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

Sillybugs2
Explorer
Aug 21, 2016
doxiemom11 wrote:
There are some very nice private parks that are in the woods with large sites and not at all like a parking lot. You just haven't looked in the right places. Look for the small mom & pop type operations. They are usually less expensive too.

Yes. The private one we stayed at was 40 sites. Run by a nice guy. Wooded semi- privates sites. Fishpond. Bought a firepit for $10 and came with all the free would we wanted to burn. Holiday Farm RV in Rainbow, OR off the McKenzie Hwy.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2016
There are some very nice private parks that are in the woods with large sites and not at all like a parking lot. You just haven't looked in the right places. Look for the small mom & pop type operations. They are usually less expensive too.
garmp
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2016
Sillybugs2:
X2
Sillybugs2
Explorer
Aug 19, 2016
We prefer state or fedral campgrounds because we are cmping not rv'ing. Although last trip we had to book a privatr one for a Friday and
ljr
Nomad
Aug 17, 2016
Yes, me.
bpounds
Nomad
Aug 16, 2016
I avoid commercial parks when I can.

I don't use their pool.
I don't use their showers.
I don't use their restrooms.
I don't play shuffleboard. Or pool table. Or whatever "entertainment" they think they need to provide.
Don't care for the parking lot arrangement. A few have been large enough to park the truck alongside the trailer, but that's pretty rare.
Neighbors are rarely interesting enough to factor in.

I just don't see a lot of upside, but there are times when it is worth it.

When I want to see some attraction that is nearby, and don't have good alternatives. Walmart, truckstops, parking lots in general, are not good alternatives to us. Those are for overnighting enroute only.

When I need air conditioning. We generally don't care to camp anywhere hot enough to really need A/C, but sometimes. I doubt if we have 8 hours on our 6 year old A/C.

Cost is usually not a factor. Most of the FS sites are $20/night, or close to it, with no services at all. Spending more for a commercial location wouldn't bother me, if there was an upside.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Aug 16, 2016
Boon-docking rocks best in the West as opposed to the more crowded East. Same for cost differences for my sight.
I plan to try every type of RVing/camping out there if nothing else for the experience.
garmp
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2016
OP, I believe the question is are you a "Camper" or a "RVer"? As a general rule of thumb most campers prefer state, COE or national parks whereas RV'er prefer privte of RV Parks.

JMHO
jnharley
Explorer
Aug 16, 2016
We love dry camping and are set up to dry camp but have a 37 ft 5th wheel and it is difficult to find boondocking spaces unless you are in the West where there are tons of places. We love COE campgrounds that are usually well maintained and some even have full hook ups and with our Access Pass, are half price. But they are not located everywhere or where we want to be so we usually have to settle for a private park. We have several VA state parks that we love to stay at and used to stay the 14 day limit but they are now so pricey that if we do stay, it is just for a day or two.
qtla9111
Nomad
Aug 16, 2016
Boondocking rocks. Using solar and staying places that are cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

In the U.S. we enjoy BLM, forest service, and an occasional Home Depot. There are several good websites for finding boondocking spots.

In a formal rv park I feel like I'm in a FEMA camp. Lots of nice people wherever we go but we prefer boondocking.