The Differences between RV Parks

We spent one night at the Beaver Lake RV Park in Quincy, Florida.  It cost $20 at the Passport America rate, and it was a terrible place.  They advertise “clean restroom facilities with showers” and a laundry facility.  Hah!  That was the dirtiest RV park we’ve ever seen.  The bathrooms are filthy.  The floor hasn’t been cleaned in - well, maybe ever.  One part of the floor is almost clean but only because the toilet has flooded.  The toilets are untouchable, and the showers are a mess, too.  The laundry facility is unbelievable.  I don’t think it’s ever been used, I don’t even think the machines work; at least one was unplugged. 

I went to the office to ask why it was in this state.  The lady said “Well, most people just use their own RV.”  I said I could see why.  

One of their advertised benefits is being within walking distance to a casino.  We walked down the road (anything to get away from there), but there was nothing.  Where ever that casino is, we couldn’t find it.   Fortunately the actual camping grounds were OK - just a grassy field with hookups, but there wasn’t any trash about.  So we just stayed inside that night and watched DVDs.

We spent the next night at Pecan Park RV Resort in Jacksonville, Florida.  It cost $23.73 at the Passport America rate.  There we found clean paved sites, clean facilities, a clean office, a clean pool, plus wifi and cable.  Next door is a big 3-building Flea Market, and although I didn't find anything I liked, at least it was there!  This park is close to Jacksonville and because it's so nice, some RVers stay for weeks, or even months.

The differences between these parks is night and day.  My favorite online site to check RV parks is rvparkreviews.com, but even so you can still get surprises, both good and bad.  The best plan is to get a recommendation from someone you know, but on the road that isn't always possible.