Campground of the Week

RVFTA Podcast Network
Campground of the Week

Join podcast hosts Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi of RV Family Travel Atlas as they interview correspondents from around this big and beautiful country. Each episode features a complete campground review and includes regional activities and attractions.

  1. MAR 3

    Ocean Lakes Family Campground Review + Our 14 Favorite Things to Do in Myrtle Beach

    Myrtle Beach has long been a favorite destination for RVers, offering a mix of beachfront camping, family-friendly entertainment, and outdoor recreation. In this week’s episode of The RV Atlas, we dive into a review of Ocean Lakes Family Campground, one of the largest and most well-known campgrounds on the East Coast. Then, we share our top things to do in Myrtle Beach, from state parks to local dining and fun attractions. Whether you’re planning a family getaway or a relaxing escape, this guide will help you make the most of your Myrtle Beach RV trip. Thanks to Bill Sferrazza for the photos of Ocean Lakes Family Campground that appear in this post. Ocean Lakes Family Campground Review A Campground with History Ocean Lakes Family Campground opened in 1971 with just 30 RV sites and one bathhouse. Over the decades, it has expanded significantly and now features 859 RV sites and nearly 2,600 land-lease homes. This transformation has turned Ocean Lakes into a self-contained resort, offering a mix of vacation rentals, full-hookup RV sites, and beachfront access. Location and Accessibility Located on South Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, Ocean Lakes is the southernmost of the city’s mega-campgrounds. It’s just north of Murrells Inlet and conveniently positioned between the bustling boardwalk area of Myrtle Beach and the quieter state parks to the south. This prime location makes it easy to explore both lively attractions and serene natural spaces. Campsite Options and Pricing Ocean Lakes offers pull-through RV sites, making it easy for large rigs to maneuver. Most sites near the beach feature concrete pads, while those farther inland provide a mix of shaded, grass-covered spots. Pricing varies throughout the year: January–April & November–December: $48–$53 per night April–May & September: $70–$75 per night June–August (Peak Season): $106–$111 per night For a beachfront location with resort-level amenities, these rates are reasonable compared to other high-demand oceanfront camping destinations. Seasonal Atmosphere: What to Expect Ocean Lakes has distinct seasonal vibes, and knowing what to expect can help you plan accordingly: Summer: Packed with families, golf carts everywhere, and a high-energy, social environment. Spring Break & Shoulder Seasons: Busy, but slightly less crowded. Fall: A quieter, more relaxed atmosphere with retirees and seasonal campers. Halloween Weekends: A festive time with decorated campsites and campground-wide trick-or-treating. Amenities and Activities Ocean Lakes is a small city in itself, providing nearly everything you need for a full vacation without leaving the property: Waterpark & Pools: Includes a lazy river, multiple pools, splash zones, and straight-drop water slides. On-Site Dining: Casual eateries offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and ice cream. Grocery Store & RV Services: A full-service store and RV repair shop. Golf Cart Rentals: A must-have for getting around this massive resort. Game Room & Recreation Center: A fun indoor space for kids and families. Beachfront Access: Walk directly onto the sand from your campsite. Potential Downsides Busy Summer Scene: If you prefer quiet, avoid June–August. Golf Cart Traffic: The sheer number of golf carts can be overwhelming. Limited Privacy: Sites are medium-sized but close together. Overall, Ocean Lakes Family Campground delivers an exceptional beachfront camping experience, especially for those who love a social, amenity-rich campground. Looking for other great camping options in and around Myrtle Beach?

    1h 7m
  2. 12/06/2024

    9 Great Campgrounds and RV Resorts in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is one of the top RV destinations in the country, offering beachfront campgrounds, resort-style amenities, and easy access to fantastic attractions. Whether you prefer a state park setting, a massive family-friendly resort, or a luxurious retreat, there’s a Myrtle Beach campground for every type of RVer. Below, we’ve updated the information from our original 2018 Myrtle Beach Campground and RV Resort podcast episode to reflect the latest campground information, amenities, and pricing as of early 2025. Myrtle Beach is an oceanfront city in South Carolina that happens to be one of the premier RV destinations in the country. It's often pictured as a touristy wasteland of boardwalk rides and t-shirt shops. But in our many visits we've discovered the other sides of Myrtle Beach. The state parks offer an abundance of opportunities for nature exploration and activities. The renown Brookgreen Gardens is a world-class botanical experience. The food scene has exploded with places like Johnny D’s Waffles and legendary Road Food joints like the Early Bird Diner. And of course, there's the kitchty and ridiculously fun music productions. Myrtle Beach is truly a place like no other. In Myrtle Beach there are activities for every type of visitor, and there are campgrounds for every type of camper. Gorgeous state parks, huge family resorts, or wooded retreats in the heart of the Grand Strand...here's the best of the best. Listen to our latest podcast episode with more recommendations for our favorite things to do while camping in Myrtle Beach. State Parks Myrtle Beach State Park Beachfront location? Yes Location perks: Located on the south end of Myrtle Beach, this campground is quiet but still close to Grand Strand attractions. Hookups: 278 campsites total; 138 offer full hookups (electric, water, and sewer). Amenities: Camp store, one mile of beach, fishing pier, playground, picnic area, and nature center. Activities: Scheduled programs year-round, with daily activities during the high season. General vibe: Peaceful and scenic—a great middle ground between resort-style camping and a more remote setting. Website: southcarolinaparks.com Huntington Beach State Park Beachfront Location? Yes Location perks: This state park campground is extremely peaceful, and a world away from the Myrtle Beach boardwalk scene. Murrels Inlet and Pawleys Island are known as a quieter, more residential area of Myrtle Beach. There are plenty of nearby restaurants and shopping. It's practically across the street from Brookgreen Gardens. The downside? Its a bit of a drive to the Grand Strand. Hook ups: Huntington Beach State Park has a total of 173 campsites. The campground has 107 standard campsites with water and electric, plus 66 full-hookup sites with water, sewer and electric. Amenities: This simple campground is a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the state park. There's easy access to the beach. Activities: Campers have access to all the state park activities. There's lots of kayaking, canoeing, and fishing opportunities. This is a birding sanctuary, with plenty of alligator viewing and extensive nature programs for children and adults. There's also the onsite National Historic Landmark of Atalaya which offers a great self guided tour. General vibe: This is an amazing state park campground. Visitors will experience a quiet, peaceful camping experience with a host of natural experiences right on site. Private Parks Myrtle Beach KOA Is it beachfront? No. The Myrtle Beach KOA is a few blocks inland from the beach. A beach shuttle runs during the day.

    32 min
  3. 10/02/2024

    RVing in Quebec Part 2 (Quebec City and the Quebec City KOA Holiday)

    This is part two of a two part series about RVing in Quebec with Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial on the Road. To check out part one about Montreal and the Montreal South KOA Journey please click here. To listen to this episode about Quebec City and the Quebec City KOA Holiday please click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows. Or simply read on right here for Gretchen's guest blog post. Old Québec City very much feels like something out of a fairytale version of an old European city…at least if you can manage to forget about all the tourists around you who are thinking the same thing. At times it can feel a little too perfect--as if you’ve accidentally gone to the World Showcase at Disney’s Epcot instead of to Canada. But there’s a lot of very real history and culture behind the picture perfect surface of Québec City, and our family loved our time here. We stayed at the Quebec City KOA Holiday during our stay here--and it served as a great basecamp for exploring the city. The Quebec City KOA Holiday The Québec City KOA Holiday is just across the St. Lawrence River from Québec City, in the town of Levís. This is a great KOA with a helpful, bilingual staff, easy access from the highway, great proximity to Québec City, and lots of nice amenities to come back to after a day of touring.  The RV sites are mostly full hook-up gravel pull-throughs with pretty good sized yards. There are some patio sites, as well as a range of non-RV options, including rustic camping cabins and deluxe cabins. RV sites range from around $65 CAD up to over $100 CAD for patio sites.  The pool area is awesome, complete with water slides, a hot tub, and a splash pad area. There’s a communal fire pit in this area as well and lots of other indoor and outdoor communal spaces throughout the campground.  There are a lot of different options for getting into the city from the KOA. The campground runs a free shuttle every day, but it does need to be reserved a day in advance. We had planned to drive to the Levís ferry and take the quick ride across the river to the historic district, but we found out the the day we arrived that the ferry workers were striking and the ferry wasn’t running. So we ended up driving into the city every day, and this was actually surprisingly easy. It’s only about a 20 minute drive and traffic was never too bad. Driving and parking in Old Québec looked harrowing, however, so we parked in one of the large paid surface lots along the edge of town, which meant about 15 minutes of hilly walking to get to most of the sites.  Fun Things to Do in Québec City Walking Tour of Old Québec   Old Québec is so compact and walkable, and so rich with stories and history, that we thought a walking tour would be a great way to get our bearings and learn about the city. We went with the 2 hour “Grand Tour” with Tours Voir Québec and were very happy with the company and with our guide, but there are other well-reviewed companies that offer similar tours (some with guides in period costumes!) We really enjoyed getting to hear about the city from the perspective of someone who lives there and to see some hidden spots we wouldn’t have found on our own.  Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site Old Québec became an Unesco World Heritage site in 1985, largely because it’s one of the oldest towns in North America with a mostly intact system of fortified walls surrounding it. This Parks Canada site offers a few different ways to explore the walls and learn more about them. They offer a two hour guided tour that sounds wonderful but isn’t recommended for younger kids, so we opted instead to head to the Artillery Park area so our 11 year old could do the interactive “legend of the talking walls” a...

    43 min
  4. 09/27/2024

    RVing in Quebec Part 1 (Montreal and The Montreal South KOA Journey)

    On this week's episode of the RV Atlas podcast we are excited to welcome Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial on the Road back on the show to talk about her big summer RV trip to Quebec.  Her family stayed at the Montreal South KOA Journey and enjoyed several days in the most European of Canada's great cities. To listen to Jeremy interview Gretchen please click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your shows. Or read on below for a guest post from Gretchen. People often tout Montreal as “the most European of North American cities,” and indeed a walk along the cobblestone in the older parts of the city can make you feel like you’ve been transported both across the ocean and back in time. But Montreal also feels vibrantly modern and distinctly Canadian, and its location means it’s within easy driving distance for people in much of the US and Canada. Our family spent a few days in Montreal this past summer as part of a longer Canadian road trip, and we all left loving Montreal and wishing we could stay longer. We stayed at the Montreal South KOA Journey and it was a very good basecamp for our Canadian adventure. The Montreal South KOA Journey The Montreal South KOA Journey is 15 miles from the city and bills itself as the closest campground to Montreal. It’s big rig-friendly and easy to access from the highway. As first-time visitors to Quebec (and non-French speakers), we appreciated the friendly and helpful bilingual staff.  The sites are mostly a grid of standard gravel pull-throughs, but there are a good number of trees for shade and decent separation between the sites. Everything at this KOA is beautifully done and well-maintained: the bathrooms are nicely decorated and sparkling clean, there’s a small but lovely pool at the front of the campground, and the huge patio sites are probably the nicest I’ve ever seen. Sites start at around $70CAD for a basic pull-through and go up to over $100 for those patio sites.  The biggest thing to think about with urban RVing, though, is always how to actually get into the city to see the sites. The drive into Montreal from the KOA can be less than 30 minutes, depending on when you go. We did make the drive once, but we found both parking and traffic to be big challenges, so we did most of our travel via Montreal’s excellent public transportation system. There are a few different subway and rail stations within easy striking distance of the KOA; we made the 20 minute drive to the REM Brossard Station and took the new light rail from there into the city. There’s plenty of surface parking at this station, the trains are clean and comfortable, and, as a bonus, you get wonderful views of the St. Lawrence River and Montreal’s skyline as you approach the city.    Fun Things to do in Montreal Notre-Dame Basilica This impressive neo-gothic cathedral in the heart of Old Montreal dates to 1824 and is a must see for first time visitors to the city. It’s open to visitors for self-guided tours during the day and at night becomes a canvas for “the AURA Experience” light and music show. Our attempt to attend the nighttime show was thwarted by a power outage in the area, but we very much enjoyed gawking at the impressive art and architecture by day. The entire area is worth spending time exploring; Old Montreal is the part of the city that feels the most European, with its old buildings and cobblestone streets. It’s always busy, and there’s always something going on; we found public art and live music everywhere we turned.  Pointe-a-calliere Pointe-a-calliere, Montreal’s museum of archaeology and history, might just be the coolest museum I’ve ever been to. It’s built on the site where the city’s first European settlers lived in the 17th Century,

    45 min
  5. 08/25/2024

    Campground Review! Jellystone Park in Petoskey, Michigan

    On this week's episode of The RV Atlas podcast we are welcoming guest correspondents Dan and Jess Steck for a terrific review of Jellystone Park Petoskey in Michigan. The Stecks recently returned from an epic RV trip to Michigan with their two daughters Penny and Molly, and their two lovable dogs. To listen to our interview with Dan and Jess please click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows. Or simply read on right here for their guest blog post about Jellystone Park Petoskey.  Jellystone Park Petoskey Location and Overview If you are looking for a family-friendly RV resort in Northern Michigan, look no further than Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Petoskey, Michigan.  With spacious RV sites and an impressive array of cabins, this campground hits the sweet spot as both a full service RV resort and an excellent basecamp for exploring the area. Keep reading to find out what makes this park the perfect destination for balancing relaxation and exploration.  Jellystone Park Petoskey is situated only a few minutes drive from the shores of Lake Michigan in beautiful Northwestern Michigan. Bring your tent or RV of any size (this campground is very big rig friendly!) and enjoy spacious sites surrounded by tall pines and birch trees.  There is a large variety of camping cabins available from one room rustic cabins to camping lodges featuring roof top decks or outdoor TVs and fireplaces!  These diverse accommodations make this a wonderful pick if you are traveling with a family who may not be bringing an RV along with them. Jellystone Park Petoskey: Attractions, Amenities, and Overall Vibe The grounds of Jellystone Park Petoskey are impeccably cared for and quite lovely. Flower boxes and flowerbeds overflow with colorful blooms and the campground staff can be seen caring for the property throughout the day.  I dare say we are talking about a Fort WIlderness level of cleanliness here.  Throughout our stay we were continually impressed by the cleanliness of the campground. The campground boasts one of the most lovely seasonal sections we have ever seen. We recognized several campground staff with RVs in this section and you can see that the care they put into the campground is mirrored in the beauty of their seasonal sites.  You will be hard-pressed to find yourself or your kids saying “I'm bored” during your stay here. Kids young and old have access to a great array of activities.  Available to you all day are jumping pads, a playground, a basketball court, a beach volleyball court and everyone’s new favorite hobby--pickleball! On a hot day take a dip at the Swimming Hole.  The pool, though not huge, is perfect for cooling off and splashing around with the family.  On a mid-Saturday afternoon it was certainly busy at the pool but on Tuesday at 1 pm we nearly had the pool to ourselves. For more swimming adventures head just a few minutes down the road to Lake Michigan.  Like every Jellystone, the scheduled activities and amenities for kids are always a star of the show. There is a nice sized arcade and game room within the activity center that are open for you to come and go all day long.  Fun events like candy-bar bingo, HEY! Rides, tie-dye, character visits and movie nights are always a crowd pleaser.  Did you ask for gem mining? Of course! It’s not camping unless you are going home with a bag of gems When we asked our daughters, ages 3 and 5, what their favorite part of vacation was, they both yelled “the bike parade!” They both thought biking (and scooting) all the way around the campground with the activity director and big kids was out of this world. And we as parents will certainly never forget watching that joy! If kicking back and relaxing is on your vacation agend...

    43 min
4.7
out of 5
123 Ratings

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Join podcast hosts Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi of RV Family Travel Atlas as they interview correspondents from around this big and beautiful country. Each episode features a complete campground review and includes regional activities and attractions.

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