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.
Crime and civil unrest change their travel plans
Cindy A. says that crime and unrest have changed their bucket list travel plans. She wrote, “I haven’t seen any mention of how crime and civil unrest are affecting RV travel, but at this point, it’s kinda hard to ignore it. I don’t feel comfortable traveling in some parts of the U.S., even though many of those places are on my and my husband’s ‘bucket list’. Those same places also apparently have a big problem with overpricing and overcrowding at campgrounds. Crime can happen anywhere, but it’s just more of a problem in some places than in others. So until things improve, crime and unrest will continue to affect our travel plans.”
Reckoning for greedy owners
Michael K. believes in a refund that’s fair. He wrote, “I second the notion that ‘a good system that refunds your money if you have to cancel should be fair for the camper and campground’ would be better for everyone. I know inflation came and went and left prices higher for almost everything, but family-owned places I used to go for $40 are now corporate-owned and $100. There will be a reckoning one of these days for the greedy owners.”
Florida Keys’ prices out of control!
Robert T. writes about the exorbitant price increases in Florida. “Even in the Keys things have gotten out of control. Three years ago we stayed in Key Largo at $100 per night. Looked into going back next late winter (Northeast), same campground now $155. Boyd’s in Key West, $116 three years ago, now $185. At those prices, I either avoid those destinations or sell the RV.”
Reorient your thinking and interesting parks pop up
Bill B. hasn’t had a problem finding sites and has some great advice. He wrote, “Haven’t had a problem, yet. We use Passport America, Elks lodges, and town and county parks.
If that fails, we look for alternative campgrounds.
“Stay off the Interstates!! Seriously, only use the big roads near the major cities. Once you reorient your thinking a lot less expensive and interesting parks pop up on the blue and red roads. We use RV Parky for planning. Reservations are made only when we know space will be tight. Both daughters live in the Nashville area. Reservations maybe a week before arrival. Big tourist areas, like Orlando, require a much longer time frame”
Prefer “wanderer” parks
Keri M. wishes RV parks would post if they allow permanent RVers and wrote, “We have found limited reservation availability at some sites, only to show up and find out many are permanent residences. I wish sites would post if they allow permanent sites as I would avoid those. I prefer to stay in parks with other ‘wanderers’.”
Florida’s county parks are becoming mobile home parks
Linda W. wrote to us about the changes she sees at county parks. “County parks in South Florida were our ‘go to’ during the summer months as residents. Now, the sites cost ~$50/night and only a fraction of the rentable sites are available for short-term (1-5 days) camping. The rest are ‘long-term.’ Basically, they have become mobile home parks on the taxpayer’s dime.”
Online reservation’s shortfall
Jim J. comments on trying to book multiple days online and seeing nothing available. “With the ubiquitous move to online reservations, I have spotted one common shortfall. You put in your arrival and departure dates and get ‘Nothing Available’ as a response. What the online software isn’t telling you is that some, maybe most of the dates in your range have availability. But not which dates might be blocking your entire request. You can play a shell game trying to find the hidden blocking pea or look at other locations. Some sites have started showing which of the requested days are not available. And often if you then call the park directly (not the chain’s central reservation number), you can work out something. You might have to move between sites for the desired duration.”
Not much attraction left in RV parks
Camden C. used to enjoy RV parks but doesn’t like what he sees now. He wrote, “Been sailing and RVing for well over 50 years. Mainly a Baja boondocker where there are still stars but I used to really enjoy RV parks too.
“RV parks and campgrounds? Expensive, 10-year rule, crowded, partiers, reservations—not much there to attract me anymore.”
Six weeks RVing and only one advance reservation
Tom Y. has had no issues getting a site but will adjust his schedule when needed. He wrote, “Just completed traveling for six weeks and visiting ten states. I did not have any problem finding a campsite. Only made one advance reservation for the Oshkosh air show and had to adjust my travel by one day for a visit to Mackinac Island. All others were a call the day before I planned to arrive or the day of arrival. Was not turned away at any Walmart and was able to extend my stay on short notice at several sites. Visited some great places and had a great time!!”
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: Paid-off RV still costs $1,000+ a month; And don’t get this RVer started on ‘shocking’ car and hotel costs
##RVT1177b
Not much problem yet. Unfortunately, many RV parks are turning into mobile home parks with many “extended” stay campers.
I believe with the ever increasing cost of living, the bottom end of the financial scale is in serious trouble.
Cindy A’s comments are too vague and non-specific to be given any credence. What the heck is she talking about?
Perception is one’s own truth. I’m glad that I watch squirrels and birds in my backyard. They don’t seem worried at all.
We’ve stayed at a few RV parks that became mobile home parks for one reason or another. In one I was approached by my new ‘neighbor’, who had more tattoos than teeth, to bum a cigarette. He also had a lawn mower sitting in the tall weeds around his RV. At another, many of the trailer pull and fifth wheelers had plywood windows and doors with window AC’s sticking out. Probably won’t go back to either of those, but I can appreciate having to do what you have to do to keep the money flowing. I just wish there was a way to find out these things before we made a reservation.
Micael K said “I know inflation came and went“. Went? As in no more inflation? Really?
I’m just guessing, but I’m going to assume (uh oh) that most of this reservation stuff is back east. Out west we never make reservations. Just show up, set up, and enjoy our stay. We’re not talking resorts, of course. We’re talking mom-and-pop CGs. Or boondocking, which is much more prevalent out here.
Yep…the rate of inflation has slowed, but in general, prices are still going up. The news media likes charts that show a monthly YTY inflation rate as many interpret that as deflation. A cumulative graph shows the actual impacts on an ever increasing rate…except in recessions.
Just spent six weeks “out west” in July-August. While I made reservations I wouldn’t have needed them except for our stay right on the Oregon coast. Most of the other places we stayed had many, many open sites that would even fit big rigs and were full hookups. MUCH different than a couple years ago.
I tend to make reservations in advance (I live in Oregon), but mostly as insurance – especially during hunting seasons and holiday weekends.
In 15 years traveling across the country I’ve somehow missed all this “crime and unrest.”
IMHO the poster needs to watch a different news channel.
A couple comments about parks with long-term stays prompt me to write – – it all depends on the specific RV park. Although we only stay seasonally, our larger TT stays on a RV park site year-round. We don’t want to stay in RV parks that are places of last resort either. But not all parks are like that. We are currently in an RV park that specifically caters to long-stays, BUT they always have a few sites open for short-stay also. Again, I suppose there are parks that are occupied by snobs. But in my experience, the short-stays are always welcomed and add variety.
When it comes to finding better RV parks, you often can’t beat the little county and state campgrounds.
You’d be amazed at the interesting places that are little but uncrowded…
What rise in crime and civil unrest is this paranoid lady talking about? We’ve been on the road for 2 months now and I haven’t seen that? I don’t watch the news or any tv maybe that’s her problem? Nothing prebooked spending $35-$50 on average for FHU we’re in the redwoods by the beach. There are more full timers in a lot of parks now but that’s ok so long as the park is clean and not full of tweekers. Never stayed in a Walmart we do boondock and utilize our harvest host membership. Was in Florida a couple of years ago horrible place very expensive and trashy too many high rise buildings blocking views of the ocean, the County Parks there were better than RV parks. Canada was great!!!!
Ignorance is truly bliss eh Gary?
Well, watching too much TV and news can bring your blood pressure up for basically no reason.
Reporting on crime is up. In the last 4 years, crime rate has decreased.
Murders and sexual assaults are both up over 40% when the same metrics used 5 years ago are factored in. Just a fact Michael.
The reported FBI crime stats didn’t include , NYC, Chicago, LA, Houston, Seattle San Fran and a few others. When you don’t include the cities with the highest crime rates is it a surprise that the numbers look good.
FBI mgmt = KGB in 2024. Propagandists.
Yes, crime and civil unrest are happening in the inner cities. But who camps in the inner cities? Go to a hotel if you want to visit a city…
Crime and Unrest: I have seen this as an issue both in Tahoe Natl Forest where I camp host, and in the Quartzsite BLM camping areas and it’s been reported in the news. Illegal fires during burn bans, not paying fees, stealing/breaking in at camp sites, fighting/violence against campers, dumping trash, etc. Law enforcement is overworked and understaffed in both areas. Here in my area of TNF, which is normally among the most peaceful, we’ve had 2 instances of craziness (campers shooting at passing cars, campers wielding machetes and shooting guns in campground) and calling 911 results in an hour of handoff between agencies with the Sheriff ultimately refusing to come. Yes, bad is increasing.
CONT’D: I have previously co-presented at the national level to campers and nomads about how to keep our public lands (and other overnight stops like Walmarts) open to us by practicing good camper behavior and encouraging us to police/educate each other to reduce bad behavior in these spaces before they’re closed. After what I’ve seen this year in the National Forest, I’m starting to change my mind and support the notion of closing off opportunities to us. The opinion is rising in me that we (humans in general) don’t deserve these beautiful lands. While most campers/visitors are good, the number of bad has increased so dramatically it’s painful. Many of us camp hosts may not return…
FL County parks and other long-term residence issues: The affordable housing shortage and other homeless issues is on the rise, and the number of RVers (campers and permanent) has increased substantially while RV parks are being sold off for alt uses of the land or to greedy corps. The supply vs demand balance has shifted too fast for everyone except park/campground owners. And permanent RVers need a place to park their homes since so many places criminalize parking on the streets. It seems natural county parks would accommodate some of them–it actually helps with the homeless problem. Unfortunately it sucks for us travelers. It’s a complicated issue.
We are sitting in the cool shade of a tree with a lake view in an AZ state park at 6,000′ elevation. High temp today is forecast at 85 degrees, low tonight 55. Paved site with W/E hookups, hiking trails to petroglyphs, Ancestral Pueblo ruins, and interesting Colorado Plateau rock formations. On a Saturday 250 miles from insufferably hot Phoenix, this cg. is about half full, but the camping cabins are all filled. Rode our E-bikes this morning on a 6-mile (RT) gravel road and didn’t see another person along the way. Very peaceful, no loud parties, the few teenagers well-behaved, no crime, just ordinary folks enjoying the outdoors for a few days of peace and quiet!
Thank you, Nanci! 🙂 Have a great weekend and safe travels! 🙂
Please justify your assertion regarding RVing and “civil unrest.” Where? Who? When?
I mostly camp in SC State Parks and I camp host as well. They only allow a 14 day reservation, although some have a 30 day special for snowbirds in the winter. So far, all the campers have been nice and don’t cause any trouble. If they do get out of line you can contact a SC Park Ranger and they deal with it.