RV sales have slowed (finally) and fewer people are buying RVs than has been the recent trend. Has that changed campground crowding? Is it easier to find a campsite now, particularly in state and national parks? Campgrounds are changing and evolving, some for the better and some for the worse. RVtravel.com readers discuss their experiences and offer a few tips to help other campers find that perfect spot.
Here are a few observations from our readers.
Reactions to last week’s unhoused and homeless post
Last week, reader Nan A. wrote about helping the unhoused and also blamed “seasonal campers” with taking the last of affordable housing and forcing the unhoused into complete destitution. It caused quite a stir with reactions from those applauding her wish to help, to explanations of seasonal campers, to defensiveness, to rather disparaging comments.
I personally had not considered how the explosion of RVs could affect those that depended on an RV park as their last chance at housing. I have stayed overnight in some of the parks that seemed like the end of the road for some folks and was glad that I was not a long-term resident and had a choice on where to stay and live. Is that elitist or clueless? I have asked Nan for more feedback to gain greater understanding but have not heard back.
Rather than rehash it here, I’ve decided to include the link to last weeks Campground Crowding column to allow others that are interested to read the comments for themselves. Nan’s comment is at the top of the article.
Here are some of the emails we received:
CAVEAT: If you choose to leave a comment on this story, please do so with respect and keep your politics out of it. If you do not follow our rules, we reserve the right to delete your comment. Thank you for listening.
Not doing this by choice
Dawn L. lost her daughter’s dad to COVID and is now living on the streets. She says, “We lost my little girl’s dad to COVID-19. Then we lost the ranch we’d had over 25 years. If not for discovery of the Thousand Trails program we’d be living in the streets being looked down on for daring to be poor. I believe poor people will be jailed to be used as chattel in this failing capitalist falling nation. I’m so grateful my little girl is being raised in a safe community but I’m not doing this by choice. We deserve housing. Until we value people over profit it’s only going to get worse.”
We survive the best we can
Michael S. shares his story with us: “We are homeless, not seasonal campers. After reading that nasty post about that lady and how she doesn’t want to be lumped in with the homeless and your publication had the nerve to publish it, I’m hoping you will give me the same respect to tell you a few things about campers. While we lost our travel trailer home during an eviction, the stabilizers failing to retract in any way, there are plenty of so-called ‘seasonal campers’ who are actually in fact homeless.
“They are retired, they sold their homes, they have nowhere to live but with the people who lost everything. And while I get lame campers who recognize me from holding a sign and want to scold me at my only private spot, a camp site, there are campers that have been especially kind, given money and clothes and food too.
“They are the reason we feel like our lives have purpose so far down even though we share the same ground, not the judgmental campers who have no clue about anything regarding what it takes to survive with nothing … But an old van.
“We have survived the best we can with a lot of hope and sometimes very little, but you don’t know who you are judging or even why you do it when you do. I’m grateful for the kindness we have received because if the world was only full of hate, we would have been dead long ago.”
Pricing ridiculous!
Many of our readers are commenting about the rising price of fuel and of campgrounds.
Art S. says the campground pricing makes boondocking worthwhile: “I am finding availability during the week by avoiding the hot spots. However, the pricing is getting ridiculous. I am renting the space, not buying it! Today’s prices make it worth the expense of equipping the tv for boondocking. Also many campgrounds are little more than parking lots; might as well go to Walmart.”
Another reader, Sheila K., notes that rates have gone sky high! She says, “We are snowbirds. Just retired in Sept. of 2022. Rates have gone sky-high because so many have decided to live full-time. We have always camped in the summer, not had a problem. Until Covid. Technology also plays a part. Those that work from home can live much cheaper in an RV. Contrary to ‘Nan,’ nothing elitist about the situation. We have looked at cheap campgrounds. They are garbage. No one takes care of their campers. Old, falling apart. Green with mold. Tarps over parts because of leaking.”
Jan M. sees private campgrounds price-gouging. She writes, “To answer your question: Campgrounds are still heavily booked in Georgia. Private campgrounds are gouging and some have unreasonable rules. They know you’re having to pay the price because the availability in the Corps of Engineers parks is simply just not there. I am seeing more permanent and seasonal RV parks, but not affordable. And yes, the rising costs are affecting me, which is one reason I’m searching for a lot to dock at. Between the rising costs of campsites, fuel, restaurants, groceries, and everything else, the bill is getting to be too much.
“I will travel as I wish, but not near as much. And yes, as I stated above, it is affecting me. I wish I had some tricks up my sleeve to share on finding spots, but the only one I use effectively is that I find more availability at 3:00 in the morning. Less online traffic at this time, I guess. Camping has become stressful instead of fun, and I just hate that because we so love to camp. I’ll sit tight and hope things get better. I’m a stubborn woman and never, never, never quit!”
Book far in advance—hate that!
Bob H. likes to wander. He says, “If you book far enough in advance you can find a spot. I hate that. I like to wander. It’s difficult if you have to book every step of the way six months ahead. What if I find a spot where I would like to stay a bit longer? I can’t. No spot available where I’m at. I’ve got to get on to the next spot. So many deadlines. I thought that would end when I retired.”
So much to see and do
Keith M. gives us a more positive spin on RVing: “We traveled over 10,000 miles last summer. We live in New York. Our trip took us to Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and North Carolina. We always found sites when we wanted as well as boondocking at times. We got to spend time with our family and friends and saw amazing places throughout our great country. If we can, we may do it again this summer. So much to see and do.”
Now, some questions for you:
- Are you finding campgrounds booked up? Or is finding a place to stay not a problem?
- Are campgrounds changing for the better or for the worse?
- Are you seeing more permanent and seasonal RV parks?
- Are rising costs affecting your camping style?
- If campgrounds continue to be crowded and RVing continues to become more popular, will it affect how or when you RV?
- Do you have any tips or secrets you’d like to share about finding campgrounds that aren’t as crowded?
Please use the form below to answer one or more of these questions, or tell us what you’ve experienced with campground crowding in general.
Read last week’s Crowded Campgrounds column: Campers forcing vulnerable communities into ‘complete destitution’
Fully agree with,”people over profits”. However as a landlord, many people believe I’m making hand-over-fist profit. To be honest after paying property taxes, fire insurance, state and federal taxes, property. management fees, and interior repainting after each 12-month lease, we only make $2,000 dollars year.
That’s what most people call poverty wages. Most family owned RV parks, or even single family rentals can state the same. We live people over profits, but get treated like we are the scum-rich. Honestly, we’d make more profit selling our rental, but. chose to keep helping others. Please understanding of the other side,ofthe coin.
Well, this piece was enlightening and thought-provoking, until we got to the comments, where apparently none of the hateful stuff got deleted. Sickening to see.
Hope the haters go through a medical bankruptcy or something equally miserable, until they can see how “Christian” their attitude has been.
No one has the right to question how or why another gives charitably. No one has the right to question what another person’s process is before giving charitably. None of us knows each other’s stories. Most of all, no one has the right to question another’s Faith or Christianity. Church is a source of compassionate giving for those in need, Christian or not.
What a gushing font of wisdom is this Cancelproof–and so cleverly masked by such a jaunty, own-the-libs nom de guerre! In the immortal words of Jerry Lee Lewis, there’s a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on. . . .
And still, you obfuscate while sitting on what appears to be your personal high throne of academic superiority.
Kinda quiet since your “drive by” 9 hours ago Andy Z.
How very liberal of you, do a drive by and then vanish. Figured you weren’t interested in pragmatic conversation with the 60% that diasagreed with you. Virtue signal.
I would submit to Andy Zipser, Re: Feb 17th, Half billion pounds of trash article, maybe see if Dawn and Michael are available to help out. I would be happy to offer them $10.00/hour as a contribution to our shared country. If you and 9 of your friends throw in 1.00/hour each, maybe you can start a movement and get a plaque. I’ll even pay half of the 20.00 wage. You don’t know me well enough to question my motives, my sincerity or any of my story.
Peace and love.
I believe this story that keeps getting re-hashed in this newsletter is still a mostly West coast issue. It doesn’t matter if the homeless are living on the streets, under an overpass in a tent, or have set up camp in a city park the issue is what it cost to live and survive in these locals.
I wouldn’t call someone living in a trailer in some kind of campground or trailer park homeless. There are those who chose to live in squaller, and those who do because of mental issues or some other form of reason. But when create societies such as many West coast cities and states have where everything is expected and provided for by the government, well you get what you sow.
Another “It’s All About Me” story so prevalent in the news these days!
And in many of these comments.
I assume that the RVers who are permanent residents in an RV park have at least some income: social security and/or at least a part time job. I doubt these are the truly destitute living on handouts. The thing is, living in a place you can’t afford is a choice. There are lots of places in this country where an unskilled service worker can afford an apartment. If you choose to not seek out these options, don’t blame me for taking away a spot in a park.
I hope that Nan does return with more information. Her initial comments told me that she sees a problem, but left me with little understanding of it.
Hopefully when Nan returns she will tell us that Dawn and Michael have each enrolled in a welding or plumbing or carpentry class at a Community College and how much they are looking forward to providing for their children in the future.
The people who are homeless or unhoused. You controlled your destiny in life. I joined the military, got a job afterwards, had to continue training throughout life to advance my career to better myself. Wife came from Irish family who felt woman should be barefoot and pregnant and would not pay for college. Wife worked, put her self thru college at night (masters degree) while being a mother and wife. She worked in her career like I for the better things in Life. My two brothers never cared about bettering themselves, worked low paying jobs under the table for cash. Now make less than a $1000 a month plus food stamps. One brother lives in subsidized government housing. The other in a nursing home paid by the government. I came from a poor family, parents had a house partly finished and they always had food, never steak or seafood. They had to take out small loans to pay property taxes. So we survived and I know how things are.
My sister and her husband like me always had a decent job because they had ambition for better things in life. Because of their ambition, they own a home and are doing ok and living comfortable.
And my guess is the successful ones all had a functioning alarm clock. Half the battle is showing up on time.
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I would imagine that some of the “nicer” RV campgrounds are pricing to keep the “undesirable riff raff” out. Being a free country, this is their right.
I see people moving around but none are free.
I wish we had more Escapees Rainbow villages, one per state would be nice. I have never stayed at a campground full of homeless, but several where folks stayed for a month or two. Several places I have visited were 75% folks working in the area, and could not afford a residence. Many have seasonal jobs like Ren Faires or Amazon holidays.
Last week, reader Nan A. wrote about helping the unhoused and also blamed “seasonal campers” with taking the last of affordable housing and forcing the unhoused into complete destitution. We have been seasonal campers for a few years. Nan A, why should the so called homeless take precedent over me? Why should I give up what I have worked my whole life for? Why should I not be able to enjoy what I like? Your comment is rude and uncalled for in referencing seasonal campers.
My thoughts exactly!
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More info needed on Dawn L.
1. When did you last hold a job, and where?
2. How did you lose the ranch?
3. Did your daughter’s father have no life insurance?
4. Have you ever used hard drugs?
5. Do you drink?
6. Have you applied for a new job and where?
7. Do you attend a church regularly?
8. What is your age demo?
9. Are you disabled?
10. Are you a vet?
Same questions for Michael S. minus 2 and 3.
Tough for me to comment without that info. However, at the risk of sounding too much like capitalist pig to Dawn L., maybe Dawn could name the country she thinks would be a better fit for her, given her disenchantment with capitalism and at the same time give us her perspective of how life for the population is working out in that other country, not founded on free market capitalism.
I would also ask “what color is your Iphone?” Might sound cruel, but when I see people criticizing the evil capitalist system, some seem to have access to digital media. And piercings, tattoos, orange hair dye, etc. Makes me wonder where their priorities got confused.
Consumer cellular 20 bucks a month and older iPhones all over starting 25 bucks and up. So I don’t see that a game changer. I agree with your hair color but you can add with drugs and alcohol consumption to your list.
Lots more questions and no answers to them ever seem to come. Just more of the same.
Excellent questions. Thanks for posting. Folks ask not to be “judged” in public forum discussions but commenting on personal circumstance without solid background info will leave the door open to any response. If folks are looking for information or help from fellow RV’ers, just ask.
I’m happy to help anyone that needs help.
Just tell me why you find yourself where you find yourself.
Seems to some that unless I help without question, it’s me that gets to be judged by the virtue signaling equity warriors.
Why do you “need” more info on Dawn? Has she asked you for anything? Are you thinking about helping her—depending, of course, on whether she meets your standards of acceptable need? Your questions suggest to me that you’re more interested in moralizing than understanding someone else’s situation (are you a vet? do you attend a church regularly? Really?.). I don’t know about “capitalist pig,” but you do come across as self-righteous.
Yes she actually did ask for a lot. Why does she “deserve” housing – she has housing. She is choosing to live within her means – which is capitalism.Yet she is critical of everyone else who made different choices.
She is the one calling names and insulting people who live as Americans strive to live. Nothing wrong with being or at least, trying to be successful. And free to do so without demanding others to feel any way about their choice, unlike Dawn who wants us all to think she is homeless (which she is not – she lives at Thousand Trails) because of American capitalism.
There are options that she seems to not want so why can she be critical and the rest of us not have an opinion?
I’d say Dawn L and cancelproof are both lacking equally but in different ways.
Ahhhh, equity. Yeah that’s it, EQUITY.
Uniquely, the other thing we have in common is our starting place in life.
Such a well thought out and articulate reply.
Andy do have standards for people or charities you help or do you just blindly give your money away ? Before you call someone self-righteous you need to take a good look in a mirror.
Andy, I have to agree with you. There is a serious lack of compassion being displayed here.
How? My questions to Dawn are founded in TRUE compassion.
How virtuous of you.
I can’t speak for Cancelproof, but I think needing ‘info’ was a just figure of speech. You should know as well as anyone Andy, about work ethic these days, being a former employer. Maybe Dawn L. and Michael S. need to get to work instead of ‘holding a sign’ as Michael S. alluded to.
Peace and love brother.
See Jewel’s reply.
See MattD, Spike, and Vic, below, Dan above and read Jewel’s reply again too. I don’t need this fight when others obviously understand that giving Dawn a fish versus teaching Dawn to fish…..
However, you say my standards? This is in fact about her standards, not mine.
My questions are about being genuinely interested in her situation. Exactly opposite your assertion.
Possibly, Dawn only DESERVES a fish if she is actually trying to catch a fish. She certainly doesn’t deserve my fish if she is not trying get one on her own.
As much as I’d love to get deep into this with you Andy, you would first need to understand that helping someone requires an equal measure of participation from the one requesting the help. It’s a Christian principle and a capitalist principle all at the same time.
Feel free to buy Dawn a fish tho and be a virtue warrior. I would rather actually help her improve Dawn’s lot in life. It starts with recognition of how she got where she is, thus my questions. Make sence to you yet? It is her daughter that I worry about tho. End what may become a generational cycle before hand. What can I do for her daughter is the next question that I ask. I’m done with you and your holier-than-thou, virtue signaling, Equity warrior BS.
That is what I thought. Asking those questions indicates to me that some people just like to lord it over others. Why does it make any difference where they worked, whether they go to church or if they are a vet?
People need to recognize that most people in this country are just one medical emergency, accident or other catastrophe from homelessness. If you are not in the .1% you could be the next homeless person.
And the generation before them, same. And the generation before them, same.
And the generation before them, same.
I dont think this is about 1 paycheck away theory, this is about working for any paycheck at all. Thus my questions.
A guy with $20,000.00/month mortgage and $30,000/month job is 1 paycheck away too. Live within your means and if you have no means, call me and tell me why you need help, not just that you do need help.
Cancelproof, I agree that it’s impossible to make any conclusion without understanding a lot more than what appears in a normal comment. While some people are down and out due to something beyond their control, and probably something they will work out with some temporary help, some are there because of life style choices I have limited sympathy for.
I recently saw an NBC news story about a homeless guy in a small town. The residents decided to lift him up…gave him new clothes, paid for a couple weeks in a hotel, gave him food, etc. I mean, they really tried to give him a chance to help himself get back to being a contributing member of society. In an interview, he seemed quite lucid and well spoken, but he also gave no indication that he was going to change, get a job, etc. Basically, he slapped all those good people in the face. Hard to feel sorry for that.
Spike, I think that happens more often that not. And that is just my opinion, from my experience.
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Cheers. 👍
BTW Spike. Your story Re: NBC, my wife and I have lived that story multiple times. My beautiful and gracious wife once prepaid a man’s rent for 6 months, furnished that apartment for him and gave him a job. At the 7th month, he was gone, damage deposit gone and new carpet going in. Life happens. I’ve learned a lot about results based giving since then.