Campground directories out for 2006
With the New Year comes a flurry of revised and updated RV campground directories.
For those who want to explore, but also want to know about possible places to park before night falls, there are several comprehensive RV campground directories available.
The popular directories weigh in at about 4 pounds and have the look and heft of a telephone book.
While information varies with each directory, it usually includes some sort of rating system, campground sizes and amenities, prices and nearby recreational activities, phone numbers for reservations, Web sites and e-mail addresses.
Campground directories
•”2006 Trailer Life Directory: RV Parks, Campgrounds and Services” (Trailer Life Books, $24.95); and “2006 RV Parks & Campground Navigator,” 2 CD-ROM Set” ($59.95).
The 2006 edition profiles more than 12,000 private and public campgrounds, RV service centers and tourist attractions. More than 200,000 changes were made to last year’s listings.
Contact Trailer Life at toll free (800) 234-3450; www.tldirectory.com.
•”Woodall’s 2006 North American Campground Directory” (Woodall Publishing Company, $21.95).
The 2006 directory covers more than 15,000 listings in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. There are about 260,000 changes from the 2005 edition.
Woodall’s also publishes a separate “Western” and “Eastern America Campground Directory” for $17.95/each.
Contact Woodall’s Publications Corp. at toll free (877) 680-6155; www.woodalls.com.
•2006 Wheelers RV Resort & Campground Guide” (Web Site Management, Inc., CD only: $16.95).
Wheelers covers listings for the United States, Canada and Mexico; describing and locating government and privately operated parks serving campers and RVers.
Contact Wheelers at (480) 784-5823; www.wheelersguides.com.
•”The RVers Friend: North American Diesel & Parking Directory” edited by Tracy Brice and Robert De Vos (Trucker’s Friend, $12.95).
This is not a campground book, it lists 6,800 Travel Centers (formerly known as truck stops) in the U.S. and Canada and what services each provides to RVers. This handy guide helps RVers determine if a travel center welcomes them for an overnight stay, if it has a dump station, if it sells propane, and if it provides Internet access or utility hookups. It also lists any RV mechanical services provided.
Contact: The Trucker’s Friend at toll free (800) 338-6317, www.truckstops.com.
Other resources
•Go Camping America, www.gocampingamerica.com, is the site for all the RV parks and campgrounds in North America that are members of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, www.arvc.org.
•National Forest Service website, www.fs.fed.us, contains information on acquiring publications and directories for the lands it maintains.
•”2006 KOA Directory,” descriptions, maps, directions and rate information on each of the more than 450 campgrounds in the KOA system in the U.S. and Canada. Free at a KOA campground or with a $5 shipping and handling fee by writing to KOA Directory, PO Box 30558, Billings, Montana, 59114; or online: www.koa.com.
•Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground Directory, is free. Go to www.campjellystone.com; or call toll free (800) 626-3720.
Inland Northwest RV Show
Just a reminder, the Inland Northwest RV Show begins Thursday and runs through the weekend at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. Admission is $6 for adults for the run of the show; children 12-and-under are free with an adult. Don’t forget to stop by The Spokesman-Review booth, Thursday through Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., to say hello.
RV 101 classes
A couple of RV classes are being offered through the Spokane Community Colleges’ Institute for Extended Learning.
Each meets one-time only for three hours beginning at 6:30 p.m., costs $21 and takes place at Sullivan Square in Spokane Valley.
RV Basic Training is scheduled for Feb. 18 (course number 7321). The RV Care and Maintenance workshop is being offered on Mar. 8 (course number 7322).
All classes include handouts. To register, call 279-6000 or stop by the IEL office at 3305 W. Fort George Wright Drive between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Wheel Question
If you are planning a trip up the Alaska Highway this summer, please get in touch by calling 459-5435 or e-mail juliannec@spokesman.com.