Having stayed at various campgrounds and RV lots for fifteen years – ten years with a popup and the last five years with a travel trailer – my wife and I have learned a lot about choosing an ideal site for our stays.
For Better & For Worse
Perhaps our worst experience, and hence lesson, was when we stayed at a popular campground near Old Orchard Beach in Maine. It was a campground that took reservations, however you were not assigned a site until you arrived. In this instance the campground was almost full when we arrived from Ottawa as it was early August. As a result, we were assigned a lot at the end of a row of sites.
The problems came from the fact we were both beside the restrooms behind us and the laundry building across from us, both perhaps 25 feet away. Needless to say, it made for a busy area, especially the laundry area which kept its bright lights on until 11:00pm and it was only a screened in area. It was a very busy spot late in the day, especially with mothers trying to keep up with their kids’ laundry.
So, what do we do now to ensure we get a suitable RV lot?
Prior Planning Prevents Poor RV Playtime
First, we have a 30-foot travel trailer and our children are grown and no longer camp with us.
These days we rarely stay at campgrounds which have a lot of on-site activities, especially for children, or attractions. We prefer to enjoy quieter time at the campground and we will tend to drive to an attraction, even if it is just to a Walmart, farm market or a scenic drive.
Planning Factors in Choosing the Right RV Lot
We prefer campgrounds that allow booking specific sites, especially campgrounds which we have visited multiple times. We will take a hard copy of the campground map, drive around the campground and mark sites we either prefer or want to avoid. Often our preferred sites will have a view of a body of water, although not necessarily right on the water, especially if they do not have services.
At a minimum we book a site which has 30-amp electrical service, especially during air conditioning season. We like sites which have a decent amount of space and are well cut back – to reduce the occurrence of bugs and especially ticks. We also avoid full sun sites as my wife has to stay out of the sun to protect her light skin. We have an awning but its protection is very limited when the afternoon sun is on the awning side. Trees provide the best shade, although you may have to shift occasionally as the sun makes its way across the sky.
The size of the lot is very important in relation to the size of your rig. And not just for setting up on the site but actually getting to the site. Loops can be especially challenging with a longer rig. I have had to ask campers to move vehicles, bicycles and even pulled out a sign post or two to squeeze my rig through some narrow twists and turns. This is especially daunting when you arrive later on a busy Friday and most sites are already occupied. As for the lot itself the size is important to have enough space for your setup, maintain a safe distance from the fire pit and have room to park your tow vehicle.
Google is Your Friend
When considering a campground, I will always use the Internet to help choose the best site possible. I use Google Maps satellite view to look at the layout for shade, proximity to water, the access roads to and in the campground. One caution though – I once noted a big shade tree on a lot and booked the site. However, by the time of our stay the tree had been removed and we were in full sun.
Many campgrounds now include site pictures when you choose a site via their booking website. And in one instance I found a website where an individual has taken it upon himself to travel to most of the state parks in New York and take several pictures of each site, and noting specifically which sites have waterfront. I also read reviews for different campgrounds because often a reviewer will comment on a specific site, either positive or negative.
Some other things to consider when booking a lot:
- Privacy – do you want peace and quiet or be were the action is; do you want to be close to the amenities such as beach or playground or off in a quiet corner; do you mind traffic, either cars or people
- Terrain – we do not stay in sites that are low or next to things like easements; after a hard rain storm they can be muddy and attract mosquitoes; a few years ago, we stayed at campground that had flooding in July because of days of rain and some sites were then shut down; during the flooding some rigs had to be pulled out of the mud with tow trucks
A Lifetime of RV & Trailer Adventure
My wife and I love to travel around with our RV.
Every year the majority of our vacation is spent camping in various campgrounds, especially on both sides of the St. Lawrence River. It has become apparent more and more people are also enjoying the pleasure of the somewhat simple life by staying in a campground in all manner of rigs. It seems each year it is becoming more challenging to find available sites, especially during the summer months of July and August, however June is now almost as busy. I am not surprised.
The ability to change up the pace of a stressful life by parking an RV on a simple patch of grass surrounded by trees and a view of water, having a campfire at night, seeing the sunrise in the morning while drinking a hot coffee, perhaps a container ship passing through the seaway always relaxes my wife and I in ways that no other vacation can duplicate.
And it always starts by choosing the ideal site.
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To find out more about selecting the right RV lot – or even the right RV or trailer – contact us today. Travel-Mor Trailer Sales has one of the best selections of – and competitive prices on – RV’s and trailers in Ottawa.
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Bill Bishop is an avid RV’er from Ottawa, Canada. He’s enjoying this amazing phase of life by doing what he loves, both professionally and personally. When Bill isn’t spending time on RV adventures with his wife, he can be found playing with his grandchildren or complaining about the Toronto Blue Jays pitching rotation.
