In and out of RV park to go sightseeing

[akvet]

Ok, a couple of questions...

As a new RV'er I have not stayed in an RV park yet. We will are traveling in a small Class A motorhome (30 ft) without a TOAD. If we stay at an RV park for a few days, can we go in and out of the park to go sightseeing each day? Is this normal?

Also, I've overnighted at an RV park last week and as I was leaving I stopped by the office to "check out". The owner smiled at me like I was doing something silly and said, "yeah, yeah... have a nice day". He didn't even ask me my spot number. Is it customery to check out like one does at a hotel or do we just drive out without stopping to check out?

[Isaac-1]

One thing to keep in mind is that there really is no standard, some places may want you to check out when leaving, drop off your hang tag, etc. Others may insist on escorting you with their golf cart, ....

[2oldman]

NCWriter wrote:
Y we call Uber. If we spend $200 or $300 a year on car rentals, it's worth it not to deal with towing issues.

Smart money for sure. I often find myself in areas where rental cars are hard to find sans reservation.

[NCWriter]

Yes, renting a car can be worth the effort. We do that once in a while, though not often, in places like big cities or popular spots with no public transportation where any large vehicle (even a big truck) sometimes can be difficult to park.

It's really not much of a hassle - Enterprise often provides pickup or return at a campground, or if not, we call Uber. If we spend $200 or $300 a year on car rentals, it's worth it not to deal with towing issues.

[RoyB]

I've never been in a situation like this... Would just getting a rental car be worth the effort...

I know what would happen to me if I used my RV to go sightseeing in. Whatever I left behind would not be there when I got back and there would also be a whole of folks sitting around my camp fire asking who are you.... haha

Roy Ken

[akvet]

Thanks to all of you for your quick replies. I have a couple of cones that I can place in the empty spot and, just as a courtesy, like the RV park office know that we will be out for a few hours upon leaving.

[Lwiddis]

I used some UNofficial USC chairs to mark my space before I bought my TT that stays at the campsite whilest I explore...cable locked to something. (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - TROJANS!)

[BB_TX]

I would also suggest some type "occupied" sign or other cheap object to show that the site is taken. . As for checking out, I have never stopped by the office when leaving if I checked in with a credit card. Same with hotels.

[westernrvparkow]

2oldman wrote:
Sightseeing is fine, but don't leave your site bare. Someone may think it's a parking space. No, checking out is not necessary. I will say that's there's exactly ONE park I go to where they prefer you drop the parking placard in a box as you leave.

A well run park will know your site, know your departure date and never allow another guest to occupy that site. The only time you may need to do something to mark that site as occupied is if you intend to not return until very late in the evening, after the office to the park is closed. Sometimes, people do enter a park after the office is closed and just occupy an open site with checking with anyone.
We have gates that close after office hours, and still an occasional rig slips in and we have to turn them around. Parks with less stringent hours and security might find those same people occupying an otherwise empty site, either because they are just plain traveling late or plan on slipping out just like they slipped in, without paying. Leaving an item or two in your site isn't the worst plan ever.

[DrewE]

Agreed that it's not a problem.

If the park is operating on a reservation/assigned space system, there should (emphasis on the should) be no need to mark your territory. If it's a first-come, first-served setup then of course it's quite necessary. If you do leave some sort of an occupied marker, make sure it's something that isn't readily mistaken for items accidentally left behind. I lost a couple of homemade wooden leveling ramps and a cheap doormat once from that situation.

[rbrand]

We have done that a lot. It is the best way to hone your connecting up and disconnecting skills.

[VoodooMedicineM]

I would carry a big orange cone that says occupied, just in case.

[NCWriter]

Yes, it's perfectly normal to come and go just as you would in a hotel. Many people who use their RV as their vehicle for exploring will leave an item or two in the campsite (rug, tablecloth on the picnic table or traffic cone marked "occupied" for example) to show it's indeed occupied, lest someone else decide they'd like to pull a switcheroo to your site. This site-swiping isn't as commonplace in commercial RV parks versus public "claim your own site" campgrounds, but it could happen.

Since you pay when you arrive, no need to say goodbye on your final departure morning, just drive off. Some places like state parks ask you to drop off your windshield tag they gave you on arrival so they'll know which sites have been vacated - if so, there's typically a box located next to the check-in booth on the exit roadside.

[2oldman]

Sightseeing is fine, but don't leave your site bare. Someone may think it's a parking space. No, checking out is not necessary. I will say that's there's exactly ONE park I go to where they prefer you drop the parking placard in a box as you leave.