Although we plan to research campgrounds when we start full-timing, I am interested to understand what is typical.
How common are campgrounds that closely resemble an asphalt parking lot with little room to extend slides?
How common are more expansive campgrounds/campsites with more tranquil and “it” factor surroundings?
Technomadia said
03:44 AM Apr 5, 2012
Both are common.
Commercial campgrounds tend to lean more towards the smaller sites and less character/space/views. Public campgrounds (state, national, county, etc. parks) more towards the larger sites with separation between them, and even nice views.
But have certainly experienced the reverse too.
Urban areas, where land is more expensive, tend to have smaller sites. But sometimes you find a gem.
- Cherie
The Bear II said
01:33 PM Apr 5, 2012
You'll find the closer you get to a metropolitan area or a tourist destination like Las Vegas, Disneyland/World, Branson...etc the more parking lot type RV parks you'll see. This is usually because they need to squeeze the maximum number of units into a confined area. The land cost is high so they want to have a good return on their investment.
That being said, you will also find, within driving distance (less than 50 miles) lots of natural setting type RV Resorts / Campgrounds.
I like to use www.rvpark reviews.com to do my research. The site has a great feature where it will list cities nearby (and show the distance) where there are campgrounds. For example if you wanted to stay in Branson...all of the RV Parks in the Branson area and you call all of the RV parks listed and discover they are all full or too expensive, you look at the list of nearby towns and find a RV Park just outside of Branson.
The reviews from other RVers also will let you know if this is a park with the "It" factor. You''l see comments like "It was wonderful, beautiful, best park...etc" or "It was a Parking lot, the spaces are too close together, it was a pig pen...."
Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 5th of April 2012 07:10:14 PM
RVRon said
01:40 PM Apr 5, 2012
I'd agree with Cherie. Government run campgrounds are usually more natural in their setting and it's unusual to see a parking lot setting. The reverse would be true for private campgrounds.
Lynn and Ed said
12:31 AM Apr 7, 2012
Thank you Technomadia, RVRon and The Bear II !
Although it is not good to know that asphalt campgrounds are common, it is definitely helpful to know. We will certainly research campgrounds using www.rvpark reviews.com and other sources, to locate as many “it” factor camping locations as possible.
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Monday 9th of April 2012 07:55:21 AM
rvingft said
12:44 AM Apr 9, 2012
RVParkReviews tends to be the largest RVP & CG review site I am familiar with. But there is a new(er) site that lists (if not many reviews yet) RVP & CG ... 5StarCampgrounds. TripAdvisor under the heading specialty lodging also has some reviews posted.
I understand the Woodalls directory will be combined with the Trailer Life directory starting in 2013.
Lynn and Ed said
04:43 AM Apr 17, 2012
Thank you Rvingft and Trabuco!
Trabuco said
04:55 AM Apr 17, 2012
Another site to add to your list, rvparking.com
Lynn and Ed said
04:56 AM Apr 17, 2012
Thanks!
53 Merc said
01:14 PM May 6, 2012
Another resource for campground selection is http://www.freecampgrounds.com/ but it won't compare asphalt vs. It factor. One with which I am familiar is in Ballinger, TX. In a city park with pecan trees, picnic tables/ramadas small lake and quiet. Can't beat the price (and all sites are 50 amp). The listing can give you some really good ideas. Another is Andrews, TX. A gravel parking lot, no shade, no pool, etc. But you can't beat the price. The good part is is near Buddy's Drive Inn, which is home to steak fingers (supposedly the first to develop them) cut from sirloin/ (see what you can learn from a forum ;) )
Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Sunday 6th of May 2012 09:19:17 PM
Lynn and Ed said
06:11 PM May 6, 2012
DH located a website that I thought others reading this thread might also find of interest – the website focuses on camping locations that have scenic views (http://campingwithaview.com/.) The website allows you to view camping locations by view type (e.g., mountains, canyons, rivers), by state, and by recreation (e.g., bird watching, biking, fishing.)
Technomadia said
10:20 PM May 6, 2012
Lyn wrote:
DH located a website that I thought others reading this thread might also find of interest – the website focuses on camping locations that have scenic views (http://campingwithaview.com/.) The website allows you to view camping locations by view type (e.g., mountains, canyons, rivers), by state, and by recreation (e.g., bird watching, biking, fishing.)
That is one awesome potential of a resource! Why haven't we seen this one before?? That's exactly the way I want to look up potential campsites!
What's odd tho (and kinda trippy for us to see), is that the site features a review/tour of a Oliver Travel Trailer - which is the type of trailer we full timed in from 2008 - 2011. It was *awesome*. Which is doubly shocking as to why we've never seen this site before - as the Oliver community is pretty tight knit, and the folks behind the site seem to be avid Oliver fans.
However, Oliver hasn't built a trailer since right after they finished ours in late 2008 - which kinda dates the info on the site As they seem to still be continuing to pitch Olivers as being in production - and they're not. They stopped after building 45 of the trailers, and have been on indefinite hiatus since 2009. So, sadly - I fear this site may not be under active development - and the listings do seem kinda sparse.
Wonderful idea and a great way to pick sites.. and I'd love to see it picked up again.
- Cherie
Lynn and Ed said
02:26 AM May 9, 2012
Cherie,
I agree that this site would be a wonderful resource if someone chooses to maintain it and/or adopt similar search/organization of campsites on their website. Although I may still use the “camping with a view” website, it is good to know the information is likely dated.
After your posting, I looked for information about the site's webmaster and found that he wrote numerous online articles in 2007 and nothing since. Based upon your posting and the above, it is likely the site has not been updated since 2007/2008.
Although we plan to research campgrounds when we start full-timing, I am interested to understand what is typical.
Commercial campgrounds tend to lean more towards the smaller sites and less character/space/views.
Public campgrounds (state, national, county, etc. parks) more towards the larger sites with separation between them, and even nice views.
But have certainly experienced the reverse too.
Urban areas, where land is more expensive, tend to have smaller sites. But sometimes you find a gem.
- Cherie
You'll find the closer you get to a metropolitan area or a tourist destination like Las Vegas, Disneyland/World, Branson...etc the more parking lot type RV parks you'll see. This is usually because they need to squeeze the maximum number of units into a confined area. The land cost is high so they want to have a good return on their investment.
That being said, you will also find, within driving distance (less than 50 miles) lots of natural setting type RV Resorts / Campgrounds.
I like to use www.rvpark reviews.com to do my research. The site has a great feature where it will list cities nearby (and show the distance) where there are campgrounds. For example if you wanted to stay in Branson...all of the RV Parks in the Branson area and you call all of the RV parks listed and discover they are all full or too expensive, you look at the list of nearby towns and find a RV Park just outside of Branson.
The reviews from other RVers also will let you know if this is a park with the "It" factor. You''l see comments like "It was wonderful, beautiful, best park...etc" or "It was a Parking lot, the spaces are too close together, it was a pig pen...."
Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 5th of April 2012 07:10:14 PM
I'd agree with Cherie. Government run campgrounds are usually more natural in their setting and it's unusual to see a parking lot setting. The reverse would be true for private campgrounds.
Thank you Technomadia, RVRon and The Bear II !
Although it is not good to know that asphalt campgrounds are common, it is definitely helpful to know. We will certainly research campgrounds using www.rvpark reviews.com and other sources, to locate as many “it” factor camping locations as possible.
In addition to the websites listed above we also use www.rvparkhunter.com
Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Monday 9th of April 2012 07:55:21 AM
I understand the Woodalls directory will be combined with the Trailer Life directory starting in 2013.
Thank you Rvingft and Trabuco!
Thanks!
Another resource for campground selection is http://www.freecampgrounds.com/ but it won't compare asphalt vs. It factor. One with which I am familiar is in Ballinger, TX. In a city park with pecan trees, picnic tables/ramadas small lake and quiet. Can't beat the price (and all sites are 50 amp). The listing can give you some really good ideas.
Another is Andrews, TX. A gravel parking lot, no shade, no pool, etc. But you can't beat the price. The good part is is near Buddy's Drive Inn, which is home to steak fingers (supposedly the first to develop them) cut from sirloin/ (see what you can learn from a forum ;) )
Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Sunday 6th of May 2012 09:19:17 PM
DH located a website that I thought others reading this thread might also find of interest – the website focuses on camping locations that have scenic views (http://campingwithaview.com/.) The website allows you to view camping locations by view type (e.g., mountains, canyons, rivers), by state, and by recreation (e.g., bird watching, biking, fishing.)
That is one awesome potential of a resource! Why haven't we seen this one before?? That's exactly the way I want to look up potential campsites!
What's odd tho (and kinda trippy for us to see), is that the site features a review/tour of a Oliver Travel Trailer - which is the type of trailer we full timed in from 2008 - 2011. It was *awesome*. Which is doubly shocking as to why we've never seen this site before - as the Oliver community is pretty tight knit, and the folks behind the site seem to be avid Oliver fans.
However, Oliver hasn't built a trailer since right after they finished ours in late 2008 - which kinda dates the info on the site As they seem to still be continuing to pitch Olivers as being in production - and they're not. They stopped after building 45 of the trailers, and have been on indefinite hiatus since 2009. So, sadly - I fear this site may not be under active development - and the listings do seem kinda sparse.
Wonderful idea and a great way to pick sites.. and I'd love to see it picked up again.
- Cherie
Cherie,
I agree that this site would be a wonderful resource if someone chooses to maintain it and/or adopt similar search/organization of campsites on their website. Although I may still use the “camping with a view” website, it is good to know the information is likely dated.
After your posting, I looked for information about the site's webmaster and found that he wrote numerous online articles in 2007 and nothing since. Based upon your posting and the above, it is likely the site has not been updated since 2007/2008.
Thank you for your insights!