RV sales have slowed 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. RV Travel 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.
Don’t tell the world about great camping spots
SDW blames the internet for expensive and crowded campsites. He writes, “Telling the world on the internet how to find great camping spots just prevents those spots from being great in the future. It’s best to let people find them on their own. That’s part of the reason campgrounds are crowded. There are more people with more money RVing now, thanks to social media.
“When Covid hit, they sent everyone home to work off the internet. After being cooped up for six months one of them realized that as long as he had internet he could work from anywhere, and went out and got an RV. Then he went on social media and told the WORLD about it. That’s when RVs went up in price 30% and they couldn’t keep up with building them because they couldn’t get the parts. So they started putting used parts on them and the RVs broke down in no time.
“Campgrounds filled up and because of the demand, they raised their prices by 40%, 50%, and higher. It’s the internet that’s ruining RVing. Too many people want to be noticed or make money by giving people advice. Keep it up and nobody will enjoy it before long.”
Fuel high, repair prices up, campground prices high but doesn’t regret leaving house at all
David N. shares his observations on the current state of RVing. He wrote, “Crowding has slowed down. Prices are up. Not a whole lot of campground improvements. Fuel prices are high. Repair prices are up. With all that, we don’t regret leaving our house. You need to plan way ahead for spots to camp.
“The quality of surrounding campers/neighbors has improved greatly. There are more seasoned campers now and not a lot of newbies anymore. Just plan way ahead and stay in 55+ parks (if you are above 55). We’ve found state/national parks aren’t for us. We like 55+ parks because people follow the rules and are very friendly.”
Their go-to RV resort went from $45 to $95!
Rodney W. has really seen the prices rise. He said, “Rising costs have definitely changed our style. Gulf Shores has been our go-to destination for seven years until Luxury RV Resort went from $45 to $95 a night.”
Only allows Class A motorhomes
Jerri K. writes about liking upscale RV sites but don’t like not being allowed in their fifth wheel. “We are retired and have a 2023 40-foot toy hauler (we bring our golf cart). We prefer spacious, well-landscaped sites and find it upsetting that some of the nicer RV parks only allow Class A motorhomes.”
No problem if stay away from holidays and vacation times
William B. writes about the only tough times to get campsites. He says, “We haven’t had a problem so far. Full-timing since 2012. So always gone winters from 2004 to 2011. We use Passport America, Elks, COE, and BLM. Make use of the Golden Passport for Federal campgrounds. The only tough time is the summer holidays. Finding campgrounds off the beaten path will yield, so far, accommodations.
“We have stayed in high tourist areas by choosing visit dates away from holiday and vacation times. Wisconsin Dells, mid-coast Maine, Oshkosh, Lake of the Ozarks during the summer of 2023 without any problems.”
Don’t expect special treatment if don’t pay taxes in that state
Jim B. writes about the difference in resident versus non-resident costs. He says, “State Parks—some do charge out-of-state guests more. Is this fair? Yes, you pay taxes in the state. We do get a 30-day jump on booking sites! We should! You pay state taxes? It took me five years to book a spot for my camper in state! Should we bring up out-of-state hunting and fishing licenses? My state charges me 16 dollars (over 65 free lifetime hunting and fishing), one state charges me $1,500 for a basic license. You need a tag also, shell out 500 plus. Is it fair? I don’t pay taxes in that state! Just think.”
Campgrounds booked up? Not a problem in shoulder months.
Anthony D. replies to our question at the bottom of this column: Do you have any tips or secrets you’d like to share about finding campgrounds that aren’t as crowded? He shares, “We volunteer at USFS, NFW, COE, and NPS parks and travel in between seasons. Rarely ever a problem and rates tend to be moderate.”
Rigamarole to book sites on weekends and costs are SO stressful
M and D W. wrote to us about the costs and difficulty of booking campsites. “We have been blissfully camping since 2006. However, in the past 1.5 years, all these new extra charges/fees and ridiculous site increases have been inhibiting my hubby and me of our 3-day weekend vacations. The rigamarole we have to go through to find a campground that we can relax at has become SO stressful.
“By the time we tally up ALL those extra charges and ridiculous site fees, factor in gasoline to and fro, besides losing 1-day pay (no paid time off), who can afford $$$ to go camping anymore? Everything is so totally out of control!!!!”
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: RV expenses rising faster than inflation rates; housing crisis vs. RVers is ‘a nationwide, silent, untold story’
Other than price increases, we do not see much change. Avoid anything calling it a “resort”, and you will be fine. Discover blue highways, slow down and enjoy the ride.
I agree. Anywhere the big rigs go…I avoid like the plague! And not sharing a great campground is rude, especially, if it’s a mom and pop location; they could use that extra boost from favorable reviews. Otherwise, all we’ll be stuck with are the resort parking lots, they think are campgrounds!
We do not avoid where the big rigs go, but we can go where they cannot.
I see vacant sites in many campgrounds in Hill Country (south-central Texas). But if you want to be in a site around April’s solar eclipse and didn’t make a reservation sometime back, you are likely out of luck. This is where computerized reservations systems are a drawback. You ask for a range of dates and if even one day is unavailable the computer responds with “unavailable for the dates selected”. I have a sneaky suspicion that is why there are so many open spots right now. People think the area is fully packed.
I’ve had several class c motor homes in my life but bought a 2009 winnebago view right when covid hit and have traveled extensively across the US with my wife to many amazing places. We have been pretty savvy about finding spots but have made life on the road much more enjoyable by learning to boondock. I added a custom tiltable solar system (just 2 quick release pins tilts all 3 panels in either direction any angle) and lithium batteries also have a 200 watt portable solarpanel used mainly to directly charge our ebikes and added extra water capacity with 3x 5 gallon food grade buckets and lids from HD and a drill pump from harbor freight. We can comfortably go a week off grid. Happy camper
Gary How many batteries do you have & how many AH all together, Does 200 W keep the batteries charge?
200-watts of solar would not do it for me. However, it is not the solar or the batteries that matter, it is how a person uses what they have. We started out dry camping as a young family with a single lead acid battery and no solar.
Thank you, Nanci! Safe travels! 🙂
Since 2017, I have been sharing info about free and low-cost RV campsites in the Colorado Rockies in my blog. Last June, in the heart of the Colorado camping season, I used one of my highly recommended campgrounds that has FREE (w/ CO wildlife area pass), FC-FS, electric hookup sites. It was less than 1/2 full and I had no problem getting a long gravel site with a covered picnic table, grill, tent pad, and great views of Great Sand Dunes NP and the beautiful, snow-covered Sangre de Cristo peaks. Too many RVers refuse to camp without full hookups despite being equipped with water, waste, and propane tanks that easily allow several nights with an E-only, or even no hookup, campsite.
We too have found that the majority of campers want at least electricity if not full hookups. Because of this we seem to always be able to find empty sites in no hookup campgrounds and many times they are along a river or small lakes. We can camp for 10 days before needing a dump station so it works for us.
Your blog sounds interesting Steve, what’s the name?
“Campgrounds” – Places where you bring your own hotel room…
Hmmm.. Disclosure? Ask a fisherman where he got that big musky or walleye or whatever – be prepared for a vague to no answer! Some things are kept quite for a reason.
I’ve written this before about ALL the taxes I pay in my state. Income tax, real estate tax, sales tax, it really really adds up over the years and decades. So…………YES, out of state campers should pay more for a campsite at state parks. Do the state parks just magically appear out of no where with all their great camping features? I think not. They exist because the state spends money on developing, maintaining and having people run these parks. That money is from all the taxes my fellow state citizens and I pay year after year after year after year. I wish I had all that tax money I’ve paid in my state in a savings account. It would be a good amount of money