Campgrounds & RV Parks:Likes&Dislikes

[Always-RVing]

Well, let's face it, there are campgrounds and RV parks that just stink, and there are some really very nice places to stay. The idea of campgrounds and RV parks seem to be that one (CG's) provide tent spaces with maybe RV parking, where RV parks do not provide tent camping, but the rules between them are not strict. It depends upon the CG or RV Park owner.

We have several campground owners that would like to hear what you have to say and here is your chance to voice yourself and make a difference. If you own a park or just bought one, what would you want to hear from customers? There are many items for discussion, but pick your most important items.

What do you like?
What do you dislike?
What would you want most to pass onto campground owners?
Suggestions?
What's the best thing you like?
What's the worst thing about CG and RV parks.

Below is a list of common topics to consider:
What's the most important? What's the Least? Comments?

Spacious Lots? Clean? Paved? Pool, Sauna amenities? Game Room? Laundry Mat? Local stores nearby? Flexable reservations? Friendlyness? Park Propane Tanks? Park Store? Park Fun Events? Sewer Smell? Trashy RVs? Noise? Park Access and parking ease? Internet? Cable or Satellite Provided? Electrical inicluded? Dump Station or each have their own? Clean Water? Park Security? Pricing? Ability to get RV repairs at the Park? Park Lighting? Keep it dark? 24 hour attendants? Cabins? Pet Play areas? State Parks? Private Parks? More....

Comments? What makes a 1,2 or 5 star Park?

[bsirby]

We are not overly fussy, BUT, here are some of the things we consider.

Clean restrooms and laundry rooms
Well kept lots with a little extra space, and LEVEL please.
Enforcement of the rules, especially quiet time.
Cable and WiFi are important to us but we can also live without it.
Fenced pet run so the dogs can exercise and play with other dogs.

But the most important to us is a reasonable price.

[RickO]

Most important to us is that a CG be big rig friendly. That means sites large enough to extend our (4) slides and have room to park the toad. Paved, level and with a little patch of grass/lawn is great and the sites should be laid out so a big rig can get in and out without having to run over anything that shouldn't be run over. Many CGs we've seen that have put a lot of money into their facilities had them laid out so that it's impossible to get in and out without running over a section of lawn. Flying Flags in Buellton, Ca comes to mind.

Items on our don't care list include wifi, cable tv, restroom/showers and game rooms.

Rick

[Barbara S.]

Pricing would be #1. I want a place with a pool in the summer. I always used to look for cable and wi-fi but I now have satellite and my own internet connection so that is no longer a factor. I have 2 dogs so they must allow pets and if they have a dog walk area that is a plus. I prefer a concrete pad to park on but I will take whatever I can get to camp in a beautiful, shady setting. Level sites make life much easier. Sometimes it depends on how long I will be staying there. I can put up with a lot of inconvenience for only one night and a cheap price. If I am staying for more than two nights I really want sewer hookups (I have small holding tanks). I don't use the campground restrooms but they should always be clean. I usually don't use the laundry unless I am there for a week. If it were dirty or in bad repair then I would find a laundrymat in the nearby town if I really needed one. Safety is a very important factor and I would prefer good lighting (especially when I walk my dogs at night).

[JOMARFL (FMCA 401058)]

Clean restrooms, neatly kept grounds, nice size lots.

[TXiceman]

Large site, lots of trees, pet friendly and quiet are my likes. The roads and sites can be gravel (small gravel, not bull rock), asphalt or concrete, lots of grass or natural areas. I like to have a shaded pet run/park. Cable TV and good wi-fi are nice but no deal breaker. Clean laundry area when are are on the road for some time or a place close by to do the laundry. A big must in the summer is adequate power wiring so we will not face a brown out.

And a biggie is one that has reasonable rules that are enforced for short term as well as long term residents.

Ken

[Triker56]

A reasonable price rate. Passport America is usually good for that.

In 90º plus days. I want a steady 115V after both AC's and other accessory running on 30 AMP hookup.

Plus a clear shot from my roof to the SW.
I don't need any trees dropping junk on my roof.

I don't care about the bathroom being clean as mine is.
Don't need a pool.
I don't need cable TV have my own.
I don't need wi-fi I have my own.

[fishngjb]

We like level lots, please
Clean, well kept grounds
Clean laundry & restrooms, even if we do not use them
Pet friendly-a must !
Large enough lots for big rvs, and no overhanging trees to rub coach
Concrete pads and patio-No Mud
Safe walking area to walk pups at night

[Gerall]

My biggest want is site width and level. I am now in an oceanfront site on Vancouver Island, absolutely beautiful, however with both slides out and the awning out, the awning hangs over into the adjacent site, so I can't really extend the awning. And in BC in October an awning is almost as important as air to breathe.
On level, I find it annoying that they would make a 50 foot deep site, where you need to block the tires and jacks to get level.

[Benny367]

Large site (paved and level) a pool, a CG store, Wi-Fi, Cable TV, Dependable 50 AMP service, Some grass and trees, propane service, sewer hookups, a fire ring and cleanliness in ALL of the CG facitilites (sites, restrooms, laundry etc.)

[docj]

Originally Posted by Triker56

I don't care about the bathroom being clean as mine is.
Don't need a pool.
I don't need cable TV have my own.
I don't need wi-fi I have my own.

X2; as full-timers we hardly ever use CG facilities. Every once in a while we'll use the laundry but our bathroom is almost always nicer than yours. We almost always would like to have full hookups and reliable 50A service

We enjoy a level site large enough for a 40' MH with some degree of privacy, if possible. Trees are nice, but we do like being able to get satellite TV reception and prefer it to your cable because our DVR is setup for it.

CG wifi is nice if it is free and reliable, but rarely are both of these true. As more locations become 4G, cellular will often be faster than your wifi, anyway.

[dsbike]

Monthly reasonable rates.
level sites with some grass.
Paved roads, paved parking is a plus but not nessassary.
Good power 50 amp service & good clean water with good pressure.
Overflow parking for a small utility or boat trailer or space at the site with no extra charge.
Nice landscaping
No trashy permanent rvs, Old rvs are fine, but all rvs & sites should be kept neat & clean.
Quite time & speed limit rules enforced.
Ability to wash RV's at least 2 times per year for permanent or long term residents.

[Superslif]

Likes:

~ Paved or nice quality gravel sites

~ A nice sized site

~ Some shade from trees

~ Price $22 -28 Electric site ~ $25 - $35 Full Service site

~ Shower stalls that have enough room to change and 3 or 4 hooks to hang things up

~ Good amperage electric service

Dislikes:

~ Mud !!!!

~ sites where your awning is within 10' of the next trailer.

~ Campgrounds that charge extra for kids or kids over the age of 12. I have seen a few where they wanted $5 or $10 extra per kid per night.

~ Site pads made from large / chunky gravel. Or grass sites with MUDDY....ruts

~ Campgrounds without any shade at all.

~ Tiny shower stalls with "one" hook.

~ party campgrounds (Loud / party hardy seasonal or weekend campers)

~ dump stations that lean away from the outlet side of the RV ???? (Have a state park near by that just built a new dump station where the dump outlet side is 3-4" higher???)

~ Entrance road in poor condition or too narrow.

~ poor drainage where the fire pit is a mud hole...

[BigV]

Things of most importance for me:

Clean restroom/shower facility.
Enough room so my awning does not hit the slideout next to me.
Firm parking area with good drainage.
Owners or hosts that keep the area clean and enforce quiet times.
Reliable power.

Things I've seen that I like:
Common areas for people/kids/dogs. Don't have kids or dogs with us, but an area for them to play and exercise is nice for everyone.
Place to buy firewood, propane and ice.

Things I dislike:
Yippie dogs!
Mud
Trees hitting the roof as I drive in
Leaf blowers at 6am