There’s no denying it… the roads and campgrounds are packed with newbie RVers. We discuss this each week in our Campground Crowding column, where many of you express frustrations over just how many people are taking up RVing.
Do you find yourself frustrated or annoyed with the influx of new RVers? Do you think they are to blame for the campground reservation shortages, long lines at National Parks, etc.? Or, on the flip side, are you happy to see more and more people enjoying the RV lifestyle?
Please tell us in the poll below. And if you will, please leave a comment, too, explaining your answer. We may use these for a later story. Thanks!
I think folks are buying RVs with the expectation that you can travel where and when you want. Expenses for maintenance, storage, repairs are obscured by the high expectations. A day of reckoning will come when expectations meets reality.
I think you hit the nail on the head!
Bingo!
Exactly right, Mary Ann. While RV’s seem to be selling like the proverbial “hot cakes” right now, once many of these newcomers realize how much it costs to store their new toys (if they can’t store them at home), how much and how long it takes to get stuff fixed, how much stuff NEEDS to be fixed, how tough it can be to find places to camp (especially east of the Rockies), there will suddenly be a glut of used units (of all kinds) for sale. RV dealers may not have enough room to park all the used RV’s!
I hope Craig’s List is big enough.
Yep…..like all fads, “this, too, shall pass”. Once reality sets in with the monthly payments for something not being used, there will be a wide-assortment of previously-owned (rarely used, if at all) rv units with For Sale signs all across our country.
Right on.
I think Mary Ann is real close. I know of several that only bought an RV because of the plague. Both asked me for opinions and neither listened. Both traveled this season and may next, but from discussions with them, they are not all for this. Without realizing the full benefit of RV travel (general, not specific), there is just no way to justify the effort and expense. Right now, I am willing to bet that I know of four units that will be on the market in two years or less.
Until this survey I had not given it any thought. With the pandemic I guess I presumed we would see more RV’ers. After all what better way to stay safe and still get to enjoy life. Summer is short in the north country so finding an un crowded campground that has full service has been a challenge for a few years now so we really didn’t see a big difference. What we have noticed is many of the new RV’ers lack knowledge of campground etiquette . That tends to make the parks more noisy. Campers wandering through your site rather than walking on the road is a bit rude and the extreme night lights that are left on all night are a bit aggravating. Some lights at night, even all night are fine. But do we really need to light up our campsite like down town after we turn in? Oh well, now you have me thinking about it, but I do like seeing new members to our RV life style.
I recently sold my Monaco motorhome. After 35 years of motor home travel. The decision was fueled by the lack of campgrounds to support the huge increase in RV sales. Gone are the days of leaving on a trip without a single reservation and finding a place to camp every day we traveled. The only time we made reservations was when we traveled to the most popular national parks.
We traveled to every state in the lower 48 and all but 4 of the Canadian provinces.
I hope for the sake of the RV lifestyle that more campgrounds come online.
To us, it was the greatest way to travel and see the country.
I’m happy about it in that it is expanding people’s stereotypes about RV’ers. We’re not all retirees heading to Florida every winter, we’re a diverse group of ages and interests who enjoy traveling with our own rolling accommodations – be it to escape winter as a retiree or to get out mountain biking as 20-somethings…and a vast array anywhere in-between! I do think there will be quite a few who will wane once air travel is back up to higher levels. I have a friend who has traveled with me in our RV and has been researching buying her own for the past couple of years. We’ve been talking about how in the next year or so it might be a great time to buy something used since the market will probably flood with units that people get tired of maintaining and paying storage, taxes, etc. on. I do hope that there are a certain percentage that fall in love with the lifestyle and keep on RV-ing, though, it is good for the industry to have some growth and new faces!
Thank you for your photograph of an Aliner Popup trailer.
We were the newbies once.
I have found if you want a campsite for next year, you better make a reservation before you leave this year. Especially for holiday weekends.
I don’t mind new RVers, and we haven’t had much trouble getting reservations, although we do get them further in advance than we used to. What is sad is that many new RVers are not educated in etiquette… e.g. they walk through campsites, don’t monitor their pets, let their kids run amok and aren’t considerate when it comes to noise. Can you tell I’m old? 😉
The problem is not the newbies as much as the lack of campgrounds, due to pushback from people not wanting anything that they are not involved in.
My wife & I have been RVing for more than 3 decades. The crowded campgrounds seem to have began in Florida even before the pandemic. My biggest concern is the huge rate increases that we have seen over the past year. One of my favorite RV Parks now charges $59.00 a night. Just a couple of years ago their rate was $34 bucks. I’m sure their rationale is that more people want to stay, so why not gouge them! This is a huge Resort with every amenity and nearly 500 sites…. Talk about a “Cash Cow”
The irritating thing is a complete lack of being polite to other campers. Kids on bikes cut through your campsite, sometimes riding between you and the fire pit [dangerous]. We’ve started camping weekdays. Some parks offer a “4 for 3” during the week so we camp Monday to Thursday nights, staying 4 nights but paying for 3 nights. The campgrounds are relatively peaceful without the kids running around like wild animals.
X2
I don’t mind the new campers if they would not be obnoxious in campgrounds (trashy sites, dogs barking, radios blaring, kids running uncontrolled), and clean up after themselves when boondocking. The vandalism and trash seen last year is horrible.
X2
That’s sad
Agreed. The veneer of civilization is thin, and showing cracks in many places.
I don’t like it but it like the influx of people to my beautiful state of Colorado – when people find something good, you have to allow it to happen. (I can complain about the influx of people – I am a 4th generation Coloradan.)
Don’t think about it. Once the pandemic is over or 95% things will return back to where it was. They will be back to cruises, Islands and such. The will be a glut of RVs for sale by individuals, dealers or finance companies with repos. Because they won’t have to dump black and gray tanks, keep maintenance up, pay storage, clean, haul trash the list goes on. So just be patient. It’s the weekend warrior that drives me nuts.
Agreed, Skip. For most of the newcomers RV’ing presented a “safe” substitute for the vacations they prefer to take. A small percentage, maybe 10% of the newbies, may decide to continue camping. If you are thinking of selling that used RV, do it now. In another year or so there will be a glut on the used market, prices will drop and campground reservations should be back to where they were.
I have to admit the newer RV’r can be a little different, but i was new at one time as well, I was helped many times and appreciated it. I will go out of my way to help if there is a need, Its like Loving Your Neighbor.
The plus side of the influx of new RVers has helped increase the life style acceptance of RV life. On the negative side, campgrounds that were once First-Come, First Served, such as Gros Ventre in the Tetons, will be by reservation only.
https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/gros-ventre-campground.htm
I (so far) am not concerned about all the new RV sales because RVTravel surveys indicate the overwhelming majority of RVers want internet access, a cell phone signal, full hook ups and resort amenities. I prefer places that have few if any of those things.
we generally travel when johnny and susie are “in” school which should translate into not much of a problem…hopefully. in any case i would not expect much of a problem between sunday-thursday nights. we will see how things are later this year.
I didn’t see my choice in the poll today. I think in a year there will be a whole bunch of campers for sale cheap and most of them will become permanent homes for people in RV parks. And no, I don’t see that as good for the industry or the parks.
I fully expect a huge influx of newer RVs to show up on the market over the next 2 years. Once everyone is able to travel with relative ease, the attraction will be gone for most.
Can’t go to the movies. So God invented “newbies”. I have a soda popcorn and a lawnchair. It is comedy, they cannot back up a trailer, hit things with motorhomes. It is true comedy
We, too, have had some laughs watching new RVers trying to back in, trying to level their rigs, etc. We have offered help if the people seem like the type who would be receptive to it. The two times we were rebuffed, we greatly enjoyed watching their struggles.
We have seen tent trailers that they can’t get up, probably don’t know how, uhaul trucks set up to use as campers and pitiful tarp canopies that have blown away from their site.
Almost as good as watching the action at a busy boat launch!
As potential newbees to this lifestyle, my wife and I have been following the trends and challenges of motoring across the country with hopes of becoming a part of the vagabond lifestyle some day in our retirement. This newsletter and it’s community of readers and contributors has been an eye opening but comforting source of information and inspiration.
Hope to meet you all on the road soon.
Doug and Gail.
The poll did not have my choice. I think about it but I hope the influx of people will be good over time maybe we will see more growth in sites. At the same time I think the major influx is temporary. As the pandemic passes I think there will be an exodus of the newbies. I was speaking with a RV salesman the other day and he is already a good number of newbies wanting to sell their new RV’s. They found it wasn’t right for them. I think that will increase when it is safe to fly again.
I really don’t have a problem with the influx. However, there are now many more people that do not respect our parks and campgrounds. They leave trash, make noise and have way too many lights around their sites.
I’m not an old “wet blanket”, it just make me sick to see all of the trash left behind. If you poop in the woods and leave it with the toilet paper that you used laying around you are a nuisance and need to grow up. Please find a new hobby.
agree 100%
I still believe it should be up to the rv sales personnel to promote campground etiquette . However they see fit to do so, because the assumption that everyone knows how, but needs to practice it. Pack it in pack IT out as well as a little courtesy.
It’a all the entitled people camping on BLM land I have a problem with. They leave their trash, don’t dispose of human waste properly. Behold do they think is going to clean it up. No respect at all. And if your at a one rig spot they think they can just pull in beside you. We have have a 35’ fifth wheel and need room to Move when leaving. All the new camper that have come out of this pandemic in Idaho are the worst. Also, Idaho has not really added any camping in the last 30 years. Poor planning.
entitled = young
Even before the latest influx of RVers this past year, I saw a trend happening in private campgrounds, the shrinking of distance between sites. Many of the smaller parks don’t have the property to expand so they redesign the space they have by eliminating the space between sites. The results is that campsites are becoming camp parking lots.
Right on!
Hi, I am one of the “Newbies”. Retired and bought a 35’ 5th wheel. Just to let you know I AM NOT one of the disrespectful campers you encounter. I have met great people willing to assist me with any and everything. A big thanks to them all! I have already started “Paying it forward” as well.
I did not learn to respect my neighbours, campgrounds, staff or anything else from a manual or RV dealer. I learned it over a lifetime.
Yes, I wish there were more campground options for us all, but please don’t blame the Newbies for this.
At some point in time you were all new to RV’ing as well.
Thanks, and stay safe everyone!
I’m a Newbie RVer! I read and read and read some more before we purchased our Class C Coachmen Leprechaun from RV Country. It was a former rental (so they said), was a year old, had 19k on it and was immaculate. Despite all my research, we knew NOTHING. But the rig has turned out to be an excellent motorhome, only minor issues. Just dumb luck. We are polite people by nature but it was very good to read websites like this one for the proper etiquette rules of rv parks and campgrounds. We always make reservations, just like we did when we travelled pre-motorhome. Campgrounds have been crowded for sure! It’s January and literally ALL the state parks are completely booked every single weekend until October. So we’re adjusting and going mid-week which we are lucky to be able to do. People are not always polite, for sure. Generally speaking, we have experienced private RV “resorts” to be more quiet and people following “the rules.”
I have loved RV camping, but the shortage of camp spots creates a problem. Even new campgrounds or expansions are building more cabins than RV camp spots. And because spots are in demand, campgrounds are changing rules. I tried to get in one campground, and they will only allow dogs if you do not leave the dog in the unit while you tour or shop. And because of the high demand, pricing of spots have increased So our only choice is to sell the RV and go back to motels or timeshares.
Here’s why that dog rule was implemented, and why it should be the rule in every RV park:
Your dog is unhappy about being left behind. He also hears strange noises he can’t identify. So he expresses his unhappiness by barking. ALL. DAY. LONG! I’ve been placed next to people that do what you’re describing too many times. Listening to your dog yapping all day is not the way I want to spend my time. I wish more parks had this policy.
Newbies need to learn what oldies have been practicing for a long time….manners.
Due to the influx of so many newbies, it would seem that our social history is changing somewhat. Last summer, for example, we met an outside around the campfire bass player and he could be heard everywhere around the camping area.
He had a simple set up….bass and small amp (150 watts) hooked up to the side of his camper, a popup. using a long wire. I’d offer up he was probably 30 yrs old and with his girlfriend, no apparent kids. Fortunately, he did observe the 10pm quiet time. And, he did that until noon the next day when he started up once again. The campground host at about 4 pm spoke with him. Disgruntled, he up and pulled out around 6pm. That night, as we once again sat around the campfire talking, we notice that lack of musical equipment. Not even a ukulele to be seen. IF someone had took out a acoustic instrument, such as a guitar, banjo or accordion, we’d certainly have been ok with
Most all has been said by the others. New campgrounds are being constructed, a good thing. An example is in Sevierville/Pigeon Forge Tennessee. The problem is, they build every possible thing into the campground that most of us never use. Now the cost per night seems to be $80 to $100 per night. This is way overpriced and many can’t afford the cost, especially us that fulltime. Our monthly budget since 2016 has been about $900 but it will soon be $1800. Those prices may be ok for a few days on vacation but not for fulltime. We have to be somewhere so we will pay the price for now.
There is always Corps of Engineers parks and with a senior pass fees are 1/2 off, the only drawback is you have to move every two weeks, most of the time that entails moving from one site to another. Since most only have a dump station and not sewers if is a good time to dump holding tanks. The same for state parks. If you don’t need all the bells, buttons, and whistles it can be very affordable.
One of the things learned by many full timers is that staying in RV parks is not necessarily a good way to travel, as there are so many other options out there. Not only is your RV built to provide you with independent camping for days & weeks, but there are so many places where you can stay for free or very little cost, particularly if you learn to use your tanks, your various electrical systems, and propane. There are many clubs such as Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome, Escapees and Passport America to use. There are so many other places to stay, such as city/town parks with RV sites, and BLM lands, National Forest lands, State & County Parks, Fairgrounds, etc, etc, etc. Not only are most of these very low cost but they get you out and about to see this great country, something hard to do crammed in an RV park.
We are one (or two) of them. Started full time last April and love it.
Besides crowding in campgrounds, even more bothersome I am finding that there is a lack of etiquette and respect for the land, campground and other campers that just seemed to be automatically there in the past. Never did I worry about my things being stolen, and kindness and friendliness were the norm. For the most part folks didn’t trash their space. It feels completely different now; a different type of camper seems to be prevalent. It’s sad to me; something has been lost which I really miss.
i agree with you completely! RV’s with tv and stereos outside while parked so close you can hardly put out your slides or awnings. Finding more inconsiderate campers lately and if we speak up, we’re the bad guy.
My “vote” would rather have been that the recent influx of newbies was an inevitable result of the current plague and industry promotion driven by the apparent need for a lot of people to leave their home base. A boon for the RV manufactures in the short run, but with the likely glut of used units soon to be on the market, those employed in said industry and better be figuring out employment plan B.
For the diehard RVing folks, the temporary (I hope) pain of overcrowding and market pricing of accommodations. Personally, I’d like to have a really small trailer for local and backwoods use to supplement our 32′ 5er which is was to large to go a lot of places I’d like to camp. Should be many to choose from soon ;’ >
With what is going on right now with the Covid-19 what choice do some of these folks have? It’s the best way to travel I feel. You won’t see me sitting on a plane any time soon! And I see it as a time for families to spend more real time together, as long as they stop staring at their tablets and phones. It’s a good time to teach kids more about this country and to see it. And Hey, just remember we were all Newbies ourselves at one time, and we probably had people watching and complaining about us too! And besides sometimes they’re fun to watch!
We are gaining experience about RVing each time we travel. We will continue to refine our way of traveling, including finding places to stay in the RV. One near-term refinement is downsizing our MH from 43 feet to 37 or 36 feet. Our need for interior room is less now and the shorter length will expand the number of sites we fit. Further, I expect that quite a few of the new, virus-motivated RVers ultinately will decide that RVing isn’t for them. I guess we’ll see how things go, but we have no plans to stop traveling.
I’ve noticed obscene amounts of trash and human excrement left on remote, back country trails when out riding horses in Texas State Parks.
No, it’s not fun to pick up your own toilet paper and poo and pack it back out. But it’s the law and there are good reasons for it. Newbie hikers and RVers this past year seem to think it’s like a cruise ship. Invisible armies swooping behind them to clean everything up.
Even on equestrian designated trails, we scatter our horse poo far away from the trail and carry a special bag for our own.
I did not know that.
As long as they respect their neighbors, and don’t trash the campgrounds I say welcome. We were all new to this once.
I am worried about the safety of other more experienced RV-er’s
Please explain?
I am happy with many new RVers joining the lifestyle. As in the past many will find it is not for them and those that remain will be the next crop of “old timers”. we have crossed the country west to East and back since last May. We were not interested in “destination” campgrounds and had no trouble finding places to stay for a night or two with a phone call at 2PM while on the road. Several places asked us to stay longer, clearly they were not near 100% occupancy. We were closed out of one campground we like in Marfa TX, but there were several good alternates.
I’m not happy about it but not because it makes it harder to book sites – we haven’t had that issue. I’m not happy about it because of the lack of basic campground etiquette shown by many of those newcomers. I don’t know how that basic education should occur but it should be mandatory for new campers.
The education should’ve been with their parents.
Since that didn’t happen, it should come from rangers who actually patrol and enforce campground rules.
I don’t think a lot of them will be around in 2 or 3 years. I mean look at all the RVs already parked and never moving.
Similar to pleasure boats. Most marinas and boat storage facilities remain nearly full most of the year. Buyers will soon discover that their cheaply-built travel trailer is falling apart and they’re stuck with a 20-year loan.
As with any “fad” (e.g., hula hoops, pet rocks), the thrill wears off and the general population’s attraction wanes. Once many of the new owners get a taste of the lifestyle (and work involved) they will drop out. Others will be bitten by the bug and be hooked for a lifetime.
I think it’s great because more RVers –
We have camped for at least 40 years and gone through multiple camping venues from tents to a 36 foot rented motorhome. That was certainly an interesting trip! Right now we are camping in a tiny popup that we towed behind our car. The price of gasoline is soaring and that is a game changer. Towing long distances is quite pricey. The campgrounds are certainly more crowded than they used to be, even on weekdays. The Covid scare seems to have made people less friendly but, on the brighter side, the campground restrooms are usually immaculate and seldom used. We are biding our time and waiting for some of these new campers to find out how much work camping can be and how difficult it is to get that “perfect campsite” unless you plan well in advance. Then we hope to swoop in and buy someone’s seldom used hybrid! Welcome to new campers! Please teach your children to be considerate, don’t share your music with fellow campers and don’t let your dog bark incessantly.