What RV Parks might consider..

[Finally]

We have been on the road several weeks, stopping at different RV parks each night. We have paid $36.00 to $50.00 a night to have a save place to sleep. We use rvparksreviews.com to plan our trips.

The park that charged $36.00 led us to our space. A very nice lady on a golf cart. 15 other parks, handed us a circled space and pointed and said "thataway". There you sit in an unknown town, in an unfamiliar state, in a 40 foot motorhome, towing a 20 foot pick up truck. There is NO room for error. The streets/gravel roads wind around 3 or 4 levels. The signs are faded and impossible to read. You can barely read the space numbers. We are in a park like that right now. We just saw an rv'er run over a sewer going the wrong way. We could see how he was confused. This park is $43.00 a night.

There was a long thread on Facebook last night where RV'ers are fed up paying $45.00 a night for just a place to pull over to sleep. In fact, more are boondocking. They think RV parks should adjust their rates for those not there to "enjoy the amenities".

Any RV Park owner should be required to tow a 5th wheel, Travel Trailer, Motorhome with tow vehicle into a large campground with faded "street" signs, and numbers you can't read, give them a map circled, that is down 3 levels, and point "thataway".

We've watched rv's make circles all afternoon trying to find their space. The signs were falling down and faded, so it was impossible to follow the map. RV parks, especially large ones, should have clearly marked street/road signs, and clearly marked spaces. Really, we don't think that is a lot to ask. We think its for their safety, as well as ours.

We do want to support RV parks. Probably should wait a day or two before making comments on anything.

[Lantley]

Carolina Crossroads in Roanoke Rapids,NC has a row of 10 or so pull through campsites dedicated to overnighters. They were $25.00 for a full hook up site last time I was there.
I wish more CG's would provide a few overnight only sites. Electric only would be fine.
CG's located near highways would benefit. However CG in more remote locations may have less demand for overnight sites.
Escorts are nice but not required. Give me a CG map and I can find and maneuver to the site. I don't consider driving through the CG a challenge unless it is after dark.

[Finally]

Not to mention the permanents. ( no problem with that, just adds to the confusion).

[Finally]

We unhook when we are staying a couple of days. We simply want an easy in and out. Today, we were tired and hot, it had rained most of the way. They have a golf cart they cruise around on, why not help you find the pull thru's that are mixed in with the back ends. This park has 175 spaces. Most back in, a few pull thru's. Its on 3 tiers! "Thataway"? Which way? Faded signs. Gravel roads. at least paint some #@%# arrows and signs. Better, would you like someone to show you your space? ?

[tjfogelberg]

I agree that pulling into a park for a night is often more trouble than it is worth. My advice is to disconnect at the office and drive the toad in first. And not to criticize your rig choice, but I do find the smaller rig (27') to be quite advantageous when traveling. Our smaller footprint definitely makes it easier to get in and out and move around. Something to think about. The parks are not at fault here. Imagine the capital investment required in acquiring land, developing it with roads, sites, utilities, bath houses, office, pool, etc...you get the picture. And at the same time, we can pull into a parking lot almost anywhere and park for free when we want to without the need to "check in", navigate our way through a maze of little roads, and back into a site.

[DownTheAvenue]

If all you want to do is park, and get a shower in the morning, then stop at a truck stop. Get their professional driver loyalty card, and then park for free and take a free shower with fuel purchases. For the most part, the showers are very clean, extra large with toilets and sinks, and certainly big enough for a couple to share. Most provide nice, large towels, too.

[John___Angela]

I think it will be an uphill battle for us as a community to see the kind of overnight spots we are looking for. I think the RV park developers would run into resistance from city hall developing no hookup spots for the night. Many are under the impression that RV's need hookups and they won't allow a park to be developed without. My point is I don't think its greedy camp ground owners in a conspiracy. They are just trying to recoup their investment in full hookup parts.

We need hookups about once every 5 or 6 days when dead heading. Going to full service campgrounds is just a a pain and for the most part we avoid it. Show me a compacted gravel parking lot with lighting and cameras and controlled access along the side of a freeway and I'll happily pop twenty bucks into an envelope for a night. Put a 10 dollar per use dump and water refill station and I will use it when required. Otherwise a casino or Walmart will do for us.

[Ivylog]

While the DW is checking us in I unhook the car. If I am in doubt about the map and getting into the site, I crank the car up and go look. You might want to join Passport America so the $18 and no escort will not bother you as much.

[tatest]

Interesting, as some other RVers have objected to parks that required them to wait for an escort. I also prefer to have thes escort to a site, and will use expert guidance about the best way for me to get in.

[Crowe]

What we really need is something built more like the high-end truck stops that have hook-ups and possibly showers, but no amenities. Locations along major highways or close would be great. Even if it's not much more than a level parking lot, if you are just sleeping there, it would be fine. We've never been comfortable with boondocking at WalMart or a rest stop and have paid more than we've wanted just to sleep, but I still believe if it's where you want to be when you want to be there then it's not truly "expensive". We've also had a number of "really?" trying to get into tight spots. Sometimes it does appear the campground owners are truly clueless.