Military RVing

Active Duty, Vets, and Families Get Free Access to National Parks on Vet's Day

2008-11-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

The National Park Service (NPS) says it will honor veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families by granting free access to all National Parks and NPS managed sites next Tuesday, November 11, marking Veteran's Day.

“I invite everyone to visit our many national parks that preserve and commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of the men and women who have fought in America’s wars,” said Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. “On Veteran’s Day, and every day, what better way to learn about the hallowed places preserved in the National Park System and to honor the sacrifices of our veterans, than by visiting a national park.”

While the honors won't include camping fees, admission fees to some National Parks can amount of $25. The service says some individual parks may waive other fees normally charged the public for vets next Tuesday.

The NPS manages 391 sites including National Parks, historic sites, battlefields, and military parks. The ideals and freedoms military veterans fought for are remembered throughout the National Park System in areas as diverse as King’s Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina, Fort McHenry National Monument in Maryland, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Virginia, Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site in Texas, and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana. National Parks preserve and commemorate these sites of historical significance in the on-going growth of this nation as part of its core mission to preserve important cultural resources.

Visit the service's website for more information on all the sites they oversee at www.nps.gov.

Photo: Valley Forge National Historic Park, courtesy National Park Service

NAS Corpus Christi A Primo Campground By The Sea

2008-05-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

Shields Park is the family RV park at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. This park is right on the bay and has a marina and two fishing piers. The base also has a nice golf course. Francis, one of the camp hosts, likes to prepare breakfast for campers every Thursday morning. The laundry room and shower facilities are nice. Full hook-ups are available and reservations are recommended. The Commissary is small but well stocked. The same goes for the Exchange. There is ample fast food on base and the club serves lunch. There are many things to do and see including a visit to the USS Lexington, Padre Island National Seashore, The Corpus Christi Aquarium and lots of shopping and dining. This truly is a fine military RV park run by competent and friendly MWR staff and camp hosts. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this park and look forward to returning in the future. But don't forget, it is frequently windy by the sea so prepare accordingly. Some Commanding Officers "get it" when it comes to military family campgrounds and others don't have a clue - like those I've reported on previously. So, if you visit a family campground you enjoy tell the CO in a letter of phone call. The same goes if it's a lousy facility. Tell them if you think the rates are too high or the place needs fixed up - these are our campgrounds and the Commanding Officers are the custodians responsible for these treasures. The more people voice their opinion the better. Bravo Zulu to the CO at Corpus Christi. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Kicken It At Kingsville NAS

2008-05-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Kingsville Naval Air Station has a nice little RV park that is available to eligible active, retired and DOD active and retired personnel. It's windy in Kingsville and there are no shade trees to speak of, but there things to see and do like the King Ranch tour. The facilities are spartan but the good news is they are currently constructing 12 new RV sites. They have picnic shelters with a table and BBQ at each site. Full hook-ups include 30/50 amps. A nice place to stay if you're just passing through or have business in the area. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Laughlin AFB Famcamp is an RV Hacienda You Won’t Forget

2008-04-06T22:48:00.000-07:00

Laughlin AFB RV Famcamp is located in Del Rio, Texas on the Rio Grande. Across the river is the old Mexican cowboy town of Acuna. The cowboys used to herd their cattle across a low shallow place in the river here on their way to market. Before I get to the particulars of the campground let me tell you what the town of Del Rio has to offer. If you are an angler you probably already know about the great fishing here. History buffs will be pleasantly surprised by the Whitehead Memorial Museum. This is one of the best museums in south Texas and it’s free. The oldest building in these parts anchors the museum. The Old Perry Building was erected in 1871 before Del Rio was even a city. It was the largest store between San Antonio and El Paso and also served as a church, courthouse, and public gathering place. There are other old buildings in Del Rio including Texas Historic Landmark Sacred Heart Catholic Church built in 1891. There is also an old winery here as well as other very interesting historical sites. Be sure to head across the Mexican border and take in some shopping, dining and sightseeing.The campground in on base six miles east of Del Rio. Just go through the main gate and drive straight until you dead end in the campground. The 20 huge pull through sites have full hook-ups, a patio, table and BBQ. Each site has 50 and 30 amps and 110, water, sewer and free cable TV. In 2008 the rates were around $10.00 a night if you stay a week or longer and $15.00 per night otherwise. The rules don’t allow washing of vehicles in the RV sites, but there is a coin operated car wash nearby. For a complete overview of this campground be sure to watch the video below.

The Exchange and Commissary are medium size but well stocked. Please note the Commissary is closed on Monday. XL club serves a mean Mexican buffet but you’ll need to pick up a base newspaper to find out what is being served and when. The bowling ally has a nice cafe and there is a Burger King in the Exchange. The Base Chapel has a full range of services and the gymnasium is the best I’ve ever seen on a military installation. A nice walking and biking trail passes through base housing and by the gym. The Silver Wings cafe serves great sandwiches and you can eat your lunch while watching flight line operations from the second story observation lounge. Since this is a pilot training base it can be somewhat noisy, but you’ll get used to it after a few days. Weekends are usually quiet. It’s windy in this part of Texas, in fact, it’s frequently windy in Texas period! So please don’t put your awning out and leave for the day.

I highly recommend making advanced reservations. You may reach the reservation desk by calling (830) 298-5830. If you arrive without reservations, be sure to check in with the campground host before you pull into a site.

Oh, did I mention they have the best store bought ice cream in the ENTIRE world here in Texas? If you’ve had it, you know what I’m talking about. Bringing you the scoop - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Luke AFB Gila Bend Family Campground In Serious Disrepair

2008-04-05T22:39:00.000-07:00

RVers love Arizona in the winter because of the warm weather. Gila Bend Famcamp is owned and operated by Luke Air Force Base. Located on the Barry M. Goldwater bombing range you will see several types of aircraft “shooting transition” which is aviator talk meaning they are doing approaches and touch and go procedures. We’ve stayed in this campground a couple weeks each winter over the past four years. It’s a great place to relax and do nothing because there isn’t really much to do. The Organ Pipes National Monument is worthy of a visit as well as the Painted Rocks State Park where you will see petroglyphs. Contact the Public Relations Department at Luke AFB to go on an organized tour of the bombing range. Many retired military RVers like to camp here a few days before and after returning from campgrounds in Mexico. There are minimal facilities at this campground. There are no showers and the nearest bathrooms are located in the billeting office. Since the campground is at the auxiliary airfield, there is no exchange, gas station, commissary, or coke machines. There isn’t even a mailbox, but there’s lots of desert. If I were the base commander, I would be embarrassed by the condition of this campground (especially given the fact that next door Davis Monthon was voted the best military campground for 2007). There are nine broken and unusable sites at Gila Bend. In February I counted ten RVers camped in the dry camping area because the campground was full. This famcamp is on a bombing range with over one million seven hundred thousand acres of land - you would think something could be done to accommodate more campers - like fixing the broken sites. The tap water here is unsafe for human consumption so they were forced to install reverse osmosis water filtration systems at every camp site and in each room at billeting. They are making some progress because they added a laundry room last year which is free for registered campers. The back row has cement pads and 50 amp service. The rest of the sites are mostly 30 amps with a few 50 amp sites scattered around. If you don’t like bare bones, no frills camping this is not the place for you. Private contractors run the auxiliary field and could care less about the condition of the famcamp and so it continues to fall apart. What a shame! I sure hope Luke AFB is taking better care of their aircraft because they sure don’t know how to run a family campground. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

I wrote a letter to the Base Commander and this is a response dated 25 March, 2008 from Brigadier General Noel T. Jones, Commander, 56th Fighter Wing concerning the broken sites at Gila Bend Famcamp.

Dear Mr. Twamley

Thank you for your letter regarding the suggestion to expand the RV park at Gila Bend AFAF, AZ. We appreciate comments such as yours as it helps us develop strategies to better serve our customers and make the best use of the facilities we have.

The sites you identified do not currently have utilities connected to them. At one time they were part of a mobile home park but the utilities were disconnected when the park was closed many years ago. The existing infrastructure in the RV park is in need of upgrade, and we believe the first priority is improving the electrical service, however, the initial estimates from our engineers place the cost of the electrical upgrade above the threshold for local funding. Therefore, an Air Force level project is needed. We’ll continue to pursue that large upgrade project, however, austere funding and restrictive criteria may well hamper our efforts. In the meantime, we’ll continue to make small improvements such as the recent addition of the laundry facility, and additional new washers and dryers for our customers.

Thanks again for the suggestion. We welcome your future comments and suggestions as well as those from other customers who use the facilities at Gila Bend.

Sincerely

NOEL T. JONES
Brigadier General, USAF

Should you like to write to him the address is:

Brigadier General Noel T. Jones
Commander, 56th Fighter Wing
14185 West Falcon Street
Luke AFB, AZ 85309-1629

RVing and PCSing Go Hand In Hand

2008-02-23T22:01:00.000-08:00

The Gustafson family is RVing from Alaska to Florida during this PCS move. I caught up with them this morning as they were preparing to head out. They spent the night here at the Gila Bend famcamp in Arizona. When they left it was snowing in Elmendorf as they hauled their toyhauler to Haines, Alaska to catch the ferry to Bellingham, Washington. They didn't take off their snow tires until they were well into California. The Gustafson family uses many of the military campgrounds available exclusively to active duty, retired military personnel and DOD employees. The kids love the adventure partly because of the travel but mostly because they have Dad all to themselves for a while. Dad is a busy guy flying F-15 jets and now he's going to be the Vice Wing Commander at the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. I told the boys they have alligators in Flordia and they thought that was cool and were looking forward to living on the beach. Laughing, one of the boys said, "We're going from cold to warm!" So next time you have a PCS move consider doing it in an RV. I have a special place in my heart for military kids - we raised five of them. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Edwards AFB Famcamp Where Records Are Made To Be Broken

2008-02-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

Military RVers will enjoy a stop at Edwards AFB Famcamp. At the current rate of $15 bucks a night it’s a good deal. With a newly added bathroom, shower and laundry room it’s more comfortable than ever. There is a dog clean-up convenience station in each corner of the campground. Full hook ups are available at 25 sites. Registration is self help and there is also a campground host. There is a stand alone dump station and overflow parking in the paved parking lot next to the pool. They do not take reservations. The familycamp has it’s own tennis courts and is by the base swimming pool and the bowling ally. Many other support facilities are available including a nice golf course. The Commissary and Exchange are within walking distance of the campground. The food court at the PX has your standard fare and there’s also a barber shop and various vendors. Around the corner and down the road about a half mile is the post office, pizza and sandwich shops, convenience store, thrift shop, MWR and the veterinarian. The base is a long way from anywhere (the closest town of any size is Lancaster - a good 45 minute drive) but there is a base gas station (with diesel) so be sure you fill up before you leave. The Air Force Flight Test Center Museum is a must see attraction. It has some great displays inside and a pretty good static aircraft display outside. Watch the video for a brief visit. You can see the tail of the B-52 looming just a short distance from the famcamp. The museum is free and has a nice souvenir shop as well. If you want a detailed tour of the flight line area then you can contact the Public Affairs Officer Dennis Shoffner at (661) 277-3517. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Sunday, Monday and Federal holidays. Directions - look at a map of Southern California and find Edwards AFB out in the middle of the Mojave all by itself and take the shortest route (You can’t miss it). The GPS coordinates are 34.9178, -117.9251. I like Edwards because it is open year round and it’s much nicer than the next military campground down the road at the Barstow Marine Corps Logistics Base (cheaper too). See you around - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Desert Rat RV Park Is Aptly Named

2008-02-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

The Desert Rat is the RV campground for the Barstow Marine Corps Logistics Base in Southern California. Aptly named because it’s primarily occupied by long term residents leaving little room for folks just passing through (which is what you want to do because there is nothing here worth seeing or doing). They do have a couple spaces saved for those just passing through, but it would be a good idea to call ahead if you plan on staying here. To check availability call (760) 577-6418. There is plenty of dry camping on gravel, but they charge $10.00 for this privilege (absolutely ridiculous since there are no restroom or shower facilities - they should be ashamed of themselves). The full hook-up sites are back-in with W/20/30/50/S and run $18.50 per night if they aren’t being used by the long-term desert rats. Sheesh! What is it with MWR's thinking they are Club Med when it comes to overnight campground fees? It's getting ridiculous when you can use a Passport America park for half the price MWR charges. And this campground doesn't have a shower room, bathroom or laundry room, but they charge like they have a heated indoor pool, hot-tub and computer WiFi and are beach-front property. There needs to be some oversight and standardization on these military campgrounds. It really is getting out of hand. The base is easy to find and well marked on the freeway exit. From I-40, take the "Marine Corps Logistics Base" exit, which is about 2 miles East of the junction of I-40 and I-15. Go through the main gate (a little tight but enough room for big rigs to squeeze through). Go past the main gate about a mile and turn right into the exchange parking lot (you can turn sooner but the ramp is steeper). You’ll see the family camp on the right. GPS coordinates for the center of the campground are N 34.87515, W116.95919. There are better alternatives in the area (Edwards AFB Famcamp) and I would not stay at the Desert Rat myself unless I had a real good reason. There is a commissary and exchange with plenty of parking space.

$10.00 bucks for dry camping in Barstow ???? Stupid! Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Naval Air Station Lemoore Military Campground Near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

2007-12-31T18:28:00.000-08:00

If you've never seen the Giant Redwoods at Sequoia National Park you are in for a treat. Stay at the Lemoore Naval Air Station Campground and use it as a base to make a day trip to see the park. While visiting Sequoia, be sure to take time to climb Moro Rock (400 steps) for a spectacular view and hike around Crescent Meadow referred to by John Muir as, "the gem of the Sierra". To find NAS Lemoore take CA-198 east from I-5 for approximately 17 miles or west from highway 99 about 25 miles. Enter at the main entrance and take the truck entrance on the left and be prepared for a security inspection. Go north on the Enterprise then trun right onto Franklin Avenue. Turn right onto Hancock Ave. just past McDonalds and make the first left turn into "The Village" parking lot where you'll see the RV park. The commercial phone number for MWR is (559) 997-7000 (option 3) monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There are 18 sites with 50 amp/30 amp/ and 110 along with water, sewer and free cable. Each site had a cement pad, picnic table, BBQ and trash can. Daily $23, weekly $140 and monthly $140 (2007 rates). Within walking distance are several eating establishments, a bowling ally, theater, clubs, hospital, chapel, post office, tickets and tours and much more. The exchange and commissary are are new and a short drive from the campground. The gas station is directly across the street. For more shopping the town of Hanford has a Super WalMart, a mall and many other national brand stores.

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

The Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care Does Surgery On Your Benefits

2007-12-26T14:40:00.000-08:00

Don’t look now, but your military benefits are under attack again. This task force has decided that you’re getting too good of a deal and want to change the rules mid-stream. They say the American taxpayer is fed up with paying the health care bill for its military and especially for retired military folks (they seem to forget that retired military are also taxpayers). The cost of maintaining a volunteer military is tremendous and so is the sacrifice you and I made to be a part of it. With my advanced degrees (I have a masters degree and a law degree) I could have made a lot more money than I did serving my country. I would have had a better retirement and better health care benefits but the Task Force doesn’t look at that issue. No, they just want to screw us out of what little we have.
Military medical costs (including Tricare for active, reserve and retired) have doubled in the past six years from 19 billion in 2001 to about 40 billion in 2007. You politicians should have thought of that before you contracted with us to go lay our butts on the line for you. You sent taxpaying Americans into the battlefield, many never to return, and many to meet with shrapnel and bullet holes with the promise that you would provide medical care for them and their dependents for their willingness to sacrifice. Now you want to break faith with us. I don’t care how much it costs to provide medical benefits, the United States government made a promise and now must keep it regardless of cost. If our politicians don’t want to pay the price, they should cancel the current wars, bring everyone home and seriously downsize the military until 911 becomes a weekly event. If the taxpayers don’t like paying for the medical benefits for their military, then they really won’t like what America becomes with a diminished military. America’s taxpayers should be glad they have jobs and live in a free society where they can excel and gain wealth and prosperity. But, don’t forget that you come by this privilege because of the blood of American veterans. When you politicians undermine and steal the benefits of the veterans you sent to war you have blood on your hands!
The Task Force has recommended that retirees under 65 should have an annual buy-in on top of cost sharing. Unbelievably, they claim that you paying more out of your pocket to get the health care you were promised, will somehow be better for you. They also want those of you who are employed (because your retirement benefit is not enough to live on) to use your employer health care first and Tricare second. This is already law because the politicians are bent on breaking faith with veterans but they have not been able to enforce it. They propose spending more taxpayer money to set up another layer of bureaucracy to find you and punish you. What they don’t understand is that by using your so called “employer” benefit you have to pay a big percentage of your already measly paycheck to get into the insurance program. That’s why you use Tricare, because it's the most cost-effective for you, the taxpaying beneficiary. Read the Task Force report in it’s entirety here Task Force Report PDF. I would encourage you to read it and when you become completely enraged, write a letter to your congressman/woman and tell them how you feel about it. Don't just email them, write them a letter ( a real letter from a real voter is much more effective). Keeping you informed - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Military RVers October is the Month to Visit Holloman AFB Famcamp

2007-10-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you are a snowbird or will be passing through Southern New Mexico in October you’ve got to stay at Holloman AFB Famcamp. Just pull in, select a site and check-in with the campground host. Rates are $15 per night, $75 per week and $240 per month with a maximum stay of 30 days. Directions are simple, after entering the main gate turn left on Martin Street, left on Andrews and follow the signs. They have full base support including an Exchange and Commissary, fitness center, the Apache Mesa Golf Course, arts and crafts center, clubs and great tourism around the area. Click here for info: Famcamp

The Holloman Air and Space Expo promises to be a great air show with live fire and aerial demonstrations. “Continuous aircraft demonstrations from the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, P-51 Mustang, NASA’s Super Guppy cargo aircraft and the F-22 Raptor, the newest U.S. Air Force fighter that will be stationed at Holloman in 2009, will be on-hand. The X Prize Cup will also be on-scene conducting their lunar lander competition where the winner receives a $2.5 million reward.” The show is October 27 and 28, 2007 and admission is free. Gates open at 8:00 am. For more information click here: Air and Space Expo
Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Armed Forces Vacation Club Can Save You Money

2007-10-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

This online club offers Space-A rentals which is a “space availability” program, providing affordable condominium vacations at resorts around the world for only $329 a week. They will also save you money on air, hotel and car rentals as well as discount cruises. You can find them here: AFVC
Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Bring Your Family To Fort Lewis RV Park

2007-09-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

RVing in the Pacific Northwest is always fun and there are plenty of military campgrounds out west for you to enjoy. Consider spending a few days at the Fort Lewis RV Park located at Fort Louis which is just South of Tacoma, Washington off of Interstate 5. Take the Fort Louis North Side exit and follow the signs to the campground. This campground has a great equipment rental program. They have small RVs for rent as well as various water-craft, sports equipment and you can even rent scuba gear. Need tickets to an event or want to book a tour? The Northwest Adventure Center can hook you up. Whether you want to spend a leisurely day of fishing or go hiking on Mt. Rainier, you’ll enjoy this campground for it’s location. You are also close to the exchange and commissary as well as Madigan hospital and the Veterans Hospital. There are 16 pull through sites and 23 back-in sites. All sites are full hook-ups from 15/30/50 amps including cable TV. They also have very nice cabin rentals with a view overlooking the lake. Overflow camping is available in the club parking lot. You can make reservations 90 days in advance by calling (253) 976-5425.

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Camp Rilea Military Campground is by The Beach in Oregon

2007-09-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

Military RVers will appreciate this military campground because of it’s location near the ocean beaches of Oregon. At $20.00 a night it is a good deal for beach front property. You can make reservations in advance by calling (503) 861-4052. Watch the video below for a tour of the facilities:

Jim Twamley, Professor of Rving, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Attention Military RVers - Army Provides Famcamp Website

2007-09-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

The Army has a very nice website that will show you a map of the United States. The map is green (would you expect anything else from the Army) and you just click on the state you are interested in. This brings up a close-up of the state and you are then able to retrieve information on the Army campsites available in that state. A very nice site and worth your while. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

http://www.armymwr.com/portal/travel/paths/

Active Duty RVers, This Bud’s For You

2007-09-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

Budweiser is offering a single day's free admission to any one SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park, Sesame Place, Adventure Island, or Water Country USA for service-members and up to three direct dependents.

Any active duty, active reserve, ready reserve service-member, or guard-member is entitled to free admission. Budweiser says,“For your service and sacrifice, we thank you.” For more information click on the link below.
http://www.herosalute.com/

Jim Twamley, Profressor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Camp Murray Beach A Gem in the Heart of Washington State

2007-08-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy a lakefront view, this is the famcamp for you. Owned and operated by the Washington State National Guard, this park was built by volunteers years ago. Fortunately it’s not run by MWR and that’s why it so nice and inexpensive for lakefront property. There are 24 sites total, eleven are right on the shore, and eight that have a lake view. The maximum stay is 30 days and the cost is $14.00 per night. All sites are full hook-ups with 30 amp service.

This facility has a nice dock where you can tie up your boat for free. Satellite dish for Direct TV is cable ready at each site, but you must have a satellite receiver and a subscription to Direct to get this service.

Chuck Jex has been the campground host here for a while and is an accomplished artist. Ask to see some of his work after you’re all hooked-up.It’s always a good idea to call ahead for reservations at (253) 584-5411

GPS coordinates for this campground are 47.109017 -122.584561

Driving directions. From I-5 get off on exit 122 and enter Camp Murray. Note, the speed bumps here are enormous, so if you have a problem dragging a hitch be careful here. You can also get here the back way by following the directions to the Ft. Lewis North gate then past Ft. Lewis RV park and through the back gate of Camp Murray - use you GPS for this or you’ll get lost. The back way avoids the huge speed bumps.

Enjoy my video tour of Camp Murray Beach:

Brought to you by Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing and ROAD Scholar :)

Holiday Park FamCamp A Nice Retreat In The Woods

2007-08-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

RVers enjoy this camp because it's surrounded by a nicely forested area. The trees provide a sound barrier from noisy Interstate 5, however you will still be able to hear the “sound of freedom” made by the many types of aircraft that visit MCChord AFB. Located near Tacoma, Washington this is not only a nice place to camp, it's a great place to leave your RV stored (for a mere dollar a day) while you take a cruise to Alaska. A shuttle service will pick you up at McChord and deliver you to your cruise ship that sails from Seattle. You can contact the office at (253) 982-5488 or visit the website at http://www.62services.com/adv_famcamp.html
Directions: Off of I-5 take the McChord exit (Bridgeport Road) and go through the main gate. Stay in the right lane and turn right at the stop light toward the BX and Commissary. Turn left at the gas station (on your right side). Burger King is on the opposite corner from the gas station. Turn onto Outer drive, pass by the end of the runway and follow the curve left until you see the “Holiday Park FamCamp” sign. $11 per night for full hook-ups, $10 water and electric only, $5 for dry camping, $1 per day for storage. GPS 47.120368, -122.469334 Watch this video as I take you on a guided tour of the facilities. Jim Twamley

Want to Connect With a Fellow Military RVer?

2007-08-02T00:53:00.000-07:00

Military RVing is it’s very own category of RVing because the various branches of service have campgrounds that are not open to the public. Want to know if a campground is worth visiting? Want to know what is in the area to see and do while you’re there? Try the Military RV Forum here. Military RV Forum If you need a great source for finding all the military campgrounds in the US and Canada then go here: Military Campground Directory This is absolutely the best resource available and it also happens to be on sale. Jim Twamley

Fairchild A Great Stop On The Way To The Parks

2007-06-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

Fairchild AFB Famcamp is located in Spokane, Washington and is a great stop if you’re on your way to or from Glacier National Park or Yellowstone National Park via Interstate 90 from the West Coast.The main gate will handle large RVs but you will be inspected by security prior to entering the base. They had me shut off the engine, open all the exterior compartments and they did an inspection. They also went through the interior with cabinet doors open and asked the typical questions. The GPS coordinates for the main gate entrance are 47.64182 N and -117.64443 W. The Famcamp hasn’t changed much, but they did add a large earth berm around the exterior of the camp which hides it somewhat from base housing. The GPS coordinates for the famcamp are 47.62329 N and -117.66357 W. As you enter the famcamp the sites on your right are full hook-up pull-through sites with 30/50 amp service. The sites to the left of the bathhouse are full hook-up but 30 amp only. Be aware that the turns in this famcamp are very tight for large rigs, so take you time navigating through camp. The camp is open 1 March through 31 October. The phone number is (509) 247-2511/5366. Fees are $15 per day, $90 per week and $375 per month. Reservations are not accepted. The camp host will register you and collect the fees. The exchange and commissary are co-located with ample RV parking and are located at GPS 47.63830 N and -117.65338 W.Silverwood Theme Park has a great wooden roller coaster and sixty amusement rides and venues for the kids - they also have a water park. Click here for more information Silverwood

Spokane is also home to the Riverfront Park which has amusement rides, an Imax theater, miniature golf and many other venues. Riverfront Park

Update On Ellsworth AFB Famcamp Mismanagement

2007-06-16T22:43:00.001-07:00

Not only does the MWR Director think the Ellsworth AFB famcamp is Club Med by the prices they charge, but now (my sources tell me) they are going to allow civilian contractors who do not have a valid military ID to occupy six of the sites during prime season. Does anyone see anything wrong with this? If you risk life and limb, long deployments and multiple hardships for your country and earn the right to a valid military ID card, I think you should be able to enjoy a few benefits. I think that civilian contractors should be barred from using military facilities when they crowd out the people who earned the right to use those facilities in the first place. Just another reason to stay at a Passport America campgrounds off base – much cheaper and nicer! Jim

Ellsworth AFB Famcamp Club Med. Not!

2007-06-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

I don’t know what’s going on inside the heads of MWR Directors or what they’ve been smoking. They obviously think they are running the “Club Med” of Famcamps by the rates some of them charge. Take Ellsworth AFB Famcamp for example. They charge $20.00 for full hook-ups and $10.00 to dry camp and the tent prices are ridiculous. How do I substantiate my claim? First of all, Ellsworth Famcamp is surrounded on one side by a civilian trailer park and no spectacular views of nature. Second, the famcamp backs up to a noisy day care center. They are also by the gas station (where gas is higher than off-base). Third and most significant it is cheaper to stay at Passport America campgrounds nearby which have much nicer amenities and scenery. And finally, this campground is hard to get to because you have to go through a maze to find the commercial gate. After hours you have to call security to let you in or out with your RV because the commercial gate is locked. If you need to pay with a credit card you have to leave the campground and walk or drive to the actual MWR office (when it’s open) to pay your bill. If you’re a member of the Air Force MWR Frequent Camper Club you have to go to the MWR office to get your book stamped and to top it all off there are no pull-through sites! For $20 bucks you’ve got to be kidding me!!!! A young enlisted person’s family or a retired vet on a fixed income is not going to stay at this campground long if at all. They can join Passport America (PA) for around $45 for a one year membership (click here for more info) Passport America and stay at one of the nearby parks for 4 nights and pay for their membership with the savings. Here are some examples of what it costs to stay at nearby PA campgrounds per night: Three Flags RV Park $10-$16, Big Pine Campground $12.50-$13.50, Spokane Creek RV Park $10-$16. They can dry-camp in the WalMart parking lot for free but they have to pay $10 bucks at Ellsworth. Go figure! Military Famcamps are supposed to be for the benefit of military members, not to fleece them! MWR Directors and CO’s get a clue!

I will not visit Ellsworth AFB Famcamp again unless they drastically lower the price to about $7.00 for full hook-ups. Really, that’s all it’s worth folks. No kidding, I’ve stayed in WalMart parking lots that have better scenery and parking spots than this place. Ellsworth AFB Famcamp is a joke!!!

However, if you insist on being mugged by MWR then you will appreciate this GPS information.

Commercial Gate 44.12774 -103.08085

Famcamp 44.14398 -103.06909

Exchange 44.14800 -103.07711 Note: the exchange has pletny of space for RV parking.

Amenities include a nice bath house with a separate handicap shower and bathroom. Free wifi with a code obtained from the camp host. 30 full hook-up sites with 110, 30 and 50 amps. 10 overflow sites with electric only. All the spaces are back-in with 12 feet wide paved pads.

There are many things to see and do in the Rapid City area and I recommend seeing Custer State Park where they have bison, prong-horn antelope, wild burrows that come up to the window of your car. You will also see wild turkeys, deer, coyotes and many kinds of birds. Of course there is Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument and many other attractions that are well worth while, but they will be much more enjoyable when you stay at a less expensive RV park with better amenities and closer access to these attractions. Jim

Fort Knox Kentucky Has A Well Guarded Secret

2007-05-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Camp Carlson is the Army campground serving Fort Knox, Kentucky. GPS coordinates are 37.90292, - 86.02491 Dianna Burnett has been the campground director since 1988 and has helped move the campground from marginal to magnificent. There is a new section and an older section of the campground. It has 40 sites with full hook-ups 20/30/50 and 18 sites that are 30 amp only, however there are two dump stations available. There are 10 new family cabins, three group cabins that sleep 16 people each. The big news is that they are completing a new multipurpose dining facility that overlooks the lake. This new facility will be known as “Carson Hall” and will be finished in mid September. This will be a great place for family reunions, parties, receptions and group meetings. The new bath house is only 5 months old and is fabulous. CO’s and MWR Directors who are contemplating renovating or building new famcamp facilities, you need to look at this to see how it’s done. Camp Carlson set’s the standard for a combined laundry, lounge and bath house.The modern camp office is only two years old and also sets the standard for famcamp offices.The campground has five new playgrounds and renovated picnic areas. Camp Carlson Lake also offers fishing. This campground also has free internet access. It’s not open access, you must get a code upon registration and set up a temporary account. It’s relatively fast and the price is right.

Camping fees are $14 water and electric only, $16 full hook-ups, $17 full hook-up pull-through. Visa & Master Card Accepted. Call (502) 24-4836 for more information or visit them on the web at Camp Carlson Campground .

All in all, Ft. Knox has a golden military campground! Speaking of gold, you’ll receive a small discount if you have a Golden Age/Eagle/Access card.

Wow! Another New Military Campground Ready For Take-Off!

2007-05-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama already has a military campground, but it's adding an additional campground closer to the main base. Make no mistake, this base has mucho acreage and it’s easy to get lost. The old campground is located next to the Tennessee River and has a tendency to flood when the river rises. It has a boat launch, playground and basketball court. All the sties are back-in 15, 30 and 50 amp and water. There is no sewer here (a dump station is located about a mile away).
It has a restroom and shower. It is quiet, shaded and near the water, but it is miles from the exchange, commissary, gas station or town. There are many new building projects under construction or nearing completion on this base that was a ammunition depot during WWII. Below is a photo of the dock where ammo was loaded for transport.One of the best projects is the addition of a new military campground scheduled to be opened on June 6, 2007. The GPS coordinates are 34.69320 -86.63945 located at the corner of Hermes Road and Nike Court. There are currently no signs directing you to the campground (they are on order and should be posted when the campground opens). The best way to get here is to come in past Gate 9 (GPS coordinates 34.69545 -86.67154), make a “U” turn and then make a right hand turn on Goss Road. Go past the golf course on your right and continue up and over the hill. You will see Bicentennial Chapel on your left – go past the chapel and make a right on (no name street) fortunately I have the GPS coordinates for the street entrance which are 34.69830 -86.63820. You will see the campground once you turn onto this street. You can come in off of Vincent Drive onto Spartan Drive GPS 34.69149 -86.63488, however, be aware that there are low hanging tree branches coming from this direction. I was told by the MWR director that they would be removed in time for the grand opening. They will pour the concrete on the first of May.
This famcamp was planned with three phases. There are 14 pads with each phase. Phase one will have seven pull-through sites and seven back-in sites. The power will be 15/30/50 amps. A very SMALL bath house is being constructed for this phase one project and will be located where you see the pick-up trucks in the photo below.Phase two and three have not been funded. Once they build the additional phases the current back-in sites will become pull-through sites. The nice thing about this new campground is that it is closer to everything so it’s more convenient for folks who are just passing through and only want to spend one night.

The new Veterinary Clinic is nice but do not drive your RV to this location because of low overhanging power lines and trees. New Vet Clinic – GPS 34.67532 -86.64109

The brand spanking new bowling alley is called “Redstone Lanes” – GPS 34.68271 -86.62859

The gas station has no diesel. There is also a pressure spray car wash co-located with the gas station, however the RV rack does not have the ceiling height posted, so be careful. GPS coordinates are 34.69796 -86.65635

The Exchange and Commissary complex is RV friendly and includes a credit union, bank and Burger King. GPS coordinates 34.69528 -86.63272 Caution: The gate closest to the exchange is covered both ways and is only 12 feet 6 inches high. The only RV friendly gates on the base are Gates 9, 10 and 1.

Fox Army Health Center GPS coordinates 34.69690 -86.66000

The O’Club has a German restaurant, GPS 34.70275 -86.65639 The Golf Course has a bar that serves lunch. GPS coordinates are 34.69810 -86.66530

If you have any questions, contact the MWR Outdoor Recreation Director, Mr. William Moreland at bill.moreland@redstone.army.mil Outdoor Recreation (open 7 days a week) has lots of stuff to rent, boats, sports gear, camping trailers, pop-up trailers, the typical stuff. GPS coordinates 34.65007 -86.6516

Go here Redstone Link for more information about the base.

Free Coupons Can Save You $$$

2007-05-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

This week you can save as much as $77.00 with these free coupons that you print on your own printer at home. All you have to do is click on the web link below, register with Army Times free coupon program, download your coupon printer driver and you’re in business. Army Times Free Coupons New coupons are added each week, and you can even sign up for email notification of new coupons.