National Forest Camping Directory

There's a new National Forest Camping directory. Actually, it is the second edition.

According to RV Travel:

For many campers — and that includes those in RVs — camping in a U.S. National Forest campground is the way to go. As its name suggests, most are in forests, most in the Western states. And more often than not, they are in beautiful, secluded, peaceful settings, often along streams or lakes.

So where are they?

That’s where the 326-page second edition of National Forest Camping saves the day. It profiles 4,108 designated camping areas at 141 forests in 42 states. It provides specific locations, how many campsites are available, what size RVs will fit, types of toilets, length of its season and camper stay limits, plus price, contact information and whether there’s a dumping station. Some National Grasslands areas are also included.

To read more, go here. 

"RVs: Who Makes What?" Directory

In the market to buy an RV but don't know what you want or what brands are out there? 

You're in luck! RV Travel has a free download of a comprehensive guide to RV brands and manufacturers.

From RV Travel:

“RVs: Who Makes What” is the result of hundreds of hours of research and fact-checking by our associate Bradford Geer. It’s the most comprehensive guide to RV manufacturers and their brands ever assembled. We offer this publication for free as a public service.

Please share this 73-page report freely with your RVer friends. Attach it to an email. Post a link to it ( https://www.rvtravel.com/WhoMakesWhat ) on your social media pages. If you have a website or blog, tell your readers about it – they will thank you. Print copies for your RV club’s library.

So, here it is!

2020 KOA Kampground Directory

Each year when I'm a member of KOA Kampgrounds I would receive in the mail their latest campground directory in the mail in March.

However, last year was different. March came and went but no directory arrived in the mail. So I called their main office and asked that one be sent. They said that they decided to save money by not mailing out the directories and directed everyone to their online directory instead. They also said that I could pick up a copy at any KOA Kampground.

So, I went on a little weekend trip to the Holbrook, Arizona KOA and got a directory.

This year's different again. In today's mail, arrived a copy of the 2020 KOA Directory, just like in the days of yore. I guess they must've received a lot of complaints from members last year. (But that's only a guess.)

So, for the second day in a row, I have something new to read.

The Case of the Missing KOA Directory

Above, the 2019 KOA Kampground Directory.

For years, holders of the KOA (Kampgrounds of America) Value Kard Rewards memberships (like me) would get a new KOA Kampground Directory during the month of March. This year was different: no directory showed up in the mail.

As I was planning a trip for next month to Wells, Nevada (the "scene of the crime" where I had my heart attack), I needed an updated directory. Changes happen every year. Campgrounds are added, contact info gets changed and some campgrounds drop out of KOA.

So I called KOA's corporate office and asked about it.

They told me that they had "complaints" about "wasting paper" and stopped sending them out. I asked if they could send me one. They, incredibly, said they didn't have any (!) and suggested going to a KOA Kampground and pick one up there. They also told me they sent out emails to members at the beginning of the year (I didn't receive one) notifying them of the new policy (which will also continue next year).

There are two KOA Kampgrounds within a day's drive from where I live. One, about 40 miles in Grants, New Mexico (that I didn't know about until now) and the other in Holbrook, Arizona (about 100 miles). Since I was planning to taking a little trip to the Holbrook vicinity anyway (to visit Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, Arizona and other places), I decided to go there.

I went there over the weekend and stayed at the Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA Kampground. I picked up a directory there. I told the manager what KOA corporate told me and he shook his head.

So, if anyone who is a member reading this and are wondering where's their directory, this is what KOA told me. 

Spring Must Be Around The Corner

Spring must be just around the corner.

This morning, when I went to the Flying J to pick up my mail, the 2018 KOA Directory was in the mailbox (along with a couple of Dark Shadows DVDs).

Usually, the new edition of the KOA Directory usually shows up in March. They are a little early as tomorrow is the last day of February.

Here's the 2018 KOA Directory:

2017 KOA Kampground Directory Has Arrived

Although it was announced (somewhere) that the new campground directory for KOA Kampgrounds will be arriving in March, I anyway had an odd feeling that it was going to arrive today.

Sure enough, the 2017 KOA Kampground Directory arrived in today's mail.

It looks like I'll have something to read before President Trump's speech before a joint session of Congress tonight.

2016 KOA Campground Directory

Above, the 2016 KOA Campground Directory. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It must be a new year.

The 2016 KOA Campground Directory arrived in yesterday's mail. The directory is 265 pages long (it seems thicker than last year's). It contains listings of all of the KOA campgrounds in the United States and Canada along with maps of each state or province.

There are some RVers who don't like KOAs. Many complain that they are pricey. I have found them to be relatively consistent in quality and the amenities offered, despite most are family-owned franchises. Amber and I stayed at three KOAs last year during our Yellowstone trip. The average price per night was around $40. Compare that to today's cost-per-night charges of hotels and motels. A night in your own bed at a KOA is a bargain in comparison.

Additionally, we found them conveniently located along our route to Yellowstone and back to Los Angeles.

For more information on KOA Kampgrounds, go here.