By Gail Marsh
Are RV park restrictions getting tighter? It sure feels that way!
We recently received an email from reader Sheryl H., who said, “I’m trying to make travel plans to New Mexico. I keep running into parks that do not allow anyone under 21. Anyone else having these problems?”
I’ll let our readers comment on your question, Sheryl. Perhaps there is an increase in age restrictions. I know that New Mexico, as well as Arizona and Florida, are all senior winter hotspots. Could it be that these campgrounds bar younger campers in order to retain their winter “snowbirds”? Do you have any experience or know anything about this? Please leave a comment below, if you do.
More RV park restrictions
It seems that more and more RV parks are restricting usage. Some parks do not permit older RVs. Other parks limit or exclude pets. Still others enforce age restrictions. Why so many limitations? Why now?
Newfound power
With the uptick in RV ownership over the last few years, campgrounds have been “feeling the power.” Campgrounds have discovered that they can eliminate some of their “headaches” by instituting and enforcing certain restrictions. When I say “headaches,” I don’t mean that I have a problem with pets, children, or older RVs. What I’m saying is that campgrounds can keep their managers and some of their guests happier with specific restrictions in place.
RV park restrictions eliminate problems
For example, if campers constantly complain about pet owners who refuse to pick up their pet’s “poo,” it may be easier for the campground to simply disallow pets. If the campground manager is frequently contacted about noisy kids, s/he may just decide to restrict the campground to those over 21. Wait! Aren’t the campgrounds in danger of losing profits by eliminating families with pets or children? Not in today’s RV reality. Many popular campgrounds continue to be booked full, even with such restrictions in place.
Cost-cutting RV park restrictions
Another reason why campgrounds may have age restrictions is to cut costs. A small, local campground near our home needed to replace its playground. It was old and, frankly, unsafe. What did they do? Removed the playground altogether. Gone are the swings and slide. The teeter-totters and sandbox are history, too. It just costs too much to purchase and install new equipment. So, the campground opted out. When I asked about it, the manager said, “We can’t afford the amenities that families have come to expect. It’s cheaper for us to become an adults-only RV park.”
Eliminate derelict RVs
The 10-year rule is another frequent RV park restriction. This rule says that any RV older than ten years of age must be approved by a campground manager before being granted a site location. (Some campgrounds outlaw these older units completely.) One park owner said, “The 10-year rule isn’t there to discriminate against older rigs. It’s just the easiest way to prevent junk RVs from becoming permanent eyesores.” I get that.
A large, rusted RV sits in a prime spot in a park we frequent. When I asked about it, the manager said, “The owner died. The heirs want nothing to do with it. They refuse to pay for the RV to be removed from the park. So, do we take them to court or pay to have it hauled off ourselves? Either way, it’ll cost us.” That’s not fair. The RV park is on the hook one way or the other. In the meantime, they’re also losing revenue from the spot where the derelict RV continues to squat.
Image maintenance
Many upscale RV parks institute a 10-year rule in order to retain their “image.” However, I’ve seen many older RVs that have been well-maintained throughout the years and look great. For them, this restriction just doesn’t make sense—at least to me. And what about vintage RVs? When fully remodeled, they not only look cool but they also help remind us all of a simpler life and time. I don’t see why they should be excluded based on their age.
What do you think? What RV park restrictions have you encountered? Do you agree or disagree with the restrictions? Tell us in the comments below, please.
##RVT1183
Can you find a junk collecter to haul it off for scrap metal free to you and he gets paid from scrap yard
The problem is most of the RV cannot be recycled. That means the person picking it up has to pay to dispose of all the wood, plastic, fiberglass, rubber, etc. Not worth the extra costs.
The only solution is to tow onto a road with a tractor and let the dot dispose of it.
If you dont like or agree with the rules, move the heck on. It’s their park or CG, who are you, we, to tell them how to run it. You have a choice but you choose to complain. Common theme for today’s Sunday’s edition seems to be rant, vent or complain, including one from Chuck, lol!
That’s the problem today. People think they are entitled. I’m like you, if you don’t like it move on!
And it’s ok that’s freedom to me
I wish more campers would tell the campground owners if they have an issue, but so many just write nasty reviews instead of actually addressing it. It is how people are these days and it is very sad.
I agree!! The need for power over a solution.
Truth!!!
I drive a very low mileage 2005 Deisel Pusher that looks brand new. In fact, design wise, it looks better than some of the stuff new on the market. Many have no clue of the age when they see it. Anyway, if a RV park sets an age limit with no exceptions, I usually just go on down the road and take my money elsewhere. If I really, really, really want into a park, I just tell them it is a 2015. I guess I only have another year for that to work.
No clue where Sheryl H. is looking to stay with those rules. We spent the last two months doing an eastern New Mexico loop from Santa Rosa to Clayton and found the state very accommodating. Storrie Lake, Eagle’s Nest, Ute Park, Cimarron all had nice campgrounds with just the standard rules. To be fair, I didn’t see any “adult’s only” parks there though I’m sure they exist.
I recommend she load up on more routing apps like Campendium, ReserveAmerica, AllStays, etc. for her campsite planning. Google Maps is good too.
Hi Vince! Great comment! New Mexico is very accommodating!
I prefer the 55+ RV parks as I just don’t care for unruly kids. Kids are fine that trained by their parents to be polite and considerate. What I don’t care for is kids (or adults) walking though my campsite, being loud or obnoxious, and generally inconsiderate of others.
The 55+ plus parks generally still have loopholes to allow younger people in, but if you want your kids to run wild, stay in a family park.
I’m a big proponent of restrictions. That being said I find it interesting how many times they are not enforced. In the past year one resort we stayed at was “over 21”, however there were kids everywhere. Another i find almost never enforced is young kids at the pool without adult supervision. The other side of that is a blanket age restriction on a rig makes no sense. I find parks most want pics. Let’s face it a restored vintage rig is always the center of attention wherever it is parked.
As the owner of a well kept 1976 FMC Motorcoach, I almost always have people stopping to look and inquire about the coach. Some also request a tour which I am happy to provide.
We own an adult only campground in Lancaster County, PA. The previous owners made it this way so it has been like this for almost 25 years. Guests LOVE it!! Why? Because the clientele are usually more respectful and kind. They remember how camping used to be and want to keep it that way. As owners, we love it too!! We rarely have complaints and it is so quiet and relaxing. Guests are more friendly and willing to lend a hand to other guests if they need it. We are campers ourselves and travel during our off season so we have experienced noisy campers and dog owners that can’t control their dogs from constant barking. Treat others as you would want to be treated is our motto.
Thank you Christa for sharing! Sounds like a wonderful place! I miss the days of people enjoying a common interest and simply being together without the constant harassment of others saying they have the right to be accommodated too! They think it’s…“Treat me as I want to be treated!”
I am making reservations at a campground that has a limited number of pet friendly sites, but they don’t have a filter for pet sites when you are making the reservation! I only saw the restriction when I was looking at the campground map. I don’t know what they would do if I reserved a non pet friendly site with my 2 dogs! Maybe this is an attempt to solve the dog “problem “ , but I’m not sure putting all the dogs together is a good idea either!
I would (and have) paid extra to stay at a dog free park.
Many RV parks are have been hijacked by corporations…welcome to Amerika.
Help is on the way JB. The Calvary is coming.
I have a 1998 Roadtrek 190 Versatile with only 48K miles. It looks good with no rust, with a clean exterior (shiny). It is a classic and been 100% maintained. Why would I be restricted? I am 76 and don’t want to blow 140K (or more) on a new Class B which was likely constructed no where as well as my older unit!?
If it looks good, and you do too, you will most likely have no issues.
“…. and you do too….” Is that where they will get me? My 10-year-old Roadtrek looks like new, BUT I am now looking 10 years older. ????
I also have a Class B 2014 Roadtrek and I will bet that your 1998 does not look any different than my 2014. A van is a van is a van no matter what the registration says.
It’s pretty easy to determine what kind of campground your searches come up with just by looking at the amenities. If there are no game rooms, pools, basketball courts, or playgrounds, and their nightly fee is less than other parks in the area, you can guess they market to a more adult or full-timer crowd than mom and dad and the three kids and two dogs. Research pretty much shows you what you are going to get.
Doesn’t it boil down to choice? If you don’t like unsupervised and disrespectful kids, look for a no-kids park. If you don’t care for unresponsible pet owners… Good manners seem to be declining.
We stay seasonally (like winter, not summer) in south-central Texas. We recently moved to a fairly new gated 55+ long-term RV park. The park is located in a rural, but not especially tourist-oriented area. It probably wouldn’t make it as a short-term oriented family park. Kids are permitted to visit, even stay for a limited time, but not live here. The family owners are under 55 and have kids, and while they live outside the park, they are very responsive to the people in the park. One of the amenities is a (for RV parks) huge fenced play yard for dogs. The dogs are in heaven. And neighbors are cooperative to share and not mix incompatible dogs. So far we are loving it.
Campground owners need to just put on their big boy pants and deal with derelict camping units directly, instead of punishing owners of clean older rigs. Simply refuse to renew leases if a rig starts making the park look bad.
As far as the rigs left behind when someone dies with no plan for disposal, guess what, disposal is part of the cost of doing business and taking rent for years on end. Have it hauled away. Or, as some well-run parks do, take the rig over, renovate it, and rent it to someone who needs it. The 10-year rule is just silly. If someone dies or lets a 5-year old rig deteriorate into an eyesore, did the rule prevent or solve the problem? No.
Thank you! What a breath of fresh air! Why is it always…punish “all” instead of simply dealing with the one “bad”…ugh
Yes the 10 Year Rule needs to be eliminated. Have a disclaimer that “we reserve the right to reject your RV upon check-in”. Of course, Park should have to refund any monies if they do. Most likely they would only do this for the worst looking units. And as you say, deal with it on a case-by-case basis. Or are the parks that do this getting a kick back from the RV Builders, since people would have to buy a new rig every 10 years? And on the haul off, I don’t get it. The owners should be identifiable by their reservation info and the tag on the unit. The tow company should be going after them, not the RV Park. If you get towed in a no parking zone with your car, you have to pay the tow bill.
I’ve never stayed in a public campround with a 10-year rule, age limits on campers, or limits on pets, except maybe no pets on trails through wildlife areas. I guess the answer for some of the complainers is pretty simple–make reservations in some of the beautiful COE lakeside campgrounds, state, county and city park, or even national seashore and lakeshore campgrounds available all over the eastern half of the country.
And my experience in New Mexico is apparently different than others. We LOVE the NM State Parks–$14/night plus reservation fee for lakeside W/E sites with the day pass, flush toilets, hot showers, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing for free!
Great comment! We’ve found the same! The RV experience is what you make it!
I think restrictions on older RVs are a mixed situation. Sometimes an older camper is all people can afford. I know my first camper was a $500 fixer-upper popup. I put lots of time and money into upgrading its interior amenities, fixing water damaged parts (including building a new roof), new canvas, etc. Replaced it only because we outgrew it for family camping. Bought a larger popup that is now 22 years old. Next spring, we will be buying a nice, brand-new hard side camper that is suitable for just my wife and me since my kids don’t enjoy camping with us anymore (teens…). We plan to keep that camper in good shape, but what happens when it passes the 10 year mark?
Restrictions are nothing new. Hotels and restaurants have had them for years. Find places that fit your needs and style.
I do think it would be interesting for a big campground to have sections that you could select from. More social or more quiet. Kids or no kids. Pets, etc. Some have separate tent camping areas, so why not others.
We once spent a January month in a rented park model in an AZ RV “resort” that had separate dog and dog-free sections. It had a fenced, off-leash dog park with benches next to the “dog section”. We were a few blocks from the dog section, so we heard no barking. But the jets taking off from the nearby military base would have drowned them out anyway!
“Just let the kids be kids” No. Let the kids be respectful campers or stay home, and that goes for your little dog too! Aaaaaha ha ha ha . . .
I prefer the laughter of children, over grumpy adults who whines and gets angry when a child crosses their lot. Don’t care for restrictions myself, don’t mind the quiet hrs. don’t mind dog restrictions, but when it comes to rv’s I don’t like it. My opinion.
I think some of the reasoning is underage drinking. Camp grounds don’t want to nor have to put up with such adolescent behavior and it can cause legal issues for them as well. And it’s not all but a large percent that fall into that under 21 category.
I thought this was going to be an article on nudist RV campgrounds with rules on no one over 40 allowed to be nude.
restrict smoking! One person smoking a cigarette, makes everybody in the area smoke cigarettes.
Many of us go outdoors to enjoy the outdoors. The clean air, the open spaces, the beautiful views and the ability to breathe.
A non-smoking campground or at least a non-smoking area would be a real benefit to those of us to breathe.
Thank you, Gail! No, we have not noticed an increase in campground/RV park restrictiveness. But we don’t full-time, rarely travel in or near snowbird areas, typically avoid private campgrounds, and have no children or grandchildren. We do have a dog and do not stay where he is not allowed. Have a great weekend and safe travels!