St. James City, Florida • November 2020 • 3/5 • Would we return? No
This Pine Island trip gave our family a chance to experience a little of the RV life we enjoy. Some family members did not have their own RVs, so rental RVs at the campground let us stay together without everyone needing to bring a rig.
Our site
We stayed in a concrete back-in site with full hookups. The space felt tight, and getting into it took a moderate amount of effort. It worked for the trip, but it was not one of the roomier sites we have stayed in.
A campground for a shared trip
During our visit, there were several ways to stay and a range of recreation options. Our notes include a pool, hot tub, camp store, sports courts, playground, showers, and laundry. The small dog park, waste-bag stations, and dog-wash area were useful features for guests traveling with dogs.
Sharing RV life with family during our November 2020 trip.An evening together beside the RV.A family walk during our Pine Island trip.
Working remotely
Our inventory notes that Wi-Fi was available, but we did not record whether it could support work. We also did not document a mobile carrier or hotspot result, so this review cannot answer whether it would have suited a full workday.
Our verdict
The best part was spending time with family and sharing what life in an RV can be like. They enjoyed the experience, even if they were not ready to travel the way we do. We rated the stay 3/5 and would not return. Getting to the campground was difficult, and it felt a little run-down during our November 2020 visit. Those drawbacks outweighed the reasons we would choose it for another trip, even though we enjoyed our time with family.
This review describes our November 2020 stay. Amenities, rental options, policies, and connectivity may have changed since our visit.
Morganton, Georgia, near Blue Ridge • September 2020 • 3/5 • Would we return? No
Our stay at Waterside at Blue Ridge started with a wrong turn after dark. We had received directions over the phone, but we still ended up in the wrong area with the truck and trailer. Turning around in the dark was stressful enough that Scott joked we should just list the whole setup on Craigslist and let someone collect it where it sat.
Our campsite
We stayed in a concrete back-in site with full hookups. Once we were in the right place, getting into the site was easy. The campground felt new and clean during our visit, and we liked having groceries and places to eat nearby.
A view across the campground during our September 2020 stay.
Wi-Fi depended on the site
Before arrival, we had asked for a site with good Wi-Fi because we needed to work. The first site had almost no usable coverage. After moving, the Wi-Fi was excellent and we could work. That difference is the most useful internet detail from our stay: coverage varied significantly between sites.
The campground buildings and covered seating area during our visit.
Exploring Blue Ridge
We also spent some time exploring nearby Blue Ridge during our stay.
A photo stop while exploring Blue Ridge, separate from the campground.
What we would do differently
We would arrive in daylight, get a marked route to the site, and test the connection before completing setup. Waste-bag stations were helpful for walks with the dogs, although our notes do not record a dog park.
Our verdict
We would not choose to return, based on this visit. The clean setting and improved internet were positives, but the arrival and initial Wi-Fi problems shaped our overall experience.
This review describes our 2020 stay. Amenities, policies, and internet performance may have changed since our visit.
Helen, Georgia • September 2020 • 3/5 • Would we return? Yes, with different work plans
Unicoi was a reminder that a place can be wonderful to visit and still be a difficult place to work. We loved the park and exploring Helen, but our mobile connection could not support our work. We left on Monday instead of staying through Wednesday as planned.
Our campsite
We stayed in a gravel back-in site with water and electric hookups, without a sewer connection at the site. Getting into it took a moderate amount of effort. The site itself was fine for our needs; connectivity was what changed the trip.
Settled in and ready to explore the park.
Exploring Helen and Anna Ruby Falls
The park gave us opportunities to enjoy nature, and Helen’s Bavarian-style buildings, shops, and restaurants made it a fun nearby outing. A trip to nearby Anna Ruby Falls with the dogs was especially memorable.
Our outing to nearby Anna Ruby Falls.Anna Ruby Falls during our September 2020 visit.The stream below the falls.
Zoey rode in her wagon, which Scott pulled up the steep paved approach. Seeing both dogs enjoying the air and sounds near the falls remains one of our favorite memories.
Zoey came along for the adventure in her wagon.
Could we work remotely?
Not successfully with the hotspot connection we had in September 2020. We did not establish that campground Wi-Fi was a usable alternative. Rather than struggle through the remaining workdays, we moved on. That is a report of our experience, not a claim that every carrier or current setup will fail.
Our verdict
We would return for a visit focused on hiking and exploring. For a working trip, we would need to confirm a reliable connection first. Our 3/5 rating reflects how the stay worked for us, including the early departure.
This review describes our September 2020 stay. Amenities, policies, and connectivity may have changed since our visit.
Chattanooga, Tennessee • September 2020 • 5/5 • Would we return? Yes
One of our favorite things about working from the RV is what we can do between workdays, or sometimes right in the middle of one. At Raccoon Mountain, we used a lunch break to visit a cavern at the campground. That was a memorable change from our usual lunch routine.
Our site and an unexpected errand
Our gravel pull-through site was roomy, very long, and easy to enter. It had full hookups, but the length created a surprise. With the trailer positioned where we wanted it, the sewer connection was more than 30 feet away. Scott made a trip to Walmart for an extension hose. For our next visit, we would check the hookup locations before settling on the RV’s position.
Our campsite at Raccoon Mountain.
Working remotely
The campground Wi-Fi worked well enough for us to work during our September 2020 stay. Our notes also describe good mobile/hotspot performance, although the carrier was not recorded clearly. We would still test the current connection before relying on it for important calls.
A cavern visit on our lunch break
Having a cavern attraction at the campground gave us an outing without a long drive. We enjoyed a visit underground, then returned to our working day at the RV.
Our lunch-break outing to Raccoon Mountain Caverns.A closer look at formations inside the cavern.Colorful lighting during our cavern visit.
Exploring with the dogs
Mountain views made campground walks enjoyable, and the dog park and grassy areas gave us places to take the dogs out. We also liked being within reach of Chattanooga while staying somewhere with its own attraction.
A quiet morning around the campground.
Our verdict
Yes, we would stay again. Raccoon Mountain gave us a useful combination of a working internet connection, space at the site, and something interesting to do nearby. The long sewer run is the practical detail we would prepare for next time.
This review describes our September 2020 stay. Amenities, policies, and connectivity may have changed since our visit.
Rising Fawn, Georgia • September 2020 • 5/5 • Would we return? Yes
Cloudland Canyon was one of the places that made us want to return before we had even left. The canyon views and waterfall hikes were the attraction, and camping in the park let us spend more time enjoying them.
Our campsite
Our gravel back-in site felt roomy and was easy to access. We had electric hookups only, with no water or sewer hookup at our site. This was a state-park camping experience where the scenery and trails mattered more to us than resort-style extras.
Our wooded, electric-only campsite at Cloudland Canyon.
The hikes and the dogs
We hiked two trails that led to waterfalls and enjoyed the views from a canyon lookout. The dogs made the trip especially memorable. Zoey could not walk long distances, so we brought a wagon for the walks she could join. Our other dog enjoyed the hikes down to the waterfalls. Those are the details that still stand out when we think about this stay.
Taking a break with the dogs at an overlook.A look at the rocky, root-covered terrain on one of our walks.Views from our time exploring the park.
Could we work remotely?
We did not have usable Wi-Fi or strong cell coverage during this visit. We would plan time off for another trip unless we had independently confirmed a workable connection at our specific site. Our 2020 experience cannot establish what service is like there today.
Our verdict
We would absolutely return for the hiking, waterfalls, and chance to disconnect. It was one of our favorite settings, even though it did not suit our remote-work needs at the time.
This review describes our September 2020 stay. Amenities, policies, and connectivity may have changed since our visit.
Reddick, Florida • September 2020 • One overnight • Site #106 • 4/5 • Would we return? Yes
We stopped at Ocala North for just one night, so this review is about a convenient stopover rather than an extended resort stay. Our long pull-through site, a dip in the pool, and a generous dog park made it a pleasant break in the drive.
Our site
Site #106 was a long concrete pull-through with full hookups. Getting into it was easy, which is exactly what we appreciated on an overnight stop. The location near the highway also worked well for getting back on the road.
Our pull-through campsite during our September 2020 stay.
What stood out
The dog park was the highlight. There was plenty of room, and horses at a farm across the road added a pretty backdrop. We also had time for a swim after setting up the RV.
Could we work remotely?
We did not test the campground Wi-Fi or mobile connection for work. Internet performance remains an unanswered question from this visit.
Our verdict
Yes, we would return. It delivered what we needed: a straightforward site, a convenient stop, and a good place for the dogs to stretch their legs. We did not stay long enough to judge the experience over several weeks.
This review describes our 2020 stay. Amenities, policies, and connectivity may have changed since our visit.
Our original 2020 campground map. We stayed in site #106. This map is a historical souvenir, not a current booking guide.
St. Petersburg, Florida · Summer 2020 · Site DW54 · Our rating: 4/5 · Would we return? Maybe
This review reflects our summer 2020 stay. Amenities, policies, and site conditions may have changed since then.
Our stay at the St. Petersburg / Madeira Beach KOA was one of our first opportunities to show friends and family what we loved about our new RV. It was a local getaway with plenty to do, and a chance to settle into this new way of traveling.
Our site and the water view
We stayed in back-in site DW54, a roomy gravel site with full hookups and a paved patio area. Getting into it took a little more effort than our first pull-through experience, but it was manageable. Our site was described as waterfront. In practice, we could see a small sliver of water from the back rather than an open, sweeping view. We still liked the site, but that distinction is worth understanding before booking.
Our back-in campsite during our summer 2020 visit.The truck and trailer settled into our site.
Amenities and location
During our stay, the campground offered a pool, hot tub, showers, laundry, and several recreation options. Miniature golf was among the activities around the campground. Access to the Pinellas Trail was another highlight. We liked being close to the beaches and the St. Petersburg area. The variety of RV sites, cabins, and tent accommodations made it appealing for groups with different camping preferences.
Miniature golf and the campground building during our visit.
Dogs, visitors, and working remotely
The dog-walking area and waste-bag stations were helpful. Our dog also found a shady place to relax beside the trailer. The nighttime visitor check-in felt strict to our friends who came to see us. We did not evaluate the internet for remote work on this trip, so we cannot offer a firsthand verdict on it.
A shady spot beside the RV for one of our traveling companions.
Our verdict
This was a good place to share campground life with people who did not own an RV. We rated our stay 4/5 and might stay again, especially for a gathering. Before booking, we would check the specific site’s view and the current visitor rules.
Did our waterfront site have an open water view?
No. During our 2020 stay in site DW54, the view was a small sliver of water behind the site. That is our experience of one site, not a description of every waterfront site at the campground.
Dunedin, Florida · Summer 2020 · Site #11 · Our rating: 3/5 · Would we return? Maybe
This review reflects our summer 2020 stay. Amenities, policies, and internet performance may have changed since then. The property is now called Sun Retreats Dunedin.
Dunedin RV Resort will always be special to us: it was our first trip in our new-to-us RV. The couple we bought it from even met us there to help with our first setup. We had plenty to learn, and a pull-through site was a welcome way to begin.
Our site and the campground
We stayed in full-hookup site #11, with a concrete surface and easy access. The sites were close together, so privacy was limited. During our visit, the park had a mix of short-term guests and longer-term residents. The pool and recreation areas gave us things to do without leaving the campground.
Could we work remotely?
This is where our first trip delivered its first lesson. The campground Wi-Fi was not reliable enough for work. Scott made a morning trip to a mobile carrier store to buy a hotspot so we could get through the workdays. The hotspot was only okay, but it gave us a backup. That experience taught us to test our connection before counting on campground Wi-Fi.
Our RV dinette doubled as our workspace on this first trip.
Traveling with dogs
The dog area and waste-bag stations made the park welcoming for our dogs. A trip to Honeymoon Island with them became one of our favorite memories, especially the photos of Zoey at the beach. Honeymoon Island was a separate outing, not a beach within the campground.
The dogs settling into RV life.Honeymoon Island State Park was an outing during our Dunedin stay.A favorite beach memory from that first trip.
Our verdict
We would consider returning for the location and access to Dunedin. It was a memorable first stop, with a useful reminder that a good campsite and a workable internet connection are two separate things.
Was the Wi-Fi good enough for work?
Not during our summer 2020 stay. We needed a separate hotspot. We have not retested the connection since then.
Some campgrounds are simply places to park your RV. Others become destinations themselves. Anchor Down RV Resort in Dandridge, Tennessee, definitely fell into the second category for us.
Overlooking Douglas Lake with the Great Smoky Mountains in the distance, Anchor Down was one of the most beautiful RV resorts we’d visited. Between the scenery, spacious resort grounds, and amenities, there was plenty to enjoy without ever leaving the campground.
At a Glance
Campground: Anchor Down RV Resort Location: Dandridge, Tennessee Our site: Pull-through #152 Full hookups: Yes Campground Wi-Fi: Not reliable enough for our work needs Verizon hotspot: Worked well Dog park: Yes Would we recommend it? Yes
Our Campsite: Pull-Through Site #152
We stayed in pull-through site #152, which offered full hookups and a convenient setup for our travel trailer.
One of the things we loved most about Anchor Down was the overall setting. The campground overlooked Douglas Lake, with mountain views that made even an ordinary afternoon at the campsite feel like a getaway.
The resort had a beautiful layout, and we enjoyed spending time outside taking in the scenery.
Our pull-through Site #152 at Anchor Down RV Resort
Campground Amenities
Anchor Down offered several amenities that made it feel more like a destination resort than a traditional RV park.
During our visit, we noted:
Full-hookup RV sites
Swimming pool, although it was closed for the season
Dog park
Showers and laundry facilities
Beautiful views of Douglas Lake
Access to the surrounding lakefront setting
We particularly appreciated having a dog park available while traveling with our dog.
The lake and mountain scenery were the real highlights for us. Even with the pool closed during our stay, there was plenty to appreciate about the property.
Internet and Working Remotely
Reliable internet is one of the most important things we consider when choosing an RV campground.
Unfortunately, Anchor Down’s campground Wi-Fi wasn’t strong enough for our remote-work needs during our visit.
We had better luck with Verizon, which worked well for us.
We didn’t have Starlink at the time of our stay, but the campground offered plenty of open sky. Based on the setting, Starlink could potentially make a significant difference in internet connectivity for future visits, although we haven’t tested it here ourselves.
Our remote-work verdict: We wouldn’t have relied on the campground Wi-Fi alone for a full workday. Having a dependable cellular connection or another internet option would be important.
What We Loved
The biggest highlight was unquestionably the scenery. Douglas Lake and the mountains created a beautiful backdrop for the campground.
We also appreciated the resort atmosphere, the amenities, and having a comfortable place to relax outside our RV.
Anchor Down was the kind of campground where simply spending time at the campsite was part of the vacation.
What We’d Consider Before Returning
The biggest consideration for us would be internet connectivity.
If we were planning an extended stay that included remote work, we’d want to make sure we had a reliable connection independent of the campground Wi-Fi.
We’d also check seasonal amenity availability before booking, particularly if using the pool was important to our trip.
Our Final Verdict: Would We Stay Again?
Yes, we’d recommend Anchor Down RV Resort.
Between the beautiful lake views, mountain scenery, and resort-style amenities, Anchor Down left a lasting impression on us.
For RVers looking for a scenic campground near the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s definitely worth considering.
And for those of us balancing RV travel with remote work, we’d simply recommend having a backup internet plan.
