Camping experts help (group friendly camps in OH, KY, TN, NC, WV, Virginia)

[alfio]

hello all,

looking for large group (six families) friendly campgrounds in OH, KY, TN, NC, WV, or Virginia for this Summer. ideally we'd need a place that:

a) allows for reservations (people travelling from faraway, can't take chances on availability)
b) offers showers (there are several little people in the group and a couple of babies
c) family friendly atmosphere with options for activities (lakeside, riverside, oceanside, etc. would be pluses)
d) electrical hookups are not important but it might make things easier

any and all ideas are appreciated (including things I might not have considered in my requirements list, I've never planned anything this big or with so many kids involved in the mix) - thanks!

 

[Ramjet]

Go to each ones State Park website and find a spot you would consider staying in and see what the rates are. I know most of the State Parks in TX have Group camping areas. They usually run around $35 a night. Good luck.

 

[alfio]

Go to each ones State Park website and find a spot you would consider staying in and see what the rates are. I know most of the State Parks in TX have Group camping areas. They usually run around $35 a night. Good luck.

thanks - not to seem like an ingrate but what i'm asking here is for people's experience with places in those states. i'm hoping someone knows of a cool park that matches my description, etc. does that make more sense?

 

[LandRoverHyter]

Mammoth cave Nat park in Kentucky is good. Also check out lake cumberland state park, red river gorge/natural bridge state park lots to see and do in KY...Louisville slugger bat factory/museum, Corvette factory/museum, bourbon distillerys, world class horse racing, lots of rivers and lakes...

 

[alfio]

Mammoth cave Nat park in Kentucky is good. Also check out lake cumberland state park, red river gorge/natural bridge state park lots to see and do in KY...Louisville slugger bat factory/museum, Corvette factory/museum, bourbon distillerys, world class horse racing, lots of rivers and lakes...

thanks, will look into those

 

[Joker]

For Virginia I would recommend The Cove. Not a bad campground, has a little bit of everything you are looking for and its a little over an hour outside DC so you can easily run into DC for some site seeing during the day.

http://www.covecampground.com/

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I have heard good things and seen some great pics from Land Between the Lakes. I plan to get there asap.


Also check out Brookville Lake in IN. Some nice camp sites. Hiking. A beach. Fishing. Small towns nearby with festivals and such ie Metamora, Liberty.

 

[richjeeps]

I've stayed at all of these but you need to check out if they have showers, electric hook-ups etc.

- Look at Shenandoah Nat'l Park. I'm not sure about showers etc.

- Misty Mtn is great...http://www.mistymountaincampresort.com//

- not sure about hoook-ups http://www.mistymountaincampresort.com//

-http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/smi.shtml

 

[richjeeps]

oops forgot one

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/and.shtml

 

[richjeeps]

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/hun.shtml#camping

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/greenridgeforest.asp

http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/western/deepcreek.asp (I loved this place)

http://canaanvalley.org/ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Sods_Wilderness)

http://www.lostriversp.com/

 

[Ray_G]

I'll 2nd the cove, kids and I have started making it an annual dad + daughter camping trip. Close enough to DC that if you wanted to go there you could, even closer to places like Leesburg if you wanted to shop at outlets.

Alternatively if you'd rather not go there (like me and like to be as far away from the city) the Cove has good swimming in their lake, a shooting range if that's your thing, and nice campsites.

 

[Joker]

Ray that's the same spot we were at back in July, by the upper pond site 35 or 36 I think. My older son caught a bunch of bass in that pond. He really irritates me sometimes, he doesn't go fishing he goes catching.

 

[Ray_G]

Ray that's the same spot we were at back in July, by the upper pond site 35 or 36 I think. My older son caught a bunch of bass in that pond. He really irritates me sometimes, he doesn't go fishing he goes catching.

Yep, that's where we were I think...(one of the mid-30's). I am also now irritated with your son on your behalf (and my own). My daughters and I could see plenty of fish, getting them on our hooks eluded us. Olivia (the eldest) looked at me towards the end of the trip and said "shooting we are good at...but fishing, we're awful"
I'll take that though. Will def be going back to the Cove on a regular basis, but as Detslider points out it isn't the cheapest option.
r-
Ray

 

[Joker]

but as Detslider points out it isn't the cheapest option.
r-
Ray

Yea I agree it was a bit pricey considering Greenridge up in MD is only like $10 a night but that is not a campground. The range was a bit of a mess also, I'd be up for cleaning all of the shot up trash if they let me camp for free and some free fire wood.