How do campgrounds charge you?

Triker33 wrote:

groundhogy wrote:
Thanks for the info.
RVs seem cheaper to dock but more expensive to move.
The 25 ft. limit thing is good info as I probably will outfit this
unit to boon dock.
gh

I think most RV's get much better MPG moving then any boat. :D

Not a sailboat.

groundhogy wrote:
Ok. That sounds like good news.
So how much do they charge then. Is there like an average charge
or does it vary wildly?

gh

It varies wildly! Maybe not in Kansas or Nebraska where the landscape is mostly the same, but in California prices are all over the place. We have RV parks on the coast where the prices can be well over $100 a night. Or you could find someplace in the farmlands of the Central Valley for $25 a night. Or you could drive out onto National Forest or BLM land and camp for free.

groundhogy wrote:
Thanks for the info.
RVs seem cheaper to dock but more expensive to move.
The 25 ft. limit thing is good info as I probably will outfit this
unit to boon dock.
gh

I think most RV's get much better MPG moving then any boat. :D

RVing is far cheaper than owning & operating a cruising boat. Marinas get you for everything. Charging by the foot is just the start. Never seen that at a CG.

groundhogy wrote:
Thanks for the info.
RVs seem cheaper to dock but more expensive to move.
The 25 ft. limit thing is good info as I probably will outfit this
unit to boon dock.
gh

Now sure about that...

Take a 30' boat and a 30' RV on a 100mile trip then top off the tanks. You might change your mind fast.

Like any other accomodation it varies wildly, depending on land values and demand for space, thus it can also vary seasonally and for special events.

I've been in parks where RV sites were free for one night, free for three nights, $2 per day, $5 per day, $20 per day, and as high as $60 per day. I know there are locations with some sites over $100 a day, the one time I was there I rented one of their park models so it was a lot more but still less than a hotel room. I know much of Florida is higher in season, Gulf Coast beach areas more expensive than Great Plains and Corn Belt. I suspect you'll find prices higher on both east and west coast, because land prices are much higher.

In a given park or campground it can vary by site size, amenities like patio or not, services provided. There may also be per person charges, per vehicle charges, entrance fees, day use fees, an per service fees for one-time services like dumping or LPG fills. There can also be fee differences for location within the RV park (some resorts have upscale sections for people who want to be isolated from others who might be doing camping activities) and for proximity to things like the beach, riverfront or lakefront, golf course or clubhouse.

For a RV needing utility hookups, in the middle of the country, budget about $30 a day for rural and small town destinations, $12-20 a day for public campgrounds with more primitive facilities, $50 or more for proximity to big cities or popular tourist or family vacation destinations.

Size matters only in the sense that being too large to fit in a lower price site might force you to upgrade to a premium site.

groundhogy wrote:

RVs seem cheaper to dock but more expensive to move.

Ha! You must have a blow boat, yes?

Our stink pot got about 3 gph. Way way less, distance-wise, than any of our rvs. And we had a sipper... (cruising speed was about 13 knots).

But we always anchored out, which was much easier to do than boondocking, at least on the east coast...

Charges do vary pretty widely, to answer that question. The variation is a combination of geographic differences (some areas of the country are more expensive than others, and campgrounds in cities or near popular destinations may be more expensive), amenities included or available, site size, the general "niceness" of the campground, the time of year, whether it's privately or publicly owned, etc.

Some campgrounds (and some sites at many campgrounds) may be physically only able to accommodate modestly sized RVs.

The OP is coming from the boating world - where marina's do charge by the foot.

Each 'additional' service adds a couple dollars.

30A / W - is usually the cheapest
50A / W - is a couple to five dollars more - because it cost the CG more for you to use more electricity

Adding sewer is another expense and a couple dollars more.

A park might add a dollar or so to cover the cost of adding WiFi and the continual costs for bandwidth

The same with a park that has cable TV.

You can see these price levels in many commercial sites, COE sites, etc. across the country.

Some CG (govt and private) will charge more for waterfront or other premium locations.

Larger lots might be considered premium at some parks.

FYI we have been to a RV Park on the Gulf Coast that charges one price under 30 foot and a higher price for over 30. 30amp or 50amp no difference in price. Only park we have every been to that charges like that.