Campground Considerations
While there are as many styles of planning an RVing adventure as there are people, there are some universals to consider. When Dave and I travel we prefer to have a travel plan mapped out of when and where we will be traveling. Other people prefer a more laid back approach of finding a place to park for the night whenever they arrive at their destination. Neither is right or wrong, it is just your level of comfort!
Determining the destination
When traveling, sometimes the destination is already determined, for example, you are meeting up with family and/or friends. For example it might be the group site at Clear Springs Campground in Texarkana, Texas In this situation you know where you will be going, when you are arriving and when you are departing.
Or you can self-select your destination. If you decide on this method there are many things to take into consideration:
- Time
How much time does your schedule allow for your RVing adventure? A weekend? Two weeks? How much time you have for RVing will determine how far away you can travel to a campground.
- Distance
Check with the primary driver and/or the person who will be setting up once you arrive at the campground. These will help determine how long s/he feels comfortable driving to get to the campground. Few people want to be searching for their site, or setting up, in the dark! - The goal
So that all family members can anticipate a good time, what have you all agreed is the goal of your RVing trip? Relaxing by a campfire? Physical activity like hiking or biking? Going to the beach, an amusement park or a historic site? - Services
What services at your campsite are important to you? Do you want / require a site with a full hook up (FHU) of water, electric and sewer? Does your electric service need to be 50 amp or can you get by with 30 amp? Do you have a satellite dish that needs to face south? Do you want your campsite under shade trees or in the bright open sunshine?
- Urban or Rural
If you are looking for a quieter, more woodsy experience with wider campsites, hiking trails or maybe a lake, a state or national park would be your best choice.
If you are looking for more amenities like a pool, cable TV, a playground and cable TV, your best choice would be a commercial or urban campground, for example, KOA (Kampgrounds of America) or Good Sam.
- Membership Discounts
While there is a nominal fee to join, many campgrounds offer a 10% discount if you are a member of a travel club, for example, Good Sam, KOA, FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) and Passport America. Also, most campgrounds will give a 10% discount if you are a member of AAA or AARP.
Many campgrounds offer a 10% – 25% discount off your site if you are a current or former military, fire, police or first responder. There is also the America the Beautiful pass for seniors to purchase at most federal parks that will give you a 50% discount off your site. The parks include the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Forest Service. To find out where you can purchase the America The Beautiful Pass near you, click on America The Beautiful pass.
** When booking a site, ALWAYS ask WHAT (not if) they offer as a discount! **
- Pets
Does the campground you want to go to accept pets? Some campgrounds have a limit on the number or breeds of dogs they allow. Do you have your dog’s rabies certificate with you?
Safety tips before you go
When Dave and I were boating, for our safety, we always let someone know when we were heading out, where we were going and when we would be back.
It is exactly the same when traveling in an RV. Breakdowns, natural disasters, or other situations can happen. Letting someone know your destination gives your contact person a head start on looking for you, should you not show up when you are supposed to. It can be as simple as a text to a family member saying, “We will be at the Pumpkin Patch Campground in Hermon for the weekend. Be back Sunday afternoon.”
And please, do not post on Facebook your upcoming camping trip! Even if your settings are set on private, it can be an open invitation to burglars. Post your notifications and those pictures when you get back home!
Summary
A little preplanning will make your RVing experience more enjoyable!
Your partners in travel,
Kathryn, Dave and Lucky
RVing Nomads
It’s a Lifestyle!
Please visit our resource page of Exceptional Service and Value. These are businesses, campgrounds and professionals that have provided us exceptional quality. When in their area we would use again! Please note, we do not receive any monetary benefits or discounts for inclusion in our Exceptional Services and Values section. We only wish to pass along the recommendation.
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