By Nanci Dixon
RV sales have slowed and fewer people are buying RVs. Has that changed campgrounds? 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.
Goodbye, Campground Crowding…
I have been writing this Campground Crowding column for several years now and want to thank my many loyal readers. This column has talked about so many of the joys and issues of camping and RVing.
We started this column during COVID, when it seemed that everybody on the planet bought an RV and then couldn’t find a place to park it. I remember having to wait to leave Arizona because all of the campgrounds in Iowa and many in Minnesota and Nebraska were closed. Even locating a campsite for one night became difficult.
We made it through that, and as so many of you have pointed out, it is just not as crowded as it was back then. And, while finding a site in a popular state park or near major attractions can still require a lot of diligence, they can be found.
So, I am folding up the laptop on Campground Crowding with this issue. But I still plan to write a weekly column. Would you please share your ideas of what topics interest you the most? Please leave a comment or fill out the form below.
Thank you very much for the thousands of emails you have sent to me and the comments you have left throughout my years of doing this column. I treasure every one of them.
Camping at state and county parks
In this last column, I want to share our experience with state and county parks, and just a few of our readers’ experiences, too.
We like to camp in county and state parks whenever possible, and I have found one or two nights mid-week are usually open—particularly when some of the parks have opened their systems to same-day reservations. When traveling, that seems to work great. We don’t use many amenities in private campgrounds, and I like the space in public sites.
For longer stays in the northern states, I need to reserve very early. Sometimes on the opening reservation day. Even then, we have needed to move sites midweek or on the weekends. Several times, we have moved to private campgrounds on the weekend. Only once or twice have I experienced mild panic when there’s been no site in sight. In those instances, the local fairgrounds work just fine.
Minnesota, our ex-home state, has been the hardest to book. Some private campgrounds have gone seasonal only, and some campgrounds have shut down more than half their sites to build a golf course. (!!!)
Excellent book for county park campers
Camping in America’s County Parks, a 192-page directory from Roundabout Publications and the Ultimate Campground Project, profiles 2,068 camping areas at 1,408 parks in 42 states. Information with maps provides information about each site’s restrooms, showers, dump stations and RV length limits. Rates, reservation and contact information is also listed. Read more.
Now, here are a few observations from our readers. These do not necessarily represent the views of RVtravel.com.
Colorado state parks
Larry L. recommends Colorado parks and wrote, “Mary S. says she likes state parks. We do as well. Colorado has quite a few, and many can be easy to get reservations for and not be crowded. They are our go-to when we just want to get away and relax.”
Texas state parks
Nelson N. writes to us about his experience in Texas state parks. “Our last camping experience was typical of what I have come to experience from Texas state parks. Not all of the campsites were occupied, but most were. There was a burn ban in effect, so there were not ‘smoldering campfires.’
One of our neighbors had five boys under 11 years of age. Each boy had a bike, as did Mom and Dad. They would gather around under the shade tree during parts of the day, ride their bikes, or retreat into their small trailer. We never heard a peep from them, but they would wave in a friendly manner. Other neighbors were single or older couples, equally as quiet and friendly. Camping, for us, continues to be a great way to escape and relax!”
Room in Texas state parks
Rush B. writes about his stay in Texas. “We recently spent four days in a state park in Texas that has only 20 campsites. There were never more than 10 sites occupied, and two of the ones that were occupied were camp hosts. No overcrowding here.”
Abusing the system
George G. writes about system abuse he has witnessed. “The worst thing state parks did was require reservations and eliminate first-come, first-served campsites. Because you know that there are people out there who will abuse the system. The park system hurt itself by allowing these people to book sites at multiple parks for the same dates, then they fill just one, leaving all the rest of their reservations vacant.
What they need to do is set up their system so that a party is only allowed to make reservations at one park on those dates. If they try to make multiple reservations for the same day, they’d be blocked. By doing this, they would see a lot fewer upset campers and fewer empty sites. Bottom line, more $$$$. This is not rocket science!!!”
Reserving in state parks 11 months out
Gary Y. writes about how he reserves. “In my area of SW Pennsylvania, we have had to adjust our camping plans by reserving a year in advance. Our local, privately-owned campground is only 16 miles from home, so we use it the most. Several of our state parks reserve 11 months out, which is no problem either; you just have to time your planning to get the site you want. Sometimes you get them, and sometimes not. Timing is everything. But as gas prices increase, our camping travel miles will decrease. Thank God for our local private campground.”
What’s next?
I’d still like to write a weekly column that is relevant to you. Please let me know your ideas. What topics would you like to see discussed? Please leave a comment below or fill out the form with your thoughts, suggestions and ideas.
I look forward to hearing from you, as I always have over the last several years. Thank you for ALL your contributions!
Read last week’s Crowded Campgrounds column: Maybe campgrounds aren’t ‘crowded’; maybe RVs have just gotten too big!
##RVT1215b
Nanci, I looked forward to reading everyone’s observations and comments and hope your future series has just as lively commentary.
Recollecting on some of the rabbit trails, it seems conversation on the RV lifestyle might generate comparable crossfire.
Start at the beginning of the journey with why buy an RV, what should it be able to do, how should it be configured, what size, should it tow or be towed, etc.
Once we’ve beaten that horse dead into the ground, move to where should it go, how often, what amenities, how to get there, etc.
Then open discussion on logistics, rituals, mishaps, accidents, scary events. Everything an RV’er *might* experience.
Eh?
Nanci, thank you for the “Campground Crowding” column. When I first started reading it, I didn’t have an RV but I enjoyed learning what frustrated campers so that I could learn campground etiquette. It also helped me learn what to look for in campgrounds. Now that we have an RV, like you we prefer state parks with more room between sites and fewer frills. I will miss this column but am looking forward for your next column. Sadly, I don’t have any suggestions.
Thank you Nanci! I look forward to seeing what happy trails you follow next.
I get Minnesota DNR news releases. As of yesterday, 10% of the sites at Minnesota State Parks were still open to be reserved for the upcoming July 4th holiday weekend.
We consider ourselves part-time ‘sightseers’ more than ‘campers’. When we started RVing, our goal was to ‘See America’, which included as many National Parks as possible. Over the course of the last six years, we’ve checked off many of the ‘big rocks’ from our bucket list and find ourselves wondering about other non-NPS places to see and experience. Perhaps a column (and inputs from readers) on favorite sights to see and scenic parks to stay in? Worthwhile experiences to experience? Best caves in America? Parks that have scenery right out the door and not hidden behind trees? Parks near Rail Trails or other such paved bike trails? Excursions worth taking? “Oh, the places you’ll go!”
Many of us have read your articles about campground problems and have taken the problem to heart as good advice and information. I know it has sure changed my outlook on people.
Thank you for the time you put into this column! I concur with a comment below about places to go; perhaps things off the beaten path that folks have found. We look for those backroad gems of towns, museums, haunted places, etc.
what I love about rv travel articles Is they are written by people who actually travel in an rv or TT. Other online publishers’ articles lack depth and seem almost AI generated. I will enjoy anything you write!
Just keep writing! Subjects will come to you! Thank you for providing both educational and humorous material. I am 85 and will still be traveling the west coast area for awhile so I still need your perspective.
I would love to hear from adults who experienced living on the road as children…looking back, what did they like best, least, how it impacted them, what would they do differently, and do they RV now or plan to in the future? Thanks!
Thank you Nanci for many hours of entertainment and learning from your writing talent. A peek into your personal life added interest from selling your home to roading it, to getting another home! Seems life comes full circle. For future articles perhaps additional in-depth writings about Rv quality and safety suggestions on all topics. Or, just follow your heart and let it guide your writing….. Thanks again and happy trails. Mn. lost a talented person.
DW/ND, the RVtravel.com staff feels as you do — to have Nanci “follow her heart” and let it guide it to her writing. Nanci’s articles have always been very popular with readers, and with me (the publisher). If she were a bird in a cage I would open the door and say “Fly.” And I would nudge her and say “and write about what you find!” — Chuck
Thank you, Nanci! It was a good run. Toward the end it seemed that comments had to do with campground behavior/etiquette rather than getting a campsite/reservations. Perhaps that is fallow ground for a new column? Have a great weekend and safe travels!
Thanks Nanci for the hours of entertainment your column gave me over the years. I will miss it. Thanks again!
Thank you Nanci for all your past columns and for staying the course on topic which is RV camping and travel. How about some articles on boondocking and self sufficiency? When we started we only stayed in campgrounds usually with FHU. We’ve since added more solar and other things to enable us to be off grid more and not worry about campgrounds being booked. It’s opened doors to us and you can’t beat picking where and how you park. I feel cramped if I don’t have at least an acre between us and the neighbors. Sometimes I feel like Captain Kirk, to boldly go….10,000 miles a year!!!