, come back a month after a lot of rain and it could be a swamp. We visit our CG monthly and its different almost each visit.
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2012 SunSeeker 3100SS Toad-1962 Futura Average 100 + days camping
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06-15-2017, 01:36 PM
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#15
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jkoenig24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Box Elder, SD (formerly NY)
Posts: 953
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I look for TRAIN TRACKS near a CG. Some CGs back right up to RR tracks. Doesn't bode well for a quiet night's sleep.
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06-15-2017, 01:39 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Posts: 9,230
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I camp at one where the freight tracks are a couple hundred feet away! Reminds me when I was a small boy growing up. No horns, just the sound of the train!
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2012 SunSeeker 3100SS Toad-1962 Futura Average 100 + days camping
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06-15-2017, 01:52 PM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northen IL
Posts: 8,288
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A32Deuce
I camp at one where the freight tracks are a couple hundred feet away! Reminds me when I was a small boy growing up. No horns, just the sound of the train!
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Like this?
From the tracks to the fence it's maybe 20 feet. This pic was taken from my in-law's deck.
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06-15-2017, 02:10 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Posts: 9,230
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Only difference where I camp, the tracks are lined with big trees. Anvil Camp Ground in Williamsburg, Va. Very nice CG and excellent staff.
__________________
2012 SunSeeker 3100SS Toad-1962 Futura Average 100 + days camping
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06-15-2017, 02:15 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Jefferson County, MO
Posts: 5,449
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jkoenig24
I look for TRAIN TRACKS near a CG. Some CGs back right up to RR tracks. Doesn't bode well for a quiet night's sleep.
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What do you say? I can't hear you for the train going by.
As an added bonus there was a grade crossing just 100 yards from the campsite so we got to hear horns too.
__________________
Bob and Joyce
2013 CC Silverback 29RL
2010 Ford F250 XL Crew Cab 6.4 liter diesel
ATU Local 788
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06-15-2017, 02:29 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 49
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I agree this is a nice feature and all the state campgrounds in PA, DE, MD and NJ do this. They subscribe to ReserveAmerica. However, it is not a sure thing. For example our first outing this year with our new TT we picked a loop that had full hookups that we haven't camped before with our pop up. The pics were completely off sap McElroy the loop recently was reopened after a major overhaul. Many of The mature trees were gone, nice packed gravel pads were now rocky sites that weren't packed yet, etc. it was still a great weekend but as always, nothing is always as it appears. Keep an open mind.
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