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. 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.
Thank you, loyal readers, for continuing to send in comments!
Well, I thought the interest in my Campground Crowding column had started to fade into oblivion when we stopped it a few weeks ago. Evidently not so, judging by the number of emails I’m still receiving. So, let’s continue, but on an every-two-week or monthly basis. I’ll see how it goes.
As for campground crowding, I can attest that it is very crowded in both public and private campgrounds near the Minneapolis metro area. We are very lucky to have gotten a site for almost a week and have only had to move three times!
On our trip up from Arizona to Minnesota, it was never a problem finding something for a night or two. Some sites were absolutely breathtaking, and others were best left as a stop-and-go. But we always got a site on the first call. As a matter of fact, during the Arizona and New Mexico heat wave, there was barely anyone else in the campgrounds.
So, we’ve experienced both sides of the proverbial coin: absolutely no crowding to now grateful for being eight feet away from our dear campground neighbors.
So again, thank you. I’ll continue this column as long as you have interest in it.
On to the next issue… RV park models, please send in your comments!
One of our readers sent in a suggestion about exploring the growing trend to invest in an RV park model. Do you have one? Are you thinking about getting one? Do you travel in a mobile RV and also stay stationary for a time? Do RVing friends have one?
What are the pros and cons of a park model?
Please send an email through the form below with your thoughts and comments.
Crowded campgrounds in Canada, along with a lack of camper etiquette
Beverly S. tells us about the Canadian campgrounds and the lack of camper etiquette there, too. She wrote, “Ontario Provincial Parks are booked up. Seems people don’t understand the concept of quiet places. Voices too loud, kids at playgrounds after 10 p.m. Quite a few sites have more than one dog. Yes, where are the dogs peeing, etc.? Lots of barking and dogs left on their own. Fast bikes on the roads and trails. Guess after about 60-some years it’s time to give it up and stay home. I like to see campers enjoying themselves, but there should be concern for others.”
NO DOGS in RV parks
Now for a very controversial subject: dogs in campgrounds. People absolutely love their dogs; they are part of the family, and yet a few unscrupulous owners can taint the camping experience for others.
Kirk W. has been a long-time dog owner and now says NO DOGS! He writes, “We love and have owned dogs all our life, but not currently. I have to agree with all the comments. Even in neighborhoods, people do not pick up after them and always have them off-leash. Today we are dog sitting and had three dogs come running at us while the dog we are watching was on a leash. Made me really mad as one was growling.
“We just got back from camping in our RV for five weeks. We agree that it’s out of control, and so much so that we have decided not to camp as much. I really wish all RV parks would not allow dogs or at least segregate the dogs in one area. And like I said, we love dogs!
“Why do people have to bring their dogs? Just put them in doggie day care. I vote for NO DOGS in RV parks.”
How to change careless behavior?
Linda S. writes in with that question. “Since Covid and the explosion of RVs completely changed the face of camping, I have seen and met folks who are new to it and who don’t seem to have a clue about how to treat fellow campers—camping etiquette—or an appreciation of being in nature. I’m afraid there are a lot of folks all over this country who have never had a connection to nature, which creates careless behavior toward the earth and its inhabitants, including animals. How to change that? Create awareness? Always my question these days. Thanks for all you do.”
Beautiful campground, but no rules enforced
Richard F. talks about lunging and attacking dogs. He wrote, “I just finished a 15-day camping trip to three different NYS campgrounds. I have a dog and have always had and camped with dogs. I am seeing more dogs off-leash (maybe it’s a macho thing) and more aggressive dogs on 20-foot+ lines so that when you walk by, they lunge out at you and your dog.
“I actually had to avoid many areas of the campground to have a pleasant walk. I even saw one dog run across the road and attack another dog. An apology was given, but I’m sure it terrified the dog owner (she actually picked her dog up to save it). Rangers drove through but did not choose to enforce any rules.”
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.
#RVT1221b
Asking for no dogs in rv parks is quite silly. Yes, people should pick up after their pets. I always try to pick up an extra dropping on walks in addition to whatever my dog leaves behind. But saying no dogs in a park – stop. Should we say the same about kids who scream and run around across sites? What about no more people that stay loud or leave bright lights on in the evening?
I’m glad I apparently don’t camp in the same parks as the people who claim that every dog they see is aggressive and every owner is irresponsible. Have been camping for 46 years as an adult across the U.S. and Canada. While I have seen a few examples here and there over the years, it’s been far far less than what some people describe.
Convert to cats.
Well… While walking my leashed 24 pound dog we experienced a cat that was on a leash at it’s rv site we were passing, who slipped out of it’s collar and attacked my dog. The dog grew up with a cat and didn’t fight back. There was a picture of the cat and dog just last week here in the pet section of this newsletter, Kato and Solo together on the rv setee. Luckily the numerous bleeding facial scratches didn’t become infected. All pet owners have a duty to be responsible to their pet and the people around them.
No dogs in RV parks? That would eliminate campground crowding quickly.
Or kids in over 55 parks.
I don’t know where ya’ll are staying, but we have been from Vegas to Columbia River Gorge, from Vegas to AZ, New Mexico, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and have never in two years had a problem with dogs in the RV Parks. Yes you might hear a couple little dogs barking when you walk by, but nothing else. Everyone has picked up after their dogs, and we have never had one off leash. Most all of the dog owners we have met on the road are responsible with their animal.
We take our 11 year old pitty everywhere we go and have never had a problem.
It’s only a matter of time.
I wasn’t camping at the state park, but was sitting by the beach with my two dogs. A lady came by and sat at a picnic table about twenty feet away. Had her dog on a expandable leash and came over by my dogs. Told her to get her dog away from mine and keep the doberman on a six foot leash. She said I was mean. She’s lucky the dog didn’t attack mine or she’d be carrying it away. I can be the nicest person or meanest.
Wouldn’t think of going to a park without our dog. And a huge bonus is she is always an ice breaker for meeting new people.
Ultimately it will be the insurance companies who determine whether dogs will continue to be allowed. A repeated history of people being injured and suing will eventually cause owners to ban dogs because the cost of insurance will become unsustainable.
I have a rather large dog that is well trained and always kept under control on a leash. I’ve seen more off leash dogs in the past year usually kids pet with no training or my pet peeve is the little dogs that run up barking at me and my dog like it’s a bada$$.
Like all things in life a dog takes commitment and time to be properly trained something most people won’t do.
Little Dog Syndrome
I would love a no dog park. The barking and owners leading their dogs to pee on our tires is ridiculous. When people put up the little fences for the dogs they don’t clean up after them. I had to work under the rv and there was dog poop everywhere, it was from the fenced area of the previous camper.
We’ve had dogs when our children were young and enjoyed having them most of the time. We haven’t had a dog for probably for 30+ years. But having pets is contrary to the statement that life begins when the kids leave home and the dog dies. For us that has been true and we enjoy the freedom of not having the responsibility that comes along with pets.
We enjoy dog free traveling. 3 months last winter. Irresponsible dog owners are in the majority from our observation. If they think no one is watching…they don’t pick up. We have seen many times hiking in the desert little green plastic bags poorly hidden behind rocks etc.
these people need help.🤦♂️
I have yet in 45 years of camping not been to a cg where no dogs were off leash and no poop hadn’t been picked up. Just last week an off leash dog charged a dog owner with a leashed dog. The leashed dog owner was not happy and loudly told the other guy that dogs are to be leashed. His response, oh I know. Then he walked back to his campsite.
We are staying on a main driving route to Sturgis during the bike rally. Although we are not bikers ourselves, we have grown to appreciate fellow campers revving their Harleys at 6AM!
We had just the opposite experience Becky had while camping in Ontario’s provincial parks earlier this year. We stayed at several as we traveled around Lake Superior. We found them all to be much quieter than US parks and all the people very respectful. No barking dogs, no loud people. We didn’t hear a single generator. No signs for quiet hours I suppose because it wasn’t necessary. We asked about generator use at one park because there was no sign. The front desk person had to ask the person in the office who had to look it up in the rule book.
Thank you for sharing the comments, experiences of readers, Nanci! Have a great weekend and safe travels!
Like Kirk W in the article. We have had a dog since 1988, up until our last one passed in 2017. At that point, with us very close to retirement and planning to ramp up traveling, we decided no more dogs. Our last dog we camped with for 5 years. But also like Kirk, I would like to see no dogs in RV Campgrounds. And like Larry said, that would really reverse campground crowding.
Nice AI banner image 😒
I would like to remind folks that not all rvers are part-time who return to stick and brick homes. Some of us have chosen a full-time rv lifestyle for retirement or otherwise. Our rv is our home and home to our dogs. That said, we never have our dogs off-leash unless in a dog park and don’t use the dog park when others are in it. However, we experience lots of untethered dogs in campgrounds to which the owners do not care and the campground either as no one enforces the rules. It’s aggravating! I agree with rvers with dogs being assigned to a section of a campground from those without pets. I would like to see the same for people with children as we experience many children run wild.
People complain about crowded campgrounds, or getting campsites. In north east Pa during the week there seems to be plenty of empty campsites. Except for those with Elect, sewer and water. Most campers go on weekends. Now Pa has a dumb rule making camping reservations on a Sunday. I tried making a reservation for July 3 2025 which became available for reserving on Sunday Aug 3, 2025. it was available, but I couldn’t make an reservation on Reserve America. You are unable to make a reservation if the 11-month window falls on a Sunday. It would be unfair to allow for 11-month window reservations to be reservable on a Sunday for the customers who rely on the call center for their reservations.
Look people. If you are going camping then you need to realize it’s for FUN. Fun for little children too. If you want quiet time after 10pm. STAY HOME.