What to Look For in a Campground for your RV or Trailer
All RVers know that finding the right campground can make or break your camping experience. There are thousands of campgrounds in the United States, but not all are created equal. Nothing’s worse than rolling up and realizing that you have no electrical hookup, cell service is nonexistent, or there’s no firewood available on-site.
From price to gradient to dump stations, cell service, power, water, sewage, shade, amenities, and overall safety, there are dozens of things to keep in mind when searching for the best campground for your RV or trailer. The good news is The Dyrt collects all that information in one place—along with authentic reviews from campers like you—so you can make the best choice for your crew, whether you’re traveling solo or hauling your extended family around in a jumbo rig, à la Cheaper by the Dozen.
Besides price and the local attractions, there are two big considerations when choosing the best spot for your trailer or RV: the campground and the specific campsite you choose.
Choosing Your Campground
The best campgrounds for RVs and trailers will have a variety of amenities, from restrooms and showers to dump stations, laundry facilities, snack bars, picnic tables, WiFi, disability access, and stores on-site to purchase food, drinks, or supplies. When you’re searching for a campground at The Dyrt, you can add filters to search for campgrounds with the Features you want.
Features are broken down into two categories: For Campers and For Vehicles. In the former, you’ll find basic amenities that are relevant for anyone staying there, such as if pets are allowed, or if the campground has WiFi. In the “For Vehicles” section, you’ll see RV and trailer-specific info, such as whether sites have sewer and water hookups, the power of the electric hookups (50-amp or 30-amp?), and whether the campsites at this campground are pull-through or not. (If you’re towing a trailer, you’ll likely prefer the ability to pull through your campsite instead of backing up.)
Deciding the campground features you want is pretty self-explanatory, but you should also read the campground description and reviews for more information, and check out the photos other campers have posted of the site. (Be sure to check dates of reviews, as well!) Consider nearby towns, sightseeing spots, or outdoor activities, and see if other reviewers have commented on the campground’s noise level, how hard it is to access, the views, or any pests, such as mice, raccoons, and bugs.
Choosing Your Campsite
Once you’ve decided on a campground, you’ll have to pick out the specific site in that campground to park your rig. Some campgrounds are first come, first serve, others require you to reserve a specific site in advance. Either way, there are a few things to consider when choosing the site. These include:
Clearance: Most of us prefer some trees, bushes, or other foliage to give privacy between our site and other campsites, but make sure you have enough room to maneuver your RV and set up camp chairs, tables, and any other furniture.
Level Ground: Finding dry, flat ground is essential for stability. No one likes to sleep on an incline!
Drainage: Avoid camping close to bodies of water or in low-lying terrain if rain is a possibility, as this could mean water accumulating around your rig. Look for past signs of waterflow, like storm debris and dried out creek beds.
Shade/Wind: In the summer, look for sites with trees or other features to provide shade during hot days. Similarly, in windy conditions, consider trees, bluffs, boulders, and other features that will provide shelter from high winds.
With The Dyrt, you should be able to evaluate both the features of a campground and a given campsite to choose the best spot to camp with your RV or trailer! Here are a few of our favorite highly-rated campsites.
Three Amazing RV Campgrounds Near National Parks
Slough Creek Campground — Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
For an off-the-beaten-path RV campsite near Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, Slough Creek is a stellar choice. This campground is roughly 25 to 30 miles from the park’s north and northeast entrances, but offers a front row seat to the pristine Wyoming wilderness. If you’re lucky, you may see bison, and hear wolves howling at night. The 16-site campground fills up fast in the busy season, so get there early to snag the best sites!
Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
The Western United States may be the region best known for its natural beauty and jaw-dropping vistas, but did you know that Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park is actually the most visited national park in the country? If you’re looking for a base to explore the verdant rolling hills and dales of the Smokies, Elkmont Campground is a great choice.
Just eight miles from Gatlinburg, Elkmont is probably the most popular camping site in the park, and for good reason. Multiple creeks run through the campground, and it’s the starting point for a number of hiking trails, such as the Little River Trail, Jakes Creek Trail, and Elkmont Nature Trail. Simply step out of your RV and start your hike!
Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park, Maine
The rugged coastline of Acadia National Park sees more than four million recreational visits each year, and for good reason. Simply put, there is no place quite like the Acadia to experience the untamed power of the Atlantic.
From jagged sea cliffs to remote coastal islands and nearly 200 miles of inland trails, there’s endless wilderness to explore at Acadia, and no better place to start from than Blackwoods Campground. All campsites here are within a 10-minute walk of the ocean, but are well-sheltered from the coastal winds by dense tree cover. But plan ahead! Most campsites here are made available six months in advance on the first of each month.
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