Truthfully, Is RV'in becoming less enjoyable

[nonrev321]

Need truthful opinions based on experience.

My wife and I have been investigating traveling after I retire in two years. We were about ready to pull the trigger on a travel trailer than my wife got talking to some folks in her church who travel a lot with a travel trailer.

Seems they are not as happy with the experience as they used to be. Too hard to find nice places to stay, RV parts are too crowded. You have to make reservations 6 months in advance for the nice places in good locations. The ability to just pick up and go and/ or stop anyplace and stay awhile is becoming increasingly difficult due to the demand for spaces.

Truthfully this kind of freedom was one of the major attractions for myself and my wife. We recognized that some parks would likely be crowded and there would be some need to make reservations in advance... but 6 months ? Also a RV park that is packed to the gills really isn’t too appealing to me, especially if there is nothing like a line of shrubs or other divider to keep me from looking into my neighbors window.

Can people comment? Is it becoming less enjoyable due to
overcrowding?

Thanks
nonrev

[toedtoes]

pnichols wrote:

Tvov wrote:
Have to look harder here in the Northeast. We have found some real gems of state parks that are rarely (or never) crowded - they are "rustic" campgrounds, with no hookups - this includes no dump station. They also are more suitable for smaller campers.

That's how it's done!!

That's the main reason we went with a nicely self-contained and smallish Class C when we bought years ago - so we could camp in all kinds of places, reservations or not.

Depends on what you enjoy. I know folks who would be miserable camping at the places I love. Like you, I prefer primitive sites with no hookups. I also don't want or need organized activities, etc. But, not everyone wants to camp that way - and that's good too.

[Gjac]

pnichols wrote:

Tvov wrote:
Have to look harder here in the Northeast. We have found some real gems of state parks that are rarely (or never) crowded - they are "rustic" campgrounds, with no hookups - this includes no dump station. They also are more suitable for smaller campers.

That's how it's done!!

That's the main reason we went with a nicely self-contained and smallish Class C when we bought years ago - so we could camp in all kinds of places, reservations or not.

I live in the NE also, when camping locally I go in the middle of the week with no reservations just to go fishing for a few days. Week ends are all booked solid at the SP's. For extended trips out west or Alaska I have never made a reservation. Have traveled over 100k miles since retiring and the only time I wished I had a reservation was in Denali NP. When traveling with my GS during crowded summer mos and visiting the NP's like Yellowstone I find it more enjoyable to stay in the NFS CG's and take the tow car in to visit these parks. What makes camping less enjoyable for me is problems with the MH that have to be fixed while away from home.

[pnichols]

Tvov wrote:
Have to look harder here in the Northeast. We have found some real gems of state parks that are rarely (or never) crowded - they are "rustic" campgrounds, with no hookups - this includes no dump station. They also are more suitable for smaller campers.

That's how it's done!!

That's the main reason we went with a nicely self-contained and smallish Class C when we bought years ago - so we could camp in all kinds of places, reservations or not.

[Tvov]

Have to look harder here in the Northeast. We have found some real gems of state parks that are rarely (or never) crowded - they are "rustic" campgrounds, with no hookups - this includes no dump station. They also are more suitable for smaller campers.

[Copperhead]

I suppose by choice. Was looking at VA, NY, PA, etc on the free campsites site and seems there are stacks of choices if one really wants to look. Many other Eastern states have quite a bit of off grid locations. Obviously not the plethora of choices further west, but not a drought of places either.

[johnhicks]

> self-contained RV but being reluctant to use it that way.

Here in the east the way to use it that way is in a Wal-Mart parking lot or in a Wal-Mart Parking lot. Not a whole lot of choice is there?

[pnichols]

Copperhead wrote:
Of course, one can always do the boon docking thing and find really nice areas that are off the grid and used by fewer people. Also using apps like Allstays and going online to check out free camp locations, like https://freecampsites.net

Right on!

Do away with the need for full hookups and a whole new camping world opens up - often without reservations even in these times.

We spent 8 days before and after Thanksgiving drycamping right here in California. The first few days we made last minute drycamping reservations in a campground that was otherwise fully booked in their crowded hookup areas, and for the final few days we made no reservations for drycamping in a beautiful beach area.

We find that drycamping sites are usually more isolated, quiet, natural, and pleasing to the eyes than hookup sites. We've only ever found one campground (here in CA, BTW) in which, even though the sites had partial water/electric hookups, each site was still scattered among the hills, quiet, and separated well away from others. It was a very unusual campground setup.

I guess we don't understand the thinking behind owning a self-contained RV but being reluctant to use it that way.

[Copperhead]

Of course, one can always do the boon docking thing and find really nice areas that are off the grid and used by fewer people. Also using apps like Allstays and going online to check out free camp locations, like https://freecampsites.net

[falconbrother]

We started RVing in 1987. We often observe how much more crowded the RV parks are these days. We always did some late winter camping at the big campgrounds at Myrtle Beach. In those days you could get front row and have half the campground to yourself. Most of the people that were there chose sites near the heated pools N such. Now, the RV parks are well attended all year and the RVs are far nicer than the average then. None of this should be taken as a complaint. I'm glad people are out enjoying life. The down side is that these days some campgrounds are pretty close to sold out for full hookups months or a year in advance. We have learned in our Christmas stop to get reservations in June. There are mountain campgrounds that are sold out for Memorial Day and labor Day a year in advance. Back in the day you could just strike out with your RV and go in any direction and find a campsite. That was really fun. These days you better make reservations or risk getting your feelings hurt.

When I get old(er) I'm going to get a big, plain, white van and build a camper. I want it to look like a construction or service van. Then I can camp anyplace I find an open parking space. I can go whichever way I decide to go.

[ppine]

This is a good thread. The advertising for RVs often shows the family on the beach by themselves or the perfect mountain location with no one around. Some of that is fantasy.

Some people like RV parks and only places with hookups. You have to like crowds.

Some people like to travel on holidays and peak season. You have to like crowds.

With practice you can go midweek, to out of the way places and off season. Then it is much more enjoyable. I pretty much avoid all campgrounds in July and August. That is the time for the backcountry and boondock camping.

An RV makes the shoulder seasons and even the winter much more comfortable. Hard sides decrease noise by a lot. I left the East 45 years ago because it was too crowded. In a state like Nevada finding some peace and quiet is easy if you know where to look.

[toedtoes]

I think other areas have issues also.

I think it's more dependent upon when you arrive and the exact destination.

If you are trying to get into a national park, you're going to have to get reservations.

If you are trying to get into a popular seasonal campground, you're going to need a reservation.

If you are going for a weekend or in-season holiday, you will likely need a reservation.

If you want/need to stay at a specific park, you likely will need reservations.

If you want/need to stay in a specific site at a specific park, you will need reservations.

If you can arrive between Monday and Wednesday, you likely won't need reservations.

If you go off-season, you likely won't need reservations.

If you're flexible about the actual park you stay at, you won't need reservations.

Every region has its issues with campground/park availability. The reason may vary (some areas allow folks to book an entire month and only stay on the weekends - preventing others from using that site during the week).

[rockhillmanor]

It also depends on WHERE you are RV'ing.

From what I've read right here on the forum it appears that problems arise if you are in California and several other states in the West.

Where if you think about it most RV'ers from all over the USA make it a destination vacation because of all the attractions revolving around the Grand Canyon etc.

So yes if you think of ALL the people heading out that way reservations are made way in advance for the vacationing RV'er filling up your CG's if you actually live there.

The rest of the USA does not have all that nonsense of booked years in advance and those first come first served problem CG's.

[T18skyguy]

The computer has changed camping a lot. Sure you can wander and get a site here or there and make do, but the best campgrounds with the best sites are booked far in advance with the computer. At one of my favorite campgrounds, the best sites are booked a year in advance, frequently by the same person. I live in Oregon, and just driving to the coast in the summer hoping to get a decent site is a gamble you usually lose. It wasn't that long ago that you could do that and usually get away with it. You can get lucky, but more often than not you don't. Now that I'm a senior citizen, I'm a lot more picky about where we stay, and so is the wife. It's both physical and mental issues for both of us. Freeway noise, barking dogs and stuff, more aggravating as we get older I think.

[spoon059]

It ebbs and flows. Right now the economy is doing pretty good and fuel prices are low. As such more people have disposable income to purchase a camper or to afford to take a trip.

7 years ago we could hitch up the trailer and head to Florida in December or February and find a spot in a nice campground near our intended destination. The last 2 years we haven't been able to snag a spot in Florida even a year in advance! More money and cheaper fuel is the main reason.

Yes it can get frustrating, especially if you travel in larger groups like we do. We find we have to plan trips early in the year to find 6-8 spots together to camp. If the weather is bad, we've already paid so we camp in the rain or the cold. 5 years ago we could make a decision 2 weeks ahead of time, find spots together and camp at our leisure.

I can tell you that we still love camping, our 3 and 5 year old love camping, our friends love camping. We have no intentions to stop or slow down. We take the good with the bad, but everything tends to be better than worse! Lakes, beaches, state parks, cities, winter getaways etc are all options because of our camper! We love it!