Is this a Campground or an RV Park?

[korbe]

I notice a lot of different descriptions of where Rvers stay. Curious as to what you would define this place as; an RV Park, a Campground, or some sort of a Resort?

Campground or an RV Park?

[fill]

We stay a lot at Thousand Trails. They are always preserves. I think they are preserving the money flow into the system.
No other explanation; the look like campgrounds to me.
Fill
’94 GL 1500 SE Extras: SIRUS Satellite Radio, Garmin GPS, SADDLEMAN Road Sofa and Touring Luggage, Touring Floodlights, Multiple Deer Whistles.
Pulling an ’80 Eagle 1 Trailer or ’12 Roll A Home (wide bed, brakes)

[Redterpos3]

Then there is the designation "Camping Estates." We are looking at one nearby, nothing makes it estates, in fact my home is in a area designated "estates," but nothing to really make it such. Just a marketing ploy. Some like each of the designations, some don't like the designations. We all adjust based on what we think these words mean, and if the place meets our expectations or not.

[Cloud_Dancer]

Resort is not on my bucket list. We use affordable places to stay. We try it, and if we like it we stay. Call it whatever you want.

[DaRitz]

Not sure where to put this question so am asking it on different forum topics. Does anyone have information about renting Park Models in an RV campground, resort, or whatever? Particularly interested in Gulf Shores area of Alabama.

[Jim_Shoe]

The short answer to your original question is 'YES'. Call it whatever you like. Its pretty obvious that the owners do. I've been in a couple of "RV Resorts" that should be called "RV Dumps", but its bad for business.

[mdcamping]

RV Park, Resort, Campground, as long as it's clean, maintained, safe... I'm there!

Mike

[Oaklevel]

I agree but....... still it is what they call themselves......

The place we go often "Campground" as they call themselves allows tents,(only seen a few there ever), all sites full hookups, all sites pull through, many have concrete pads, shower/ bath houses, has pools, has a huge rec center, has a putt putt, laundry, restaurant/snack bar, grocery store, nature center, urban location, security staff, golf car rentals, 900 camping sites, 2000 permanent sites most with houses sooooo...... they call themselves a campground..............

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

My 1.25 cents

Campground - Allows campfires if conditions permit. Allows tents. May or may not have RV hookups. Mostly public owned, but there are many private campgrounds.

RV Park - Commercial facility with rigs are no more than 30 feet apart. RVs only. Almost all have full hookups. Good ones have a laundry facility, showers, etc. Many don't.

Resort - a facility which provides extra amenities like swimming pools, game rooms for kids, tv rooms, organized activities, etc. Should have more room per spot than a RV park.

That's how I classify the places we visit.

One interesting point.

From 1962-1970, I spent most weekends at a COE campground on Lake Greeson in Arkansas. The point we almost always camped upon had 16 spots. We were all in tents, or sleeping outside without tents. Occasionally we saw a truck camper, and once a pop-up. Never saw a TT. The sites were well separated, we had campfires and some privacy.

Visited that CG this past summer - that point now has 10 camping spots - all for up to 45 ft length RVs, with 50Amp and water at each site. Those camping spots are almost on top of each other.

The campground hasn't changed, except to reduce the # of camping spots. The way folks camp has changed.

myredracer wrote:
Then he says, "camping is when you pitch a tent and sleep on the ground".

I saw this attitude from many folks while we were camp hosting at Big Bend National Park last summer. To which I said: "You're right. I'm not camping. That's my home, we are living here, working to make your visit better."

[myredracer]

According to US CBP border agents, RVers don't go camping at campgrounds.

Got pulled over at US Customs out of the Nexus lineup for a random computer generated inspection back in Nov. when I was en-route to our regular CG with our TT. For anyone who has had to meet a CBP officer face to face, you'll know how intimidating they can be. The nice (not) CBP guy at the counter asks where I am going, and I proudly pointed out to our TT and said I was going camping over the weekend. He said, "NO! You are NOT going camping." I was pretty nervous at this point. I didn't know where the conversation was headed and if they were going to ship me off to Guantanamo Bay. Then he says, "camping is when you pitch a tent and sleep on the ground". I felt like saying "whatever" but agreed with him and told him I was going to Beachwood Resort and then he was happy. Good grief.... I was eventually released after they did a thorough search of our TT and truck and determined all was okay.

So, just a heads up for those crossing the border into the US. If you are heading to a CG with your RV for some "camping", you aren't actually going camping at a campground. Tell them you are going to an RV Resort or RV Park. :R

[JAXFL]

Us out West

What I said is what you said in pictures and I think that both make it pretty clear as to what is what....

Love the pics

[Us_out_West]

Campground...the good ol'days.



RV Park



RV Resort

[rvten]

When we started out in the 60's. They were all CG's.
Than came all the Full Hook Ups and all the stuff we have today.
Plus tenting is banned in many now.
Class A only RV PK's.

To us camping was tents or a camper as they used to be called.(TT's, mattress in a Pick Up) you get the idea. With camp fire's (which are gone in many RV PK)

[JAXFL]

My 2 cents are as follows;

Campground is a place that allows, MH, TT and Tents.

RV Park is a place that only allows MH, TT, NO TENTS

Class A Park only allows Class A MHs.

Resort allows, MH, TT and has a lot of things going on; pool, dances, entertainment, clubhouse, activates for the kids and different ones for the adults, maybe work shops, Classes, Socials and maybe a bar and/or Restaurant.

[lanerd]

I've always felt that a campground is one that is in boonies, far from city life. Lots of trees, streams, etc. Typically, they are run by federal, state, or forest services and have little or no hook ups.

RV parks are those that are normally privately owned by a single person or family, with FHU, and organized sites. Some are nice, some are just renamed trailer parks.

RV resorts are also private and usually very large and either corporation owned or HOA owned with lots that are individually owned and rented. Resorts have concrete pads, grass lawns, large and spacious sites, with one or more swimming pools, club houses, laundry rooms, spas, good wifi, and very well maintained. Everything is clean and pristine.

Ok, that's my perception anyway.

Ron

Of course, some privately owned rv parks are called "resorts" by their owners, but are a long ways from being the park mentioned above.