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?
RV Travel readers discuss their experiences and offer tips to help other campers find that perfect spot.
Our camp host issues
We are camp hosts in Minnesota in the summer with a respite from Arizona heat as well as family time with the kids and grandkids. We only get six to eight weeks as camp hosts when returning to our once home area, so our first issue is finding campsites for an additional one or two months. I have to be online the minute the regional campgrounds open up, or we won’t get anything anywhere close to the cities. Private campsites are booked up or going seasonal-only. It is so crowded up there!
A change in campers
I have seen a definite change in campers over the last 25 years that we have been camping in the area, and even more so as camp hosts over the last nine years there.
For the most part, about 98% of the time, the park with over 200 spacious sites is everything we could want and like about our summer volunteer “job”. The people are generally friendly, the park staff are exceptional, the sites are beautiful, and almost everyone is having a wonderful time with family. We like being able to answer questions and help people out. More than once, a newbie RVer has come up with a sewer hose in hand, asking what to do with it!
That said, we have seen the noise levels go up, the partying intensified, and more calls to the park or city police on the weekends.
Dogs
Loose and barking dogs are a concern for everyone. The barking dogs, at least. Dogs off-leash, we can address. I remind the owners that having dogs off-leash is a $200 fine. Amazing how quickly that leash clicks back on! Loose, running, and aggressive dogs get a call to the police.
Homelessness
With changes in the economy, we are seeing more homelessness and more domestic disputes. The park welcomes all, but even those without stable housing need to pay. My husband has paid for folks a couple of times, but the park has asked us not to do that anymore. So with nowhere else to go, some hide and sleep in the woods. You soon get to know who is way down on their luck and can’t afford $22 a night and food at the same time. I will admit that I have deliberately ignored a couple of times when a homeless family sneaked into the showers to clean up.
My pet peeve: fire pits!
Fire pits are my pet peeve. I was a Girl Scout. I know to put out a fire before I leave and to NOT put garbage in the fire pits.
Check out time is 3 p.m. at the park, and that gives a lot of time to sit around a roaring campfire. Many times, that campfire is still roaring when they check out. What the heck?!!
The other pet peeve is leaving garbage in the fire pit, sometimes still smoldering. Aluminum cans do not burn, and plastic emits toxic fumes. It only melts into a miserable mess.
Issues rather small
Those issues are easily handled and minimal compared with the joy we get from camping and being hosts in a most wonderful park.
Now, from readers’ perspectives…
Here are a few observations from our readers. These do not necessarily represent the views of RVtravel.com.
A number of readers write in about what has tarnished the camping experience for them. While there are a number of reasons, some come up consistently.
Generators and barking dogs
Steve T. says only a few wreck camping. “Camping in general is fun and for everyone. Only a few wreck it. For example, generators and barking dogs. I bet the people who complain are in that crowd. If it wasn’t for those clowns, crowding wouldn’t be an issue for me.”
No refund
Jerry D. is not happy about refund policies and wrote, “Refusing to refund payment even when playing by the cancellation rules, is soiling.”
Not canceling and 7:00 a.m. kids screaming
Patricia W. is perturbed by no shows and screaming kids. She writes, “So tired of people reserving and then canceling. I belong to a group, and this has caused us all to be scattered. Also, ignorance of people’s lack of respect for others. Pulling through spaces, kids waking us up at 7:00 a.m. riding and screaming on their bikes.”
Just isn’t fun anymore
Willard A. says it just isn’t fun anymore. “It just isn’t fun anymore. For 20+ years it was wonderful RVing and going different places, meeting new friends, and enjoying the road. No longer that way.”
Rude, self-important people with untrained children and animals
Joe V. really sees a difference in camping now and writes, “Was: friendly, helpful, polite campers. Now: rude, self-important, the-world-revolves-around-me people with untrained animals, and even more untrained and unruly children. Was: Clean, quiet campgrounds, pleasant, helpful hosts, and reasonable fees. Now: Loud, crowded, overpriced, with overworked staff. I’m this close to calling it a day as far as camping goes.”
Corporations buying out campgrounds
Cindy A. is saying goodbye to their favorite campground and writes, “We have a favorite nearby campsite that we’ve gone to for 10+ years. It was bought by Bluewater Development. Increased prices and added fees may bring an end to our trips. We are just looking for quiet, natural settings, not events, etc.”
What are your pet peeves?
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: ‘Cost, reservation availability, poor RV quality… killed the camping experience.’
RVT1208b
“The other pet peeve is leaving garbage in the fire pit, sometimes still smoldering. Aluminum cans do not burn, and plastic emits toxic fumes. It only melts into a miserable mess.”
You know what else doesn’t burn? Peanut shells, pistachio shells, and cigarette butts. PSA brought to you by another Workkamper.
I agree about cigarette butts and trash in the fire pits. I am a fellow work camper and get to clean out close to 100 fire pitsvweekly. The campground has a dump site for the ashes but I have to clean out all the trash before dumping the ashes. The butts are the biggest hassle.
“Rude, self-important people with untrained children and animals”
Yes, the camping crowd has changed and not for the better. We are seeing more “entitled” campers. They think the rules do not apply to them, their children, and their pets. They sign off on the rules and then complain or write a bad review when they are reminded of the rules. Many times they act like they were never informed. But I say again they sign off as acknowledging the rules.
My pet peeve is the lack of recycling facilities in most states that we have visited. California is excellent, but so many have either zero recycling or cardboard only.
Overcrowding? Should be much better for all my American friends as many Canadians such as myself make alternate plans next Snowbird season. I hope to see you back in three years!🇨🇦
Now that Carney is in, I expect to see Canadians picking our strawberries soon. We will always need migrant farm workers no matter which side of the USA they travel across from and then send those American green backs back home to support family.
I’m just kidding Leonard…. I do think Carney is going to evolve and be forced to become more pragmatic, like Danielle Smith, and truly negotiate a good and fair deal for Canada.
Just a guess, but I imagine a world next year where we do actually see you back in the good old U.S. of A., toasting our shared prosperity and mutual friendship instead of waiting for 3 years when JD Vance is in the Whitehouse.
Happy trails ✌️ 😎 🇺🇲🇨🇦
Thanks my online friend!
I think Carney and Trump will see the mutual benefits of a fair and honorable trade agreement. Oh wait, we already have the USMCA which Trump negotiated, but is not adhering to! Regardless, it must be renegotiated earlier than the mandated 2026 to benefit both of our great countries.
Although we are not subsidized by the US, Canada MUST increase our defence spending to 2% GDP, and work toward balancing our trade deficit with you.
I still won’t be back until Trump’s term is over.
JD Vance for Prez? My money is on Rubio.🇨🇦
Rubio was my choice in the 2016 primary so yes, I believe you may be correct on that.
Never say never, you will quietly come back next year, incognito of course.
We will be in Alberta for July, maybe some Sask and BC, then down to Seattle to see our daughter.
Have a great summer, Leonard.
🇺🇲🇨🇦
Thanks, you as well.
Maybe I’m wrong, but most of the complaints seem to be about private RV parks, not public campgrounds. The crowding, high-prices, corporate buyout, etc., are complaints that are certainly private RV park-related. Those are NOT campgrounds–they are businesses!
For me, there is an easy solution to those problems–use public campgrounds! Yes, the current Federal budget cuts are having a huge impact on COE, USFS, and NPS cgs. But public cgs. also include state, county, and city cgs., fairgrounds, and even some convention, exhibit, and recreation centers. And, of course, there are still millions if acres of Federal land for boondocking (dispersed camping)!
I agree, except it is often nearly impossible to get campsites at the vast majority of public campgrounds.
My biggest pet peeve lately is the sheer overwhelming amount of dog poop that ISN’T picked up. I’ve been camping over 50 years and this has gotten out of control. Next is how rude and entitled folks have gotten…we saw a huge change during and after the pandemic. It’s nuts. That being said, there are still so many friendly and kind folks out there…so we continue to travel and camp full time.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Nanci! Have a great summer and weekend! Safe travels!
Friends who own campgrounds share your frustration with fire pits with some even choosing to eliminate them altogether.
But coming across some of the issues you mention myself, it’s no wonder the RVIA and KOA report that more and more people are seeking out boondocking/off-grid camping and Harvest Hosts. My only reason for going into a campground nowadays is to dump my holding tanks and fill the fresh water tank back up.