Whether you own an RV or you’re planning to rent one, choosing an RV campground and also a specific site can be a big decision. It can play a pivotal role in how you feel about your trip, and also the logistics of your trip.
Not every campground or site is going to offer the same amenities, and factors such as price can vary significantly as well.
If you’re fairly new to RVing, you’ll find some technical considerations when you’re choosing an RV campground and site as well. For example, a campground might advertise that “both 30 and 50 amps sites are available. ”You may be wondering what these details mean if you’re new to the world of traveling by RV.
The following are some general things to keep in mind as you’re choosing an RV site that’s right for you.
30 and 50 Amps
Since we already touched on the concept of 30 and 50 amps, it can be a good place to start. 30 amp plugs have three prongs, while 50 amp plugs have four prongs. All this refers to basically how much power you’ll be able to receive when you’re parked and hooked up at a campsite.
For example, a 30 amp plug may be fine if you’re using an RV that has lower amp requirements, while a 50 amp service RV is going to have a maximum of 12,000 watts available.
You can, as a result, use more electricity in an RV with 50 amp service, but you also need to find the right site for your needs. A 50 amp power connection isn’t going to be available everywhere.
Affordability
Something else we already briefly touched on but needs to be emphasized is affordability. A lot of people like the idea of an RV trip because it can save money as opposed to other forms of travel. However, just like anything else, much of this is dependent on the specifics of how you travel.
If you don’t mind spending extra, you can find some pretty great resort-like amenities at RV campgrounds. However, you can also find the bare minimum at a much lower price.
If your main focus is simply having a place to put the RV while you spend time exploring what’s around your campground, you may be willing to spend less and have fewer amenities. If you want to spend more time relaxing at the campground, you may be thinking just the opposite.
If you want to get by with spending nothing, there are also some free places you can dry dock or boondock. It’s tough to find free spots, but not impossible. For example, if you’re interested in boondocking you can check with the Bureau of Land Management which provides information as to where people can go with their RV for free, first-come, first-serve.
Amenities
If you’re looking for convenience and amenities and you’re willing to pay the price, there are full hookups at some sites. These hookups can include not only what you might view as the basics but also cable TV and WiFi.
Then, beyond the hookups, there are other campground amenities. These can include level parking thanks to cement pads, and some sites will also have pads for tables and level seating as well. You may also be looking for a pool or beach, and some campgrounds will also have an exercise room and amenities geared toward kids.
If you want more luxury, look for the bigger-name private campgrounds.
Do Some Research
Luckily, in the modern world where information is available at your fingertips, you don’t have to worry about thinking you’re booking one thing and then showing up to find that it’s quite different than your expectations.
Do some research and look at other camper’s reviews to get a feel for what a campground is really like. You don’t want to just look at the campground’s site. Do some digging, and you’ll find more than enough information for most campgrounds that will let you know what to expect.
Location
Finally, there are different preferences people may have when it comes to choosing a campground. Some people may want to feel like they’re as far from civilization as possible, while other people want to be close to the area attractions, restaurants, shopping and other features. This is a personal preference, like most everything else on this list.
However, if you are going to be staying somewhere that’s away from a city or town, then you need to think about how you’ll get away from the campground and to other places. Many luxury and high-end campgrounds do offer various shuttle services, so keep this in mind.
