Benbow KOA This is a great little campground just off The 101 at the exit for The Benbow Inn, built in 1926. This campground was built by the Benbow Inn back in 1976. The staff here is very friendly ( Katherine, Famora and Levi) and accommodating for all our questions and fun things they recommend. We found all the sites (fairly level), and the hookups well maintained. The pool and hot tub were clean and they will give you a towel at the front desk if you would like. My wife and I took advantage of the golf course, but be advised in the summer months is quite dry, but for the price, it was just the right amount of fun for us, since neither of us golf regularly. In the afternoon we took a stroll over to the Benbow Inn, beautiful and historical, for Happy Hour. Nice indoor or outdoor settings that really make this a must if you stay there. The evening was very peaceful with a nice fire and we saw no signs of transient as mentioned in another review. One person even criticized that the river was low...like they have control over that! haha. Plenty of fun places to drive to during the day, even the historical redwoods are not that far. For us we would definitely stay there again for a simple charming campground experience. Remember this is a campground not a room at the Hilton! Just a little perspective read more

We stayed here while traveling to CA for a graduation and I would probably avoid it until they made some MAJOR renovations and cleaned up the property. You can tell that once upon a time this place was really nice during to the amenities they have. However, I don't think anything has been fixed, updated or possibly deep cleaned since the opening. I would guess that was a long time ago, sadly. We checked in late and after sunset, so you couldn't really see what the property looked like. The photos and reviews on the KOA website, so we hoped for the best. However, upon waking up to heavy machinery the next morning before 7am and barking dogs, it wasn't looking good. Once the store was open, I went inside to speak with the front desk. Upon my walk, I quickly realized how dirty and old the property was. Once I got inside, it only became more apparent. Lot of dust, ignore the mess signs/things don't work signs, and a girl at the front who just nodded. Not very helpful to say the least. I will spare the other details of some of the garbage and mess we encountered, but let's just say we didn't leave our RV much. Our site was also dirty and didn't look like it had been cleaned since a few stays ago. Not worth the price we paid at all! read more

First off this shouldn't be considered a KOA... pricing is way out of range and expensive for the quality of this park. Pictures are 100 percent inaccurate. There's no grass.. it's all dead weeds. No golf course unless you like playing on dried up weeds. Game room was never unlocked. They said it only opens for holidays. Splash pad.... Only in use 10/ 15 mins per hour on weekends only. Laundry facilities fully open to whoever wants to walk in.... That includes all of the full time residents in the park that have basically taken over the park. Homeless people roam... saw one riding through at night the first evening... next day one at pool area. River is not flowing very well at this time. I will say that Levi took great care of me to refund my card promptly when I packed up and left two days early due to the homeless and the lack of security and questionable people living out of this "extended stay" park 21 days is the max according to check in paperwork... people have been here much longer than that due to the weeds growing up around their trailers and cabins. The only good thing about this campground is that after my 13 hours of driving to it ...I had a place to sleep.. once again.... Levi was a pleasure to deal with!! Glad he refunded me so I could go somewhere and feel safer with my kids. read more

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Scenic views. We recently had the pleasure of staying at the Benbow KOA RV resort, and if offered a convenient and scenic location. As an added bonus, the resort is situated mere steps away from the majestic Avenue of the Giants, making it an ideal base for exploring the surrounding natural beauty. Our cabin was located right on the golf course, offering breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere. The resort's proximity to the Benbow Historic Inn, where we attended a wedding, -- was also a huge plus. The Benbow KOA RV resort is a nice stop for anyone seeking a relaxing getaway amidst nature's splendor. read more

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As a woman traveling alone, just trying to make my way home on a solo mission, I definitely didn't plan the hours right. I got completely lost in the magic of those towering redwoods , which honestly, I didn't mind one bit. The camp I originally planned to stay at ended up being closed for the season, and by then I was tired... but also a little nervous to camp alone in the forest. Then I stumbled across this place, and let me tell you, what a gift. The people were so friendly and accommodating, and the whole atmosphere just felt safe and peaceful. The bathrooms and showers? So clean. The other campers? Quiet and respectful. I didn't end up using the pool or hot tub, but I peeked in while pulling up, and it looked calm and cozy , the kind of place you can actually unwind. I felt so comfortable that I slept like a baby. Woke up feeling thankful , truly thankful , for the kindness of strangers and the little moments that make solo travel so worth it. I'll definitely be back... next time with my family. read more

TERRIBLE SERVICE DAY AND NIGHT! No one available to give your key despite pick up instructions given.

We stayed at the Benbow KOA for spring break 2024. The staff is super helpful and friendly. Check-in was a breeze. Since it was Easter weekend, the campground staff hosted an egg hunt for the kids with an appearance from the Easter Bunny. It was pretty awesome! We stayed in a FHU "comfort" patio site 52, with relatives staying in Tent Site T1, right across the road from our site. The RV site required minimal leveling and all hookups were well maintained. The site included patio furniture and a fire pit. The patio was nice since the grass was muddy from all the winter rain. The showers and bathrooms appeared clean and maintained. The hot tub was open, but it was too early in the season for the pool and splash pad. The laundry room was large and had newer machines. The gift shop had all the essentials for RVers and guests. There is also 2 arcade games, a Star Wars pinball machine and pool table in the lounge area of the front office. They have a small library of books and board games, dice and dominoes to use. The dog park area is on the smaller side, but there are some great pet walk areas around the resort. There is also a small 9 hole golf course next to the KOA. The WiFi was good and able to stream. The cable was not so good due to limited channels and fuzz (could have been my fault). The historic Benbow Inn across the way was a nice surprise with good food options, a full bar and traditional afternoon tea. It's a short walk on a nice path or you can drive there. We were within a few freeway exits of the Avenue of the Giants and a lot of other famous trees and redwood groves in the area. One exit away, in Garberville, there is a supermarket called Ray's Food Place and an awesome Mexican restaurant called El Cora Restaurant. There are fuel options in Garberville as well. I would definitely recommend Benbow KOA to others. read more

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The cleanest bathroom and showers, and nicest staff on my entire trip. Stayed at 5 other RV park sites this week. Will be definitely coming back to this location in Benbow for the Cabins. A very nice quiet location with fresh pine tree air. read more

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Debbie the manager is a very professional and helpful lady 5*'s However she has staff (hispanic man in purple car) that followed us to our spot and was very rude telling me it wasn't my turn to come back into the park through the double entry lanes. Felt threatened and upset my daughter and granddaughters also. Debbie handled him but it was a nervous 1st night. read more

Very friendly staff with outstanding customer service. Shiela at the front desk was very nice and helpful with getting a KOA membership and discount. Shirt, the new security guard was very nice and talkative with our family and children. My kids loved this place, the play ground, the camp store, and the river spot. Overall we liked our cabin but it did look slightly dirty (walls, ceiling, floor and carpet and the dishes in the dishwasher were full and not put away. Not a big deal to us though. I do wish there were areas where maybe dogs couldn't pee and poo specifically the grass area to the entrance to the playground. My young kiddos running around and toddler slipped on dog poop. There were off leash dogs and running up fast to us...luckily were friendly because they licked my one year olds face. I would still recommend to my friends and will be returning! read more

Benbow KOA - Nice back deck to eat meals. - Campgrounds Near Me - Garberville, California

Beautiful setting. Great pool and we loved our cabin. Very beautiful place to stay. We will be back:)

The staff is great. Very kind and helpful. The facility is rundown and very old. We won't be staying there again

I checked into this place and checked out within 3 minutes I believe it was the 3rd of January 2024 I went in late in the evening before they closed, the woman at the desk was very rude. Gave me a room with a horrible ac unit that made a lot of noise. I went back kindly asked for a refund and she begrudgingly complied. They need to work on some things here. I didn't feel comfortable at all. read more

There were a lot of people here that appeared to be full time residents. We enjoyed our stay but what used to be a great golf course has become unplayable. I have recently heard that they are working on getting the course back in shape but we'll see. read more

Checking in was straight forward. Gotten my overview of the campground and directions to our lot. A river ran behind our lot, but not much water in it. The lot itself didn't look appealing, but who says camping is always glamorous? It was small and have shown its age. Our sewer drain had a broken cap, but still functional without the screw lock mechanism to keep it in place. However, the maintenance guy came by. He asked if it would be a problem, but told him I'll see how it holds. Just glad they are at least proactive on making sure we were OK. Overpriced store, but that's convenient charge for you. $5.00 for a bag of ice. In comparison to the previous KOA we just came from, it was half the cost. We bought it anyway along with fuses and ice cream. WiFi was not the best, but did work occasionally. Front desk did warn about the signal. A less crowded campground and shorter distance to the office equals better quality. I believe they have a golf course, but did not have the chance to take a look. I enjoyed our stay. read more

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This place has everything -- gorgeous & clean grounds, beautiful surroundings, very comfortable lodging & amenities. We stayed in one of their cozy, mobile-home-style deluxe cabins equipped with everything you need, including a front porch, full kitchen, back deck, and even a gas grill. The parents stayed a hop/skip/jump away onsite in their RV. We visited in October 2019 and had a very peaceful stay. During our visit we enjoyed a game of pool in their office, shot some hoops on their basketball court, and took an easy stroll over to the historic Benbow Inn where we had breakfast one morning. Some other pros -- easy freeway access, a convenient store that had everything we needed, a dog run, pool, playground, community hall, and best of all it's a very short drive to the giant redwoods. read more

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Awful cabins. We are too busy attitude. Lacking in store supplies. Cabin first key card did not work. Second when it did it was filthy coffee spilled everywhere black towels on floors etc....Third the second cabin smelled like body fluids. The linen and towels smelled bad. The bed had a huge trough on one side. I could see huge light in the door. Spiders filled the room. I had to knock down at least 5 big webs containing BIG spiders. I do not recommend. read more

Conveniently located next to the highway, and connected to the fabulous Benbow Inn by a paved path running under the highway along the river (South Fork of the Eel River). They have cabins and pull-through RV sites, each site has power / water / sewage connections. The pool and water park are only open in the summer months. They offered us tea and scones from 3-4pm, but it was pouring rain so we didn't take them up on the offer. The sites are all open with their own space outside with a table, chairs, and a fire pit. Nicer than some places we have stayed. There is a stream along the edge of the property, and room to walk the dogs. The bathrooms and showers were lovely. The staff (only met the woman at reception) was terrific -- organized, had everything ready, service with a smile. We really enjoyed our time at the Benbow KOA. We visited in February during a rainstorm, so there weren't many people there -- I can imagine that it would be harder to get in and out if there were people walking everywhere, so YMMV, but we really enjoyed the resort. Close to the Avenue of the Giants (huge Redwood grove, with 1700+ year-old monsters, preserved almost a hundred years ago). read more

Benbow KOA - Benbow Inn, across the highway - Campgrounds Near Me - Garberville, California

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Perfect camp spot. It is so beautiful here. The views ( look at my pictures) are just perfect. Tina and Michelle at the KOA store are so friendly and told us about the area as we had never been. I enjoyed going to the store each day and speaking with them. Great staff with these two ladies. Prices are good at the KOA store. Better than the local Rays food center just one exit up. We stayed for 10 days and enjoyed each one. Walks at night, campfires, no noise at night. Love this campsite. Clean bathrooms, propane to purchase on site. Held our 40 foot 5th wheel perfectly. I believe it's the best campsite in California. So many redwoods. Benbow Inn is walking distance and golf is available. We don't golf but it looked fun on a mildly warm day. Ready to come back next year. read more

Benbow KOA - Fire pit. Wood is cheap at the KOA store - Campgrounds Near Me - Garberville, California

Stayed 1 night in May during the week not very busy. Got a great end site with grass and close to trails and path to creek. The grounds were clean and I would stay again. read more

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My husband and I have stayed here before and enjoyed the experience. This time around was not so good. The pool was ice cold the service was unpleasant, It's apparent that there's new management and there needs to be someone leading .. I am sorry to say We will never go back!!! read more

Amazing location and most importantly amazing staff. Sweet Chloe, who helped us out with checking in and checking out. Kind and wonderful staff. can't wait to see you guys soon read more

We love our spot in the woods ...The nights were chilly and wet .. The few campers there were very friendly.. We fished and explored.. read more

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Awesome place to stay. Got a cottage and parked our Rv in a slot right next to the cottage.

We had a great time here. We enjoyed everything they had to offer and the family friendly activities. The golf coarse was in really bad shape though. The grass was dead and in very shape. Other then that we had no other issues. The historic restaurant next door was amazing! We went there after swimming in the pool, not realizing it was a very nice restaurant. Staff were very friendly. The koa website just says restaurant next door so we thought it would be a casual little place. We were embarrassed but loved the food and live music. Pool was very nice and had comfort you needed-life jackets etc. Will definitely be back, and will bring our golf clubs just in case. It was the end of a hot summer. read more

We stayed the maximum 21 days in a full hookup RV site. The river was visible outside. The park is clean and we felt safe there. The showers and laundry were excellent. We enjoyed the hot tub too. The lobby is big and warm with lots of things to do. There is a mini store and a real golf course as well. It's a short drive to the Avenue of the Giants. The Benbow Inn is a short walk for really fine dining. We had a great time. The WIFI is poor but the AT&T cell service is good and we used our personal hot spot for internet. The sewer hookup is 6 inches high and our hose did not drain well. read more

We stayed at the KOA in bimbo on May 31st 2023 had a very nice time the people were friendly and helpful and we hopefully will stay there the next time we fast through read more

We stayed 3 nights, Checkin took some time but staff very friendly. The 1st spot they gave us was not full hook ups. After going back to the office, we were given another site. Ours was in the back of the KOA and was very quite. I would recommend them. read more

This was our first time staying at the Benbow RV park, now a KOA. I wasn't impressed overall, but there are some good things to say. We arrived, and found out there was a Reggae festival not to far from the park. Many of the festival goers were staying at the campgrounds. While that's not a big deal, it would have been good to know in advance. No one mentioned it when I made the reservations. The festival people were for the most part, friendly and respectful, but a lot of them stayed in the festival spirit and lit up. The smell was powerful and not very family friendly. We have younger kids who haven't been exposed to weed, and we would not have stayed in a place where this activity was going on. My children said the pool was nice and refreshing in the summer heat, but it was cloudy. My daughter said it smelled funny. I didn't use the pool, but I could tell people weren't getting out to use the bathroom as much as one should. People are people, I can't tell them what to do, but I would hope the Benbow staff would be a little more attentive towards cleanliness of the pool. A side note, they do have a cute little water park for smaller children who cant use the pool, the water squirts in all directions, it was also pleasant for adults too who didn't want to swim but just cool off. Speaking of cleanliness, the bathrooms were pretty well kept, and the water was always hot for showers, that was satisfying. There are free movies every night, now that was a nice treat. Even free popcorn! So we got to see a few movies, and the lady who runs the movies was so very sweet with my kids, I liked her a lot. Speaking of staff, the people at the front desk, while friendly, were completely useless when I was asking about the surrounding area. I got two answers, "I just started working here, so I don't know" and " I don't live in this area, I commute"... what?? So an out-of-towner who knows nothing about the area, gets no help. So I pick up brochures, and they smile at me. If you need answers, don't go to the front reception, try and track down one of the seasoned employees, they will have answers for you. But I say track down because they are always busy. Or do your research before you head up that way. I am a fool to think they would have known. Thankfully we brought our Laptop, but the wifi is spotty. The park itself is OK. The golf course looked good, many people were using it. The campsites themselves are decent, although a little too close together for comfort, we could see into our neighbors RV while the blinds were up. Our particular site still had fire ash remains and old dog poo that never got cleaned up, that was really disappointing. I guess the staff doesn't do a spot check in-between travelers. I felt bad for the travelers who had to camp next to the trash bins, with the camp being packed the trash got full fast and it began to stink. They do have "coffee and news" every morning, but don't serve decaf. The speed limit is 7 MPH, but I still didn't feel safe letting my kids ride their bikes around, the RVs are so close together, that it's hard to see anything. There is a playground and basketball court, so your kids can run around those. It is dog friendly, that is a big plus, there is a dog run, and even a dog bathing station. Kudos for that. The camp is worth stopping at, its good enough for one or two nights, or if you like to play golf on a open course, then you might stay a little longer. We booked into Benbow for 4 nights and it was too long for us. read more

Benbow KOA - Sadly, in the months of July and August 2014 the Eel River is very low in water. Lets hope the CA drought ends in 2015. - Campgrounds Near Me - Garberville, California

Stayed the night here while on our way to Napa. The front desk lady was very friendly and helpful when checking in. The place was clean and our pad was level. We had no trouble hooking up to the internet. The dog run was helpful with our dog and they even had a dog wash station. The pool was closed for the season but looked decent size and they had water fountain squirters for the kids to run through that would have been fun. This is the second time we have stayed here and have not been disappointed but we have always been passing through so we haven't stayed all day. If the park was full it would seem crowded since it doesn't have a lot of trees to breakup the rows. It's never been full so we have enjoyed it. read more

Benbow is one of those places off the freeway that if you blink at the right moment while screaming down the road you'll miss the whole town. But then again, Benbow I think has a population of negative 10, there's really not much of a town there, rather a hotel and resort that's the major part of town. It's a lovely part of the 101 corridor up north. We went there for the RV campground and it was very well kept, in fact one of the best ones I've ever gone to. The best thing about this location, it is a great base camp for checking out the Avenue of the Giants, the Lost Coast and Garberville. Garberville is an interesting town and it reminds me of the kooky show Northern Exposure sans moose running around though. The area makes for a splendid two or three day stay. read more

Very dirty. So much so that I took this kind of personally, like, we really don't care whether you get Covid from the previous guest or not. Because given the level of cleanliness, there was no way extra sterilization procedures had taken place. Chunks of someone else's toothpaste wiped on the bathroom door, along with brown/red smudges of indeterminate origin. Silverware and dishes greasy. Both heater and dishwasher out of service (space heater provided). Sofa bad listed as part of deluxe cabin was both narrower and shorter than a twin, filthy and miserably thin and worn (wires sticking out). People were very friendly, Eel River is beautiful and right behind our cabin. Cabin was very spacious and kids loved the loft area. Grounds very pretty in the spring. It's just really hard to make up for filthy. read more

Hidden gem!! Loved it here. The price to stay here is very affordable. Very peaceful and lots of trees. Right on the river. We stayed here as a stop on the way up to Oregon, as it has a great location right off the 5 freeway. Don't forget your bug spray... lots of mosquitoes. read more

Benbow KOA - Fishing in the river - Campgrounds Near Me - Garberville, California

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Just left this place less than a week ago and now I shall give you the highlights. Sites had a tree (nice), a freshly painted picnic table (nice) full hookups and cable TV (awesome). The dog area, compared to ridiculous RV parks I have stayed at, was large - the length of the park -so actually accommodated more than one dog. This is very, very much appreciated as all dogs do not automatically love each other. Oh and it was grass! Thank you. Lots of doggie waste bags provided through out the park. Helpful. Staff was friendly. There was a pool, hot tub, golf course and rec room for guests. Nice walk over to the river and although the lake is no longer, there was plenty of walking areas and peaceful surroundings. Believe me, other than state parks in the area (I highly recommend Richardsons Grove), this place is nice. That's good to know if your RV is too big for the state parks :( read more

Benbow KOA - Campgrounds Near Me - Garberville, California

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This place is an older KOA and it is unkept almost to the point of being filthy. Came on a Friday and it was booked solid. Our actual spot was a back in for a camper van. Decently level. The sewer hookup didn't have a lid like the other spots. As I felt uncomfortable with our open sewer pipe and wasn't sure if it worked, I used the neighboring site's line to remove our waste. Also an unusual amount of trash accumulated around our spot. Looked as if no one cleans the grounds between check out/in times. As our spot, #43, was next to a cabin, we were quite surprised to find water from a broken pipe spraying onto the electric box. Not exactly safe. Someone did come by and remedy the issue after we pointed it out further exemplifying the staff here does not walk the grounds or clean up. Kids enjoyed the river access from our spot. Too bad there was feces in the water. Also contributed to the consensus this KOA is just gross. read more

Tri-plex with full Bath and shower..didn't have a tub. We called a head to inquire about a fire pit or grill. We were told that there was a shared grill for the 3 units that were attached and there was NOTHING so we had Nothing to cook on. A false wall in our unit 40-B was falling down and there were Earwigs and ants everywhere. The door had a gap @ bottom that let in light & air. NOT Worth the $$ I didn't even mention the POS bed. Oh my god it was worse then the floor. It wasn't a mattress but just a bed topped so no support and it wasn't even full size to the bed frame so there was an inch to 2 on either side of the mattress. If they would put a little into maintaining these units it would be really nice but it seems there focus is only on the larger units where more money is. Oh and the A/C unit wouldn't turn off even when on Auto mode. So you either have a cold room or a hot one. We had to bunker down undercovers or freeze. Couldn't turn it off and melt so not really a whole lot of options there. The Pool should have Adult hours. 8pm is when it's closed. We could of stayed at the campgrounds off the same exit just to the right instead of left to the KOA. I heard from the locals it's a better location for you. If you Plan to tent camp or have a RV. We should of just stayed at the Benbow Inn for $50. more dollars. read more

We made a reservation on their web site for the premium spot which they charge $15 more we paid $72 and up getting worst spot in ground which very dirty and most place is occupied by permanent staying people that's okay but that is not the campground we were seeking and paid.You can not find a garbage cans unless you walk down 400 feet or so .You can not get a propane unless the person is working at that moment they told us you can come any time in the morning for propane but no luck the lady at the office did not even know who fills the propane .This is a very badly managed KOA there are many other RV parks with less money and a lot cleaner just 10-20 mile range of this Dumpster. read more

I live full time in my Airstream travel trailer. I like to stay in KOAs and am a member, they are often clean, quiet, have decent wifi and pool. The one in Benbow fit that description with a couple of exceptions. Wifi is a joke, there is, for all intents and purposes, NO wifi. The pool is cloudy, although there is a nice water feature, there are nice chairs and chaise lounges, no umbrellas for the tables. Friendly, capable staff. I got my propane tanks filled. Laundry room is clean, reasonable and is open 24 hours/daily. I should have done laundry when I couldn't sleep from the night noise! Yes, the lovely Benbow Inn is just a short walk from the park and there is an executive golf course, although I heard they 'lost their groundskeeper' and the fairways are all brown. It is an hour drive to Eureka, the nearest town with any significant services. It is in the Redwood Forest, short drive to the Avenue of the Giants, Shelter Cove is a long and tedious drive to the coast, worth it???? Noise factor was acceptable until this last weekend. A group of off duty police, from what I learned, were partying with LOUD music till 3am Friday night and till about 0130 Saturday night. Don't look for any 'rules' to be enforced in this park. There are also a lot of unleashed dogs, a lot of yappers, I was charged by two unleashed dogs while walking my dog. There is dog crap all over the 'dog walk' not picked up. Rules are initiated to make for a pleasant stay for all, if they're not enforced, why bother? I stayed in this park for 2 weeks, not cheap. I feel I deserved a better environment for the money I paid. I will not return to KOA Benbow, Ca. read more

Holy cow! A week later, they charged us 103 dollars! Never again will we stay at a KOA. We couldn't even use the bathrooms or any of the facilities! I cant even put into words how disappointing this experience has been. We stayed 3 nights for less than that at the state park and were able to shower and use the toilet. Looks like the side of road it is next time we go through Benbow. read more

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We'd have given four stars except for our experience on Saturday night. I can't agree with the comments about unclean restrooms or pool/spa. We were there 7/31 - 8/4 and bathrooms, pool, spa, common areas were all clean. We paid extra for a premium pull-through site, which are on the river end of the pull through rows. This gave us lawn and a firepit, as well as a very nice table and chairs in lieu of the picnic tables with attached benches for the other sites. Nice shade trees and temps were in the 90's, so they were much appreciated. We had another couple who joined us the day after we arrived who were staying in the hotel. Very easy to walk across and under the highway in each direction. Very nice and helpful staff both in the office, driving around, and at the hotel. We had an excellent dinner at the hotel. Quiet hours are posted from 10PM to 8AM. By 11PM Saturday night, when the drunken screeching laughter from a couple of nearby sites hadn't lessened in the slightest, my husband called the number we were given for the "Night Manager". This was the night manager at the hotel, who said they would "talk with my coworkers". About a half-hour later the partiers were quiet. I don't see why quiet hours are posted if nobody is going to enforce them unless asked to. I totally get that Saturday night is, well, Saturday night - but an awful lot of folks have to get back on the road on Sunday morning, and being kept awake isn't appreciated. read more