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

GordonThree
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
No generator (or many other) restrictions on National Forest or BLM land, outside of formal campgrounds. This can be both good and bad.

More than I've had a group of youth boondocking nearby get liquored up and become rather rowdy after dark.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
timjet wrote:
I'm new to this and curious if you folks that use public campgrounds without hookups; do you use your generator if it's hot? IOW are there restrictions on use of a generator?

Sure you can do that but but yes the noise restrictions. Mostly I see times like 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM for generation use.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Aug 15, 2016
timjet wrote:
I'm new to this and curious if you folks that use public campgrounds without hookups; do you use your generator if it's hot? IOW are there restrictions on use of a generator?

I don't even have a generator. I plan my trips according to the season: hot = mountain federal forest campgrounds; winter = low lying COE campgrounds. Air conditioning not needed; use extra blankets in winter if needed.

Most true campgrounds (as in, you're going there to camp, not as a home base to go sightseeing) have limited hours on generator use - usually a couple hours in a.m. and a couple in p.m.). If you can't be happy/comfortable within that restriction, then re-think what you want out of a campground.
Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
many campgrounds have hours posted when a generator can and cannot be used.

your job to locate them.. or ASK.

I love most state parks.. but with limited time of stay.. not always possible. I wish some would do 30 days.. not 14.... my opinion.

going to South Texas this winter.. First time commercial for more then 2 days.
plan is 5 months and 5 campgrounds.. maybe more campgrounds,,, depends.
I am Large and NEED large spaces...
Golfcart
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
If im at a spot with no hookups its usually in the cooler months where i dont need to run my AC. But yea, I always bring my generator for backup. You never know when you need power. And i never run it at night(common courtesy)

I've been to some private campgrounds and personally dont care much for it. The facilities are usually top notch and the amenities are great, but like said already, they're more of an rv resort, not a campground

I prefer state parks with hookups, perfect for letting the kiddos run wild and I can go any season
timjet
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
I'm new to this and curious if you folks that use public campgrounds without hookups; do you use your generator if it's hot? IOW are there restrictions on use of a generator?
3oaks
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
fla-gypsy wrote:
In my part of the world some state and Fed CG's do have FHU sites. The best of all worlds.
But from what I understand, I have never been camping in "your part of the world", they are almost always full and very hard to get reservations for. :@

A few times we have found ourselves to be the only ones in the whole park in some of the western state parks we have camped in and just loved it. Perfect for fishing and observing the wildlife. :)

To quote Opie:
Different strokes for different folks.
;)
Opie431
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
Different strokes for different folks.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
In my part of the world some state and Fed CG's do have FHU sites. The best of all worlds.
drsteve
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
State parks and forest campground for us. It's hard to find private campgrounds with hundreds or thousands of acres of woods full of hiking trails, and miles of sandy Great Lakes beaches. Game rooms and swimming pools full of kids, and being elbow to elbow with your neighbors on a cement pad, is not what I go camping for. We don't even have a TV in our camper, and could care less about WiFi. We stay in few private places, and when we do it's only because of their proximity to other area attractions we wanted to visit.