A Couple of Newbie questions

[jreyno11]

My wife and I just recently bought a class A motorhome. Neither of us has ever camped in an established park before. Usually I just camp with my buddies in the middle of nowhere.

As new to park-type camping, what should we avoid to keep from A. ticking anyone off and B. keep from looking like newbies.

How full do campgrounds get? We have traveled for years by picking a direction and just seeing what there is to see. At night we would just pull in to a hotel and find a room. We have never not found a place to stay. Are campgrounds kind of like this or is a reservation needed ahead of time instead of just showing up? I'm not talking about holiday weekends. I mean just a normal weekday or weekend.

Is it acceptale to show up to a campground at night, say 11 PM and back in but not set up?

Is there a common proceedure at the dump station that will keep others from getting ticked at you?

I'm just trying to avoid being one of THOSE kind of people that go against the camping norms.

Thanks everyone.

[jreyno11]

My wife and I just recently bought a class A motorhome. Neither of us has ever camped in an established park before. Usually I just camp with my buddies in the middle of nowhere.

As new to park-type camping, what should we avoid to keep from A. ticking anyone off and B. keep from looking like newbies.

How full do campgrounds get? We have traveled for years by picking a direction and just seeing what there is to see. At night we would just pull in to a hotel and find a room. We have never not found a place to stay. Are campgrounds kind of like this or is a reservation needed ahead of time instead of just showing up? I'm not talking about holiday weekends. I mean just a normal weekday or weekend.

Is it acceptale to show up to a campground at night, say 11 PM and back in but not set up?

Is there a common proceedure at the dump station that will keep others from getting ticked at you?

I'm just trying to avoid being one of THOSE kind of people that go against the camping norms.

Thanks everyone.

[Bill Davis]

You've got a lot of valid questions, and I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions. But as for A: Just be a good neighbor. And B: Don't be afraid to look like a newbie. We all were once. RVers are known for their willingness to help a newcomer learn the ropes. Don't be afraid to ask. And welcome.

[Gary RVRoamer]

We seldom make campground reservations when we travel but we also stop by 4 pm when the latecomers haven't filled in the available slots yet. It is also wise to make reservations (even if just call ahead a few hours before arriving) on holiday weekends and at popular tourist destinations (major National Parks, Disney area, etc.). And in college towns on football weekends!

Arriving at 11 pm is not going to win you friends, but anything you do to reduce noise will be appreciated by other campers. Nobody cares if you don't hook up and one of the nice things about a motorhome is that you usually can just park and do little or nothing until the next morning.

Dump station procedures are just common courtesy - do your job as quickly as you can but everybody understands it takes time. Just be ready when your turn comes and don't dally, walk the dog or play games with the kids when you are supposed to be dumping. Don't leave a mess for the next guy (wash down any spills). If you need to coil hoses and stow gear when there is a waiting line, pull forward if there is room so the next guy can start dumping while you stow gear.

[K-Star]

I can mimic what Bill and Gary stated related to questions A and B.

When on the road, I usually try to judge where we will be around 3-4 in the afternoon. As my wife usually does the driving after our lunch stop, I then look thru the Campground books to find a CG where we SHOULD be and call ahead. Sometimes we get there early, other times we get stuck and get there later than planned. either way, we are at least assured of having a campsite.

[jperry29]

Like Bill said, don't be afraid to look like a newbie. It may actually get you a little extra slack cut and other campers are almost always willing to help when you ask for it.

Welcome to RV'ing, it is a whole different world from wilderness camping. My wife and I did the same as you. We stomped around backcountry trails, up and down mountains and just pitched a tent where ever we were when it was time to stop. We eased into RV'ing when the kids came along; first it was just taking our ultra-light gear, throwing it in the trunk of the car, babies in the back seat and finding the nearest state park for a couple nights of car camping. Then we progressed to a "family" tent, repleate with a shelter over the picnic table, comfortable camping chairs and so on. Then it was a pop-up with an A/C and heat, we more than doubled our season. Currently it is a 5th wheel and we take trips all year long now.

The question about whether you need reservations or not is answered with "it depends". If you really need to be in a specific location or have specific services, then it makes sense to go to the trouble of making a reservation. On the other hand, if you are flexible and willing to stay maybe even the next town over or you are rigged for boondocking, then don't worry about it.

Your question about getting in at 11pm perhaps adds another level of complexity to using a campground. There are quite a few private and public campgrounds that have gates that are either manually or automatically closed and locked at 10pm. If you are coming in late, and have a reservation, then you may be given a code to unlock the gate. The point is, if you think your going to be running late, you may want to call ahead and get a reservation or just plan on boondocking. Boondocking is pretty easy in the West, a little more difficult to come by in the East. Not sure about the Midwest.

The only thing I have to say about the dump station is: please use a hose! Pulling up alongside the drain and opening your valve is just the worst.

It is not the same as wilderness camping but RV'ing is a form of camping that opens a lot of doors to a great lifestyle. Have a great time.

[Latitude]

Good on Ya JP Well said!!!!
Rick