In the RV world, this argument never seems to go away: Is RVing really camping?
We recently were unintentionally drawn into the discussion: Are you really “camping” if you have TV, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a private toilet and shower, and all the comforts of home? When asked directly, I demurred. (I’ve witnessed this discussion before and know the potential intensity of the opinions on both sides.)
Additionally, about a month ago, RVtravel.com ran a poll asking readers if they thought they were “roughing it” when they were RVing. Not surprisingly, 82 percent answered, “No way, this isn’t ‘roughing it!'”
Glamping
A lot of people would say that RVing sounds more like glamping, and dictionaries back that up. Merriam-Webster defines glamping as “outdoor camping with amenities and comforts (such as beds, electricity, and access to indoor plumbing) not usually used when camping.”
But in practice, that comparison doesn’t always hold up. In a recent report, older campers are traveling more than ever—but they’re choosing RVs over glamping by a wide margin.
Camping
Camping, on the other hand, is defined as the act of staying and sleeping in an outside area for one or more days and nights, usually in a tent.
In Facebook group snippets and forum posts, some commenters draw a hard line. They say camping means roughing it, staying close to nature, and living without the extra comforts.
What about our readers?
Skip writes, “Roughing it? Not close anymore, it’s like staying at a 5-star hotel and being my own tour guide. Back in the ’80s was roughing it with a tent, sleeping bag, and provisions packed on the horse and adventuring through the woods. But, those were the days of calm and fun.”
Dan jokes, “Absolutely roughing it. Our Class C only has two TVs, and the microwave is kinda small.”
Impavid adds, “We joke we haven’t roughed it since we put a blender in the RV.”
Roy says, “I don’t even consider what we do as camping. I tell people that we’re RVing, not camping. I think the closest we ever come to ‘roughing it’ is boondocking.”
Bryan N. agrees: “Roughing it? Heck no, I don’t even consider it ‘camping’. Seriously, we’re driving around in a small apartment on wheels. How rough can that be?”
Deena J. says, “We ‘roughed’ it for many years. Went from tent- sleeping bag, tent- blow up mattress, pop up camper forward to now we are unapologetic ‘glampers’ and proud of it. I like the comfort and don’t plan to give it up.”
Cottersay says, “If you’re ‘roughing it’ in an RV, then you are doing something MAJORLY wrong. Indeed, you’d have to be willfully clueless and not a little bit ‘slow’.”
RVing
Many RVers (like me) couldn’t care less about what label gets slapped on their experience. They are outside, away from their stix-n-brix house, and they enjoy camping in their own way.
Similarities, not differences
To me, the question “Is RVing really camping?” is symptomatic of today’s society. Folks look for, and seem eager to point out, the many differences between us. Once that line is drawn, it seems to me we are quick to loudly defend ourselves. (I’m embarrassed to admit that I get drawn in, too.)
Yes, we may have different political opinions, different religious beliefs, and a host of other things we disagree upon.
However, there is quite a lot that people today do agree on. Like, family is important. Life is short. Nature is wondrous and worth seeing—even if you have to drive miles and miles to experience it for yourself.
Maybe if we spent more time finding the ways we are similar and considering the commonalities we share, this argument would finally fade away.
Wrong question
Is RVing really camping? It’s the wrong question, in my mind. Instead, I’d like the question to be: What parts of the country have you explored? Or, what do you like to do when out enjoying nature? Or, do you remember your favorite trip? What makes it your favorite?
Alternative questions like these bring out our similarities and offer a genuine opportunity to learn about other people and the places they’ve visited.
So, maybe the real question is not whether RVing “counts” as camping. Maybe the better question is what kind of experience you want.
If you want to snuggle down into a sleeping bag, fall asleep under the stars, and get a wake-up call from the birds, that is one kind of outdoor trip.
If you want to sit under the stars and then walk a few steps to your own shower, your own bed, and a cool RV at the end of the day, that is another kind of outdoor trip.
Both can be fun. Both experiences “count.” And both can still put you in the same campground, looking at the very same sunset.
The point
At the end of the day, the label only matters if you enjoy arguing about labels. For everybody else, the travel is the point. The experience is the point. The time in nature is the point.
On the highway, you are a “driver” no matter what you drive. In an RV, you may be camping, glamping, or simply RVing. It depends on who is talking and, honestly, I’m very happy to leave the well-worn debate back at the campfire.
Leave a comment if you wish.
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RVT1254
I don’t consider my use of an RV camping, glamping, or RVing. I do not use it to spend time in the wild or to be close to nature. I consider my use of an RV to be touring, to see and visit things like the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the Corn Palace or the Henry Ford museum. I simply prefer to sleep in my own bed, not rely on restaurants for all my meals, and to have a large “suitcase.”
Our culture seems to be hung up on labeling everything. We’ve parked next to people in tiny tents and massive Class A’s and fifth wheels that are a long walk from one end to the other. No one we’ve met has ever mentioned anything about the equipment we use. Instead of camping or glamping I would call it making new friends.
Exactly, I love traveling and our 5th wheel allows us to have the comforts we like. I am over 70 and my nights sleeping on an air mattress in a tent are long gone.
We use ours for work on the road as we vend at major Irish and Celtic Festivals. It is our place to sleep. If we can stay on the venue boondocking, all the better, keeps our commute short. We are old school, no generator, but have a couple solar panels.
I had the same question about a year ago. We were staying in one of Phoenix’ regional parks for some Spring baseball. We were in our class B PleasureWay. I was laying on the couch with a cold drink watching basketball. I had the back doors open with perfect temps. The thought “is this camping” came to me while listening to our neighbor pounding in tent stakes.
For long trips (weeks), we take the RV, with all the comforts of home. For shorter trips (days), I ride my motorcycle and put up a tent, and think about whether to take a “baby-wipe shower” or look for a big truck stop. Guess which one I call “camping”?
Amen!
Wow! You hit the nail on the head with this one. It seems like everyone wants to be “right” these days and to argue. We used to keep our opinions to ourselves, but not anymore. Trying to make yourself look better by pointing out something wrong about someone else is just sad. I’ve been told so many times that camping in my trailer is not “camping.” Okay, great, but who really cares? I wish we could go back 10-15 years when people were kinder and didn’t feel the need to argue about every little thing.
My little trailer is more of a metal tent than a travel trailer, it has the basics, bed, microwave, small fridge, chemical toilet, standing room for changing and when power is available AC. It’s our 5th trailer, each one a little smaller than the last one but it meets our needs.
Many, many moons ago my hubby and I were talking about an upcoming “camping “ trip in our TT when my sweet SIL ( who was raised basically in a one stop sign town), smugly commented roughing it for her would be staying at a Holiday Inn. LOL! I pointed out to her that at least I knew who had been using my toilet and sleeping in my bed. To each their own.
I call it traveling. I gave up sleepless nights on the ground a long time ago. Much of the time we are spending nights at arenas while attending dog competitions (Agility or Rally) rather than spend too much money on sleepless nights in a hotel (one of our dogs reacts to every sound and I’m a poor sleeper, so no sleep for me). When we do travel for “vacation” we use the RV because we bring our dogs and they have a known “home base”.
Started camping at age 8 on the ground thru the teenage years with a ” big plastic tube” for weather protection. 20’s brought backpacking & digging a latrine. 30’s came with a tent, cot & coleman stove. Wahoo. 40’s it was bigger tent, bigger truck with motorcycle, & big homemade wooden box full of ALL the essentials: campfire wood,towels, kitchen utensils, boom box, etc. 50’s pulling a teardrop trailer, 60’s need to stand up with a bathroom please, used Class C. 70’s Loving my new Class C with all the bells & whistles. Queen bed, microwave, solar, satellite internet, shower, yada, yada,yada. STILL camping & enjoying the Great Outdoors!
I’ve been full time boondocking for the last five years with my 30 foot travel trailer, and it’s all still glamping; never uncomfortable or cold, lightening fast Internet speeds (StarLink), and great food. Yea, we’re glamping all right!
We have an RV that is used mostly for sleeping and using the bathroom. We’ve never watched the TV. We spend most of our time outside. We cook outside and enjoy our campfire. That’s camping. But we’ve had neighbors who stay mainly inside their RV and are seldom seen outside. They watch TV and use their computer. That’s not camping.
It’s a frame of mind thing, like I just did the journey from Seattle to all over America and up and down and from coast to coast to see family and friends and loved ones and got back in January, first week 2026. Just me ‘n the dog. So we put in provisions when we had to and we journeyed to where we needed to stay and we fixed stuff that was broke but mainly thought about love and the beauty of our blessed world and how wonderful people are and never got disappointed, it depends on your frame of mind and I don’t spend lotsa time with the entertainment, but that’s good to if you have time for it, I had zero time ’cause I like writing postcards because most people beg for them
I camped as a kid at home, across the creek with my dog, cat, and little equipment. I still live on that property. The last few years, I felt like I was camping with a teardrop trailer and was always outside with my dog child except when sleeping. But being an old person now, I have a small stand-up trailer. It pains me that it causes gas usage, but I will still be outside as much as possible. It does feel like cheating, but will use a little camp stove and be outside mostly. When it is foul weather, as it often is in the NW, it will be more comfy, camping or not. On the coast, weather changes quickly. When stranded with a burned out clutch, was very glad for the newer trailer.
Camping is supposed to be enjoyable which isn’t if senior citizen backs lack a good night’s sleep. No apologies for a Class C queen bed, no worries about bears, wolves, invading a tent. No multiple trips for ice chest ice. Easy to set up camp, now. We worked hard for years to be comfortable as we travel.
We are thankful for our many blessings.