How to Find a Great RV Campground
So, you're ready to hit the road for your RV adventure, and the next item on your "to-do" list is finding campgrounds. Before you dive into Google or your online trip planner to find campgrounds along your route, take a minute to assess your campground style and your expectations from a campground.
This is one area that took me by surprise when we started RVing. In my mind, I could see us parking the RV next to a lake in the middle of a forest, with spectacular views and a peaceful atmosphere. I could also imagine camping on the beach with a nightly campfire and early morning coffee watching the surf roll in. If you've been RVing for a while I know you're smiling and maybe nodding your head.
The RV experience is all about getting outdoors and enjoying nature, right? The actual experience of RV camping in some areas can be a far cry from what I imagined. For instance, camping on the beach is possible, but you'll be camping VERY close to other RVers in a parking lot arrangement- at least in most places on the east coast.
And that serene lake-front campsite? Well, you can find that in some areas, but often there are lots of other campers partying away the weekend on the lake. So much for serenity! But, don't despair. A great RV camping experience can be found almost anywhere in the country as long as you temper your expectations and do your homework before you book.
Types of campgrounds
RV Resorts
It makes sense to determine what is most important to you in a campsite and go from there. If you feel that items like electricity, water, and sewer hookups should be just the beginning of a long list of amenities (think, WiFi, a tennis court, pool, and a clubhouse) then look for RV resorts. Usually, at the top of the price range, RV Resorts cater to RVers who want more than a camping experience. You probably won't have the serenity of wilderness but most are near popular vacation destinations. In this case, think of your RV is a "mobile hotel room" at your favorite vacation destination.
State, National, and City Parks
Or maybe your idea of a great RV campground is one that gives you access to forests, wildlife, hiking trails, and even a boat launch along with just a few necessities (like electrical and water hookups). State parks, national parks, or Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds can fit the bill for these expectations. They provide a good camping experience and tend to be less expensive than RV resorts. Booking on weekdays rather than weekends will give you a better shot at a "serene" campsite, but in the high season most of these less expensive campgrounds are filled to capacity so expect lots of "happy" noise all around you from other vacationers.
Corporate, Private Campgrounds
That brings us to the corporate and private campgrounds. Somewhere between RV Resorts and state parks, corporate and private campgrounds run the gamut from wooded campsite setups to ones resembling a parking lot. They are typically located near a popular destination but quality can vary dramatically. Some are basically mobile home parks with a few spaces reserved for RV travelers. Others are all-out destinations in themselves with scheduled activities, a wide range of amenities, and services.
Many will belong to one of the RV membership clubs like KOA, Good Sam, Escapees, or Passport America offering a rating system for their affiliated campgrounds along with some type of discount for members. You'll need to read descriptions carefully and make a point to look at the photos posted on their website to get a feel for the campground setup. Also, check out reviews from other RVers!
Bureau of Land Management
This category is low to no cost camping with a caveat. For BLM campsites, the cost is quite low or even free but there may be no amenities - not even a real campground! These are national lands where camping is allowed but often no services are provided (there are a few exceptions). If you love a wilderness experience for RV camping then this might be your dream come true. Be sure to prepare your RV for boondocking and you'll be able to enjoy your time enveloped by nature! You'll find most of the BLMs in the west, but there are a couple on the east coast.
Harvest Hosts
When it comes to experiences, Harvest Hosts is a unique and fun RV campout. These are family farms, vineyards, breweries, and other agricultural tourism-related locations that provide a space for RV camping. Although the camping at Harvest Host participating farms is free, you'll have to pay for a membership in the Harvest Hosts organization.
The member directory is where you can find the participating farms and contact information as well as guidelines for your stay. These are working farms and you will be their overnight guest. You'll have the opportunity to meet the owners and learn about their farm and the area. Reservations are required and there are typically no amenities (no electrical, water hookups, and no dump stations - boondocking prep is necessary!). Stays are limited to one night, so don't plan on camping for a week. Harvest Host farms are a great option while you are traveling through an area and need a one-night stop.
Find a Campground that fits your Style
So, how do you choose your campground style? Perhaps it depends on the trip or the location. On some trips you may need the escape of a quiet campground to just chill out in your camp chair. Try a state park or Army Corps of Engineers campground. If there is a lake, you can count on busy weekends so the best opportunity to enjoy a serene atmosphere is during the off-season. We have also found that campgrounds are less crowded during the weekdays most any time of year.
If you're excited about an RVing vacation for sightseeing, almost any campground will do since you'll be spending the majority of your time away from the campground. Just find the right area, a campground with good reviews, and off you go!
If you have children, you might consider one of the corporate campgrounds like KOA. They tend to have a lot of activities for families as well as close proximity to popular destinations.
Or maybe you want to pamper yourself for a few days with a stay at a well-equipped RV resort. With all their amenities and your own "hotel-suite-in-tow", a fun and relaxing vacation is a good bet.
For beach vacations, we know a secluded beach campsite is unlikely, so we look for the best locations and accept that there will be other RVers around us. There are a quite few nice state parks on the beach that are less like a parking lot so even with a full campground, they feel comfortable. Beach campgrounds are best enjoyed with a spirit of camaraderie!
Finding campgrounds and checking reviews
Once you decide the type of RV trip you'll be planning and the type of campground you're looking for, it's time to scout. I usually plan an overnight stop for every 4-5 hours of driving. To find a campground, I check Google for RV campgrounds in the area I want to overnight. Alternately, I'll check with AAA or even RV Trip Wizard to find campgrounds. If I am looking for state parks or Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds, I might look at the Reserve America website and search for the area I want to overnight.
Google shows reviews for all types of campgrounds from private to state parks, so it is a good starting place to narrow down the choices. In Google, each listing will have a link to the campground's website so I check that out, looking at the amenities, the rates, and the photos of the campground. Then I check the campground's reviews from recent users. I read a few reviews and give heed to the most recent reviews. From there, I may also check Good Sam or Trip Advisor for additional information and reviews.
Once I have made a choice, I check for availability. If we need to overnight near a popular destination, during a weekend, a holiday, or in peak season, we will make a reservation. But, we don't make reservations for every stop when we travel. However, we check availability even if we choose to not make a reservation. We make a list of overnight "options" taking note of campground names, addresses, phone numbers, and websites so that we can check availability as we get closer. At least we have a list of potential campgrounds on hand when it's time to stop for the night!
In all, finding the right campground for the kind of experience you have in mind is a matter of getting clear about what you need and managing your expectations. Then search for a campground that fits your style!
