RV sales have slowed and fewer people are buying RVs. 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 tips to help other campers find that perfect spot.
Here are a few observations from our readers. These do not necessarily represent the views of RVtravel.com.
Simple solution—campground texts to confirm
Richard C. has a great idea for assuring that campers are actually coming. He wrote, “On our full-time adventure, we’ve had numerous campgrounds call several days ahead of our arrival to ensure we’re still coming. Simple text solution, just like the doctor’s office confirms your appointment; ‘This is the (X) campground confirming your stay. Reply yes or no.'”
No problem when booking a year in advance
Timothy S. books way ahead and doesn’t see costs interfering with continuing RVing. He wrote these answers to our questions at the bottom of the column: “Are you finding campgrounds booked up? Or is finding a place to stay not a problem? Not a problem. I always book one year in advance and pay for it immediately.
Are campgrounds changing for the better or for the worse? Better when improvements are done. Worse when prices are increased without improvements.
Are you seeing more permanent and seasonal RV parks? Yes. 50 percent of all campgrounds should not be permanent/seasonal.
Are rising costs affecting your camping style? Not at all.
Also, campgrounds should have a policy on refunds. Less than 7 days for a cancelation = no refund!”
Contact your senator; Forest Service personnel can’t do “squat”
John W. writes with some helpful information to address the crowding and no-show issues. He said: “A reader responded last week that you should voice your concern when talking to Forest Service or BLM personnel about the over-booking issue, but, sorry, that won’t do squat. These folks don’t make policy. If we all contact our U.S. Senators and Representatives asking that our Government-owned campgrounds controlled by ‘recreation.gov’ (operated by contractor Booz-Allen) change the current system to a 50/50 FCFS system.
“Senator Angus King (IND) of Maine is an RVer (Class C) himself and has been made aware of this issue—write him.”
Florida residents contribute all year long
Tara C. expresses gratitude for being able to book early as a Florida resident. She says, “As a Florida resident, it was nearly impossible to book a state park in the Keys or other popular parks in the past. Now, with the new reservation policy giving residents a 30-day advance for reserving, we have been able to book sites in our state parks.
“We are so very grateful to our governing administration as we can now enjoy the parks in our own state! I understand that tourists and snowbirds contribute to our communities, but we contribute all year long and have not been able to enjoy the parks we support all year. Tourists and snowbirds will still come to Florida and have many options available, but at least now residents can enjoy the state that they live, work, AND now can play in!”
Block no-shows for a year or two
Jerry M. sees a lot of empty campsites and writes this: “We find open campsites at many state parks that are ‘reserved’ but unoccupied. Very frustrating. I wish parks would fine heavily those who reserve and don’t show up! Maybe block them from making future reservations for a year or two.”
Campsites increasing rates higher than inflation? Stay away
John H. has a suggestion about price gouging. He said, “If park prices have increased at the rate of inflation, so be it. Doubling or tripling the price is simple price gouging, as has been disclosed in other industries. Reward the gougers and states gouging out-of-staters by simply staying away.”
Investment company running RV park into the ground
Jim J. mentions an RV startup that has only run off the winter RVers. He said, “After seven years at a Texas Hill Country gem, we, and multiple others, have moved. Miller Creek RV Resort was sold a couple of years ago to a small local investment group and renamed Miller Creek RV Park.
“RV Park Management LLC was hired to manage the park. While some buildings got a new coat of paint, what was a wonderful seasonal and short-stay RV park has become a shabby, poorly maintained place with fewer and fewer guests. Eight different managers over the two years. Last winter alone, the park ran out of water (with no notifications to guests) five times. Pretty much all the repeat business has gone elsewhere.
“The ‘Winter Group’ remains in close touch. We joined two other couples at another RV park, a couple more found new homes about a dozen miles away. Other seasonal guests are gone for the summer but are rethinking their reservations.
“RV Park Management LLC is a start-up. The principals’ prior experience is operating mobile home parks occupied by the working poor. If they could do something wrong in managing a park where the guests were mostly retired with adequate to high incomes, they probably did.
“The parks where most of the ‘Winter Group’ have gone are hands-on family owned. And yes, the group of friends remains in touch.”
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: Guess what? ‘First-come, first-served are never no-shows!’
##RVT1167b
Richard C, what if a person ignores text or doesn’t reply and shows up? John W, writing to your congress person won’t do “squat”. I get it and understand the frustration, I’ve gone through them myself. We all are faced with the manufacturing quality of RV build, warranty and extended warranty claims, down time and length of repairs, recalls, CG prices and reservations. If you like RVing, RV! My attitude and I’m sticking to it!
We have talked to campers at COE and other campgrounds. These people live within 100 miles of great campgrounds. They confirmed they reserve as many weekends as they can, including Holidays, in case the weather is good and they want to go camping. They also confirmed their practice of not showing up if it rains or if they decide not to go, telling us cancellation fees are basically nothing. Just maybe it’s campers who live and pay taxes in the state that cause issues, not out of state campers or extended stay RVers!
Time for cancelation fees to be 100% if cancelled in less than 48 hours. The reservation fee should be a full nights charge so there is some incentive to cancel within a reasonable time. And let’s face it, seasonal and “extended” stay campers are eating up many sites. But this is the time we live in
A recommendation is made to contact Senator King of Maine. That only works if you are a Maine resident. Unless you are writing a letter, trying to contact any Representative via their websites won’t work.
Wake up. SENATOR King is not a Rep. Go to his site and make a written comment. Only House Reps hide behind their “constituent” only ability to comment. You know, Reps like Pelosi, AOC, Jeffries, Clyburn.
Not a fan of the 50/50 FCFS. We often arrive later in the day and don’t want to gamble on getting a spot. It’s hard enough getting reservations. This would just make it worse
John H: Core inflation is an average. If a park’s labor goes up 15% and energy prices are up 10%, raising rates at Core Inflation of 4% is a recipe for bankruptcy. If tree trimming is up 20% and grass cutting is up 10%, those costs are factored into site fee increases.
Park owners are in business for profit. They also MUST mark up the increases they face, because they too pay more for eggs and gas. They cannot be expected to hold the line at the rate of core inflation to cover cost increases and not a penny more to cover personal expense increases. Business owners deserve raises as well, to keep up, just like employees, private or public.
“Park owners are in business for profit.” Yes…but they don’t need to eat rib eye steaks everyday at the expense of some working stiff trying to get some time off. Tell us who ain’t “trying to make a profit” in this country….seems inflation is tied to politics and greed.
Today, we agree. No one should eat Ribeye every night. Monday is Lobster night, Tuesday is Filet, Wednesday is Dover Sole, Thursday is Rib-Eye night, Friday is a nice Safron Rissoto with seared Scallops, Saturday and Sunday Pizza and burgers.
Risk your capital, reap your rewards.
If I only eat one meal on the weekends, can I have my T-Bone and baked potato with butter and a Ceasar salad? I worked for it – I earned it, I did I did. Thank You!
TRUTH!
✌️
Give it a rest. Good grief. We don’t need a life lesson in expenses and income. Save the lecture.
Private Equity is destroying the entire RV experience.Taking a nightly rate into the same price as a hotel is a sure formula for failure. We all deal with rising costs. RV upkeep, storage, fuel prices aren’t cheap.
Mine is not a lesson in expenses and income. It is merely a comment that Park Owners should not be expected to take a cut in pay (they may or may not) to make up for the bad economic policies of our Gov’t.
Should a business owner go backwards financially to ensure others with no risk stay even? The one who risks the capital reaps the reward unless of course you are also willing to help cover bankruptcy costs when all that was risked is wiped out. Failure is on the opposite face of the success coin and once tossed, it must land.
Safe travels Mark.✌️
50/50 sounds right
Thank you, Nanci! 🙂 Tomorrow we head to an Army Corps of Engineers campground for 4 nights. I am curious to see how full or empty it will be while we are there. Thanks again, have a grest weekemd, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂