Category: RV Camping

Our Louisiana Fairview-Riverside State Park Review

The Fairview-Riverside State Park is located at 119 Fairview Drive in Madisonville, Louisiana.

So what can we tell you about this adorable state park? Well, we have visited this state park twice already and it is definitely on our list to visit again.

There are 82 RV sites and 20 tent sites in the park. And it is very accessible from well traveled roads in the area.

The Interstate that is the closest is I-12. From there, by taking Route 190 and Route 22 you can easily access this park.

Fairview-Riverside State Park Features

This nicely manicured, cypress tree lined park sits right on the Tchefuncte River. And it has a nice little boardwalk that allows you to walk right along the riverbank.

Fairview-Riverside State Park boardwalk

Along the boardwalk you can enjoy the beautiful breeze, gorgeous sunsets and the ability to fish as well. And a small cleaning station is available for cleaning the fish you catch too.

The boardwalk also continues through a nice little Louisiana bayou section that certainly
gives you the flavor of the state you are visiting. And if you have a boat, you can launch from this park too.

This park also contains the Otis House Museum which during non-Covid times can be toured. It’s a step back in time that is both fun and educational.

We went on a self-guided exterior tour of the exterior buildings and found it very interesting. It was a beautiful walk and we learned more about the history of the area.

Camping At This Park

There are two sections to the Fairview-Riverside State Park and both contain 50 amp and 30 amp service. There are also water connections at every site, but no sewer connections And that is very typical of state parks.

However, there is a dump station in the park where you can take care of emptying your gray and black tanks.

The campsites are fairly level and the drainage is pretty good. And many of the sites have trees, but they are located where they would not be in the way.

Fairview-Riverside State Park campsites

We were there not too long after the last hurricane that went through and all of the sites were usable.

They had done a wonderful job of clearing off fallen branches and making the park very easy to negotiate. In fact, we would say that moving around the park roads is very easy even if you have a big rig.

There are not a lot of amenities at the park though. This is again typical of state parks. But the bath houses and laundry rooms are very clean and updated. We have used them both and found them to be very nice and private.

During our stay we definitely enjoyed the southern hospitality of the rangers that were there too.

The nightly camping fee was very reasonable and we even got a better deal than expected during our stay. When we arrived, they made sure they told us about it so we could take advantage of the special rates. Thanks guys!

Make A Camping Reservation At Fairview-Riverside State Park Here

They also made sure we knew there was wifi available in the park. But we did not have to use it.

This is because our AT&T hotspot and T-Mobile phone service were more than adequate. And this was no doubt because we were not far away from some larger towns and a small city.

The Local Area Around The State Park

Speaking of places to provision, there are three towns within a very short drive of the park. Madisonville, Mandeville, and Covington, all have grocery stores.

But there is also a Walmart, Home Depot, and even a Whole Foods and a Total Wine nearby too.

There are the typical fast food places for a quick bite to eat. But we also found little
local restaurants that offer a variety of food options. So there is more than enough places for food to please just about everyone.

We enjoyed just staying put in the Fairview-Riverside State Park. But there are other wildlife refuges and state parks around that offer other activities that could be enjoyed as well.

Our Conclusion

We have truly enjoyed our stay at Fairview-Riverside State Park both times we have been here. And if we are in the area again, we will look forward to camping here once more.

I suppose the only thing we missed during our stay in the park is sewer hookups. But once again, most state parks don’t have that anyway.

So given the fact that it is a state park, we would definitely give it a five star rating overall.

Medina Lake RV Campground – Should You Stay There?

Medina Lake RV Campground is located on 215 Spettle Road in Lakehills, TX.

This Thousand Trails campground is nestled down by the edge of Medina Lake. And it’s a park that gave us mixed emotions about how we feel about it.

First of all, it has a woodsy vibe and the surrounding area is beautiful. We enjoyed not only the trees and lake, but also the number of deer that wander through the park.

In fact, we encountered several dozen deer during our stay and they definitely engage with you. It gives you such a feeling of calm and serenity.

Click here to make reservations at Medina Lake RV Campground

Our Medina Lake RV Campground Impressions

That being said, the park itself could definitely use some improvements. They seem to be making some โ€ฆ but they have a long way to go.

Medina Lake RV Campground map
Medina Lake RV Campground map

For instance, many of the roads inside the park have very large ruts and holes in them. And you have to be very careful while navigating them to ensure the safety of your RV.

And that is especially true for big rigs. We had to be extra careful while finding a spot to hitch and unhitch our tow vehicle.

We also observed that many of the sites are not kept up hardly at all and are pretty much unusable.

The sites that are in decent shape mostly offer only 30 amp service. There are some 50 amp sites scattered through the park though.

In fact, we were very glad to be able to secure our 50 amp site with full hookups. But just be aware that not all sites in the park give you that option.

And if you get a site with 50 amp service, you also need to know that there is a $3 upcharge per night for it.

As far as the appearance of the park is concerned, all of the amenities are older. But they do have a large and fairly nice pool.

And the bath houses are in the process of being updated some, so that is good. The laundry room is definitely older and could use some updating, but the appliances were clean and reasonably priced.

Internet Connectivity At The Campground

Because the park is located away from most sizeable towns, we found that our internet connection was a little difficult. It was not apparent that they even offer campground wifi.

And even getting solid internet service with our AT&T hotspot and our T-Mobile phone plan was spotty. So we had to resort to using our cellular booster to get a reliable internet signal.

It’s not often that we find we need to use our cellular booster at most RV campgrounds. But it was a requirement for us in Medina Lake RV Campground.

After switching the cell booster on, everything worked fine and we were able to stay connected from then on.

Our Conclusion About The Park

The campground staff was very pleasant and accommodating throughout our stay though. And overall, we truly enjoyed our time there. Especially with the resident deer population.

We feel that just seeing the lake, the sunsets on it and the beautiful deer was the highlight of our stay.

It was quiet, relaxing, and very peaceful. And yes, we would return again in the future.

Of course, we know the park’s pros and cons now and so would know better how to work with them.

To be fair to all aspects of this park then, we would give it a 3 star rating.

We hope this review has been helpful for you if you have been considering a stay at Medina Lake RV Campground.

Fifth Wheels vs Travel Trailers – Which Is Best For You?

A discussion of 5th wheels vs travel trailers is a battle of the towable RVs.

So if you have decided that towing an RV is better for your needs than driving a motorhome, this article is for you.

Of course, towing an RV means that you have to match the RV with the right tow vehicle. But that is a discussion for a different time.

In this article we just want to provide the pros and cons of both 5th wheels and travel trailers. Then, armed with that knowledge, you can make the choice that fits you best.

Just keep in mind that there is no answer that fits the needs of all RVers. The right RV for you can depend on several factors and we will discuss that as we go along.

Watch my video about fifth wheels vs travel trailers

Table of Contents

Fifth Wheels vs Travel Trailers – What Are They?

First of all, let’s make sure that we can identify a fifth wheel or a travel trailer RV.

A fifth wheel RV is easily identified because it has a hitch that mounts in the tow vehicle bed, usually over the rear axle.

So a fifth wheel has a front section that juts out from the rest of the RV. And it looks like this:

A typical fifth wheel RV.

A travel trailer on the other hand attaches to the rear bumper of the tow vehicle. So travel trailer RVs look more like a box than fifth wheel RVs, like this:

A typical travel trailer RV.

The Pros Of Travel Trailers

Now lets cover the pros or advantages of choosing travel trailer RVs.

  • They come in all sizes from 12 feet to 35 feet and everything in between. So you easily can find a size that fits your needs best.
  • They are usually less expensive to buy if you just want to try RVing out for a while. This is especially true with smaller travel trailers.
  • Many travel trailers can be pulled by SUVs and 1/2 ton pickups. This avoids the need for more expensive diesel engines in your tow vehicle.
  • Smaller travel trailers can fit in almost any size camping spot. This is great for national park campgrounds and boondocking spots.
  • Travel trailers allow for more storage space in the bed of the tow vehicle. Fifth wheels take up a huge amount of space in the pickup bed with the hitch alone.
  • Easy on and off highways while traveling. Also easier to get in and out of fuel stations and restaurants while traveling.

The Cons of Travel Trailers

Now here are the cons of travel trailer RVs.

  • They often have fewer slides than fifth wheels, so they can feel less roomy inside.
  • Travel trailers often have fewer and smaller appliances and luxury items to keep the towing weight as low as possible.
  • Towing travel trailers by the bumper can be more difficult as the center of gravity is moved to the bumper. But in fairness, much of this can be aided by weight distribution hitches and sway bars.
  • There is less storage area in the RV itself. The storage compartments are smaller and cargo capacity is often less than in a fifth wheel.
  • The build quality in travel trailers is often lower than what is found in fifth wheels. These RVs are usually designed for occasional weekend use, so the build quality only meets those needs. Of course, the exception to this is Airstreams, Olivers, and Casita travel trailers.

Fifth Wheels vs Travel Trailers – The Pros of Fifth Wheels

Having covered the pros and cons of travel trailer RVs, lets do the same with fifth wheels.

  • Fifth wheels often have lots of living space compared to travel trailers. Many people remark that they feel more like an apartment than a camper. This is often because of taller ceilings and more slide outs.
  • Fifth wheels also tend to have more amenities and luxury items as standard equipment.
  • They are also usually easier to tow because the center of gravity is moved to the rear axle of the tow vehicle. And the longer the RV, the more easy it is tow a fifth wheel compared to a travel trailer.
  • Fifth wheels also usually have larger storage compartments and can handle more cargo capacity.
  • They often come with an onboard generator, making boondocking easier. This is especially true of newer fifth wheels.
  • When compared to most travel trailers, fifth wheels usually boast better build quality and materials. This is because they are often designed for longer term living arrangements and camping options.
  • Fifth wheels have a shorter turning radius because of the hitch position. So that makes them easier for many to back them into a tight campsite.

The Cons of Fifth Wheels

So now here ae the cons of choosing a fifth wheel as your RV.

  • Fifth wheels usually are more expensive to buy when compared to the same size travel trailer. This extra cost can be difficult for newer campers just getting started.
  • There are less size options to choose from. Fifth wheels usually start around 30 feet long and max out around 45 feet.
  • Because of their size, fifth wheel RVs can be more challenging to fit into smaller campsites.
  • They are bigger and heavier than many travel trailers and therefore require larger tow vehicles to pull them safely. The vast majority of fifth wheel RVs will be best pulled by a tow vehicle equipped with a large diesel engine. This of course adds more overall cost to the rig.
  • There is less bed space for storage in a tow vehicle used for pulling a fifth wheel. This is because the hitch takes a lot of space and is difficult to remove and reinstall very often.
  • Fuel costs for RV travel with a fifth wheel are also higher because they are bigger. This added weight and size leads to poorer fuel economy than a smaller travel trailer.

Fifth Wheels vs Travel Trailers – Which Is Best For You?

So having considered the overall pros and cons of these two major types of RVs, what conclusions can be drawn? Who best fits the use of a fifth wheel in their RV travels and camping? And who best fits travel trailers instead?

Well, generally speaking, travel trailers are a good fit for weekend RVers. After all, that is the kind of use that most travel trailers have been designed for.

They also are good for beginning RVers on a budget. Maybe you want to dip your toe in the RV world without committing too much hard earned cash. In that case, travel trailers can be a good choice.

But travel trailers are also a great solution for boondockers or those who like to camp in National Parks. In these cases, being small and nimble is a big asset. So there is plenty to choose from that will be perfectly suited for this type of camping.

On the other hand, fifth wheel RVs are a good choice for part-time or full-time RVers with a larger budget to spend. They are often built better and will stand up to more rigorous use on a prolonged basis.

But fifth wheels also are good for RVers who simply want more living space. For those who want more of an apartment feel and less of a camper feel while RVing.

And of course, some of us want more amenities and luxuries than others while RV camping too. In that case, fifth wheels often fit the bill a little better than most travel trailers.

Conclusion

The point of this article is to emphasize that both fifth wheels and travel trailers have advantages and disadvantages.

There are plenty of RVers who regularly use either of these type of RVs. And they are happy with what they have.

So the decision really is what kind of RV camper are you? Which of these RV types makes the most sense for your style of travel and camping, as well as your budget?

Just review the pros and cons as outlined above and decide whether a fifth wheel or a travel trailer fits your needs best.

Then find the RV you want and get out there making memories and having adventures as soon as possible!

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