RV sales have slowed and fewer people are buying RVs. Most costs across the board have risen. RVing is evolving. Has that changed how people are RVing? Are there still some areas that are crowded with campers? Are people more or less content with RVing?
RVtravel.com 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.
Prefer nature to swimming pools
Pam L. says they are “indoor campers.” She wrote, “My husband is not yet retired. Our RV trips are usually weekend jaunts to the coast in California, where we live. Right now, our preference is partial or full hookup sites overlooking a body of water. The rest doesn’t really matter. We tend to be ‘indoor campers’. We set up and settle into our home on wheels and enjoy the scenery. We might set up a propane fire pit outside our rig to gather around and watch a sunset. When we had littles, it was more critical to be near trees our kids could climb or areas where they could bike ride. We’ve never been big on resort-type facilities. We prefer nature to swimming pools and metal and plastic play structures.”
Stay away; stay far away!
James V. prefers state and federal campgrounds. He wrote, “We try to only camp at state park campgrounds. We won’t go where there’s another camper butted up right behind us or right out the front door. We want the woods right out the front door. There’s always a nearby lake for fishing and kayaking. Plenty of bike riding areas and hiking trails. Oh, and we WILL have full hookups, always, as we stay at least a week each time.”
Quiet and uncrowded
Brian N. writes about their camping style. “Our favorite thing is the ability to jump in our B+/C RV and take off for a weekend or so on short notice. It fits pretty much anywhere and is always ready to go.
“We prefer to stay at Harvest Hosts/Boondockers Welcome sites and state parks, which are generally quiet and uncrowded. We’ve only stayed at one ‘resort,’ because it gave us easy access to Washington, D.C. My one pet peeve is people who leave their outdoor lights on all night. It’s just inconsiderate.”
Save up for resort-style
Carol S. is happy with resort sites and wrote, “Thought we would never pay $100 a night for an RV site; however, we just took a 10-day trip and five of those days were at that price point. I do not regret it as the parks offered what we wanted (in particular, a lazy river) and the bookings were mid-week, which meant they were quiet and not nearly full. Yes, we can, and do, book $25–$40 a night sites without trouble, but after many years of RVing I would rather save up and stay resort-style for a few nights here and there. We’re in our 70s now and have no regrets. We recognize that our travel future is limited and we are going to do what makes us happy as long as we can. To each their own!”
What about me? Private or public?
Here’s what I (Nanci) have to say: I always prefer to stay in state or federal campgrounds when available. Like almost everyone else who writes into this column, I find it difficult to reserve public campgrounds at the spur of the moment, or even sometimes months in advance. I like them for the space, nature and the cost.
When no state, regional park, or federal campsites are available or we need to stop and refill, dump, clean out our tanks, or do laundry, I’ll book an RV park. They are usually so much easier to book, have more availability for big rigs, and are good for an overnight stop when traveling. We seldom use any amenities besides full hookups, but I have been known to succumb to a hammock on the site and campsite pizza delivery…
An exception to our preference for public sites has been when traveling with kids and grandkids. They are thrilled with all the things to do at some campgrounds that cater to them. Then we bite the bullet, pay the fee and know we can rest up at the end of the trip!
We have stayed at a few premium RV parks in Las Vegas, California, Montana, and Florida, and we paid a premium price! One time I just wanted to see what a $198-a-night site would be like, and another time we had a casita with outdoor kitchen, bathroom, couches and tables. But those times in decades of RVing are few and very far between.
I might not like the RV parks as much, but when the sites are so tight we can’t put out the awning, I just have to remember how close hotel rooms are and that we still have our own bed, and I am the one who has cleaned the bathroom!
Now, some questions for you:
- Are you finding campgrounds booked up or is finding a site not a problem?
- What do you like best about RVing?
- What are your pet peeves?
- Are you seeing more permanent and seasonal RV parks?
- Are rising costs affecting your camping style?
- Do you have favorite campgrounds or RV parks?
- What is the most memorable experience you have had RVing?
- Do you have any tips or secrets you’d like to share?
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: ‘RVing’ or ‘camping’? Does it matter?
##RVT1203b
We don’t ‘camp’ that much any more. We tend to pick no frill RV parks with FHU near public parks and do day trips into the parks. At the end of the day we come back to our ‘turtle shell’. We have spent so much time in areas with burn bans, we don’t really miss the evening campfire.
Two places that were the the most fun: Islander RV Resort in Lake Havasu and Seven Feathers in Oregon.
We love seven feathers in Oregon. We stay there overnight at least twice a year when driving to California to visit family. Beautiful quiet park, and the staff are wonderful.
We prefer county, regional, or state parks, although we also stay at many private parks. Good 50amp power is our primary need…water/sewer optional.
After six years with our 43′ Newmar Mountain Aire we loved, we just downsized to a 36′ Newmar New Aire. What a difference in my ability to book public parks again!
For our major summer travel I easily booked into five NY/PA state parks a week+ each, only one of which would have been possible with the 43′.
We’ll miss the space, but are better able to camp the way we want to again.
Which floorplan did you get, Mikal? Ours is 3545, which has been discontinued. Irony here is that, after 3 years of having our New Aire, I am lusting for a MA 3825. 😉 Have a great week and safe travels!
I almost exclusively stealth camp in my tiny camper van. In a national forest. No screaming kids, no lights or generators from behemoth motorhomes, just me, my border collie and nature – heaven!
Ditto what Nancy said!
Thank you for the compilation, Nanci! Have a great week and safe travels!