Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA Resort

We stayed at Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA Resort in Cape Charles, Virginia. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A decent RV park with a private beach and restaurant. This was a last-minute change to avoid traveling on the Memorial Day weekend; amazingly, we were able to get a reservation just a few days before the holiday, despite it being packed with holiday campers.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2024-05-24
  • Check out: 2024-05-28
  • 4 nights

Weather:

  • Partly cloudy on first days; thunderstorms and rain on last day
  • High temps 69-73°F, lows 65-69°F
  • Little wind, gusts to 24 MPH

Noise:

  • No road noise
  • No train horn noise
  • Lots of neighbor noise during Memorial Day weekend; quiet after everyone left

Site:

  • #513, back-in, grass
  • Needed to disconnect toad, parked beside coach
  • Mostly level site, slightly high in the back; used hydraulic leveling
  • Grass site about 45 feet long by 30 feet wide
  • Picnic table
  • Fire pit
  • A few trees
  • Clean site

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, conveniently located
  • 60 PSI water, conveniently located
  • Good sewer connection, conveniently located (1 10-foot pipe needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • T-Mobile: 20 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up, 50 ms ping
  • AT&T: 250-285 Mbps down, 40 Mbps up, 50 ms ping
  • Verizon: 15-25 Mbps down, 10 Mbps up, 70 ms ping
  • Starlink: not used
  • Campground Wi-Fi: not used

Amenities:

  • Garbage dumpsters by exit
  • Pools
  • Onsite restaurant
  • Beach

Our review on Campground Reviews:

Like being in the Keys on the Chesapeake

This was a last-minute change for Memorial Day weekend. We were surprised there was availability the week before the holiday, and there were even a few empty sites all weekend. The campsites themselves were pretty basic (bare grass with a fire ring and picnic table), but the amenities were top-notch. We had dinner a couple of times at the beachside restaurant and enjoyed it both times. With a rum drink in hand and a salt breeze off the water, it was very relaxing after a long day of driving and the stress of getting over/through the bridge tunnel. Being a holiday weekend, it was pretty rambunctious in the campground, but it really cleared out on Monday, and it was pretty much just us and the long-term residents. We camped at Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA Resort in a Motorhome.

Campground map:

Map

An interactive map:

Our site:

Our site

Our site

The sites were fairly tight back-to-back:

Our site

Neighbor site

A large gathering on our driver side:

Neighbor site

Other sites:

Neighbor site

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Tight roads, with everyone parked on the edge of the road:

Other sites

Pool area:

Pool area

We appreciate it when there’s an onsite restaurant, especially on travel days, so we don’t have to cook. This park has the Sunset Beach Bar & Grille:

Sunset Beach Bar & Grille

Sunset Beach Bar & Grille

Sunset Beach Bar & Grille

Sunset Beach Bar & Grille

Private beach:

Beach

Beach

Beach

A nice KOA. We’d be happy to stay here again, but probably won’t, since access via tunnels under the bay is a bit harrowing in our big rig.

Travel from Chocowinity, North Carolina to Cape Charles, Virginia

We drove our coach 156 miles, about two hours of driving, from Chocowinity, North Carolina to Cape Charles, Virginia. Another new state.

This was a late change in our plans. We were originally going to head more directly north, but we realized that we’d be traveling over the Memorial Day weekend, which is one of the busiest camper weekends. And checking in to a first-come-first-served Thousand Trails park during that weekend, so would probably struggle to find a good site. So we decided to add a stop elsewhere between the two, to avoid both issues. In retrospect, we chose poorly (okay, I chose poorly), since we didn’t realize that the route would involve some narrow tunnels.

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

Route map

An interactive map:

Washington, North Carolina:

Washington, North Carolina

13 / 17 North:

13 / 17 North

Not a lot of stopping opportunities on this route. I found a nice big parking lot that worked well, also a convenient walk to a McDonald’s for lunch:

Parking lot

Paladin sat in his nest on the dash as we headed out again, until we got back on the highway:

Paladin

Roanoke River:

Roanoke River

Chowan River:

Chowan River

Chowan River

Future I-87:

Future I-87

Paladin asleep:

Paladin asleep

Perquimans River:

Perquimans River

Perquimans River

Exit to Chesapeake:

Exit to Chesapeake

Future I-87 again:

Future I-87

A break at the Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center rest area:

Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center rest area

Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center rest area

Snuggling with Paladin:

Paladin and David

Paladin on the dash:

Paladin on dash

As we left this rest area, we had a strange wobble — it felt like the wheels of the coach were loose or something, but on looking at the 360 camera footage from the truck later, it looks like the front truck tires possibly weren’t pointing in the right direction as we made a turn out of the rest area, and they hopped a few times. We pulled over, then resumed while keeping any eye on things; it was fine after that. Rather disconcerting, but no harm done as far as we can tell.

That issue did occur again on a subsequent trip. But we have since replaced our truck tires, as the front ones were getting a bit bald on the outer edges, so hopefully it won’t occur again.

“Welcome to Virginia”:

Welcome to Virginia

Exit:

Exit

Bainbridge?! To us, Bainbridge is an island in the Puget Sound, across from Seattle:

Bainbridge?!

Southern Branch Elizabeth River:

Southern Branch Elizabeth River

Exit:

Exit

We hadn’t seen a “Signal Red Ahead” warning before:

Signal Red Ahead

I wonder what was on “Pleasure House Road”?

Pleasure House Raod?!

Toll plaza:

Toll plaza

A bridge-tunnel across the mouth of Chesapeake Bay; part bridges, part two tunnels under the water:

Bridge-Tunnel

13’ 6” height restriction. Our coach is 12’ 7”. 11 inches of clearance is totally fine, not at all concerning!

Bridge-Tunnel

They’re working on adding a second tunnel for opposing traffic, but for now both ways goes through the same tunnel:

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

A couple of snapshots from the 360 camera on the truck; look at all those inches of clearance (remember too that our AC units stick up a little higher than the roof rail):

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

An animated GIF:

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

`Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

A ship going over the second tunnel:

Ship going over the second tunnel

Ship going over the second tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

Bridge-Tunnel

Our destination:

Our destination

Our destination

Guided to our site:

Our destination

Our destination

We originally were going to go back through those tunnels, and a third tunnel and roadworks north of Virginia Beach, but decided to change our plans again to avoid those; more on that next week.

And check out the video today; it includes views from the truck, and lots of interesting bits including an instant replay of the truck wobble thing, and the truck and coach views of going through the two tunnels, and more.

Washington, North Carolina

While staying across the river in Chocowinity, North Carolina, we visited the larger city of Washington a couple of times. According to that Wikipedia article, it is commonly known as “Original Washington”; it was established in 1776, and is the first city named after President George Washington. (Washington, DC was founded in 1791.)

An interactive map:

View from bridge:

View from bridge

“Washington Square Mall” — a small strip mall here, not at all like the big Washington Square Mall in Portland, Oregon:

Washington Square Mall

We had dinner at Boss Hog’s Chicken & BBQ:

Boss Hog's Chicken & BBQ

Boss Hog's Chicken & BBQ

Boss Hog's Chicken & BBQ

Boss Hog's Chicken & BBQ

Waterfront:

Waterfront

Main Street:

Main Street

Main Street

Main Street

Crab sculptures:

Crab sculpture

Crab sculptures

Main Street

Main Street

Main Street

Main Street

Main Street

We went to the Blu Farm to Table restaurant for my birthday, dining on their rooftop patio:

Blu restaurant

Blu restaurant

 

Blu restaurant

Blu restaurant

Blu restaurant

Blu restaurant

Blu restaurant

Blu restaurant

Blu restaurant

Unfortunately, we didn’t particularly enjoy the food. Oh well.

Waterfront:

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Waterfront

Artwork

Main Street

A fairly cute little town.

Travel from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Chocowinity, North Carolina

We drove our coach 201 miles, about four hours of driving, from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Chocowinity, North Carolina. Another new state.

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

Route map

An interactive map:

Leaving the campsite:

Our coach

A little narrow:

Our coach

A tight turn:

Our coach

Toading up:

Toading up

Goodbye beach:

Goodbye beach

Exiting the state park:

Exiting the state park

Myrtle Beach Welcomes You:

Myrtle Beach Welcomes You

A plane flying low over the highway; the airport is right next to it:

Plane flying low over highway

Plane landing at airport

Blue water at mini golf:

Blue water at mini golf

Wax museum:

Wax museum

Another mini golf:

Another mini golf

Yet another mini golf:

Another mini golf

Crossing the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW):

Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)

Welcome to North Carolina:

Welcome to North Carolina

We stopped at a Hardee’s for lunch, as they had RV-sized parking spaces:

Hardee's

Hardee's

Hardee's

Hardee's

Hardee's

Hardee's

Back at our coach, Paladin in his nest:

Paladin

Exit:

Exit

Hey, there’s Jenn’s brother, Leland:

Leland

Northeast Cape Fear River:

Northeast Cape Fear River

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

New River:

New River

We stopped at a defunct car dealer parking lot; very few stopping opportunities (“stopportunties”) on this route:

Parking lot

Parking lot

Paladin took my seat when I used the bathroom:

Paladin

An abandoned house:

Abandoned house

Neuse River:

Neuse River

Neuse River

A fire lookout watchtower:

Watchtower

Arriving at our destination for a couple of weeks:

Our destination

Our destination

Our destination

Our destination

Our destination

Myrtle Beach State Park beach

While staying at the Myrtle Beach State Park campground, we walked to the adjacent beach on several days. Nice to be able to walk to a beach:

Path to beach

Path to beach

Beach

Beach

A cannonball jelly; apparently harmless:

Cannonball jelly

Waves:

Waves

Waves

Waves

Waves

Waves

Waves

Pier:

Pier

Pier

Gift shop:

Pier

Gift store

Gift shop

Gift store

We walked out on the pier, while enjoying some very melty ice cream:

Pier and ice cream

Pier

Pier

Pier

View from pier

View from pier

A sign with info about jellies:

Sign

Boardwalk:

Boardwalk

Sign

Sign

Boardwalk

Sign

Picnic shelters:

Picnic shelters

Gaillardia flowers growing wild (we used to buy them at a garden center):

Flowers

Beach:

Beach

Beach

Pelicans:

Pelicans

Pelicans

Beach

Beach

Beach

We loaded our beach chairs, mini table, and cooler into our cart, to enjoy a picnic dinner on the beach:

Jenn, beach chairs, cart

Jenn, beach chairs, cart

Plane:

Plane

Beach

Travel from Columbia to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

We drove our coach 150 miles, about three hours of driving, from Columbia, South Carolina to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Reaching the East coast! (Other than Florida.)

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

Route map

An interactive map:

Leaving the state park:

Leaving state park

A line for the dump station; we didn’t need to dump, but had to wait for a bit to get past:

Line for dump station

The dump station:

Dump station

I-20 East:

I-20 East

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

Iron Skillet Restaurant at a Petro truck stop:

Iron Skillet Restaurant

We like Petro, as not only do we get fuel discounts there, but they are often very large, with lots of parking spaces and uncrowded fuel lanes:

Petro fuel stop

Our fuel fill; as usual, we paid less than the pump price thanks to our fuel discount card; we paid $204.71, a saving of $27.47:

Fuel fill

Easy parking:

Parked

Petro has laundry and showers facilities, and even a hair salon:

Laundry and showers

And the aforementioned Iron Skillet Restaurant, where we had breakfast for lunch:

Iron Skillet Restaurant

Menu

Breakfast for lunch

Back at our coach, Paladin asleep on the dash:

Paladin

Paladin

I-95 North:

I-95 North

Route 76 East:

Route 76 East

Crossing over a portion of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), an inland water route near the coast that runs almost all the way down the East coast from Massachusetts to Florida and across the Gulf to Texas:

Intracoastal Waterway

Arriving at Myrtle Beach State Park:

Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park

Camper check-in:

Myrtle Beach State Park

Following the coach to our site:

Myrtle Beach State Park

Travel from Rutledge, Georgia to Columbia, South Carolina

We drove our coach 187 miles, about three hours of driving, from Rutledge, Georgia to Columbia, South Carolina. The first of a series of new states for us.

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

Route map

An interactive map:

I was a bit concerned about leaving our site, as it was kinda steep:

Leaving site

Leaving site

But we managed without too much difficulty:

Leaving site

We left the park via Knox Chapel Road, to avoid a bad railroad crossing in downtown Rutledge:

Knox Chapel Road

We still had to go over an unlevel railroad crossing, but this was the best of the three options:

Railroad crossing

Nice new road surface:

Nice new road surface

Joining I-20 East, with an Eisenhower Interstate System sign:

Eisenhower Interstate System

Roadworks:

Roadworks

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

A Southern swooper; we’ve noticed that Southern drivers tend to swoop in front of us, way too close for safety. Give some space before moving over, people!

Southern swooper

We parked at a Love’s truck stop and went to the adjacent Waffle House for lunch:

Waffle House

Truck parking

Coach parked with trucks

Waffle House

Waffle House

Waffle House

Paladin waiting on the dash for us to return:

Paladin on the dash

Entering South Carolina:

Entering South Carolina

Paladin asleep:

Paladin asleep

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

Fun with zoom

Exit to route 1:

Exit to route 1

Sesquicentennial State Park:

Sesquicentennial State Park

Entrance station:

Entrance station

Splash pad:

Splash pad

Campground entrance:

Campground entrance

Our site:

Our site

Paladin on the dash while getting leveled in the site:

Paladin

World of Coca‑Cola museum

We previously visited the Dr Pepper museum in Waco, Texas, so it seemed only fair to visit the World of Coca‑Cola museum in Atlanta, Georgia. The Coke museum was fancier, but we preferred the Dr Pepper one, if only because the Coke museum was way too crowded. Probably our fault for visiting on a Saturday.

Atlanta:

Atlanta

Atlanta

The World of Coca‑Cola museum:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

We had lunch at the nearby Bottle Cap Café:

Bottle Cap Café

Coke and coffee floats and a basic sandwich:

Bottle Cap Café

Selfie:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

Crowded waiting area before the theater:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

World of Coca‑Cola museum

After that was a 7-minute film, basically an emotionally-manipulative ad, showing people in major life events, and happening to drink Coke at the end. Then on into the main part of the museum:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

The Vault, with exhibits of the history:

The Vault

The Vault

The Vault

The Vault

The Vault

The Vault

The vault with the secret recipe, allegedly:

The Vault

More exhibits:

The Vault

The Vault

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

The Lab:

The Lab

Tasting:

The Lab

International beverage tasting:

Beverage tasting

Beverage tasting

Thailand’s Apple Kiwi Fanta was our favorite flavor (many others were not to our taste):

Beverage tasting

Beverage tasting

Gift store:

Gift store

Gift store

Back outside:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

An interesting museum, if too crowded.

Baseball: Atlanta Braves vs Cleveland Guardians

We have a stretch goal to visit all major league baseball ballparks, as we travel around the country, when we happen to be near one.

While staying an hour out of Atlanta, we had such an opportunity. We attended an evening game of the Cleveland Guardians playing at the Atlanta Braves’ stadium, Truist Park.

Sale gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, but settled down and only gave up one other hit through 7 innings. The Guardians were no match for his slider. Cool and windy up at the 300 level and a bit further towards the outfield than I prefer, but it’s a pretty enough ballpark for an evening game. The “Tomahawk Chop” is so very inappropriate, but the fans will never stop.

Atlanta Braves sign

Chop House Gate:

Chop House Gate

Their iconic tomahawk and ball:

Axe and ball

Braves clubhouse store:

Braves clubhouse store

Nachos in a helmet; bigger than we were expecting (we didn’t keep the helmet):

Nachos in a helmet

Batting practice:

Batting practice

History garden:

History garden

History garden

History garden

History garden

History garden

History garden

History garden

Gameday booklet with a former Mariner, Jarred Kelenic (who unfortunately wasn’t playing in this game):

Gameday with a former Mariner, Kelenic

View from our seats on the 300 level:

View from our seats on the 300 level

Selfie

Welcome to Truist Park

Ceremonial first pitch:

First pitch

Actual first pitch:

Pitch

Another pitch:

Another pitch

Gandalf (I’m glad they didn’t pick me):

Gandalf

Food market line:

Food market line

Curly fries and Cracker Jack:

Curly fries and Cracker Jack

Sunset reflected off a building:

Sunset

Home Depot race:

Home Depot race

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

The chop:

The chop

The chop

The chop

Out:

Out

Cheerleaders:

Cheerleaders

Cheerleaders

Their mascot, Blooper:

Mascot

Beer bat:

Bat beer

Home run:

Home run

Home run fireworks

Braves win:

Game win fireworks

Game win fireworks

Game stats:

Game stats

Mascot

Atlanta Braves sign

It’s fun going to other ballparks, and seeing the regional differences.

Travel from Red Bay, Alabama to Rutledge, Georgia

We drove our coach 332 miles, about six hours of driving, from Red Bay, Alabama to Rutledge, Georgia.

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

Route map

An interactive map:

Water streaming off our slide topper as we brought in the slide, from recent rain:

Water streaming off slide topper

Toading up:

Toading up

We left Red Bay via downtown:

Red Bay

Red Bay

SR-19:

SR-19

On to I-22 East:

I-22 East

A bathroom break at a truck stop:

Bathroom break

Our coach in travel mode:

Coach in travel mode

Paladin in his nest on the stacked dining chairs:

Paladin in his nest

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

I-65 South:

I-65 South

Birmingham:

Birmingham

I-20 East:

I-20 East

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

I-20 East:

I-20 East

A large load:

Large load

Fuel and lunch stop:

Fuel and lunch stop

91.717 gallons:

91.717 gallons

Heading to the parking area, with Paladin on the passenger chair:

Heading to parking area

Parked:

Parked

We had Popeyes for lunch:

Popeyes for lunch

Popeyes for lunch

A branch on the roof; we found it on the truck when we arrived:

Branch on roof

Talladega Superspeedway; apparently there was a NASCAR race on:

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega Superspeedway

Eisenhower Interstate System sign:

Eisenhower Interstate System

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

Welcome to Georgia:

Welcome to Georgia

Eisenhower Interstate System

Entering Eastern Time Zone, where we’ll be until July:

Entering Eastern Time Zone

Another bathroom break at the Georgia Welcome Center truck parking:

Rest stop

Atlanta:

Atlanta

Atlanta

Fun with zoom

Fun with zoom

SR-11:

SR-11

I chose this route to go over this railroad crossing, as the one in downtown Rutledge has a very high crown:

Railroad crossing

Horse properties:

Horse properties

Hard Labor Creek State Park:

Hard Labor Creek State Park

RV check-in area:

RV check-in area

RV check-in area

Trading Post:

Trading Post

Trading Post

The camp host happened to be in the trading post when we checked in, so she offered to guide us to our site; that’s the driveway on the right:

Guided to our site

Paladin surveying our steep driveway:

Paladin surveying our driveway

Yeah, doesn’t look very level:

Our site