alternative to dirt around campsite?

bukhrn wrote:

Naio wrote:
If your concern is the shoes getting dirty, how little are the boys? Are they small enough to stay on the rug? If not, I can't see it helping.

For boys who venture off the rug, I'd say you need some designated 'camping' shoes (maybe something easy to wash like crocs) or bare feet.

X-2, I have to agree with Naio, I mean, you are camping, as it were, and they are boys, dirt is part of the equation. ;)

Lol.
By the same token, having a long term campsite that is a dust bowl when dry and mud pit when wet pretty much sucks.
Seasonal campsite isn't roughing it out in nature, it's a place to relax and be comfortable and while my kids get dirty on a regular basis, I wouldn't want them running around all summer looking like orphans that hadn't showered in a month. Not to mention the mess in the camper, daily.
For an instant solution, gravel it. But don't use pea rock, it never stops moving. Get a dump truck load of crushed rock. Couple hours spreading it out and permanent, clean fireproof solution.
Won't help this year, but if it's dirt, why not plant grass? Maybe deal w it this summer and plant grass late summer or next spring.

Naio wrote:
If your concern is the shoes getting dirty, how little are the boys? Are they small enough to stay on the rug? If not, I can't see it helping.

For boys who venture off the rug, I'd say you need some designated 'camping' shoes (maybe something easy to wash like crocs) or bare feet.

X-2, I have to agree with Naio, I mean, you are camping, as it were, and they are boys, dirt is part of the equation. ;)

al7601 wrote:
We have our 33 foot TT at a seasonal site and were looking for options to put down over this area of dry powdery dirt that is on our site. Our 2 boys playing always find a way to get their shoes very dirty every weekend. We can't use mulch because of the campfire and have considered an RV mat or outdoor rug but do they really help? any other tips are appreciated and thank you

I do a lot sporting events with my RV. And the sites are often on dirt or sand.
I chucked those heavy,stinky, and slippery RV mats out years ago! :B

Here is what I use.
Sun shade screen fabric. Go to Lowes or Home Depot. Many of the stores sell it by the foot off a roll. If not look around they will be packaged in various lengths.

Lightweight comes in different colors. I have one the entire length of my MH. I fasten it down to the ground with those states that have a circle metal piece over the stake. You can also add those rubber grommets with a hole in the middle to each corner too.

Pros. You can easily wash it, it dries in seconds in the sun AND it folds up into a FLAT 12" square for storage. AND you don't slip on it like you do with those RV mats. Keeps the sand and dirt out of your RV and when it rains the water goes right thru it. Picture of color swatches off website does not do it justice it really looks a lot nicer than pics.


http://www.lowes.com/pd_318319-304-74040_0__

I was at a campground that had large permanent rubber like mats over the entire site. A bunch of sites had them. The ground was a bit sandy.

You see many permanent sites with a deck off the camper.

We have outdoor rugs from Lowe's. Entire 20'X 8' area under the awning has the rug - feels more like a part of the camper and does help keep your feet and your camper cleaner. And, you can be out there barefoot. Sweeps off nice and we hose it down if it need to be cleaned. We are full-time and have used these for 5 years now - no sign of wearing out or fading. We had to buy 2 different size rugs alike to span the area we wanted.

Check with the campground for permission first.

A patio mat works well and makes for a very clean patio area. However, you have boys and they find dirt :) They probably won't stay on the mat unless they're small and have a bunch of little cars to play with on the mat. If your concern is bring the dirt inside, have them take off their shoes when they come in. As adults, we even do that.

If your concern is the shoes getting dirty, how little are the boys? Are they small enough to stay on the rug? If not, I can't see it helping.

For boys who venture off the rug, I'd say you need some designated 'camping' shoes (maybe something easy to wash like crocs) or bare feet.

pea gravel? Not sure if a "permanent" solution like pea gravel would be frowned upon. You did already mention mulch, which is also a "permanent" solution, but that was a no-go because of the fire pit.