What is an RV Resort??

I found resort = expensive, I avoid anything with resort in it's name and look for RV park.

As others have said... the term "resort" is vague at best. However, as a full-timer for the past 5 years, I have seen a few that meet the criteria. One if them is a place I stay every other winter or so... huge property with almost 3000 sites, yet none of them are small. The place has its own 18-hole par-3 golf course, clubhouse, and pro shop... no less than 5 different pool areas with jacuzzis & bath houses... 8 tennis lighted tennis courts, a shuffleboard & horseshoe complex, lawn bowling complex with its own clubhouse, softball field, 12 different dog park areas (including an AKC dog agility park), 32 pickle ball courts (24 of them lit), library, billiards room, various arts & crafts rooms & classes, woodworking shop, car-wash area, a fully equipped fitness & workout facility (machines & free weights) with various aerobics classes, etc, etc, etc. And while it's not cheap, it does at least measure up to what I'd classify as a resort.

Personally I avoid them but I would expect full hook-ups probably cable, a pool and likely other entertainments. Manicured grounds rather than natural and high cost.

An RV resort is any RV park in which my RV is shabbier than everyone else's. ;)

As far as you can get from tent camping and not be in a hotel.

We stayed at several that called themselves resorts, but in reality were really only just a normal rv park. We did stay at a few that were in fact resorts, and had clubhouses, and many extra features like restaurants, and sports facilities. We generally don't seek those kind of places because they are priced higher than we like to pay, and we don't really use any of those amenities. If we were looking to stay long term, that might make a difference.

On our retirement trip, we stopped here. It set the bar pretty high for what an RV resort is. No trailers or fifth wheels, tennis and pickleball courts, 2 pools, privately own landscaped sites with pavers instead of a slab and patio furniture instead of a picnic table. It was pretty nice, but pricey. We normally would not pay to stay at places like this because all those amenities are wasted on us. We just like to sit at the site when we're not out exploring the area.

However, they were offering 25% off for first time campers, so it brought the price from outrageous down to merely ridiculous.

We compare every campground that calls itself a resort to HHIMR. Nothing has measured up yet.

Marketing term with no clear definition.

Generally, it will have more amenities (pool, club house, etc...)

It's so varied that I don't pay any attention to the term. I look for a cg where I want/need it and then check it out on Google Earth.

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Resorts are in the eye of the builder. Its term is usually used to catch travellers as an 'exclusive' clientele, not because it has any exclusive amenity except probably those parks with unit type , clothing option , or age restrictions.
Ignore the naming. A resort, park, campground, find your place with your wishes with your fingers, friends and google earth.
Review sites such as campgroundreviews.com, campsitephotos.com, tripadvisor.com, are useful, not dependable. you choose what is what is right for you.

And don't forget Google Earth / Google Maps - Satellite View are also a good tool to evaluate an RV park and its surroundings.