This summer, millions of Americans will set off for campgrounds and RV parks around the United States. But not all of them will find the warm-weather wonderland they expect.
Some, seeking an evening rendition of nature’s symphony, will, instead, toss and turn to the sounds of a raucous Saturday night square dance. Others, looking for wholesome family entertainment and attractions, will find themselves in the midst of a wide-open “party park.”
All of which means that no family should ever begin a camping trip until they’ve finished their homework. The need for a thorough investigation of possible sites for your family camping vacation is more important than ever, given the fact that the number of camping venues available is as big as all outdoors.
These days, there’s a campground to match virtually any interest, said Deborah Spriggs, publisher of Lake Forest-based Woodall’s Campground Directory, the oldest camping information publication, with a more than 60-year history of serving campers and RVers.
At the most basic level are rustic parks designed for tenters and outdoors enthusiasts with smaller RVs. Such parks offer activities like hiking, biking and campfire singalongs, yet are also likely to have pools and playgrounds.
One step up in creature comforts are midrange parks designed for larger RVs. “There’s more paving, and it’s more developed, with electricity, water and sewer hookups,” Spriggs said. “If you choose to be self-contained, you can do that.”
At the upper end in price and sophistication are resort-type parks, which are likely to offer such amenities as golf, tennis, indoor pools, Jacuzzis, water slides, clubhouses and restaurants. “If you think of any of the large, gorgeous-type resorts, there are RV resorts to match them,” Spriggs noted. “You’ll find the very large RVs, generally speaking, with amenities even my house doesn’t have.”
To locate the campground right for you, Spriggs and other experts recommend first sitting down with your family and talking about what each family member would like out of the camping experience. “The main thing is to know the experience you want to have,” she said.
Once you’ve determined what you’re looking for, start researching campgrounds. One of the best ways to launch a search is through the Internet, which offers a bonanza of Web sites devoted to camping. At the top of your list of sites should be www.gocampingamerica.com, the site of the Falls Church, Va.-based National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
“We have a national directory of more than 3,500 parks in every state except Hawaii,” said association president David Gorin.
“Campers and RV users will find all the locations, maps, directions, amenities and prices. There’s also a message board. If they’re looking for a campground in a particular state with particular types of amenities, they can post a message asking other readers to give them information.”
Some of the companies that own and operate campgrounds also offer comprehensive Web sites. For instance, the largest system of family campgrounds in the United States, Billings, Mont.-based Kampgrounds of America (better known as KOA), with more than 500 U.S. campgrounds, can be reached on the Internet at www.koa.com.
“On our site, most of the campgrounds have photos, and most have copy about the attractions and the things to see and do, not only on the campground but in the area,” said Dave Nusbaum, vice president of consumer marketing. “We also have locator maps and driving instructions to the campgrounds. And many KOA campgrounds allow you to book a reservation request on-line.”
Directories can also help narrow your search. For example, KOA offers directories that combine road atlases with listings of all KOA campgrounds. They’re available free at any KOA campground, or by mailing $3 to KOA, P.O. Box 30162, Billings, MT. 59107.
The two best-known campground directories are Woodall’s and Ventura, Calif.-based Trailer Life. Woodall’s, according to Spriggs, “talks about the parks pretty specifically, telling what type of campground it is, and what type of amenities and recreation it offers. Our rating system identifies the type of park, with one being a more rustic park and five being a more developed or resort-type park.”
Also included in Woodall’s Campground Directory are prices, most of which fall within a range of $10 to $35 per site per night.
If you want a directory of campgrounds in a particular state, contact that state’s campground association. Almost every state has one, and their phone numbers are available through state tourism offices. The campground associations usually publish their own directories of members.
For instance, the Illinois Campground Association puts out the Illinois Campground and RV Park Directory, which lists all member campgrounds, said Kevin O’Connell, past president of the Illinois Campground Association and owner of O’Connell’s Yogi Bear Jellystone Park in Amboy, Ill.
The free directory can be obtained by calling 847-395-6090, or writing the Illinois Campground Association, 27884 W. Route 173, Antioch, IL. 60002. It is also available through www.gocampingamerica.com.
Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few possibilities, call those campgrounds and ask to speak with the manager or owner, said David Kuebler, executive director of the Traverse City-based Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds of Michigan.
“Start out by asking simple questions,” he said. “Make sure the size of the park is what you’re looking for. There are some people who want a 10-site campground, and others who want a 1,000-site campground. If it’s a family, make sure this is a family-type campground. Does it have a nice playground? What type of planned activities do they have for kids? They want to make sure they’re going to fit in with the other people in the park.”
According to Kuebler, other questions should include:
What type of security is provided? Are there security gates, and is the park patrolled throughout the night? What kinds of events are going on at the campground and in the surrounding area the weekend you’re visiting. “That could totally change the characteristics of a park,” Kuebler said.
Also, how close are the available campsites to the amenities you’re most interested in, such as playgrounds or pools? What’s the nightly fee, and what’s the cancellation policy? Most campgrounds ask for a deposit when a camper makes a reservation. You’ll want to know how many days ahead of your planned visit you can cancel and still get your deposit back.
Also ask about the proximity of washrooms to campsites, policies on bringing pets into the campground and what kind of attractions are near the park.
Here are some other Web sites well worth a visit:
– www.woodalls.com–Offers information ranging from places to camp to product information and events calendars.
– www.rvrent.com–Information on how to rent an RV, links to other RV sites.
– www.campnetamerica.com–A complete listing of campgrounds, RV parks, camping equipment manufacturers, log cabin rentals, RV dealers and travel clubs and associations.
– www.rvusa.com–Campgrounds and places to rent, buy and accessorize new and used RVs are among the features of this site.
