Life of Puddles’ top 10 favorite RV Resorts

March 15, 2023

Ready to hit the road for your next RVing adventure? Check out Life of Puddles’ list of top 10 RV Resorts 

 

Honorable Mention #1 for Life of Puddles’ Top 10 RV Resorts is Foxhill RV Resort and Campground, Baraboo, Wisconsin. This park has it all – swimming ponds and pools, pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and even a giant chess and checkers set! A great time to visit is early June when the park is not too busy. For the best experience, stay in the older sites (F, G, H) which have more trees; the newer sites don’t have as much established greenery.

With just a short drive to Wisconsin Dells, you can experience the best of both worlds – a peaceful and serene getaway, combined with the opportunity to explore the attractions and eateries the city has to offer. A few must-see spots include Monks Burgers, Del-Bar Supper Club, Ishnala Supper Club, the Original Duck Tour, Upper Dells Tours, and Circus World Museum.

We highly recommend Foxhill RV Resort and Campground:  it’s been around for more than 50 years and boasts a range of upgraded amenities and features. 

Coming in at Honorable Mention #2 on Life of Puddles’ Top 10 RV Resorts is Canyon View RV Resort in Grand Junction, Colorado. This well-maintained resort offers a variety of amenities and activities for visitors to enjoy, from a kids’ area with a pool and splash pad to pickleball and indoor games like billiards and ping-pong.

R12 was a great site, with a gravel pad and a huge grassy area with a concrete patio with a fire ring and picnic table,  although there wasn’t much shade. The resort also offers easy access to nearby stores including Walmart, Petco, and groceries. 

The nearby Colorado National Park and the Colorado Riverfront bike trail are must-sees during your stay. The 28-mile, mostly paved trail follows the Colorado River connecting Palisade, Grand Junction, Fruita, and three state parks. The wide, multi-use trail also has connectors to other trails, attractions, and rides. The staff here is friendly, making this the perfect spot for a quick getaway.


Coming in at number 10 of Life of Puddles’ Top RV Resorts, Elkhorn Ridge RV Resort and Cabins in Spearfish, South Dakota is a great destination for any RV enthusiast! From concrete/asphalt roads to community fire pits, this resort has something for everyone. Enjoy the pool, hot tub, tennis courts, volleyball, horseshoes, and basketball court, or bring your pup to the large dog area or walking path. Kids will love the huge playground, and adults can take advantage of the bar at the pool. 

Our site itself was okay (site 53), but we recommend sites 110 and 111, 301 (pull-through), 23 through 29 and 338 through 342 (back-ins). The resort also has cabins for rent. The staff is friendly and the resort is close to the town of Spearfish and the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, Deadwood, Lead (mining town), and Sturgis. See it for yourself!


Check out Rafter J Bar Ranch in Hill City, South Dakota! Ranked 9th in Life of Puddles’ top 10 RV Resorts, this place offers plenty of activities and a great location for biking and exploring the area. We really liked this place but were only there for a couple of days. This is a park where you need to make your reservations early! 

This is a great campground for biking! There’s a huge trail that goes into Hill City, and we biked six miles to Crazy Horse. This is a perfect location, and for sure, driving the wildlife loop in Custer State Park is amazing! We didn’t do Crazy Horse, as we saw it from the road. Mount Rushmore is only 8 miles from the resort and is SO worth it!

We stayed in lot 172, a spacious back-in pull-through, with a fire ring and picnic table. The park offers a pool, hot tub, basketball court, and volleyball, as well as a kids’ play area. Firewood and S’mores kits are available at the store. The premium sites come with concrete pads, big fire pits, and are hard to come by. The staff were friendly; however, we didn’t have too much interaction with them. All in all, it was a great campground experience!


Coming in at number 8 of Life of Puddles’ top 10 RV Resorts is the Blue Water Beach RV Resort and Cabins in Garden City, Utah. You can lease a boat or JetSki – the water was truly remarkable!  WiFi is OK, but you can upgrade for 3 days for just $10 to get a super-fast connection. Unfortunately, there’s no fire ring due to a local ordinance, but there is a pickleball court, a pool, a hot tub, and a beautiful beach.

This resort has an incredible vibe and offers a wonderful bike path down to the town. The sites are paved with a concrete patio and have a small but lush grassy area. The main issue we had was we attempted to call a few times and never got any individual, and their voicemail was full. I guess they are just understaffed, yet we at last got somebody on the line and they were incredibly pleasant.  The RV Resort sits right on the beach of Bear Lake, which is a stunning lake in Garden City, Utah. We stayed from Sunday to Thursday, and we can only imagine how busy it gets on the weekends due to its proximity to Salt Lake City.

If you’re looking for things to do, try Summit Pizza for their cheese doodles, House of Pop for their mixed soda drinks, and get raspberry shakes from both LeBeau’s and Zips, which is also great for burgers. Just make sure to avoid Café Sabor, which isn’t very good.


Coming in at number 7 of Life of Puddles’ top 10 RV Resorts is Buena Vista Motorcoach Resort, Orange Beach, Alabama. We couldn’t help but fall in love with Alabama thanks to Buena Vista, but our hearts are now at Bella Terra RV Resort. If we could, we’d take out Buena Vista and replace it with Bella Terra! Alabama has gotten a bad reputation, but this is an awesome area, and the people are wonderful and friendly.

All in all, Buena Vista Motorcoach resort is great! The Lazy River was a lot of fun, and it was uncrowded. The beach access is close, and there’s a fantastic bike trail leading to the state park (28 miles of paved paths).

We had an amazing time at Site #2, though it is right on the highway and can get quite noisy. If we ever visit again, we’d try to stay further from the highway.

A couple of drawbacks of the property were the terrible Wi-Fi and poor cell service. Additionally, you get hit with a lot of extra fees. The rate was $100 per night for a deluxe site, but with all the extra fees it ended up costing us $156.00 per night (cleaning fee, processing fee, management fee and resort fee). We had never seen all those fees before, and felt a bit like we were being nickel-and-dimed.

When it comes to food, Moe’s BBQ is the spot for the best BBQ. Doc’s Seafood Shack is a great lunch spot, and the Fin and Fork and Wolf Bay are two of the area’s best restaurants. 

Things to do are in abundance too! Gulf Shores State Park is a must-see, with its biking trails, fishing, hiking and beach access. The Wharf is also a great spot to visit, so much to do in this area, that is why we decided to buy at Bella Terra RV Resort.


Making the list of Life of Puddles’ top 10 RV Resorts at number 6 is none other than the stunning Camp Margaritaville RV Resort, Lanier Island. Located in Buford, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, this lush and luxurious resort has something to offer all types of campers.  If you have the opportunity, we highly recommend the Island Breeze loop for the newest and best sites or a Pull-Through or Site 130 which is waterfront. 

This resort is a brilliant spot for a family getaway! Located on the island, the resort offers plenty of activities. While the water park was closed when we were there, you can still rent a boat or JetSki, and get free hot dogs on Sundays at the beach bar! Landshark has great dinners and drinks, and you can even enjoy a cocktail at your site with the Margaritaville cocktail cart that drives around the resort. Plus the resort offers YURTS, cabins, and tiny houses for rent, providing the perfect option for inviting family along for the fun. Margaritaville RV Resort Lanier Island is one of our top picks for an incredible vacation!


Coming in at number 5 on Life of Puddles’ top 10 RV resorts is Camp Margaritaville, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This park is a must-see for RVers and if you have family, have them stay at the hotel! We love this park and have visited it twice to witness all its improvements; it now features a lazy river, a second large pool, community fire pit with music in the evenings, a game room, duckpin bowling, and a fantastic restaurant and bar.

This resort is great for families and adults alike. The dog park is of medium size, but is now illuminated. For a peaceful experience, go to the bottom of the park; the sites are 60 through 90 (we stayed at 86 our first trip and it was great! Our second stay was at 126 and we liked it too – it was close to the bath house, but not too noisy or crowded. Sites 3 through 40 have magnificent views, but are smaller.

While you’re in and around Pigeon Forge, here are some activities to check out: Dollywood (check out our YouTube video!), biking; or just visit Gatlinburg, the Smoky Mountain Arts and Crafts drive in Gatlinburg (a hidden gem!), Anakeesta, and Dolly Parton’s Stampede if you like horses. However, you should avoid the Hatfield and McCoy show and the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel – they’re just okay.


Moab, Utah’s Portal RV Resort is an incredible spot for your next RV adventure. It’s number 4 on Life of Puddles’ top 10 RV Resorts list, and for good reason!  This is the perfect location for your Moab adventure – with concrete lots, two pools, pickleball court, a workout room, and a nice dog area, you can’t go wrong. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better concrete lots than the M30 to M32 pull-ins. In the summer, snag a shaded lot for extra comfort. 

Canyonlands is a must-see, and if you have a Jeep/4X4 or a UTV, take a wild ride on the Potash Drive. Don’t forget to check out Arches National Park, but make sure to have a timed entry reservation with Recreation.gov. Get the GyPSy app on your phone, as it’s a great audio tour guide for all of the National Parks with fascinating stories and directions.

If you are going off-road, make sure to download the OnX off-road app.  It will help keep you on trails and find the BEST trails for you!  Our favorite Jeep/4×4 trails include; Potash Trail, Back entrance to Arches National Park, Picture Frame Arch, Poison Spider and Top of the world.

When it comes to food, the food truck lot is a must-try, with an amazing hot dog truck, and Zak’s for the best pizza you’ll ever have. For an amazing Italian meal, head to Antica Forma. Sunset Grill is a nice spot for the view, but the food and service are slow.


Coming in at number 3 of Life of Puddles’ top 10 RV Resorts is Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort in Bend. OR. We can’t say enough good things about this place… we loved it so much, we stayed a few extra nights! There is plenty to do, though it is a bit far from Bend. It’s a quiet, serene locale, and we highly recommend it. The staff takes great pride in the resort, evidenced by the lovely wildflowers and immaculate cleanliness.  In June, they also have a Rodeo that’s apparently amazing. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and this is a must-stay if you’re visiting Bend/Sisters. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Crater Lake while you’re here!

All the sites at this RV resort are fantastic. We stayed at site 65 and it was perfect. It was easy to get in and out of, and had lanes at check in to unhook your toad. The entire resort was shaded and had plenty of grass. There was a mini golf area, a nice laundry, and a huge pool. Plus there were plenty of walking paths. The only downside? The Wi-Fi was poor. 

If you are looking for some great eats in the Bend/Sisters area, we recommend Rancho Viejo for Mexican in Sisters, Three Creeks Brewery and Deschutes Brewery for some tasty beer and burgers, and Three Sisters Drive-In for the best ice cream!

Hiking in Oregon is amazing. Around Bend/Sisters, our favorite was, of course, Crater Lake. But others include; Whychus Creek Trail, Three Creek Lake, Deschutes River Trail, and Smith Rock State Park.


Coming in at number 2 on Life of Puddles’ Top 10 RV resorts list is Mountain Falls Luxury Motorcoach Resort in Lake Toxaway, NC. We chose this destination for a variety of reasons, such as its stunning views, welcoming community, and friendly staff. During our stay, we took part in several exciting activities, including Sips and Sounds every Friday night and Oktoberfest. 

The resort itself was peaceful and beautiful. It was so tranquil that Iggy, one of our cats, even went on a leisurely stroll around the golf course. Yes, they do have a golf course which you can use! Just check with the staff to arrange it. There are also walking paths, a lovely clubhouse, Pickleball courts, a dog park, and the best part: a beverage cart driving around giving out free drinks every Thursday! 

If you can, try to get a site on the ridge. It’s worth it for the views! We also recommend the pull-ins on West Resorts Blvd, as they’re a bit quieter. The rental pool keeps changing, so keep an eye on the resort’s website!


And the winner is: Gulf Waters Beach RV Resort in Port Aransas, TX.  With a gorgeous boardwalk right up to the beach, you’ll be ready for a day of soaking in the sun and sand.

The resort has a wide range of sites available, from Executive sites (our favorites are 732, 705, 752, 724, and 618), to Premier sites like 758 and 756. The roads are all concrete and the interior roads are a bit tight, but the staff will help you get parked correctly. The spacing between the lots is large for the Executive sites and a bit tighter for the Premiums/Deluxe.

At this golf cart-friendly resort, you can enjoy a great pool area or travel the beach on your own two or four wheels.  If you’re looking to book a site, make sure you do it early – spots fill up fast!   We highly recommend this resort – you won’t regret it!


 

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