Category Archives: Campgrounds

Ponderosa Campground in New Jersey Review

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We stayed here about 5-6 years ago so while this is not a recent review, I decided to add it to my reviews because it seemed to be a very nice place when we stayed. Many of the sites were shaded, though some were in more direct sun. The restrooms were average for a campground, so while they were not luxurious by any means they were clean so I have no complaints there!

Located at 18 West Beaver Dam Rd., Cape May Court House, NJ, Ponderosa Campground is very close to the beaches of Cape May, Avalon, and Wildwood. What made us decide to stay there were the number of videos they had on their site – and the videos turned out to be just as good in real life as they were on the computer screen!

We rented one of their cabins with a small shower and bathroom. The cabin was 1 room and very basic and simple, but had ample room for three adults and 1 child. The air conditioning was certainly useful!

The camping spots were a bit small and the pool was a bit small, but the owners were extremely friendly and helpful in helping us have a great time. We found the best beach to swim in were the beaches of Avalon (they were the most family friendly and least touristy) but the beach at the point of Cape May is breathtakingly beautiful. There is no swimming allowed at the Cape May beach however.

When staying in Cape May New Jersey and camping in the area, there are tons of things to do. Swimming and going to the beach of course are amongst the favorites, but there are also lots of other attractions such as historical sites and a ton of places for shopping for collectibles such as nearby Stone Harbor. You can also take the ferry for a trip over to Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach areas of Delaware – and even bring your car along with you! The ferry ride is lots of fun for all as there are many things to see and enjoy on the ship – just wear sunscreen, no matter what the weather or the temperature out is! We were all burned one time when it was only 62 degrees out in April!

Have you stayed at this campground? Leave your reviews in the comments section below!

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Keystone State Park and Campground Pennsylvania

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Last night we stopped by Keystone State Park, located off of Rt 22 in Westmoreland County. Nearby to Latrobe, Murraysvlle, and Monroeville, this campground is a nice little park that is updated and very clean for a state park in Pennsylvania! I of course forgot to take any pictures to share, but I assure you it is a nice looking park! I recall staying there as a kid and never being overly impressed, but now that it seems to be more updated there are a number of things about it that make it attractive to stay at if you are looking for campgrounds not too far away from the Pittsburgh area.

We were most impressed with their swimming lake and beach area. While the lake is not gigantic by any means, their beach is large with lots of sand and room for kids to swim and play. Their bath house was extremely clean and you can tell the building is newer. The beach also has a great playground area for kids of all sizes, even smaller children on their playset designed specifically for kids ages 2-4.

Their camping area offers a number of sites with hookups for electricity and many sites are shaded in a wooded area, though some tent sites would offer a bit of a slope. They also have family camping cabins and yurts available. Their campground area also has an amphitheater area and learning center with many activities.

Being where it is located near Greensburg, it is a good place to consider if you’d like to visit Idlewild’s Amusement Park (by far the best amusement park for children in Pennsylvania!) or traveling to the other attractions in the area.

It’s large areas for fishing also make it a great place to escape for a day or two for fishing and camping in the greater Pittsburgh area.

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Skidaway Island State Park, Savannah Georgia Camping Review

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Last week we had a great opportunity to stay at Skidaway Island State Park, located in Savannah Georgia area. If you’re looking for a campground anywhere near Savannah Georgia or Tybee Island area this is definitely one to check out!

This park handles campground reservations a bit differently than most state parks, and reservations are definitely recommended, especially during weekends and holidays. When you make your reservation online, you do not get a specific site number but instead are told to just go and choose a site. This made us a bit nervous as to what types of sites would be available, but turns out there is not a single bad site in the whole campground!

Every site is beautifully shaded, so the hot sun won’t be a worry, especially if you have younger kids and are worried about sunburn. They even have tent pads available at many sites, which makes a great level surface for sleeping and of course helps minimize your chances of flooding if it should rain during your trip. Sites are well spaced apart and large enough that even luxury coach RVs could park in most of them without having any difficulty.

The park has a number of hiking trails and plenty of loops for taking walks around or letting the kids ride their bikes and scooters. All of the playground equipment was well cared for and while suited best for kids ages 4-10, I felt comfortable enough allowing my younger daughters play on it with supervision. Some campsites are even right next to the playground, which is great if your kids are old enough to play by themselves on the playground but you still want to be able to keep an eye on them while you rest and relax at your campsite.

The campground also had wireless internet connection available at the park office, and there were many people on their laptops there.

We did have mosquitoes, but that seems to be a part of camping – they were by no means all that bad but you definitely will want to pack some bug spray if you visit the park. There were a number of squirrels and birds at the park. They do have a swimming pool and interpretive center, however being that it was April when we visited it seemed the pool was not open yet.

Nearby you can visit the city of Savannah – though be warned parking at the visitors center is tight! Be sure you visit the historic district and walk around seeing all the sites and scenes, such as the place where Forest Gump was filmed.

There is no beach at Skidaway Island State Park, but nearby Tybee Island offers many public beaches to visit. Hilton Head Island, located in South Carolina, is only about an hour away north  and worth visiting if you have the extra time to see it. St. Simons Island and the Golden Isles of Georgia are also nearby though sadly we did not have a chance to check them out during our short visit there. Just about any store or convenience is available in the many nearby shopping plazas. There are many things to do and see in the area, such as museums and other activities.

Want more information and to check it out? Visit the Skidaway Island State Park Official Site.

Have you stayed at this state park before? Share your comments, tips, and reviews below!

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Laurel Hill Campground

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Waterfall at the end of one of the hiking trails at Laurel Hill state Park.

Laurel Hill is a state park located near Somerset, Pennsylvania, about 1 1/2 -2 hours drive west from Pittsburgh. I’ve camped here many times since I’ve been a small girl and it is where my daughter had her first camping trip at 6 weeks old – so definitely a nice quiet place and family friendly! It is unquestionably one of the best state parks in Western Pennsylvania.

Mosquitoes/Wildlife: Most of the times we have been here the mosquitos were minimal. We have seen squirrels, deer, raccoons, and skunks mostly. Lots of birds singing to wake you up in the morning.

Restrooms: Yes, and clean

Swimming: In a lake with small rocky/sandy beach, not within walking distance of the campground if traveling w/small children, must leave campground to access it.

Fishing: Yes, but never caught anything to brag about

Campground: Most sites are shady and close to restrooms, many with electric _ they also offer cabin rental

Playgrounds: The campground has 3 playgrounds & large fields in the camping area and 1 near the beach/lake

Camp store: The campground sells firewood, but not ice. There is a nearby deli and convenience store, and the camp store of a neighboring campground. For anything else, you will need to travel Rt. 30 toward Somerset.

Attractions/What To Do: The campground itself offers plenty of things to do, but there is also much in the area. There are many hiking trails throughout the park. Spend a day at nearby Idlewild Amusement Park, or go to the shops in Ligonier or Somerset. Visit the Flight 93 memorial, or go cave exploring in the Laurel Caverns. Many popular ski resorts are also in this area.

Reservations recommended for holidays and weekends.  All sites are nice and shaded with the exception of sites in the center of the top loop which are in direct sun. If you camp anywhere in the lower section/right side of the campground you will likely be happy with your spot!

The publishers of TotalCamper.com may receive compensation if you purchase items we review on our website. We are committed to providing unbiased reviews and featuring only high quality products we would feature even if we did not get paid for them. Read more about our Advertising Policies Here.