Sales of RVs have slowed and fewer people are buying them. 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.
Sites not as advertised
Cindi S. found sites not as advertised. She wrote, “Booked a site for four days in Denver, PA. There were only four transit (non-permanent) sites. The rest were permanent. It was also advertised as dog-friendly, but there was no grass, just crushed stone. ‘Swimming’ was just a pond with fishing. Left early. No refund.”
Price goes up but no improvements
Kevin M. is a seasonal camper and has experienced the difference when a campground is taken over. He writes, “Campground was taken over by Sun Retreats. I’m a seasonal camper. First, the laundry room hasn’t worked in two years. Now, this year, the water filtration system is not working so we have to use bottled water for drinking. The electrical system sucks and needs to be upgraded. Every year the price goes up but no new improvements are made. You write to corporate but get no response. Campgrounds just want the money.”
Campsite belongs to the people who paid for it
Larry H. brings his perspective to empty campground sites. He wrote, “I don’t think people should get uptight about unoccupied sites. They are unoccupied so the park has received the payment so why should they care if there is no one there? The truth is that the site belongs to the people that rented it so they may arrive any time they want.”
Corporate campground management takes all the friendly out
Michael K. says changes are indeed affecting their camping and writes, “Changing for better or worse? I haven’t seen any get better, so many are adopting some kind of corporate management styles that take all the friendliness out. And refund policies… wow, some of those are really punitive. I had a case where canceling a 4-day reservation 21 days out cost me almost more than staying there.
“Affecting my camping? Hell yes! Five years ago I saw rates for full hookups for less than $50/night, now the same places are $100+. That puts a 4-5 day trip in a different light in the family budget, especially with higher prices for gas, although gas has gotten a little better.
“Crowded campgrounds? My impression is that’s less of a problem in 2024, but my sample size is less due to the cost issue.”
Invest in RV parks? Gut them, then sell the carcass
Bill B. has an interesting take on investing in RV parks. He wrote, “I first heard the radio ads about nine months ago pushing high cash income from investment in RV parks. Claiming income up 15% annual return. My first thought was gut for income and then sell the carcass. Story from the Hill Country is proof of my opinion.”
Canadian snowbird weighs in on seasonal spots
Jim W. expresses his frustration with minimum stays in the U.S. He says, “Canadian Snowbird here. We have tried Texas and Florida for winter RV vacations, and have found a beautiful family-operated park in Bradenton, which we will be returning to for our third year.
“Our fifth wheel was fitted with wheels and, like most RVers, we would like to see America, but more and more campgrounds are moving to 3 – 6 – 12 month minimum stays. Yearly terms are not feasible for Canadians as we are only allowed to remain Stateside for 180 days.
“Six-month terms are a possibility but traveling to and from the destination cuts into the duration because of the 180-day restriction. The 3-month minimum stay works, but as we stated earlier, plants us in one location year after year.
“We have tried to negotiate one-month stays with the same corporate-run campgrounds in different locations to no avail. The corporate mindset is to guarantee annual revenue with fewer camp spot turnovers, which also reduces administration and maintenance costs. It’s a no-win situation for us travelers.”
Floridian welcomes out-of-state RVers to come in the summer—may get a free wash and blow dry!
Carl W. wants RVers to quit hogging the state campgrounds and use private ones or come in the summer. He writes, “Other states do the same as Florida has recently done with its reservation system for state parks. This system does not apply to private campgrounds which abound in Florida. State parks are less expensive and that is a likely reason for high demand, but Florida residents often cannot camp in their own state parks because some non-residents seem to think these parks were intended to be their inexpensive winter residences.
“I do not believe that is the intent of state parks in any state. If you want to spend the winter in Florida, it is entirely possible. Just book stays into private campgrounds and quit trying to hog spaces in state parks during the prime camping season. Or, come during the summer; no problem getting into state parks in June, July, August, or September. You just might get your RV washed and blown dry.”
NOT going to plan months in advance
Steven M. will go to a motel if needed. He wrote, “We will become part-time campers if at all and will plan a daily reservation if able. If not, we will still drive to our area and look for something else or a motel. Not going to plan months in advance when no one can predict the future. The worst that can happen is we have to book a motel room. So what?”
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: Investment companies running RV parks ‘into the ground’
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Agree w/Larry H, so many comments that whine about opened campsites. You’re there to camp, take a stroll, ride a bike, read a book, walk your dog, enjoy the sceneries, not worry or fret about an opened or empty campsite. You do have a campsite, right? Michael K, didn’t you read the refund policy or the rules?
Imagine going to Hilton after Hilton being told they’re full but the parking lot, lobby and rooms are empty.
If you’re “lucky”, you get the room with the broken A/C, wet carpet and a slight bug problem (at full price of course) but everything else is blocked out for guests who’ll never come.
You come to realize every Hilton’s the same as they share a broken reservation system that not only encourages exploitation but rewards it.
How long do you optimistically keep trying before you simply give up going to Hilton or worse, join the “block out others club” to avoid the site that smells like a dog kennel?
The nicolet national forest is planning on raising campground fees anywhere from 5 to 9 dollars. Premium sites will be more. Not sure if a premium site means a water site and a electrical site.
Our camper is a Class B. If we depart for a local trip for the day, or maybe a local overnight, the site may look empty. We should not be required to leave camp chairs or anything else on the site to show it is ‘occupied’ (which may sprout legs and disappear). Get over it folks, the campground will make the money even if the site is empty!
Class B users are hardly the cause of the majority of booked, but unused sites.
All most here are asking for is a little courtesy from RVers that KNOW they aren’t going to use a site they reserved to cancel so someone that will use it can. Pretty darned simple, but I know its a LOT to ask for with today’s societal mindset.
Please. Total garbage. Empty sites aren’t because people are driving their rv to local places. Nice try.
Bit harsh Mark. I’m pretty sure Herman knows his own travel routine for day tripping and overnights from his base camp. Your kind of calling him a liar.
Mark, you are so clueless about Herman’s issue. We also have a Class B. Have had to resort to contacting the Camp Host and the Ranger sometimes to let them know we will be coming back after our day of touring around. Chairs/etc. will “walk away”. I do leave pop up traffic cones in the site with our name and “WE’LL BE BACK” written in big bold letters. Sometimes even that doesn’t work. Actually had a maintenance man come by and throw them away once. He apologized and said “Oh, I figured you’d just headed home.” WTH???
I just want to add to the comments by Kevin M.
We stayed at Cape May Wildwood in last year. Pictures on the website were really nice. Our site was overgrown with weeds and muddy and a dead tree next to our site. Of the three bath houses only one was fully operational and that was near the office.
This year we stayed At Flamingo Lake in Jacksonville. Again the pictures showed paved sites. Not so. Ours barely had any gravel and mostly sand. Again, the bath house only had one usable shower. The floor was coming apart and mold was growing in the cracks. The entire building was falling apart. The office closed at 4pm and no way to contact anyone.
BTW, both of these were owned by Sun Resorts.
AH yes, SUN RESORTS.
Campgrounds are not crowded, STOP artlices like this. All it does is spread FEAR and God knows there is plenty of that BS which we do not need.
You always make the same comment. Have you thought of just skipping these articles ?
You are correct. Only the most popular are always crowded just like restaurants, national/local attractions, hotels/motels and even roadways. Making money is the primary reason, not cheap sites for the vocal minority. Capitalism is Good.
Grow up.
shoo fly, don’t bother US….no need to comment, just buzz off
Yes, it’s true that an unoccupied site may be paid for but unused, but the real issue is campgrounds that are shown as full that have many unoccupied sites. On our last trip, I would get the last site/reservation, only to find the campground a quarter empty when I got there. And on the weekends I couldn’t get a site at all, but I have the feeling that a lot of sites were empty. I always cancel a reservation if I can’t use it or need to leave early because I want others to experience the joy of camping, too!
Thank you, Nanci! 🙂 Lots of “not good” stories this week. Hopefully, they all get pleasantly surprised soon, whether by their site, the campground, the nightly rate, or something else. Meanwhile, we just had a nice, relaxing, but often wet 4 nights at an Army Corps of Engineers campground (Holly Bay) in the Daniel Boone National Forest in eastern Kentucky (a bit west of I-75). Thanks again, have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
“Corporate campground management” THREE WORDS TO JUSTIFY BOYCOTTING THE CROOKS.
100%.
Private Equity whores.
An empty site may be for many legitimate reasons and one poor one. Perhaps the camper was unfortunate enough to suffer a breakdown, delaying his arrival. Perhaps he’s in town, perhaps he’s day tripping. So RV parks have generally adopted the policy that, so long as he has fully paid his reservation, the site is rightfully his, until it isn’t. I suggest people take responsibility for their own actions, or lack of action, and quit complaining.
I completely agree with your thoughts.
Are you seeing more permanent and seasonal RV parks?
YES! We completed a 4 week 5000 mile trip from WA to Ar and OK in April/May of this year. We found that 50% or more of sites in campgrounds are allocated to long term or full time. In some instances there were only about 10 available sites. The rest were filled with permanent residents. I certainly won’t try to camp during peak season anymore, like I used to in the 90’s and early 2000’s.
Gouge, gouge, gouge.
Worse with corporate parks. Jammed, extremely overpriced and not the camping experience.
Hotels do a better job and the cost to travel is less and far more flexible.