Pennsylvania campgrounds and RV resorts win most "A" ratings from ARVC

Buttonwood Campground

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds' (ARVC) annual Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo wass held in Savannah, Georgia last month to award grades for their over 3,200 private RV parks and campgrounds across the country.

According to ARVC, the company's mission statement is "To promote the success and growth of RV parks, campgrounds and the Outdoor Hospitality industry."

ARVC claims to be "only national association exclusively representing the interests of all commercial RV Parks and Campgrounds in the United States. Membership includes RV parks and campgrounds, cabin and lodge resorts, membership campgrounds and resorts, industry suppliers, and park developers.

Membership provides group purchasing power, national public relations and promotional services, advocacy representation on state and national policy issues, and business management services including educational offerings, industry publications, and marketing and advertising opportunities.

But this is not a commercial for ARVC. What is interesting, though, is that of the 44 A" ratings in the fourth annual consumer satisfaction survey given to member campgrounds and resorts, ten of those "A" grades  were in Pennsylvania--the most awarded state at the conference.

According to an article written by Shannon M. Nass for the Post-Gazette in Pittsburg, "more than 30,000 camping and RV enthusiasts participated in the online survey, which evaluated guest experiences at campgrounds, RV parks, and resorts that are affiliated with the National Association."

That would certainly take some steam out of Western states RVers' beliefs that the best camping in the country is west of the Rocky Mountains. In fact, since the result reflects that of users, it likely will stir some interest in some westerners to make a trip back east to check out these "A" campgrounds.

Here is the list of the Pennsylvania "A" winners, and a few others close by:

Named the Top 10 Pennsylvania campgrounds: Meadville KOA (formerly Brookdale Family Campground), Meadville (Crawford County); Dogwood Acres Campground, Newville (Cumberland); Gettysburg Campground, Gettysburg (Adams); Kalyumet Camping and Cabins, Lucinda (Clairon); Keen Lake Camping and Cottage Resort, Waymart (Wayne); Mountain Vista Campground, East Stroudsburg (Monroe); Pioneer Campground, Laporte (Sullivan); and Rose Point Park, New Castle (Lawrence).

Also on that list are Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp Resort, Harrisville (Butler), which also was named Medium Size Park of the Year, and Buttonwood Campground, Mexico, PA (Juniata), also tapped as Large Park of the Year (photo).

Several winning campgrounds are in nearby states include Ashland Resort in Northfork, West Virginia; Cross Creek Camping Resort in Delaware, Ohio; and Cherry Hill Park in College Park, Maryland.