This is our first year of camping and we find suck a difference in stae and federal campgrounds vs private ones.Although alot of the state campgrounds dont have hookups to me having the extra room over being right on top of each other is well worth it.Anyone else feel this way

I think it's a matter of what you want and where you are going.We all want big open sites with few neighbors but, sometimes you have to take what you can get, especially when you're traveling.I would not say there is any type CG I would NOT consider. It all depends on the circumstances. Sometimes a WalMart parking lot may be your only option...

This is our first year of camping and we find suck a difference in stae and federal campgrounds vs private ones.Although alot of the state campgrounds dont have hookups to me having the extra room over being right on top of each other is well worth it.Anyone else feel this wayYou will get so many different answers on this your head will swim even more! :B1. It's all about 'each' campers preferences.2. It all depends on HOW and WHY and WHERE you RV. I.E. weekend warrior, snow bird, full time, want to be around other people or want to be alone, etc.For "me"...I do not like the State parks because most don't have full hookups. If you want to extend your stay the State parks have a 'limited' amount of days you can stay. And where I was traveling for the winter in the South, mosquitoes would carry you aware at your site.I prefer CG's. And there are MANY different types of CG's. The sites are not always small. You just have to look around for the CG or State Park that suites YOUR needs. :C

We have found we want FHU, TV, and WiFi, so that leaves us private CGs most of the time, but not all. I guess we're "glampers", but it does take the first few times out to determine which type of RVer you are. As gbopp said, it's a matter of what you want and where you're going.

We go to state and federal parks when we can. However, since we full time, it is occasionally best if we hit a private park for a day or two (laundry, dump, water, etc.). Also, occasionally, there are either no public parks where we want to be or they are all booked. This is typically on weekends so we grin and bear it at the private park until we can get into a public one.There are some great private parks and some really crappy public ones. But, we spend about 80 percent of our time in state and federal parks because we enjoy them more.

We camp primarily State campgrounds. We have attempted to stay at some private campgrounds over the years and find most are just not much to offer us. We use KOA and Good Sam campgrounds when traveling and need an overnight and move on. We don't do Wall Mart parking at all.We have 1 private campground we like to visit, only because they open a bit earlier in the season than most every where else, and it lets us do a new season shake-out of the camper with full hook-ups and such. But this is the only one we've found we actually enjoy. We have stayed at a few for 2 or 3 nights, and each time we say we really miss the State Parks. State Parks just have much more to offer. Like the OP said, usually larger spaces and the setting is almost always more of a nature setting, rather than a concrete jungle with everything packed in so tight one awning touches the next trailer over.

Is there anyone that just will not go to private campgrounds

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 15, 2016
Dutchman Sport: LOVE your choices of campsites. We've found many looking as good as yours!
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 15, 2016
3oaks wrote:
It's always public campgrounds for us, national parks, state parks, C.O.E. campgrounds, country parks, national forests, etc.

We really prefer mother nature to entertain us while camping and do very well without Wi-Fi, TV, or being tethered to any other electronic media, including cell phone coverage. ;)

They may be nice to have at times, but not necessities in our book.
And full hook-ups, we don't need them. Coming from many, many years of tent camping, our TT is like a luxury cabin even without full hook-ups.

This is us exactly....traveled constantly 16 yr. of full-timing including Alaska and any of the above-mentioned public parks or boondocking near a lovely stream or lake is what we always aimed for!
IndyCamp
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
We like to be at least somewhat in the woods without another rig on top of us, so we tend to stay at state and federal parks.

Our days are spent hiking and sitting around a fire, not watching TV or surfing the internet, so we don't care about wifi, cable, etc.

As others have said, though, it depends on what type of camper you are. There is no universal right or wrong answer.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
Hi! Me again. I suppose the reason we don't favor private campgrounds or RV parks is because we simply enjoy the State Parks. Granted there might not be sewer hook-up at most Indiana State Parks, but that's why we have the blue tote.

For what it's worth, this is the reason why private and RV parks are just not appealing. It's pretty darn hard to beet space like this:

This is Brookville-Mounds State Recreation Area near Brookville, Indiana. We were there August 5, 6, 7.

We we just returned home from Brown County State Park (Taylor Ridge campground). Even though we had rain, rain, and more rain, you can't get THIS in too many private parks:

This is why we do State Parks!
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Aug 14, 2016
jarata1 wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
I have been to a couple of state parks and the site size left a lot to be desired! We have only been to a handful of private campgrounds where the sites were small.

wow I find just the opposite

It depends on what state and when and by whom the campground was designed and built. A lot of state park campgrounds were CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) campgrounds designed and built during the Great Depression. Large RVs with slides and RV hookups hadn't even been envisioned yet.

Rob
jarata1
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
dodge guy wrote:
I have been to a couple of state parks and the site size left a lot to be desired! We have only been to a handful of private campgrounds where the sites were small.

wow I find just the opposite
jplante4
Explorer II
Aug 14, 2016
There are plenty of nice RV parks in the greater Boston area.

When I replace my crappy old RV/marine "deep cycle" batteries with some good six volt true deep cycle batteries, I'll probably do more campgrounds with no hookups. Our next Big Adventure will be out west and I'd rather hit some of the public parks.
Lantley
Nomad
Aug 14, 2016
THere is not a one size fits answer. I* take the best CG available in the area I plan to be in. I am not committed exclusively to public or private.
I am able to enjoy them both.
The OP needs to expand on their camping destinations.
All private CG's are not sardine cans and all public campgrounds do not have boundless sites.
There are both good and bad public and private CG's of all shapes and sizes ther challenge is finding the ones that meet your needs. Keep in mind needs change and everyone's needs are not the same.
Crowe
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
I took my MH to Boston area, ONCE! Never again. That area compared to the Midwest is IMHO, JMHO not RV friendly!

LOL! But it's not rocket science that an area with high population density, roads older than most of the rest of the country that were built from cow paths, and an area where 6 states combined are sometimes smaller than one state be vastly different from where wide open spaces are the norm, not the exception. This is exactly why we forewarn people about expecting to be able to drive a MH anywhere they want. It just can't happen.
bikendan
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
GordonThree wrote:
bighatnohorse wrote:
"Campground" is a misnomer for most private RV parks. Most are really just parking spots with hookups. For us, they are a place for overnighting or acting as a pit stop for doing laundry - in which case they're often called an RV "resort".

x2 ... for me, private parks or "resorts" don't meet with my expectation of a campground. I want trees, grass, brush, birds, trails, bugs, etc. Manicured lawns and neatly trimmed trees in an otherwise sterile gravel / paved lot is not a campground, just my humble opinion.

I could care less about water/sewer/cable hookups. I'm very transient in my camping. I don't stay put more than 3-4 days at most. If they have electric, great, if not, I'll make my own.

THIS^^^^