Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave, KY

Headquarters Campground: Very nice, level sites, spacious and beautifully shaded. Wildlife abounds - there was a fearless deer waiting for us in our site, plus we saw nice plump racoons who were clearly enjoying the campground lifestyle. No hookups again, but restrooms were convenient and clean - however, no soap is provided. We never set foot in the camp store, which was just outside the campground loop, but it appeared to be fairly large, and also had gas pumps. We were told the showers (behind the camp store) were coin-operated, but as we were heading to our own private baths at home after our one night in Mammoth, we decided to forgo the experience. (I think it was $2/10 minutes.) We had a picnic table and fire ring, a nice pull-through pad, and what a treat it was to sleep with the camper windows open and not freeze to death.

Scoring:
Site: 4 (no hookups)
Amenities: 5
Bathrooms: 3 (showers unknown)
Overall: 12

Granite City KOA

Granite City, IL (St Louis)

A very nice campground, again run by very nice people. All in all, we've had very nice experiences at most KOAs. The location of this campground seemed a bit scary - a very industrial area. But the campground itself is well shielded by many trees, which not only completely blocks the less-than-savory surroundings, but provides lots of shade. Nicely kept pool and playground; we had a full hookup, but had some trouble with a loose electrical connection. Clean restrooms and showers, but the showers were the spitty, sting-y kind (not my favorite!). This KOA is just across the river from St. Louis and is closer to the downtown riverfront area than most Missouri campgrounds.

Scoring:
Site: 4
Amenities: 4
Bathrooms: 2 (dark, not to mention the spitty showers)
Overall: 10

Goodland KOA

Goodland, KS

A nice enough property, for being in Kansas. Hookups were provided but Martin shocked himself when he tried to plug in. (We didn't hook up our electricity at this site.) Owners are very nice, just took over a couple of months ago and did not seem to agree with the previous owner's selection of tchotchky's in the camp store, so we got some bargain trinkets. Free coffee, and not too bad coffee at that. There was mini-golf but we didn't stay long enough to play; the campgrounds biggest drawback was that it was in west Kansas, where everything smells like a stockyard. Also, while their KOA blurb indicated they were away from the interstate noise, it mentioned nothing about the US Highway 24 noise going right past the campground all night.

Scoring:
Site: 1
Amenities: 4
Bathrooms: 3 (but honestly I do not remember!)
Overall: 8

Dinosaurland KOA

Vernal, UT

Probably the nicest KOA we've yet stayed at. Shady sites, roomier than many "park and sleep" campgrounds. Picnic tables but no grills; swimming pool was clean but apparently "solar" heated. Plenty of clean showers and a well-stocked camp store, plus a very inexpensive laundry ($1.75/load wash and dry). Also mini-golf, $2/hour and a playground and large open area for tents and playing.

Scoring:
Site: 4
Amenities: 4
Bathrooms: 5
Overall: 13

Portal RV Park

Moab, UT

A nice place to stay. Full hookups, each site is right next to each other but fine for just parking and sleeping. This park is very popular with larger RVs - most of the other campers around us were Class A or Class C or large 5th wheels. Free showers, reasonably priced laundry ($3/load wash and dry), modestly outfitted camp store with just the necessities. Internet connection available, most tent sites have shelters, all sites have tables and grills. Bathrooms are clean and convenient, and the campground has a large pavillion for groups, an old fasioned "swimmin' hole" pond for swimming and a separate pond stocked for fishing. Conveniently located at the north end of Moab, almost right across the street from the water park (not that anything is really more than 10 minutes away in Moab). This campground is also popular with off-roaders.

Scoring:
Site: 3 (small)
Amenities: 4
Bathrooms: 5
Overall: 12

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon, UT

Like most National Parks, there are no hookups for trailers here, but the bathrooms are conveniently spaced, clean, and importantly, heated. Bryce is 8000 or 9000 feet above sea level, and our camper's propane heater refused to stay lit at this altitude. We were COLD, COLD, and COLD at night, but very comfortable, cool even, during the day. Our pull-through was right on the road, which was not ideal, but our picnic table and fire ring were on a lower level on the side of the hill. This level was nice and flat, and while it sloped away a bit down the hill, the kids found plenty to explore around the trees down there. Showers and laundry were coin-operated. The camp store the showers attached to was well-stocked with both gifts and necessities. Campground hosts were present, though perhaps not as helpful as they might have been. There was no formal check-in or check-out process. Lots of wildlife - mule deer, prairie dogs, and we also saw many jays, a type of black and blue bird fearless of campers, but not annoying.

Scoring:
Site: 4 (no hookups)
Amenities: 5
Bathrooms: 3 (coin-op shower)
Overall: 12

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon, AZ

Mather Campground: The pull-throughs were narrow here but there was plenty of running-around room and a picnic table and firepit. However, while we were there they did not allow campfires because of the extremely high danger of wildfires. Bathrooms are cold-water only, and showers, ice, and laundry is all coin-operated (showers are $1.50 for 5 minutes, ice is $1.65/bag). Nice and shady, we had our own wildlife visitors again, including a coyote not the least bit afraid of wandering within a few feet of our son, who was sitting sleepily in our campsite. A couple other things to note: Grand Canyon dirt is very fine, gray stuff that once attached to your belongings will not easily detach itself. Not that it stains, this is not the problem. It just won't be swept away. Also, the campground (and the South Rim, for that matter) are at about 7000 feet above sea level. This means it will be cool during the day (I don't think the mercury got above 78 while we were there) but more importantly, COLD at night; and the Mather campground has no hookups.

Scoring:
Site: 3 (level, roomy, no hookups)
Amenities: 5
Bathrooms: 3 (showers are coin-operated, cold-water only restrooms)
Overall: 11

Holbrook KOA

Holbrook, AZ

Clean with a great playground, nice showers, laundry, convenient to the interstate. Dull as dirt to look at - no grass, only gravel and barren flat landscape as far as the eye can see; but nice folks running the place. By the way, watch out for Arizona time in the summer, when the rest of the country is on Daylight Savings. We apparently were up well before 5 am and had to wait until 7 or whenever the office opened to check in/out.

Scoring:
Site: 1 (basically a parking lot)
Amenities: 4 (everything your typical KOA offers)
Bathrooms: 5 (clean and well kept)
Overall: 10

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Canyon, TX (near Amarillo)

About 30 miles south of Amarillo, along the flattest, straightest, longest roads you may ever see, Palo Duro Canyon appears out of nowhere. A pretty, well-maintained state park, the campsites have water, picnic tables, and fire rings. Showers and flush toilets are a short walk. Lots of wildlife, including wild turkeys with no fear of humans who will wander through any and all campsites, and mule deer who are a bit shyer. The canyon itself is gorgeous, and if you can keep it straight that the Texas parks' assertion that this is a "little Grand Canyon" is like saying your backyard stream is a "little Mississippi River", you can thoroughly enjoy the area.

Scoring:
Site: 4 (level but crowded)
Amenities: 3 (trails, park activities, unknown if store is on-site)
Bathrooms: 4 (large but filled with texas-sized bugs)
Overall: 11

Toad Suck Ferry/ACOE

Toad Suck, AR (near Conway)

Our campsite was literally a stone's throw from the Arkansas River. It was a beautiful, peaceful, delightfully shady campground. Cozy sites, without being too close to each other, with covered picnic tables, water/electric hookups, showers and flush toilets. The campground also offered a playground, boat dock, and yes, there were lots of toads in the area. The menfolk were not too happy about the shower, but the ladies' shower was fine - hot and with plenty of pressure. It was a push-button shower, and apparently the men's shower required constant pressing, while the ladies' could get a complete shower with maybe two or three presses.

Scoring:
Site: 5 (#7)
Amenities: 3 (playground, floating dock, no store)
Bathrooms: 3 (aging but clean)
Overall: 11