det62
MD
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Joined: 12/15/2003
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WAY, WAY too many movies 
1994 Georgie Boy Pursuit 32 foot Class A
Debbie (owner, pilot and navigator)
Steve (campfire starter)
Matthew - age 17 Got Fish ?? 
Rebecca - age 16 Got Wi-fi ?? 
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MegaJohn
NW Geogia
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Joined: 08/21/2010
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We prefer public parks (SPs, COE, NF, etc). We've stayed at only one private park and didn't enjoy it nearly as much.
Most of the public parks we have visited have camp hosts and rangers that come through from time to time and many lock the gates after 10pm... it's also not unusual to see local law enforcement ride through some from time to time just to make sure there are no problems.
It seems many of the public campgrounds we've visited lately have *Absolutely No Alcohol Allowed* signs posted. I look at it more as a "guideline" than a hard & fast rule. I suspect if someone became too rowdy, they would use the rule to ask them to leave.
Like any other place you travel (public or private), always be aware of your surroundings and take the precautions you feel are necessary for the particular occasion.
My wife is also a little apprehensive around strangers and concerned about wild animals, but we have never had a problem in the 4+ years we've been camping in our TT.
If it would help you feel more comfortable, you can usually drive through the public parks to scout out your next trip. The hosts may turn you away if it's a busy holiday weekend, but most have never given us any problem when we asked if we could drive through the campground to check it out.
Happy Camping!
John.
Stock 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 MegaCab, 5.9L Cummins, Automatic, 2WD, Dually
- 30' 2006 Pilgrim Interntional travel trailer, dry weight ~7k pounds, GVWR ~9k pounds
- Husky weight distributing hitch, friction anti-sway control, electronic brake controller
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KarenS144
Indiana
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Joined: 03/23/2010
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Definitely STAY OUT OF STATE PARKS!
not really but the fewer people that camp in them gives the rest of us a better chance of getting a site! 
While we've not been camping for ages, we've never had a problem with anything in a state park. We've stayed in KY, IN, CO & UT state parks and would have booked more nights in CO & UT had we found some convenient to our route.
Karen
Paoli, IN
2011 Georgetown 280DS
with 1 Hubby and 2 Boxers!
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doublenot7
Clear Lake, Texas
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Joined: 03/14/2011
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I would rate SP's safer than any private park. I've never had to call the police at a SP, cannot say the same at a private park.
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doublenot7
Clear Lake, Texas
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Joined: 03/14/2011
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KarenS144 wrote:Definitely STAY OUT OF STATE PARKS!
I see what you did there...
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SuperiorBound
MN
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Joined: 08/09/2008
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My husband won't camo so I am usually solo me and my dog. I feel safer in state parks because of the Rangers,I always see them a couple times a day.
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jiveturkey692000
NE PA
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Joined: 05/06/2006
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PUT DOWN THE REMOTE! Lol, you need to get out more if you think state parks are scary Once you do it you will love it.
Dan
96 Fleetwood Mallard, 30'
82 Dodge Ram W350 4X4 Clubcab. 216,000 miles
94.5 Ford F350 2wd. 7.3 Powerstroke Turbo Diesel, crewcab. DRW 312,000 miles
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ehouk
Roamin', WY
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Joined: 05/07/2002
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When I lived in MD I always went to PA state parks. Most are nice and they are close by. We particularly liked Caledonia, Pine Grove Furnace, French Ck, Prince Gallitzin, Greenwood Furnace and Cook Forest. Never had issues. Oh, we did have some bear encounters at Hickory Run. But I would return there. Actually we never went to one we didn't like.
-Ed
2006 Newmar Mountain Aire 4034
My web pages
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chuckster11
Idaho
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Joined: 04/30/2004
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I use state parks in Idaho and Utah quite a bit and must admit it is tiresome to have to continually fight off crazed motorcycle gangs and occasional groups of wandering zombies who attack us regularly to get to my incredibly fetching wife, my bikini clad daughters (can't figure out why they wear bikinis camping, but what the hey?} which forces my usually cowardly son to become aggressive and to fight them off the top of the motorhome while I careen down gravel roads at 70mph while trying to escape!
Otherwise we find state parks to be well laid out, clean, quiet, convenient, and a good bargain.
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rfryer
Phoenix
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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I think you have an entirely wrong perception of camping. I’ve camped all over the west for almost 50 years and overwhelmingly in places where any form of law enforcement is nothing but an unsubstantiated rumor. In that entire time I’ve only had a couple of incidents that I dealt with. That fades into insignificance compared to the number of incidents I’ve had in the city. Merely by driving away from the city your risk factor goes way down, whether you’re in a state or national park, a national forest campground or just boondocking. I’ve almost never stayed in state parks, but not because of security issues, but because they’re a little overdeveloped and busy for my taste. By all means try out the state parks.
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