MESA
BUCKHORN CAMPGROUND - USERY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK
3939 N. Usery Pass Road, Mesa, AZ. 85207 PHONE: 480-984-0032 SITE: # 36
Water & Electric ONLY - STAY: Sunday 11/22/2013 - Friday 11/28/2013 and Friday
12/20/2013 - Thursday 12/26/2013. RATE: $ 25.00 Per Day (weekly rate)
Desert mountain park with huge secluded sites, easy access to hiking trails, and grand views
of Superstition Mountain to the East and city lights in valley below at night. Moderate hike to
the top of Usery Mountain (Scarface to us old timers) is a must for a good feel of desert hiking.
Grocery stores, gas stations & propane are easy 2 miles and freeway access to anywhere in the valley is 4 miles away. WARNING: Watch 45 mph speed limit on Ellsworth / Usery Pass Road.
NOTE: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Renaissance Fair, and Baseball Spring Training are popular
times so make reservations. (Call park office and save on on-line reservation fee).
Water pressure seems extremely high, use regulator which attaches on spigot to save hose.
PROS: Perfect location for winter camping, easy access to hiking, biking, fishing lakes, archery
range, or just relaxing in the warm sunshine. Bathrooms have free showers with HOT water.
CONS: Hotter than hell in the summer. Usery Gun Range is close by but you easily become
accustomed to the noise (some of those guns sound very interesting!). No sewer hook-up
is a hindrance on long stays but there is a dump station. Cholla cactus needles are a problem
so be careful not to carry them into your trailer. Remember this is the real desert where
everything will stick, prick, or sting you!
BEST SITES: # 41, 39, 37, 35, 33. Secluded on South end of park with best views of Superstition
Mountain and city lights at night.
PARK RATING: 10 - WILL DEFINITELY STAY HERE AGAIN
VAL VISTA VILLAGE RV RESORT
233 N. VAL VISTA DRIVE , MESA , AZ. 85213
PHONE: 480-832-2547 - SITE: # 579 (back-in) - Water / Electric / Sewer
STAY: Friday 02/21/2014 - Thursday 02/27/2014 RATE: $38.00 per night. (weekly prime)
"City" RV resort with mostly "permanent Snowbird residents" during winter months in both RV's
and Park Model homes. Huge variety of planned activities every day to suite any interest you might have. Rec Hall is large enough to accommodate anything! Auditorium brings in excellent music and
comedy acts every night of week in winter. Hugh heated pool & Jacuzzi with happy hour bar and
evening entertainment. This is definitely a first class resort with very reasonable prices. Staff is
professional, friendly, and extremely patient helping you back your rig into site.
NOTE: Have FUN, join in the activities and meet the many friendly people here.
PROS: This park has everything you desire for a long or short term stay. Very conveniently
located to any city activities in Mesa or rest of valley. Walk to grocery or drug store and
shopping.
CONS: Normal city noise, traffic & safety vehicles. Sites are average size for city park so choose
sites on the perimeter for little better privacy.
PARK RATING: 10 - WILL DEFINITELY STAY HERE AGAIN
CALIFORNIA
HEMET
CASA DEL SOL RV RESORT - 2750 WEST ACACIA AVE. , HEMET, CA. 92545
PHONE: 888-925-2516 - SITE: E-15 - Water / Electric / Sewer
STAY: Friday 04/11/14 - Sunday 04/13/14. RATE: $ 40.00 per night.
Older "CITY" park with smaller than average sites. Staff is very friendly and will work with you
the best they can to accommodate your vehicle or trailer. I still had a difficult time situating my
34 ft. fifth wheel with 3 slides in the narrow space and could not fully extend one slide without
hitting electric post. The park itself is quiet but I think Hemet's emergency vehicles run 24 - 7.
The indoor 5 ft. deep walk around Jacuzzi is definitely a novelty but felt WONDERFUL after
hiking Mt. San Jacinto.
PROS: Conveniently located for any city of Hemet activities you have planned. Walk to shopping
mall, grocery store or movie theater. Locked and coded back gate takes you right into
shopping center. Free ice machine very nice touch. Friendly staff. Free cable TV.
CONS: Older park with slightly smaller than average sites, some leveling required. Watch for pet
hair in laundry facility. Separate "pet friendly" washer is provided but sometimes critter
owners are not so considerate of others. WARNING: the dryers are HOT so pay
attention! Emergency vehicle noise is obnoxious but nothing the park can help.
PARK RATING: 8 - We had a good time here but will look for park with larger spaces.
SAN DIEGO
LAKE JENNINGS COUNTY PARK - 10108 Bass Rd., Lakeside, CA
PHONE: 619-390-1623 - SITE: TROUT LANE # 61 - Water / Electric / Sewer
STAY: Monday 04/14/2014 - Sunday 04/20/2014 RATE: $27.40 per night (Weekly)
Best policy is advance reservations at this very popular campground. CHECK YOUR
SITE FOR FULL HOOK-UPS if desired as about half are water / electric only. Also
many sites are tent only so read carefully. Campground sits high on a ridge above Lake
Jennings to Southeast and Lakeside to the West. The entrance road is very narrow
across top of the dam with locked gate with code entry after 6:00 pm. Sites are well
separated with lots of tree shade & bushes. Sites 61, 63, 64, & 65 are close to game
room which can get noisy at times. Sites 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, & 10 sit under high tension
power lines. Sites 79 thru 96 have the finest views but are water & electric only and
leveling is required. Fishing at the lake and walking / bicycle trails are easy access.
Grocery, Fuel Stations, & Restaurants are 6 mi. away with easy access to Freeway (I-8).
PROS: Centrally located, 35 minutes to Laguna Mountains or Mission Bay Beaches.
Nice spacing to sites so you never feel crowded, very laid back without the
hustle & bustle of crowds at Santee Lakes Park. Cool afternoon breezes and
beautiful sunsets over lake or city lights.
CONS: High tension power lines are a BIG hindrance but can be avoided with proper
site selection. Narrow approach road can be intimidating your first time.
BEST SITES: # 16, 17, 18, 19 (Full Hook-up). # 89, 90, 91 (small trailer size, water/electric
only) for best Lake views. # 81 thru 86 for city / sunset views.
PARK RATING: 10 - WILL DEFINITELY STAY HERE AGAIN
PARADISE BY THE SEA RV RESORT 1537 SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY, OCEANSIDE, CA
PHONE: 760-439-1376 - SITE 65. - Premium Back-In - Water / Electric / Sewer
STAY: Sunday 05/04/2014 - Saturday 05/10/2014 RATE: $350.00 per weekly rate.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. This is the nicest park with the best
accommodations you will find if you need easy beach access, public transportation,
or plan to attend any events or functions in the San Diego - North Beach cities area.
Private walk way with 3 minute walk to the beach, bus stop outside the front gate, 5
min. drive to downtown Oceanside or Carlsbad, 15 min. to Encinitas, and 30 min.
to San Diego depending on traffic. This park has all the amenities, Pool, Jacuzzi, Laundry,
Shower Stations to wash off beach sand.
PROS: Excellent location, friendly staff will help you park, we use the bus ($1.00 senior)
to fine restaurants in Carlsbad & Encinitas, very nice city park on easy walk to the
beach.
CONS: Rates are high but you pay to be on the beach. The train tracks run next to Western
boundary of park and are very noisy with the freight trains actually shaking your
trailer. We quickly became accustomed to the noise and did enjoy guessing which
type of train was passing by. The sites are small & tight, you will definitely get to
know your neighbors!
PARK RATING: 10 - WILL DEFINITELY STAY HERE AGAIN
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
SEQUOIA RV RANCH 43490 NORTH FORK DRIVE, THREE RIVERS, CA
PHONE: 559-561-4333 - SITE 50. - Premium Back-In - Water / Electric / Sewer
STAY: Sunday 05/11/2014 - Friday 05/16/2014 RATE: $48.00 Per Night.
Sites 26 thru 35 and 50 thru 55 back up to the beautiful North Fork Kaweah River and
are WELL WORTH the premium price. Park is 3 miles from the small town of Three
Rivers which has shopping & restaurants. Riverview Restaurant has bands on the patio
on Sundays and you dine over the rushing waters of Kaweah River. Reimers Candies &
Ice Cream has fresh homemade ice cream which is a delight after a long hiking day. Pizza
Factory has absolutely delicious pizza and a very friendly staff for all the carbo loading you
will require. Most sites are tree shaded for the warm to hot days but the creek cools the
area quickly at night. Very quiet at night which is a BIG change from our previous parks.
PROS: QUIET, lower elevation than Sequoia N.P. so winter, fall, spring temperatures will
be warmer, fun to view the critter action on the river and be lulled to sleep by
flowing water.
CONS: Some spaces are very tight to back in around boulders & trees. I needed much
assistance from fellow campers backing into # 50. It is a ONE hour drive up the
tight, twisting turns of Hwy. 198 to the big trees of Sequoia N.P. which can be
frustrating at times with traffic.
TEMECULA
LAKE SKINNER RECREATION AREA 37701 WARREN ROAD, WINCHESTER, CA.
PHONE: 951-926-1541 - SITE: LOOP C # 315 (back-in) - Water / Electric / Sewer
STAY: Monday 04/07/2014 - Thursday 04/10/2014 RATE: $30.00 per night. WARNING: THIS PARK LOCKS THE FRONT GATE FROM 10:00 PM TO 6:00 AM !!!
So if you are out and about past 10:00 PM it will be a LONG walk back to your campsite.
Beautiful park campground with plenty of shade trees, open grassy fields and easy walking
distance to Lake Skinner from any of the 3 campgrounds. Small store (mostly fishing
supplies), fuel (gasoline only), propane and Rosa's Mexican Cafe (breakfast& lunch only).Beautiful
splash pad for the kids, convenient boat launch, and RV storage area is available. Take time
to explore the winding back roads and wander through vineyards, olive groves, and beautiful
homes. Temecula and Hemet are an easy 30 minute drive away.
PROS: Nice tree shaded sites most with good spacing and full hook-ups, walking paths to
lake & store, mountain bike trails, cool evening breeze, and beautiful sunsets over lake.
Park staff very friendly & helpful. Popular with families. The large sites will accommodate
both RV and boat trailer. Showers in very clean bathrooms.
CONS: Very crowded on hot summer weekends with big time party atmosphere, reservations
are required. Curfew for locked gates a big hindrance if your plans take you into town at
night.
BEST STIES: Campground "B" sites # 277 - 298 are closest and have best view of Lake Skinner.
Campground "C" sites # 301 - 318 are more secluded and have large grassy area
for a back yard.
PARK RATING: 10 - WILL DEFINITELY STAY HERE AGAIN
PECHANGA RV RESORT 45000 PECHANGA PARKWAY , TEMECULA , CA 92592
PHONE: 951-587-0484 - SITE G13. - PULL-THRU - Water / Electric / Sewer
STAY: Thur. 04/03/2014 - Sunday 04/06/2014 RATE: $45.00 weekday / $55.00 weekend.
Located next to the Pechanga Casino with spacious sites for a "city" Rv park. Access roads easy
to navigate with any size rig. NOTE: Entrance road is next to the Pechanga Gas Station but if you
pull into the Casino one of the friendly shuttle drivers will guide you to the RV registration office.
PROS: Location, Location, Location. Easy walk or free 24 hour shuttle to Pechanga Casino with
restaurants & entertainment ( The Cabaret Lounge brings in excellent local bands). 15 min.
drive to downtown (you must experience the shops & nightlife on Old Town Front Street)
and most of the winery's in the area are 20 min.away. Very friendly staff and fellow campers.
Pool, Jacuzzi, & bathrooms were spotless clean. Shopping and fuel all within 4 miles.
The Pechanga Gas Station has best diesel prices in the area along with a special big rig
access lane behind it with easy pump and air access & propane.
CONS: A little pricey but this park is convenient to everything.
PARK RATING: 10 - WILL DEFINITELY STAY HERE AGAIN
PINEZANITA RV PARK - 4446 Hwy. 79 , Julian , CA. 92036
PHONE: 760-765-0429 - SITE 128. - PULL-THRU - Water / Electric
STAY: Monday 04/21/2014 and Tuesday 04/22/2014 RATE: $ 31.00 per day
Beautiful tree shaded park only 4 miles from Julian and by far the quietest park we have stayed in.
Our ONLY regret is we did not have more time to spend here. The friendly staff worked with us
on a pull-thru site. Site spacing is well planned for privacy considering the hilly terrain and HUGE
trees the developers had to work with. Most of the sites have sewer hook-ups so plan ahead with
reservations (I did not), there are two dump stations on site. Spooked a HUGE raccoon (at least I
believe he was more spooked than me) on one of my nightly strolls and your morning alarm clock
will be the screeching Stellar Jays. There was NO highway noise on the far loop where I was
parked. The entrance / exit driveway is steep but I had no problems negotiating with my 34 ft.
5th wheel, just be cautious of traffic on Highway 79.
PROS: Easy four miles to activities in Julian, you can't beat that. Beautiful sites. Very quiet.
Restrooms & showers are spotless. Great park for walking & enjoy nature.
CONS: Closest diesel fuel is 11 miles in Santa Ysabel (beautiful drive and not a problem for
those who plan ahead). Park roads are a little narrow, just be cautious and you will be
OK. Thick tree coverage may hinder TV reception but you are here to enjoy Julian,
beautiful mountain roads, and star gazing anyway.
TIPS: WYNOLA PIZZA EXPRESS (3 mi. West of Julian) has the BEST wood fired thin
crust pizza I have had in a long, long time. PLEASE help out a Pacific Crest Trail
hiker if you get the chance. They are friendly and will share some wonderful stories
with you!! Try a wine tasting, you just might be surprised.
PARK RATING: 10 - WILL DEFINITELY STAY HERE AGAIN
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