Who wouldn’t want a little peace and quiet? From morning to night, daily noise hammers at our senses. Work, traffic, technology, conversation, and more assail our ears in a never-ending cacophony. Wouldn’t a nice, quiet getaway be welcome? Yes! But how can you find a quiet RV park?
Is boondocking the only alternative to quiet RV parks?
Boondockers know that BLM land and other off-grid opportunities offer secluded and quiet spots. The problem? Not every RVer wants to boondock. So what’s a non-boondocker’s alternative?
Search out quiet RV parks
Every area of the United States offers some quiet RV parks—you just need to know how and where to look. If you’re tired of the noise in your life, follow these suggestions and find your own quiet RV park.
Avoid parks near big attractions
RV parks near or within theme parks and other big attractions are often noisier. Campgrounds with enthusiastic families and excited children naturally will be louder. (I love hearing that kind of “noise” if I’m not seeking a quiet getaway.) Just know this fact and expect noise in campgrounds near attractions. Exception: You might happily discover quiet moments during certain times of the day. We’ve camped in a popular fishing area. It’s noisy early in the mornings as anglers head to the lake and again when they come back in the late afternoon. The in-between times are noticeably quieter.
Think smaller
Numbers matter. While not all large RV parks are noisy, many tend to be that way. It just makes sense that the more people and vehicles, the noisier the park can be. When seeking only nature’s sounds, we look for smaller campgrounds.
Fewer amenities
If a campground features a pool, climbing wall, putt-putt golf, and more, it will be noisier. If you’re the kind of camper who doesn’t need these amenities, look for campgrounds without them.
Pet-less campgrounds
RVers looking for peace and quiet might find it in parks that do not allow pets. The problem of “barking dogs” always ranks high on the list of noise frustrations for campers. Note: Some campgrounds have begun to divide their RV park. One side of the park allows pets, while the other side does not. It pays to inquire about this.
Quiet times in quiet RV parks
Off-season might be your best chance to find a quiet RV campground. Keep this in mind when you plan your “quiet” trip.
Off the beaten path
Another way to narrow your search for a quiet RV campground is to look beyond the interstate. Campgrounds well away from main highways are often quieter. It’s nice falling asleep to the sound of crickets rather than highway noise. (Use a tool like RV Trip Wizard to make sure your route will safely accommodate your RV’s width/height.)
Ask other RVers
Many times we’ve been directed to quiet campgrounds by other RVers. Ask your friends who also RV where they’ve located quiet campgrounds. Check online blogs and forums, too.
Keep it quiet
Once you locate your place of peace and quiet, make sure to follow the park rules. That means no raucous outside poker games or leaf-blower usage. Be sure to keep outside speakers turned off, too. Remember, you’re there to enjoy the quiet. Help others do so, too!
If you just can’t find any peace and quiet, perhaps some noise-canceling headphones or a sound machine will help…
##RVDT2128
Great advice; thank you, Gail!
Some great ideas….
I’ll check my Google Earth app to make sure there are no railway tracks next to the campground.
I don’t mind the normal noise. What drives me nuts is outside speakers and TV’s, especially during sporting events. But, I recognize that while we enjoy quiet parks, for others they are gathering spots. The “noisiest” groups are multiple families together; and they are there to socialize with each other. Basically, if we want a quiet park it is our responsibility to find one.
I checked out the link to the noise-cancelling headphones. Holy cow! Bring your wallet (or your credit card!). There is even a fake ad for headphones priced at $10,000! Of course, I’ll now be getting ads showing up for headphones. Nevertheless, the tips on looking off the beaten path are valid.
One thing I am discovering close to home is County and Municipal campgrounds. We drove around north central Iowa and discovered two parks on rivers with trout streams nearby. I was particularly looking at play areas because we are going to have our grands for the weekend. This one park, in particular, has an amazing treehouse with a climbing rope ladder, a man-made shallow pond with a beach, a “spider web” climbing net, and these very interesting log arrangements for climbing. Not a plastic piece of play equipment to be seen but lots of opportunities for imaginative play. Both parks had 50 amp service and water at all of their sites. I’m looking forward to finding more of these gems.
Sounds great! Congrats on finding such a wonderful spot.