One of the tricky things about RVing is finding a place to stay.
Committing to an RV park sight unseen can feel a little overwhelming. After all, who wants to spend their family vacation at a dump. And since most places have booking fees, you’ll lose out on money if you decide to bail after you arrive.
The good news is we have the internet! And the internet is a perfect place to find honest RV park reviews.
What is an RV Park Review?
When someone stays at an RV park, they have the option to leave a review afterward. These RV park reviews are a way for you to get feedback from people who have stayed at a park.
There are two major types of people who leave RV park reviews. First are the people who HATED it. And second, are the people who can’t say enough good things.
The trick to reading park reviews is to sort through the extremes.
You also have to decode some of the most common feedback-phrases. It unfortunately isn’t as straightforward as you would think.
But we’ll show you exactly what you need to know the find the best RV park every time.
Best Sites for RV Park Reviews
Not all review websites are created equal. Some have a bunch of trash reviews, while others freely delete honest, but negative, reviews.
Here are some of our favorites.
Campground Reviews
Campground Reviews gives you much more than just a rating. You can read reviews, see pictures, determine costs, and more. Campground Reviews even gives you an idea of cell coverage at the park.
Campendium
Campendium is another option for finding RV park reviews. They have many of the same features as Campground Reviews.
It is worth looking at more than one site, though. Most reviewers will leave a review on just one site. So if you look only at one, you won’t get as comprehensive of a picture.
RV Parky
Last up is RV Parky. They have photos and reviews. But they don’t offer information regarding cell coverage in a designated place like the other sites.
5 Common RV Park Review Phrases that Need Decoding
Alright, now to talk about those common yet vague RV park review phrases you’ll no doubt come across. These phrases come up time and time again. Here’s what they actually mean.
#1 “Excessive signage”
Excessive signage generally means that the park has too many rules. Rules are helpful for a lot of reasons. They can make your stay much more enjoyable and cut down on annoying neighbors. But they can also go too far.
Common RV park rules include how many vehicles you can have at a sight. There are also quiet hours and speed limits to adhere to. You can also expect rules about using the laundry rooms (e.g., don’t leave your laundry in there all day!) There also may be rules about campfires, portable grills, storage outside your RV, and so on.
But some parks take it one step further. If there could be a rule about it, you bet these parks have found them. Here’s an example of reviews saying that the park has lots of signage.
The park has rules regarding the cost of extra people. The extra cost also varies based on the age of the extras. There are also fees for dogs. This park also has rules about parking and not parking.
Other reviewers have complained of signs to not touch this or that, don’t walk here, and so on. As you can see, they have rules, rules, rules. Despite this, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Just know what you’re getting into with “excessive signage” parks.
Pro Tip: Here are 5 reasons RV parks will surprisingly deny your reservation.
#2 RV Park is “oddly shaped”
This secret RV park review phrase means that big rigs may have a hard time maneuvering. Some parks have size limitations based on site length and also drivability through the park.
But certain things can make getting in and out of a spot even more difficult. For example, maybe the neighbor has their vehicle parked slightly in the road.
Here is an example of an RV park review for a park that is “oddly shaped”.
Not only is the park itself oddly shaped, but the parking spaces are too.
This could make it hard to get your rig lined up. Sometimes, it might even impact your ability to extend your slides or awning. If you like things neat and orderly, an oddly shaped park might just drive you crazy.
However, if you want to avoid this issue, these are the 7 most agile RVs and trailers.
#3 It’s a “Beautiful & New” RV Park
Now here’s something positive! Or so it would seem.
Obviously, we all want to stay at a nice RV park. But someone is going to have to foot the bill for all those “beautiful” and “new” features.
What this review really means is that you can expect to pay a lot. Certain amenities will result in a higher nightly rate. Think things like hot tubs, pools, dog parks, updated laundry facilities, and so on. Some RV parks even have water parks, recreation areas, workout rooms, basketball courts, and more.
These things are great, but they come with a price. Usually, an RV park nightly stay will cost between $35 and $50. But for a “beautiful and new” RV park, you’ll probably pay between $50 and $70 a night. Sometimes even more!
Here’s an example of an RV park review with lots of “beautiful and new” features.
#4.“Good enough for a night”
Another common RV park review saying is that it was “good enough for a night”. This means you have basic amenities like full hookups. Full hookups include city water, sewer, and electricity (either 30 or 50 amp).
Most RV parks with reviews like this are “good enough” but nothing out of the ordinary. They are a great place to stop when making long cross-country hauls.
You’ll be able to get a hot shower and a comfortable sleep. But if you’re looking to stay somewhere for more than a few days, you might want to keep searching.
Here’s an example of an RV park that is “good enough for a night”. This RV park has basic amenities, including showers and restrooms. It also has a pool Which is a step up from most “good enough for a night” places.
Pro Tip: You may want to avoid these parks. Rather, try overnight parking at Walmart.
#5 The RV Park Has “some semi-permanent residents”
The last review keyword you might come across is that the park has “some semi-permanent residents”. Long-term residents can be a deterrent for a few reasons. Often these rigs are older and may look run down. Parks like this also tend to have stuff stored outside RVs, giving it a cluttered, messy look.
If this bothers you, you probably won’t enjoy your stay at a place like this. But there can be some perks. Usually, these types of RV parks have better monthly rates. So if you need or want to stay somewhere for an extended time, you’ll typically save a lot.
Here is an example of a park that has “some semi-permanent residents”.
Despite this, it still has 8.7 out of 10 stars. It is really a pleasant park, all things considered.
Here’s the deal about long-term RV parks.
RV Park Reviews Are Helpful When Booking Stays
RV park reviews are an incredibly helpful way to decide where to book your next stay. If you know how to read between the lines!
Now that you know what these common phrases mean, you’ll be able to find the best campground to meet your needs.
And if you leave a review in the future, keep in mind how others will read it. The more we help each other out, the better RVing is for everyone!
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