Have you ever arrived at an RV park and been so turned off by its entrance or overall first appearance that you turned away and found another place to stay? Maybe you had read a glowing report on the place in a directory, on an app or on a website and concluded it was a good candidate for a stay for a night or more.
And then you drove there. But when you arrived, there was all sorts of junk out front, or maybe a junked car, or maybe the lawn looked more like a hayfield than a lawn. Or maybe the office looked like it hadn’t been painted in 20 years.
Has that happened to you?
That’s our question today. Remember, the poll can take a few moments to load, so stand by. It’ll be along shortly. And, as always, your comments are welcome.
Looks can be deceiving, but trust your gut. Or if it “walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quacks like a duck” it probably is a duck .It is always your call.
There have been a couple where they had decent reviews (we were only staying one night) but we also determined we wouldn’t be back. Ever.
Ditto!
Yes many times
More like the area after we arrived than the park itself. After one night, it just didn’t feel safe and we left.
We passed by one once because it looked junky and forgot about it. Couple years later looking online saw it (forgot park name) and it looked good so we booked a week. What a mistake, our gut feeling when we passed by was right on. We now make notes about campgrounds that we pass in our travels.
We learned early on that if we see refrigerators, washers, dryers, and large propane tanks, it is no longer an RV camp. It has evolved into an erzats mobile home park that is not well maintained.
Not yet, but it has been a close call.
On a related note, I wonder how many have stayed away after a viewing on Google satellite.
After our bad experience, I started using Google satellite regularly to pre-inspect rv parks. I found it very useful, and there were many that I bypassed. Often just because I didn’t like the location.
I also use GoogleEarth for most of my stays, especially when I plan to stay at a Cracker Barrel, Cabelas or other such place for an overnight stop. That helps me see the perimeter parking areas and the best entrance and exits. For campgrounds where I plan to negotiate a week+ stay, GoogleEarth is a must for me.
Yes, I have excluded many that way. I use Google Street view and the satellite view. If nothing else, and the CG is okay, it helps me plan my approach. (We have a 44′ fifth wheel, so it really matters.)
We almost left one after having made an overnight reservation. The grass was high and it looked somewhat rundown. We were pulling out after being unable to raise anyone when the owner drove up on his 4 wheeler. After visiting with him, we stayed. He was a gracious person even though at first glance we weren’t sure. Looks can be deceiving at times.
Once, years ago when we were traveling full time, we booked a month at a park that we had found on-line. The pictures of the” resort ” looked wonderful. Gated, secure park. Lots of amenities. When we arrived, it was apparent that the pictures were of a park long past being maintained appropriately. The gate was open all the time, and there was a Walmart right next door and no perimeter fencing. Trees were actually growing up through the road pavement in some areas! Washing machines and broken down cars abound. My wife was afraid to walk the dog in the evening, so the next day we went hunting for a new park and found what is to this day, one of our favorites. We then went back and checked out of the horror park, making a deal with them that they could keep a full week rent if they would kindly refund the rest of the month, which they agreed to.
We never again booked for more than a week in advance.
About a year ago, we were having to change campgrounds because, while the area had good cell coverage, the campground itself was in a deep valley. Zero signal. We work full time from the rig. Called around, found a decent rate, but when we got there, it was horrible. I wouldn’t walk through this campground in the dark, I’d be afraid for my life. Said “nope” and drove an hour away. (We were visiting family, so wanted to be closer, but totally wasn’t worth it.) I don’t mind a run-down campground somewhat, but this place was scary.
We try to stay in federal or state parks whenever possible so rarely even have a chance to run into this.
I haven’t turned away from a campground because the appearance although we have stayed in what I call a sketchy neighborhood. One even had armed security 24/7. We make reservations well in advance and read reviews so we rarely get surprised, but does happen.
I am a Life Member of PassportAmerica (PA), and the only times I have turned away from a campground are at one of their campgrounds. Mind you, I have stayed at a number of PA campgrounds which were fine and a good value, but….
We were looking for a season to stay near my work before we actually started fulltime. We rode to area campgrounds to see what they were like. One in particular was nearly a mile down a 1 lane trail that was so bumpy it shook us hard in a luxury sedan. Once inside it was plain that 90% were full time residents and they had NO regard for the outside appearance of either the property or their camper. End of story.
I said “no” as we seldom stay at private parks. We did stay at 2 private parks near Tucson, one a KOA, and both looked shabby but they just didn’t put any funds into landscaping and it was typical desert plants in between sites. Wouldn’t go back to either because of crowding not first appearances.
Not as of now. Of course we’re just occasional travelers. I’m in northeast NY so we can boondock close to home most of the time.
Having been RVing since the 1960’s and being around the Lower 48 twice, we have been in a lot of different campgrounds. Way before the internet you could not see pictures of the campground and only paper maps on how to get there. When we had trailers it was not too bad and we always seemed to get into campgrounds down narrow and or steep entrances with sharp turns. When we got our first Class A in 1997 things changed The internet was available and we could have a good idea what our travels would look like. When it took driving 10 miles down a narrow two lane road with sand on both sides and no where to turn around getting to the Fort Pickens Barrier Island campground with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Pensacola Bay on the other, that was a bit scary. With our coach at 40 foot long and a toad making a total length of almost 60 feet and 13 foot tall, you better know what obstacles are ahead. We don’t judge campgrounds just by their looks. Stay safe, Stay well
I said yes and that is why i don’t like making reservations. Maybe one night, but we travel until late and sometimes don’t set until the next day. If I’m in a nice place I’ll stay, otherwise just leave. Minimal money and effort spent.
To prevent surprises, I use reviews, campground views, Google Maps, and Google Street View.
We do the same. We research and make decisions long before we actually arrive there.
We almost did. Small town on a new to us route. We decided to stay since it was 1 night. Manager was very helpful and friendly. Park had a lot of full-time residents looking mostly down and out plus one tent fulltimer. Stayed in rig. Heard not a peep from anyone. Slept well and continued on our trip just fine.
Not yet in the 21 years I’ve been RV’ing. I’ve had one bad experience in that time & that was a security issue, not aesthetics. I do a fair amount of research before staying anywhere, reading reviews from 2 different sources, checking pictures and Google Maps.
Yes, but we also always read the reviews and have found some very nice campgrounds behind those ugly signs. I highly recommend looking at reviews before you decide.
We have driven by a few parks that looked questionable, but if we have reservations there we usually already know what it is like. When looking at unfamiliar parks we check reviews thoroughly before booking. Looking at reviews we consider that some people are never satisfied, others embellish one issue into catastrophic review. We look for review issues that are relative to our expectations.
One thing I have noticed is that you need to get “in” the campground before you make a decision. A lot of campgrounds are built away from the street, and you have to go down a long driveway to get there. I’ve seen some really bad stuff out there! Many times, after going through the rough stuff, the campground turned out to be great. That “first impression” thing does not always work with campgrounds.
Some looked like Sanford and Son junk yards. Or drive to one and the neighaborhood looked like a combat zone. I think they became over flow for some other campground. Just kept moving along.
No, but we mainly stay in State Parks or Military FamCamps, so rarely have to stay in a ‘junkyard’. We have stayed in a few places that reallllllyyyyyyy needed work (One in particular in Jonesboro, AR) but the utilities were fine, so I was happy. That said, I have seen some ‘top shelf’ places that I have left when the owner came out wearing a MAGA hat.
Who the hell cares about a Maga hat does it really matter
Apparently.
Those mean tweets really got to some folks.
I am only part time RVing, but like others have said I do my research first. One thing I do look at is the satellite views of the park and surrounding area. If the RV park looks more like a RV storage lot I avoid it. I have stayed at a few parks that did not give a good impression when driving up to, but I was pleasantly surprised once I was inside and set up.
look at in the satellite views of the park and surrounding area.
Yes!! This is exactly what I also do.
I have not really turned away, but I’ve cut my stay short (to 1 night) and found nicer places. Only happened twice, so far, and I was lucky to find something nicer nearby.
There’s a “campground” just inside the access road to the Carlsbad Caverns. As I had not yet visited that site, I drove up a long access road to the building and learned I could not boondock in the parking lot overnight (this was 5+ years ago and, I had arrived just before closing). I checked the campground office on the way out. They had one site left so I took it, Fortunately I was good at handling my 40′ Super-C; the site were close enough that with slides out, adjacent rigs were almost touching! The next morning, I drove back up and toured the caverns. They’re amazing! I was told that there was a place only a few miles away where boondocking was permitted. When safe to travel again, I want to return to Carlsbad Caverns again and stay for the evening bat exodus. I don’r remember the name of the “campground” but, unless MAJOR improvements have been made, I would NOT go back there or recommend it.
We actually had a very quiet and peaceful stay at one park that looked very funky. Main thing is check the bathrooms before you decide. It this case they were old but clean. Good enough for us.
We travel and camp for the night. (Van camp, 2 VW Westfalias, 2 Ford E 150, that I made beds for, kitchen, and porta- pottie. Now that we are “old” we decided that a Roadtrek on Chevy chassis fits our aching body needs better.) We mainly stay at real Mom & Pop grounds. All we need is 30 amp service and 20 amp will do. They seldom look nice, have no pool, no clubhouse, no playground, lopsided gravel sites-or no gravel, no big RVs with outside TV or lights, and seldom kids running around., BUT BOY ARE THEY FRIENDLY. Unfortunately they seem to be disappearing. KOA type places only when staying for a couple days for a wedding or visiting relatives.
We normally review google maps (street view) before deciding where we plan to stay a night or two. With that said, during our return home leg of our trip we did stop at two RV parks in Wells, NV. The first one we saw was a no-go, the second one was clearly for long term local residents, but it was okay.
In the end, it was quiet, and much, much nicer than the local trucks tops.
We found a campground near our home. We drove there in our car to check it out before camping there. We felt a bit uncomfortable driving through it. All the RVs were dilapidated and many looked unlikely to move, whether towable or drivable. We concluded that it was a stationary community and that receiving an invitation to stay there was the only way to comfortably join the community.
We were on the road and had been driving most of the day. We wanted to just grab a place to make a bite to eat and get some sleep. So we stopped at a place we found nearby on the inter-net. The reviews were okay and they had sites available for the night. When we pulled in to check-in at the office I needed to hit the restroom, so I walked across the parking area to the restrooms. Where I saw a couple inside the restrooms Shooting-up heroin and half naked. I went back to the office and said No Thanks! Where is the Walmart that I saw on-line here in town?
As some have said, we research in what we hope is a careful manner. Read the reviews AND check out the satellite views. Have stayed at literally hundreds of campgrounds around the country, some great, some not so much, but only cut our stay short once.
We got a campsite near Forest Ontario and when we got there is looked something out of love in. Everything was so close together it made me go no. Ended up at a christian campground because we could not find anything. They took us in and gave us a great site. Needless to say if looks unappealing I will keep on driving. That also made me do my research on campgrounds more carefully after that.
as an afterthought? That was more then 20 years ago before internet and google map.
I said no but only because at the end of a long driving day and no other options close we will stay the night but are out early the next am!
Turned around to leave a campground in Texas, when one of the local full timer stopped and talked to us, being late in the day we decided to stay. Turned out to be one of our best nights as everyone was very friendly. We even got invited to a catfish party.
The hard part for me is to talk my wife into less than perfect campgrounds when we are only looking to stay a night, two at the most. She is picky and spoiled by state park cg’s offering spacious sites.