New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Sunday Brunch Jazz Cruise

We did a brunch cruise on the Natchez, the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River.

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Live steam calliope playing:

Live calliope playing

A video:

Lunch boarding info:

Lunch boarding info

Dining room:

Dining room

Dining room

Our table:

Our table

Gumbo and salad:

Soup and salad

Buffet:

Buffet

Brunch:

Brunch

Dining room

Dessert:

Dessert

Bow:

Bow

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Gift shop:

Gift shop

Steamboat Natchez

Paddle wheel:

Paddlewheel

Paddlewheel

A video:

Selfie

Paddlewheel

Paddlewheel

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat Natchez

Life vests in the ceiling:

Life vests in the ceiling

Boiler room:

Boiler room

Boiler room

Boiler room

Boiler room

Engine room:

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Engine room

Three short video clips:

Paddlewheel

Engine room louver

Info

Bar:

Bar

Ship

Near the waterline:

Near the waterline

Bow

New Orleans:

New Orleans

Bridge

Bridge

Church

City

Sister ship City of New Orleans:

City of New Orleans

City of New Orleans

Ferry:

Ferry

Creole Queen:

Creole Queen

Cruise ship:

Cruise ship

Bridge

Bridge

Lines

Throwing a leader line:

Throwing a line

Pulling the line:

Pulling line

On the winch:

Line

Disembarking:

Disembarking

Steamboat Natchez

Posed photo (I really need to learn how to smile in a way that’s visible behind my mustache in such photos):

Posed photo

Natchez info:

Natchez info

Steamboat Natchez

A fun brunch cruise.

New Orleans Oak Alley Plantation

We visited Oak Alley Plantation, a historic sugar plantation west of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sign

Entrance drive

Map:

Map

Trees

One reason we chose to tour this plantation was that they acknowledged the history of slavery as part of the establishment:

Info sign

They had exhibits on the slave quarters, work, and other conditions:

Slave quarters

Slave quarters

Slave quarters

Slave quarters

Slave quarters

Slave quarters

Slave quarters

Slave quarters

Slave exhibits

Slave exhibits

Slave exhibits

Slave exhibits

Slave exhibits

Slave exhibits

Some nice gardens:

Gardens

Gardens

Gardens

The big house:

Big house

Big house

Sugarcane theater, with a video on sugarcane harvesting:

Sugarcane theater

Sugarcane theater

Big house

Big house

Gardens

Big house

Big house

Big house

Big house

Big house

Gardens

Gardens

Gardens

Big house

We had a guided tour of inside the big house. Unfortunately they don’t allow photos inside:

Ticket

A view of the oak trees from the second floor balcony:

Oak trees

Oak trees

Oak trees

The wrap-around balcony:

Porch

Porch

Porch

Gardens

Gardens

Gardens

After the tour inside, we walked around the gardens some more:

Gardens

Oak trees

Big house

Oak trees

Oak trees

Then went to the cafe for lunch, followed by the gift store:

Restaurant and gift store

Cafe

Menu

Menu

Beverages

Food

Food

Food

Slave quarters and big house

Fascinating history.

New Orleans

We did a bit of exploring of New Orleans, Louisiana, including walking around the French Quarter, a quick drive through the Garden District, and elsewhere. This post has an assortment of pictures from the city.

An interactive map:

Lots of pictures from the distinctive French Quarter:

French Quarter buildings

French Quarter buildings

French Quarter buildings

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

We had a jazz brunch at the Court of Two Sisters:

French Quarter

Court of the Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

Court of Two Sisters

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

A beignet and coffee snack:

French Quarter

French Quarter

Even the cops have swag:

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

We stopped at another Cafe Beignet for coffee beans (that were kinda gross), and also picked up some tasty pralines:

French Quarter buildings

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

A brief drive through the Garden District:

Garden District

Garden District

Garden District

Garden District

Garden District

Hale Boggs Bridge:

Hale Boggs Bridge

Veterans Memorial Bridge:

Veterans Memorial Bridge

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway holds the Guinness World Record for longest continuous span over water in the world, at 23.83 miles (38.35 km) long:

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

A couple more shots from the French Quarter to finish up:

French Quarter

French Quarter

The city certainly has a lot of character.

New Orleans RV Resort & Marina

We stayed at New Orleans RV Resort & Marina in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A canal-front site close to the attractions of NOLA.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-11-19
  • Check out: 2023-12-03
  • 14 nights

Weather:

  • Partly cloudy, some rain
  • High temps ranging between 54-77°F, lows around 50-62°F
  • A little wind, gusts to 24 MPH

Noise:

  • Some road noise
  • Distant train noise
  • Plane noise from local airport
  • Occasional boat and jetski noise in the canal
  • Little neighbor noise

Site:

  • #7, front in, gravel
  • Needed to disconnect toad, parked behind coach
  • Fairly level; used hydraulic leveling
  • Gravel driveway about 50 feet long by about 20 feet wide
  • Bark between sites about 6 feet wide
  • Picnic table on grass
  • No fire pit
  • A bunch of small garbage and dog poop
  • Waterfront!

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, very conveniently located
  • 35 PSI water, very conveniently located
  • Very loose sewer connection (the screw part wasn’t connected to the pipe), conveniently located (1 10-foot pipe needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • T-Mobile: 55 Mbps down, 32 Mbps up, 54 ms ping
  • AT&T: 7 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up, 52 ms ping
  • Verizon: 9-13 Mbps down, 7 Mbps up, 135 ms ping
  • Starlink: not used
  • Campground Wi-Fi: not used

Amenities:

  • Garbage pickup from site
  • Package delivery to office
  • Onsite restaurant
  • Waterfront (canal)

Our review on Campground Reviews:

Industrial shipyards and pelicans

Don’t let the sketchy-looking area fool you as you drive in. This is a very nice resort close to everything you’d want to do in NOLA. We had a waterfront site and loved watching the birds skimming over the water and the parade of fishing boats going between the lake and the river. Our site was pretty short, just long enough for our 40′ motorhome, with barely enough space to park our tow vehicle alongside, but being able to face over the water was very nice.

The resort has a nice restaurant and bar onsite for when you don’t feel like going into the city itself. All the touristy stuff you’d want to do is conveniently close and parking in the French Quarter was not as scary as I thought it would be. We camped at New Orleans RV Resort & Marina in a Motorhome.

Campground map:

Map

An interactive map:

Our canal-front site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Views from our site:

View

View

View

View

View

A rail drawbridge, sticking up in the open state:

View

And closed:

View

A barge waiting for the drawbridge to open:

View

View

View

Lots of pelicans:

View

View

View

View

View

Moon

The City of New Orleans arriving for servicing:

View

View

View

View

View

View

View

View

Some rainy days:

Rain

Rain

And thunderstorms:

Thunderstorms

The sewer connection was super loose:

Loose sewer

The site wasn’t very clean; this is the trash I picked up on arrival:

Trash

We could fill a gap in our states map (but yes, by the time you read this, Florida will also be there):

States map

We were sandwiched between two “Presidential” sites, with covered kitchens and hot tubs. We wouldn’t have preferred such a site, though, as the roof would have impeded our view:

Other sites

The neighboring hot tub kept blowing open in the wind:

Hot tub

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Cabins:

Cabin

Cabin

The office:

Office

Office

Office

They allowed package delivery for guests, with a large pile in the front of the office (not very secure; people just come grab their packages; I prefer it when they have a mail room to keep packages more secure, though of course that is more staff burden):

Packages

There is a shuttle to downtown, though we didn’t use it, preferring to drive and park; plenty of paid parking available:

Shuttle info

Pool:

Pool

Pool

Pool

Dog park:

Dog park

There are two marinas; this is the smaller one behind the office:

Marina

The larger one opposite a boat repair yard:

Marina

Marina

Marina

Marina

Marina

Marina

A nice thing about this resort is an onsite restaurant, The LightHouse Bar:

The LightHouse Bar

Menu:

Menu

Menu

Specials

The LightHouse Bar

The LightHouse Bar

We went there several evenings; here are a sampling of our food and beverages:

Drinks

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

A nice resort; we’d be happy to stay here again.

Travel from Red Bay, Alabama to Toomsuba, Mississippi

We drove our coach 180 miles, about 3 hours of driving, from Red Bay, Alabama to Toomsuba, Mississippi.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading southeast:

Route

An interactive map:

Leaving the Red Bay Acres RV park:

Leaving Red Bay Acres

Leaving Red Bay Acres

“Welcome to Mississippi”:

Welcome to Mississippi

Highway 76:

Highway 76

Exit to I-22:

Exit to I-22

I-22:

I-22

Tombigbee River:

Tombigbee River

A momentary loss of visibility from farm dust:

Farm dust

The speed limit signs also have a minimum speed, unusually:

Minimum speed sign

Exit to Tupelo:

Exit to Tupelo

We stopped for lunch at Tin Lizzie Cafe in West Point, Mississippi:

Tin Lizzie Cafe

Tin Lizzie Cafe

Tin Lizzie Cafe

Tin Lizzie Cafe

Tin Lizzie Cafe

BLT (without the tomato) and “tater babies” wedges:

BLT and wedges

The highway had frequent turnaround lanes:

Turnaround

Paladin asleep next to the passenger chair:

Paladin

Highway 45:

Highway 45

Exit to I-20:

Exit to I-20

I-20:

I-20

TA fuel stop:

TA fuel stop

TA fuel stop

TA fuel stop

TA fuel stop

The pump price was $371.99 for 107 gallons of diesel (thirsty coach!), though we actually paid less, thanks to our Open Roads discount (see below):

$371.99 for 107 gallons of diesel

The slowest DEF pump; it took 10 minutes to pump five gallons:

DEF

$23.69 for 5.779 gallons of DEF:

$23.69 for 5.779 gallons of DEF

The Open Roads statement indicated that we saved $30.65 on the diesel (the DEF isn’t discounted):

Open Roads statement

A narrow road to our destination:

Narrow road

And a narrower road:

Narrower road

Our destination, a KOA Journey:

Our destination

Our destination

Our site:

Our destination

Our destination

Unfortunately no travel video today; my dashcam had filled up and failed to record.

Red Bay Acres RV Resort

We stayed at Red Bay Acres RV Resort in Red Bay, Alabama. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A nice full-hookup RV park in the hometown of Tiffin Motorhomes.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-11-07
  • Check out: 2023-11-18
  • 11 nights

Weather:

  • Partly cloudy, some rain
  • High temps ranging between 63-80°F, lows around 41-62°F
  • A little wind, gusts to 24 MPH

Noise:

  • No road noise
  • No train noise
  • Hourly clock tower noise
  • A little neighbor and tech services noise

Site:

  • #31, back in, concrete
  • Needed to disconnect toad, parked in front of coach
  • Level; used air and hydraulic leveling at different times
  • Concrete driveway about 60 feet long by about 12 feet wide
  • Grass between sites wedge-shaped, from about 20 to 35 feet wide
  • Picnic table on 12 by 12 feet concrete patio; fire pit
  • Clean site
  • Lots of ladybug-like insects invading our coach; we kept finding them for months afterwards

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, conveniently located
  • 60 PSI water, conveniently located
  • Good sewer connection, fairly conveniently located (2 10-foot pipes needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • T-Mobile: 55 Mbps down, 18 Mbps up, 60 ms ping
  • AT&T: 117-122 Mbps down, 11-16 Mbps up, 45 ms ping
  • Verizon: 4-28 Mbps down, 9-12 Mbps up, 80 ms ping
  • Starlink: not used
  • Campground Wi-Fi: not used

Amenities:

  • Garbage pickup from site
  • Package delivery to site
  • Onsite restaurant
  • Pond
  • Hometown of Tiffin; local RV repairs

Our review on Campground Reviews:

Nice place to return to after service

This is the place to stay when in Red Bay for service. It is a beautifully maintained park, with all the sites facing the fishing pond. All the other parks in town were basic gravel lots. The one drawback is having to back in to the site when coming back from service each day, but that’s not a big deal. The concrete pad was nicely level and all the utilities were good. It’s also nice to have the Yacht Club on-site for a bite to eat at the end of the day. If you’re looking to get service done on-site, make sure to check the list of approved vendors. We camped at Red Bay Acres RV Resort in a Motorhome.

Tip for Other Campers: Lost Pines Coffee had decent coffee and baked goods for a midday pick-me-up. The Natchez Trace Parkway is fairly close and a very nice scenic drive.

Campground map:

Map

An interactive map:

Our site was one of the Luxury sites on the corners, with more space and a fire pit (which of course we didn’t use):

Our site

Staying here was a bit different than most campgrounds, as we drove our coach to RV service companies in town on several days; waking up early and driving about 7 minutes to get some services done, then driving back to our site to spend the night. So we used air leveling and didn’t put on the Magne Shades on those days.

But we did have several days without any services in the middle of our stay, so we put on the Magne Shade and used hydraulic leveling then:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

We boarded Paladin at a local vet during the first few days of our stay, since the techs needed frequent access to the inside of our coach during that period. So we were able to leave our entry door and screen door open; very unusual for us (though we didn’t leave it open long, to avoid bugs invading):

Open door

Later in our stay, there was an influx of Asian Lady Beetles, invasive ladybug-like beetles. We spent a few days catching dozens of them (and releasing them outside):

Asian Lady Beetles

A nice sunset:

Sunset

Other sites; since Red Bay is the home of the Tiffin factory, most of the people staying here were also Tiffin owners, also here for servicing:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

The RV park features a nice pond in the center:

Pond

Bridge

Pond

Pond

Pond

It also has an onsite cafe and lounge, called the “Red Bay Yacht Club” (because motorhomes are like land yachts):

Red Bay Yacht Club

Red Bay Yacht Club

Red Bay Yacht Club

Red Bay Yacht Club

Red Bay Yacht Club

We ate there several times, with pizzas the first night:

Pizza

Loaded fries and wings another night:

Loaded fries and wings

Breakfast:

Breakfast

Sandwiches for lunch:

Sandwiches

A view of the pond from the cafe:

Pond

Pond

Pond

Pond

Pickleball court:

Pickleball court

The office and general store:

Office and general store

We enjoyed our stay, and have already booked another stay for when we visit again in early 2024.

Travel from Memphis, Tennessee to Red Bay, Alabama

We drove our coach 139 miles, about 2 hours of driving, from Memphis, Tennessee to Red Bay, Alabama.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading southeast:

Route

An interactive map:

“Welcome to Mississippi” sign (just passing through):

Welcome to Mississippi

Building transportation:

Building transportation

Our coach at a truck stop for lunch:

Our coach at truck stop

Menu:

Menu

Breakfast for lunch:

Breakfast for lunch

River:

River

“Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama” sign:

Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama

Exit to Red Bay:

Exit to Red Bay

Hotel Red Bay:

Hotel Red Bay

Our destination, Red Bay Acres RV Resort:

Red Bay Acres RV Resort

General Store:

General Store

Store

Heading to our site:

Heading to our site

Our site (#31):

Our site (31)

Graceland

We visited Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, in Memphis, Tennessee.

An interactive map:

Gate to the visitor center:

Graceland gates

Welcome to Graceland:

Welcome to Graceland

We had a reservation for a self-guided tour of the Graceland mansion. We each had a somewhat trashed iPad and headphones with an audio and video guide for the tour:

iPad tour guide

Shuttle bus across the road to the mansion:

Shuttle bus to mansion

Graceland mansion:

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Upstairs was not included in the tour; it’s private to the family:

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Backyard:

Graceland mansion

The manager’s office:

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Elvis's birthplace

More exhibits, starting with Elvis as a child and his parents:

Parents

Graceland

Graceland

Graceland

Graceland

Graceland

Graceland

Graceland

Pool

Pool

Gym:

Graceland

Graceland

Graceland

Horses:

Graceland

The Presley graveyard, where Elvis and his family are buried:

Graceland

Graceland

Graveyard

Graveyard

Graveyard

Graceland

Graveyard

Graveyard

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Graceland mansion

Then we shuttled back over the road to the museum area, and lunch at Gladys’ Diner:

Glady's Diner

Glady's Diner

Glady's Diner

Glady's Diner

We of course had to have grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches:

Glady's Diner

Glady's Diner

Gift store:

Gift store

Elvis exhibits:

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Elvis exhibits

Graceland mansion

Elvis pic

An interesting experience.

Graceland RV Park & Campground

We stayed at Graceland RV Park & Campground in Memphis, Tennessee. (Campground Reviews listing.)

An RV park right next to the museum for Elvis Presley’s Graceland.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-11-05
  • Check out: 2023-11-07
  • 2 nights

Weather:

  • Sunny
  • High temps ranging between 77-79°F, lows around 54-59°F
  • A little wind, gusts to 23 MPH.

Noise:

  • Nearby road and city noise (sirens etc)
  • No train noise (though might have heard one once)
  • Occasional plane noise
  • A little neighbor noise

Site:

  • #7-17, pull-through, gravel
  • Didn’t need to disconnect toad, parked behind coach
  • Unlevel front-to-back and side-to-side; used hydraulic jacks
  • Gravel driveway about 73 feet long by about 12 feet wide
  • Nobody on driver side, grass about 14 feet wide
  • Grass between sites on passenger side about 10 feet wide
  • Picnic table on grass; no fire pit
  • Clean site

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, conveniently located
  • 67 PSI water, conveniently located
  • Good sewer connection, too recessed (though I have a fix for that), conveniently located (1 10-foot pipe needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • T-Mobile: 6-18 Mbps down, 17 Mbps up, 90 ms ping
  • Verizon: 6-9 Mbps down, 13-16 Mbps up, 40 ms ping
  • AT&T: 7 Mbps down, 1 Mbps up, 100 ms ping
  • Starlink: not used
  • Campground Wi-Fi: not used

Amenities:

  • Garbage pickup from site
  • Seasonally closed pool
  • Gate to Graceland

Our review on Campground Reviews:

Basic park on Graceland’s doorstep

This was a reasonably basic, no-frills RV park close to Graceland and the associated museum exhibits, which was our main reason for coming to Memphis. It was tough to get a reservation, not because they were full, but because it was impossible to get anyone to answer the phone. It took three days of calling multiple times a day before I reached them. Upon arrival, the office was closed (in the middle of the day), so we went through the extremely old-school check-in process of filling out a carbonless paper form and submitting our payment information through the “night” slot before going to our assigned site. A bit later, we noticed the office was open, so we went in and finished the registration process. It was a little confusing, but we got there in the end. Being able to walk over to Graceland made it all worthwhile. Despite being in the middle of the city, we found it to be pretty quiet at night. We camped at Graceland RV Park & Campground in a Motorhome.

Tip for Other Campers: Definitely plan on spending half a day in Graceland in order to see all the exhibits. Marlowe’s is like a BBQ version of Hard Rock Café, but with all-Elvis swag.

Campground map:

Map

An interactive map:

Our site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Utilities:

Utilities

The sewer was a little too recessed, so I used a handy new extension for the first time. And the water faucet was in an irrigation valve box, which was rather unusual:

Sewer and water

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Gazebo

The park emptied out quite a bit the next morning (a Monday):

Other sites

Office/store:

Store

Store

Bathrooms:

Bathrooms

Picnic shelter and tenter cooking area:

Picnic shelter

Closed pool:

Closed pool

Gate to the parking lot for Graceland:

Gate to Graceland

A basic but decent RV park, super-convenient to Graceland, and only minutes to downtown Memphis. We’d be happy to stay here again, and probably will, since we didn’t have time to explore downtown and the many other attractions.


Food bonus:

We went to Marlowe’s Ribs and Restaurant for an Elvis-themed dinner:

Marlowe's

Marlowe's

Marlowe's

Marlowe's

Jenn had ribs:

Ribs

I had baked potatoes with pulled pork:

Baked potatoes and pulled pork

Our first time trying fried green tomatoes (we liked them):

Fried green tomatoes

Crispy Crème Banana Foster Sundae for dessert:

Crispy Crème Banana Foster Sundae

A swag shop in the restaurant:

Swag

Swag

Tasty food, and I’m sure we didn’t need those years it knocked off our lives.

Catherine’s Landing

We stayed at Catherine’s Landing in Hot Springs, Arkansas. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A pleasant resort near Hot Springs National Park and Garvan Woodland Gardens.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-10-29
  • Check out: 2023-11-05
  • 7 nights

Weather:

  • Rain on first couple of days, then sunny
  • High temps ranging between 52-66°F, lows around 30-51°F
  • Negligible wind

Noise:

  • No road noise
  • No train noise
  • A little neighbor noise

Site:

  • #123, back in, concrete
  • Needed to disconnect toad, parked in front
  • Very level; used hydraulic jacks
  • Asphalt driveway 30 feet long, concrete RV pad 40 feet long by about 16 feet wide
  • Diagonal offset sites, with grass about 14 feet wide
  • Concrete patio extension of RV pad, with picnic table and charcoal grill
  • Fire pit
  • Lots of cigarette butts in fire pit

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, conveniently located
  • 45 PSI water, conveniently located
  • Unthreaded sewer connection, very conveniently located (2 2-foot pipes needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • Starlink: 15-73 Mbps down, 6-12 Mbps up, 56-99 ms ping
  • Campground Wi-Fi: 8 Mbps down, 7 Mbps up, 36 ms ping
  • T-Mobile: 2 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up, 110 ms ping
  • Verizon: 5-10 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up, 140 ms ping
  • AT&T: 105 Mbps down, 15 Mbps up, 70 ms ping

Amenities:

  • Trash pickup from site
  • Package delivery to office
  • Closed pool
  • Lake/river

Our review on Campground Reviews:

Lovely down by the water

This is a large, well-maintained campground near everything Hot Springs has to offer. We went for one of the Executive back-in sites by the water and loved watching the peaceful scenery. Since it was the off-season, most of the amenities were closed, so $110/night seems a bit much, but the view and serenity were worth it. Our site was perfectly level, which you expect with a concrete pad. We’d definitely stay here again. We camped at Catherine’s Landing in a Motorhome.

Tip for Other Campers: Bubba’s Catfish was really good and just up the road.

Campground map:

Map

An interactive map:

Our site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Utilities (before hooking up the sewer, but you can see the sewer cap immediately opposite the wet bay):

Utilities

The Power Watchdog had the red light that indicated that the power neutral was missing, which is apparently not a fatal problem (since the dog face wasn’t red), but not ideal:

Power Watchdog

The site was perfectly level:

Level

After visiting Hot Springs National Park, we added its sticker; the last National Park of 2023:

National Park stickers

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine:

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine

Office:

Office

Office

The pool was closed:

Pool

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine

Rental boat docks; they removed the pontoon boats for the winter during our stay:

Boat docks

Boat docks

Boat docks

A guest’s pontoon boat:

Boat

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine:

Ouachita River / Lake Catherine

Morning mist:

Morning mist

Morning mist

Morning mist

Morning mist

Morning mist

The motorhome that was next to us when we arrived made an annoying compressor noise every few minutes; we were glad when they left about halfway through our stay:

Motorhome next to us

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

A nice resort; we’d be happy to stay here again.


Bonus: some food samples from our stay in Hot Springs.

We enjoyed some Chinese delivery on our first night:

Chinese delivery

And some takeout from Bubba’s Catfish and Seafood on another night:

Bubba's Catfish and Seafood

Bubba's Catfish and Seafood

Bubba's Catfish and Seafood

And David’s Burgers:

David's Burgers

David's Burgers

David's Burgers

David's Burgers

A nice touch: they bring around bowls of tasty fresh fries while waiting for the ordered food:

David's Burgers

A decent burger:

David's Burgers

Another nice bonus, free ice cream delivered to the table:

David's Burgers