RV camp at the delta on the water?

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kevfra

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19858
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My weekend boating plans just changed and now we are going to take the motorhome away for the weekend. Called New Hope at Wimpy's and they have space, but nothing right on the water. I'd really like to sit right on the water and go into a trance for the day. Any suggestions as to a campgrounds that can handle a large motorhome and sits right on the water???
 
Most I can think of are behind levees. There is a nice one at Delta Bay on the Delta loop. Located off the San Joaquin with 2 small grocery stores, two bars and Spindrift Restaurant within walking distance.
 
Try Snug Harbor. A little hard to get to, but it is secluded. You can also try Brannan Island State Park. At this time of year you can probably find a prime spot.

There are more places here. Most of them are behind levees but there are a few that look like they aren't.

http://www.californiadelta.org/camping.htm
 
Well the answer is - Snug Harbor, but almmost by default. What is it with folks working on the delta, are they all rich? Three other resorts I called could have shortened the conversation by simply telling me they really don't care if they ever rent a space and why am I bothering them. Maybe because I'd like to make a reservation??? Geeze folks it's an easy hundred, just take my name and pocket the money. In two cases it was clear I woke them from their naps - at two in the afternoon. Snug Harbor has a fantastic web site - the best I have seen, and fully automated with fair rates and a nice campground right on Steamboat. If this works out I will consider them for our large group campout next October, which is an easy two grand that these other three campgrounds won't be considered for.

Now...where'd I put the battery for my little bow rider???
 
I have never stayed at Snug Harbor, but I did stop by while I was driving through the delta once. I thought it was nice, clean, and quiet. They also rent some really nice looking cabins there.
 
Folks in the delta have a much more laid back approach to things then those in the bay area. It can be frustrating if you let it. Now that I'm retarded---err, I mean retired, that is my pace too. But it used to be hard for me when I was used to the hustle and bustle of the bay area. Just take a deep breath, exhale slowly and go with the flow. You'll find it can be quite refreshing once you don't fight it!
 
quote:
Originally posted by kevfra

Well the answer is - Snug Harbor, but almmost by default. What is it with folks working on the delta, are they all rich? Three other resorts I called could have shortened the conversation by simply telling me they really don't care if they ever rent a space and why am I bothering them. Maybe because I'd like to make a reservation??? Geeze folks it's an easy hundred, just take my name and pocket the money. In two cases it was clear I woke them from their naps - at two in the afternoon.

Click to expand...

I got a chuckle out of reading this. Delta people are kind of different. With the first rains RV'ers started moving out of the parks for the season and I suspect the Delta take on this would be something like "why would anyone want to reserve a space when the park is almost empty?"

During off-season, two in the afternoon can be nearly the twilight zone in the Delta. I've seen it many times. Hal Schell once described this behavior when he wrote about "Delta time."

I'm glad you found a good spot... and that's a nice part of the Delta. You get to use the Ryer Island ferry.

Strangely enough I called Snug Harbor with a question (left messages) about fuel facilities twice about two years ago and never got an answer back. Just depends on who you happen to talk to.
 
No ferry for me - the RV is too big. Have to take the bridges.

Thing is most of these parks are all but full, because they are more desireable. Three open spaces is the max I found in any of them.

Uptight wold be me just showing up...and finding there is nowhere to park!

I guess Snug changed hands and they are throwing a lot of money at it to make it very upscale. I'll be interested in seeing this as I have only ever viewed it from the water. And we are bringing bicycles which I hope will get us far enough we can find a place a to eat nearby.
 
It's been awhile since I've been on Ryer Island, but I can not think of restaurants except for the Ryde Hotel which only serves Sunday Brunch if they are still open. Hidden Harbor is nearby, but I doubt they have a restaurant. I think you'll have to bike to Rio Vista or Walnut Grove to eat.
 
If you want to be right on the water, don't forget Duck Island on Highway 160 just below the Rio Vista bridge. I am not an RV guy, but I have bought propane there for years. Really pretty place.

FindMe, buying propane at Duck Island
 
Well Snug Harbor turned out to be the right place. They really maintain that resort quite nicely, no slacking in upkeep. It is quiet, pretty, water on both sides within fifty feet! Lots of dock space, and you have dock priviledges with your campsite. One thing though is that it gets that neverending Rio Vista wind, and boy was it howling all weekend.

My rig weighs in at a hefty thirty thousand pounds, no kidding. And it's so long I have my own zip code. So here I come up to the ferry at McCoy's, and I'm reading the sign with a max load of 16.5 tons...wondering how much of a safety margin they built in fifty years ago when they began service. I hit it at high tide and still scraped the trailer hitches front and aft, but boarded all right and by golly the little boat that could carried me across in good fashion! Felt better when I arrived and my friend was ther having taken his much bigger rig across. Hey when I say I need a zip code he needs a congressman! So that ferry really does the job.

Some nice folks, several in fact, at the campground advised us that Lucy's in Old Town Rio Vista is the place to go. The pretty half of my equation was up for it so we jumped on our bikes and pedeled off - headwind all the way! Took a good forty-five minutes but we had some midday fun in old town. Didn't dine at Lucy's as it was noon and we were exploring. But we did check out the bar with all the animal heads on the wall - what a trip!

Peddeled back and guess what - head wind again! Both directions!!! Made it back to camp feeling good and healthy, but not inclined to make the ride again to Lucy's so we just stayed in camp with Champagne and steak.

The thing about Sub Harbor is that they are almost entirely filled with full time lease holders. So they only have perhaps ten camping spots available at any time. If you want to drag your trailer boat and have a nice weekend, this is a good spot so long as you plan in advance. But if you are hoping for a last minute drive up and no problem location - this isn't it. Too popular.

Once the weather gets worse we'll start trying a lot of the other places that typically are too popular. My little bow rider isn't set up for rainy weather, and my real boat simply isn't trailerable, but we'll do some land cruising and try thigns from the dry side for a while. Should be fun!
 
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Since I haven't been there in awhile I was hoping that it was still a nice place. Sounds like it's even better.

Too bad about the full time lease holders. At some point the resort becomes nothing more than a trailer park. But they have to make money somehow and if there aren't enough customers in the offseason, this is what they need to do.
 
Another really nice RV Park is Sugar Barge on Bethel Island. About half-full in the winter, packed in the summer. They have very few year round folks wanting to encourage the traveling RVers and avoid "trailer trash" which used to be a huge problem on BI. They even have a few RVs and Trailers for rent. There is a marina, store, first rate restaurant, swimming pool and recreation room. Check it out!

http://www.sugarbarge.com/rvpark.html
 
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