Great southern Oregon campgrounds

Do your RV travel plans take you through the southern end of Oregon? The state's big paper, The Oregonian, recently opened a survey to its readers for their pick of the "Best Campgrounds" in the area. You might want to add these to your planning process.

Howard Prairie Lake Recreation Area, maintained by the Jackson County government, comes in at the top of the list. You may be familiar with the locale by knowing about the annual Shakespearian Festival held in nearby Ashland. East of that little college town is the five-mile long lake on which several campgrounds are to be found. The best of these, say readers, is the Howard Prairie Resort. Dry camp for $18 a night, or run your price up all the way to $30 a night for a full hookup. Trout and bass have to compete with the allure of a store, restaurant, laundry facilities, and full-service boat marina.

Not too far from Ashland, too, is Emigrant Lake County Park. Full hookup sites run $30 a night, and reservations are important. Perhaps the popularity explains the price. Not only will you find fishing, boating, and water skiing, the county has capitalized with a 280 foot twin flume water slide.

A half-hour north of Ashland (well, OK, make it 40 minutes for us slow pokes) is one of the most picturesque places in fall, the Valley of the Rogue State Park. While the "prime" season is summer (with full hookups running $24 a night), we'll not only shoot for the "discovery" season for a better price ($20), but the colors will knock your eye out. Joseph Stewart State Park on the Crater Lake Highway also gets a loud shout-out from readers.

Other reader faves:

Broken Arrow Campground on Diamond Lake in the Umpqua National Forest. This one is closest to Roseburg, Oregon. You'll spend $15 per night for a spot.

Not far away on the same lake the BLM operates another popular spot (with showers) called Hyatt Lake Campground. Rates here are $12 to $15 per night (depending on what night of the week) and comes with amenities including access to boat ramps and dock facilities, a fish cleaning station, a sand volleyball court, a basketball practice court, horseshoe pits, and a children's playground. Horseshoes, volleyballs, and basketballs are available for checkout/use at the Campground Administration building.

Josephine County gets kudos from readers for its Indian Mary Campground. $22 per night for full hookup sites, or $20 for water and electric, both in prime and off season. Lots of local history around here.