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.
Hello from Arizona
Again, thanks to the many readers who have been emailing and reading this column again! This week, I am in a hotel (gasp) in Arizona, working away on my iPad, so please excuse me if it is a bit shorter than usual.
A while ago, I told you that we had started another grand adventure and bought a fixer-upper house in a rural area in the mountains. I am here to work with the contractor and electrician for a week. Little did we know at the time how much of a fixer-upper it was, but we’re too far into it to turn back now. Dangling wires, walls half out, and having the flooring removed were all a bit overwhelming. But the roof isn’t leaking, the air conditioning was restored yesterday—a good thing in Arizona—and the sunsets are totally majestic.
Last week, I asked if people were still having fun RVing, and I will post more of those emails as they come in.
But first, another dog comment…
Peggy wrote, “Quit blaming the dogs!”
Peggy M. wrote: “As half-time RVers, we are gone from our sticks-and-bricks home for six months a year. We are also people who only have four-legged children. Please quit blaming the dogs for your issues. The problem is the people. We treat our dogs better than most people have ever treated their children. We also do not like rude, loose, and terrorizing dogs. We also don’t like the people who do not pick up after their dogs. Please quit blaming the dogs and blame the people responsible for their dogs. We don’t like those kinds of people, so maybe they should be banned from the campgrounds. It is NOT the dog’s fault. Look at the owner and blame them.”
Jay gives up
Jay L. shares, “Gave up on camping. Too many inconsiderate people, dogs are loose and barking, and owners don’t pick up after them, either. RVing has become too expensive. People are cooking and cleaning up in the restrooms, and people are running their generators at all hours. Hotels are more convenient and less costly for now. A vehicle without a trailer has better mpg, and there’s no more RV maintenance, etc.”
Penny is still having fun!
Penny E. wrote, “We are still having fun. We go to smaller parks instead of the parks near popular areas, so we haven’t had a problem with finding spots to stay. We have noticed that many parks are offering extended stays, meaning permanent most of the time. The RJourney in Cheyenne allows extended stays until Cheyenne Frontier Days, and then they force their extended stay residents to move out so that they can charge high prices for CFD visitors. Loose and barking dogs continue to be an annoyance.”
Bob and Joy said, “Campgrounds are just existing”
Bob and Joy H. say, ”We find most campgrounds augmenting their income with permanent ‘campers’ who add decks, storage units, garden ornaments, and tents to their site. Although many campgrounds indicate they are ‘big rig friendly’, they definitely are NOT prepared for today’s 40-45 ft. motorhomes! Too many campgrounds are just existing, without necessary upkeep and repairs to their park, like adding new gravel to unlevel sites and trimming back low-hanging tree branches.”
Golf carts are lazy!
Joanne F. “My pet peeve is golf carts racing around constantly. Very unsafe for children walking or riding bikes. I understand using them if one has a disability, but for the majority, it is laziness.”
Sara noted that nobody seems to care about their neighbors anymore
Sara B. sees it all and wrote, “I have been camping for more than 50 years, and camping has changed. No one really cares about their neighbors anymore. Dogs poop on your site, kids run through your site, and in the last experience, music was played way too loud with very small children next to them.”
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: Camping has gone to the dogs! Plus, your input wanted: Is RVing still fun?
RVT1223b
All of the comments in the article are legit. Campers, RVers (whatever term we use), are but a slice of society and society has become a “me culture.” For the most part, people dont care about other people anymore. Now having said that, I dont find it to be true here in WNC. Most of the folks who reside and camp here are nice, friendly, caring people. Too bad the sins of the few are spoiling it for the many.
Jay’s observations are not out of bounds but he’s overlooking the positives. Unlike a hotel, I can put my bed where there is no parking lot, loud guests in the hall and who knows what has been in the bed. No lugging suitcases, risking food poisoning by trusting the hygiene of kitchen staff or maids rummaging through my stuff.
RV’ing isn’t cheap and it totally can’t escape humanity but there is no better therapy for the soul than the serenity and tranquility of a great boondocking spot.
I figure Jay is 1 less cranky person in a campground I may go to.
He’s right. It is cheaper to stay in motels. Thank goodness, I don’t have to.
Glad to see many of you bailing out. It will be easier for the rest of us to get a spot. Maybe the difference between is that we visit campgrounds for the pleasure of it and others, well…….
I camp mostly in state parks and haven’t seen issues like mentioned above. Once in a blue moon I see a dog loose or owner using a leash longer the 6’. The only thing I notice is less rangers patrolling. Seems like NY takes better care there state parks than Pa. No sure why some think hotels are cheaper?
We only stayed in 1 NYS park, but 3 in PA on our recent 6 week trip across the state. I would agree that PA park maintenance could be better in terms of keeping branches back and cleaning the WHOLE bathroom vs just the sink & toilet fixtures. The NYS park (Evangola) was very clean. 👍
Like you, we experienced no issues, except a very few dog poops in grass along internal roadsides, in any of the public or private camps we stayed in.
About 95% of our Rv travel nites have been spent in ntn’l forest, Corps of Engr’s., state parks and forested campgrounds. We rarely encounter any of the issues noted by Jay and others. Dogs are generally controlled and behave as trained and usually only seen if walking by or if we walk by them. Spaces are large so there is a degree of privacy and also most have trees or shrubs between sites. Prices are also usually reasonable. The air is fresh, the scent of pine is incredible in the morning, and most also have natural bodies of water – at least in the north country. If you like to litter, make a lot of noise, drink to excess and have unfriendly, untrained animals – please don’t come here…..
We have always liked camping & RVing and still do. Those who are disenchanted evidently “fell in love with the IDEA” of RVing and camping, rather than the adventure and work that is required. “Things have changed.” Yep, everything has changed in my last 80 years. People and dogs in my neighborhood and grocery store have changed too. If you don’t like camping, don’t go camping. The adventure is the bumpy roads, weird people, dogs, and kids that you meet- without them you have no stories to tell or reminder of your trips. Life is not Disney Land – never has been.
Thank you, Nanci! Good luck with your house renovation. Remember, “This too shall pass” and then you’ll have a house that suits you and your way of living. 🙂 Have a great weekend and safe travels!
As a van-traveler I spend most nights at places without services or anything more than basic amenities, think USFS/COE campgrounds, dispersed camping or Harvest Hosts locations. These tend to rule out those who believe camping requires A/C, outdoor TV’s/sound systems and every imaginable comfort of home and thus more in tune with the simplicity of camping. Twice this past year I’ve joined friends who prefer “civilized” KOA’s and similar and have wondered why anyone would choose that environment for “camping”. It’s about as far from nature and solitude as a cruise ship! agree that if your RV requires 50amp setvice, water & sewer hook-ups a motel may be more fitting for travels.
Haha good one Kevin, I agree that FHU with outdoor TV etc is about as far away from camping as going on a cruise ship with 5,000 strangers is to sailing the Caribbean on your own sailboat. Personally I’ll take boondocking any day of the week. My wife and I are in a 25ft Winnebago View that’s a euro style class C on a sprinter dually chassis. We’re off grid as long as the water lasts. But there’s times in between we gotta spend a night with the convenience of FHU. I don’t consider that camping. We consider ourselves travelers and travel about 4 months total a year. Choose your style and do it your way don’t blame others, there’s always choices. Some people love Walmart lol. I’ll take HH 🏞️🥂
In summer, where I am, campgrounds are still crowded. The coast is a mob scene. I’m not good at predicting weather six months out to get a good reservation. I go during the week, but there are still non-stop screaming kids and barking, loose dogs. I blame the adults for not training children and/or dogs and for not following the rules and not caring about either. I now don’t often camp unless schools are in session. I was raised to be considerate of others, and that seems a thing of the past.
I agree with Peggy~ it is the owners who are the problem…but those few could ruin it for those of us who are responsible pet owners.
Amen, Peggy!!!