Introduction:
While this wasn't a bad park, we found it to be a bit too compact and crowded for our taste. If we return to the area, we'll try to stay in the other state park up the road.
Click here to read about our criteria for campground reviews.
The Basics:
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Price per night / Discounts: $30 / None
Campground website: Cattail Cove State Park
Our Site #: 38
Privacy Rating (how spacious and private do the sites feel):
2.5/5: While you have more room here than in most commercial campgrounds, the sites weren't nearly as spacious as what we've encountered in other Arizona state parks and state parks in general. While side to side space wasn't terrible, because the entire campground is very small, it just felt cramped. The view in every direction seemed to be of cars and campers. It wasn't the kind of place that we wanted to sit outside and relax. On the other hand, it was certainly more spacious than any of the commercial 'parking lot' campgrounds in town. Of all the campgrounds we looked at while in the area, the best was Lake Havasu State Park which is about 10 miles up the road from Cattail Cove. That park had an entirely different feel to it and was more in line with what we like to see.
Location Rating (accessibility to points of interest or to major highways):
3.25/5: The campground is located about 15 to 20 minutes down the road from the central part of Lake Havasu City. It's not a bad drive, but it is a drive, so anytime we needed supplies or wanted to go out, we would have to jump in the car. On the other hand, the campground is located right on the lake, so if you want to get out on the water, the location is great. It really just depends what you're looking for. Again though, if you are at Lake Havasu State Park, you get the best of both worlds - a waterfront park and easy access to everything you need in town.
Site Quality and Big Rig Accessibility Rating (utilities and accessibility of campground hook ups):
2.5/5: This is a W/E only campground, the sites are a mix of dirt and gravel, and many are unlevel. Our particular site was heavily sloped and we were only able to get level using every block we had. As for big rig accessibility, it can be done, but, again, the whole place is just so packed in, it wasn't a real appealing place to maneuver around in a full sized bus.
Technology and Customer Service Rating (online resources, reservations, and staff):
5/5: We were able to book our own site online which was great and everyone we have dealt with in the Arizona State Park system has always been very helpful and friendly.
Internet Availability Rating (Verizon coverage or campground wifi):
4/5: No wifi, but our hotspot worked well.
Summary:
While this wasn't a bad campground, we checked out Lake Havasu State Park up the street and found it much more to our liking. The sites there are much larger, it feels more open, and the location of the campground is better. Our particular spot at Cattail Cove was unlevel, backed up to the bathrooms and trash cans, and didn't have as many trees as other sites had, all of which made things even more unpleasant. The overall feel of the campground was just very compact, crowded, and busy. Unlike most state parks we've stayed at, we really had no desire to sit outside because we would just be looking at other people's RVs and cars. They are, apparently, expanding the park, so hopefully they'll be able to space people out a bit better in the future. In the meantime, it wouldn't be our first choice if we were to come back to the area.
