Casino Camping for Non-Gamblers

When we first started fulltiming, about 5 years ago, I was surprised to learn that some people who camp or park at casinos never gamble.  Gambling had been a hobby of ours for many years so it seemed odd to us, but since then we’ve met many RVers who do this.  Why do they visit casinos?  They tell me it’s all about the free parking, and free or low cost camping.  Not all casino camping is free or low cost, but much of it is.  Here are a few examples, from some locations that I’ve recently updated or added to our list: Isle of Capri, Lake Charles, LA has both free overnight parking without hookups and $10/night with electric Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, Sunland Park, NM offers RV sites with water and electric for $10/night and has a dump station on site. Win-River Casino, Redding, CA gives you 3 nights free dry parking. Sometimes casinos require play to receive discounts in their RV parks, and rates change too, so if you see a low price advertised it’s good to inquire before you start your trip.  We’ve also seen the opposite, where a casino gives you “free play” or a cash rebate in return for staying in their campground. This is often as much as 50% off the price of camping.  Their intention of course is to get you into the casino.  Free play has to be run through a machine before you can cash it out.  If they give you $10 free play pick a machine, then figure how many hands you have to play to equal $10.  Play exactly... Read more

Top Midwest Casino RV Parks (Part 2)

Midwest Gaming and Travel magazine runs an annual survey of readers called the “Reader’s Choice Awards” to find out which casinos are their favorites in various categories.  Along with asking which casinos have the best video poker, best lounge, friendliest staff, etc. they also ask about the best RV park.  Read more  Read More →

Six Words About Your RV Life

Hello intrepid travelers, Calling all wordsmiths, writers, witty individuals or families…can you condense your RV and camping experiences and expectations into six words? I double dog dare ya to share Six Words About Your RV Life!! Have you heard of the six word memoirs project from SMITH Magazine? In 2006 the fine minds behind SMITH Magazine offered aspiring writers, poets, those with something to say, and plain ole witty folk an opportunity to tell their story in six words. It’s said that Hemingway did just that when challenged to write a six word story. He came up with this: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”  Thousands of others from the famous to the neighbor-next-door have submitted their six word story in several SMITH Magazine projects including a series on Love & Heartbreak. And this got me thinking about my own six word memoirs…stories about my life on the road, as an RVer. My motto and the RV Cooking Show’s tag line is a mere six words – “Love to travel. Love to eat.” I quickly realized we all have a story to tell, a short ditty to share – especially when it comes to our RV and camping travels. So, with much anticipation and excitement I am delighted to introduce a special six word series – Six Words About Your RV Life. Think about your adventures and see if you can craft a six word memoir about your RV vacation, lifestyle, camping experiences. Leave your six words on my RVCookingShow blog or right here on this RV.net blog posting – Six... Read more

Top Midwest Casino RV Parks

Midwest Gaming and Travel magazine runs an annual survey of readers to find out which casinos are their favorites in various categories.  It’s called the “Reader’s Choice Awards”.   Along with asking which casinos have the best video poker, best lounge, friendliest staff, etc. they also ask about the best RV park. The ratings are separated into two categories; commercial casinos, and Native American casinos.  You may find the results of all these surveys to be useful for planning your casino based travels, especially if you haven’t visited the area before.  This week I’ll share with you the Readers Choice Awards 2009 for the commercial casinos with the best RV parks: Read more  Read More →

RV Cooking Show – Free Fun in St Louis and Grilled Pork Chops

Rich in history, culture, diverse neighborhoods, and just plain old fun, St Louis, Missouri is a great place to visit in your RV. And the cherry on top? There are so many FREE things to do that the spendiest part of your sightseeing will be the metrorail fare! You’ll have to start at the Gateway Arch – another gem of our National Park System – an amazing feat! Visit the Budweiser Clydesdales, immerse yourself in museums, Segway Forest Park, and don’t miss the world’s largest collection of mosaic art. Not enough for ya? Check out the well-done St Louis Visitors Website for 25 must-sees. Meantime, our culinary adventures take us once again to the grill via some simple and delicious garlic, dijon, thyme compound butter and center cut boneless pork chops. Quick, simple and tasty…see if you agree! Leave a comment below. Print this recipe at my site at www.RVCookingShow.com and be sure to take it along on your next camping trip (or, if you can’t wait, go ahead and try it on your “at home” grill – just pretend you’re on an RV trip!).   Happy summer, city camping! Evanne www.RVCookingShow.com  Read More →

New Policy at Thunder Valley Casino, CA

Good news for once… Casinos change their RV parking policy from time to time and for various reasons.  Construction projects sometimes take up too much space and RV’s are out.  Local ordinances occasionally get in the way, and we all remember the battles over Laughlin.  Once in a while the “bad apple” spoils it for everyone by abusing the casino’s hospitality and trying to make a residence - along with unsightly litter and other problem behavior.  Thankfully this last situation is very rare, although it gets a lot of publicity. But today it’s good news that I bring to you!  After several years of inconsistant policy, mostly disallowing any RV parking day or night, the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, CA has a new policy called “Park and Play”.  The short version is; you can park there for up to 3 days while enjoying the casino.  The casino’s website explains it, and also gives more details about the policy. Thunder Valley is conveniently located near Rocklin about 8 miles from I-80.  By the way, one of our favorite Camping World stores is located in Rocklin! Happy travels, and good luck in the casinos! Mac www.CasinoCamper.com  Read More →

Enjoy Fresh Desert Air at this Arizona RV Park

Trailer Life Cream of the Crop Campsites: Butterfield RV Resort—Benson, Arizona Planning to take a trip out to see the Old West? Don’t miss historic Southern Arizona, where clean air, natural beauty and historical sites abound. Whether traveling as a couple or with the whole family, Butterfield RV Resort in Benson is a great spot to use as your home base while seeing the sites in the surrounding area. Benson is a town located in the San Pedro River Valley about 40 miles southeast of Tucson. Originally inhabited by the Chiricahua Apache tribe, by the late 1800s the town was an important transportation hub for the Pony Express and Butterfield Overland Stage. After the completion of the Transcontinental Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880, copper and silver from neighboring mines passed through Benson on its way to factories back East. Butterfield RV Resort hosts 173 landscaped RV sites with full utility hookups designed to appeal to a wide segment of the RV community and their pets. Located within walking distance of the Safeway Shopping Center, Super Wal-Mart, post office, hospital, restaurants and other amenities, the resort is the perfect place to restock supplies and rest up during a long-distance trip. There are 50 sites that are at least 40 feet wide and are ideal for long term Park Model units and monthly or annual renters desiring a bit more room or privacy. The other 123 sites are at least 30’ x 50’. All sites sport their own picnic tables and have WiFi access. There... Read more

Wild West Camping Fun at Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona

Trailer Life Cream of the Crop Campsites: Grand Canyon Railway RV Park—Williams, Arizona If you’re planning a visit to the Grand Canyon after exploring Flagstaff and Sedona, this is the place to stay! This RV park’s amenities and convenient location are tough to beat. Grand Canyon Railway RV Park is part of a high desert resort complex that includes a hotel and train depot for rail tours to the Grand Canyon. Located in Williams, just west of Flagstaff, this pristine Good Sam Park is only two blocks from historic Route 66 and downtown attractions. They have 124 extra-wide paved RV sites with full hookups (30/50 amp service). There are 73 pull-thrus measuring 25’x 65’, while back-ins measure 15’x 56’. A maximum vehicle length of 65 ft. means even the biggest rigs will feel right at home! Each site offers free cable and free wireless Internet access for your convenience. digg_url = 'http://digg.com/travel_places/Wild_West_Camping_Fun_at_Grand_Canyon_Railway'; Hungry after a day of touring? Grab a bite to eat at Spenser’s Lounge or Max & Thelma’s Restaurant (serving breakfast, lunch and dinner), both just a short walk from the RV park within the main resort complex. Unwind in the indoor swimming pool or Jacuzzi at the GCR hotel, or keep up your fitness at the exercise room. Take a stroll along the fitness trail circling the property to enjoy the clean Arizona air. If sports are your thing, pick up a game of basketball, horseshoes or volleyball while... Read more

Update: Reno Overnight RV Parking Ban, Enforcement Eases Up

As of February 11, 2009, the city council has decided not to actively enforce an ordinance that prohibits sleeping overnight in an RV unless you’re in an approved campground.  Instead, they will only respond to specific complaints.  This clears the way for business owners (Casinos, big-box stores, etc.) to decide whether to allow RVers to park overnight on their property, but allows the city to step in when necessary to respond to legitimate problems.   Read more  Read More →

Casino RV Resort Receives Woodall’s 5 Stars

The Casino Campers are back on the road! Chris and I have left our winter haunts in Florida and are traveling west.  Today we’re at the IP in Biloxi, MS and plan to be at the Hollywood, Bay St. Louis tomorrow.  From there we’ll make a family stop in Texas, then head out for three seasons of casino fun and other RV adventures.  Now that we’re back on the road you can count on more frequent posts from me — hopefully each weekend. In previous posts I’ve told you that casinos offer a great variety of RV accommodations ranging from simple blacktop boondocking to resort level RV parks.  Yesterday, a friend of mine at Midwest Gaming and Travel sent me a press release from Grand Casino, Hinckley MN, announcing that their RV resort just received a Woodall’s 5 star rating.  The press release is reprinted below:   Read more  Read More →

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