Driven by a Second Chance

So, we’ve decided that RV life is for us.  We have done extensive research on the type of RV, the truck to pull it and what we want to bring with us.  But what about the most important part…….. WHERE ARE WE GOING TO STAY?????

I am by no means saying that we have any answers, but we have done a lot of research on different options.  Let us know in the comments what has worked best for you.  Here is what we have found. 

City/County/State Parks

What everyone thinks about when they think RV or camping.  Rustic wilderness with trees, streams, mountains and nature. There is usually a limit to how long you are able to stay in these campgrounds.  From my understanding, it’s about 14 days in most places.  Each state is different in how you book your stays for these parks.  Some of them have full hook ups (water, sewer, and electric), some have partial hook ups (water, electric) and some just have water or no hook ups.  These sites are harder to book during certain seasons and holidays.  The cost to stay at a city/county/state park can vary anywhere from $20-$40 per night, which can be a significant savings from an RV Park or RV Luxury Resort (more info below).  Many offer bike, canoe, kayak and other recreational rentals, to further your enjoyment of the outdoors. Reservations can be made at https://www.recreation.gov, state/county/or city websites, or at individual park websites. 

National Parks

Zion, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Yosemite and many more have campgrounds for RV travelers. They typically are primitive or boondocking sites, meaning they have no water, sewer or electric hook ups. Some of the National parks have a length restriction on how long your rig can be in order to be able to camp in the park, for example, Yosemite restricts RVs to no more than 40ft (latest information found online but check before you book).  Staying at a National Park also requires a bit of future planning as they tend to be booked 6-12 months out.  Reservations can be made at https://www.recreation.gov, the National Parks App/Website  https://www.nps.gov/index.htm,  or at each individual park website.  Camping here can vary and usually starts around $15 per night. 

BLM Land

There is land, mostly in the Midwest, that is free to camp, with primitive no hook up sites. BLM Land (Bureau of Land Management https://www.blm.gov ) and is referred to as Dispersed Camping.  According to blm.org, Dispersed camping is generally limited to 14 days within any 28‑day period, though specific stay limits vary by state and field office. After reaching the stay limit, visitors must move to a new location — often at least 25 to 30 miles away. Check with your local BLM office for area‑specific rules. The best way to find this land and all of the rules and information is to visit the website.  This is definitely something we are interested in when we travel out to the western US. 

Florida Water Management District

In Florida, there is also free disbursed camping sites available through the Florida Water Management District.  Sites are primitive, no hook up camping sites.  They require a reservation (made through https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/camping) and are also free to stay.  More information can be found at the website above. 

RV Parks.  

An RV Park usually caters to weekly, monthly, or seasonal campers. Since they are privately owned, they vary greatly in prices and often offer weekly or monthly fees that offer a discount for longer stays.  Some offer discounts through different memberships (we’ll cover these in a later blog).  They mostly have full hook ups (water, sewer, and electric), and usually have amenities like laundry, bath houses, small fitness centers, swimming pools, recreation centers, some outdoor activities and many have planned activities for their residents.   Some (but not all) RV Parks, especially in Florida, are age restricted (55+) communities and cater towards Florida Snowbirds, (campers who winter in Florida and summer somewhere north).   They are usually located in suburbs near major cities and/or entertainment venues. 

RV Luxury Resorts: 

A Luxury Resort is an RV Park PLUS. The amenities are bigger, the sites usually have more amenities like tiki huts, fire places/fire pits, more activities mostly geared towards families and have a vacation vibe.  Think, Margaritaville in Auburndale, Florida; Disney World’s Wilderness Resort, in Kissimmee, Florida; Bella Terra of Gulf Shores, in Alabama; or Vines RV Resort in the wine country of California to name a few.  

In additional to these there are also memberships and apps that will help you locate a place to stay.  I’ll mention them here, and go into more detail in another post. 

Harvest Hosts https://www.harvesthosts.com

Boondocker’s Welcome https://www.boondockerswelcome.com

iOverlander https://ioverlander.com

Passport America https://passportamerica.com

KOA Campgrounds https://koa.com

Allstays https://www.allstays.com

Campendium https://www.campendium.com

RV Life https://rvlife.com

And so many more.  Let us know in the comments the apps or websites that are your go-to’s to find campsites.

I was actually surprised at how many options there are.  There are options for price, experience, amenities, location and so much more. We are looking forward to trying all of the different types of sites and seeing which one(s) fit us the best.  I’m sure a lot of it will depend on the experience we are trying to have and the locations we a traveling too.  There is also the option of a quick overnight boondocking stay in a Wal Mart parking lot, Cracker Barrell, or Cabella’s/Bass Pro Shops parking lot (all with store manager approval) on the way to one of these locations! Let us know which one is your favorite for a quick overnight stop over!