Public Vs. Private Owner Campgrounds?

We will be picking up our 2016 R-Pod 180 next week and can't wait to go camping! It is a little overwhelming trying to navigate through all the websites and deciding where to go, what spot to pick, do we want water/electric/septic etc. but also if we should stay in a private or public campground.  Just wondering but R-Poders prefer and why?

Everyone has different needs and expectations. You will just need to try a few and see what you like.

Thanks Leo B.  We are so new to this that I never even heard of a KOA campground!  That is why I'm glad I found this forum.  They sound like great places to stop on your way to a destination.  Is that what you use them for?

I will add a plus one for the KOA campgrounds. We have never used them before, most of our camping had been state park trips but on our first run with the r-pod we were traveling from Texas to the Grand Canyon so we needed some stops along the way. Our first layover was a KOA our second layover was an independent campground, both were nice and had their own personalities. We ended up staying at several more KOAs on the journey and found all of them good places to be. KOA does have a discount card program, it costs $30 but saves you 10% on the nightly rate. It paid for itself on our first trip.

As for what type of site, we tried to make sure that every other stop had full hook ups, that gave us the option to be able to dump if we needed to. Bottom line, anywhere in the Pod is a good place to be.

Considering your location, I suggest, as soon as you get it sorted out, for the real off grid experience, and great camping, Cataloochee and Balsam Mountain. Quiet, small, no hookups, low camper count.