RV camp site cost/night

[cariboo camper]

When we go south for the winter, 3 months, we average about $25/night. This would involve 3-4 weeks on the road and 2months parked at an RV park in Yuma. About 10 days boondocking, some Walmart stores, Casinos. We stay in state parks maybe 7-10 nights and make good use of Passport America which offer half price at select locations. We take advantage of the specials some parks offer in Yuma.

I must admire the way my wife makes use of the internet in searching ahead for locations, she works hard at it. For example we stayed at a county park in Nevada right on the Colorado river, no hookups but free Sani dump in the adjacent park for $20/ night. There are many beautiful, off the beaten path state parks for reasonable fees. I know you said full hookups but this is just an example of your options.

[mike.t]

Side note; there is no charge to veterans at national parks.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by PSUFan1

Wow $275/night. And I thought Fort Wilderness at Disney World was expensive.

Yea, you think it's more expensive in the East. You must have never been on the California coast. Even California State Beach sites can be near $100.

[GravelRider]

Originally Posted by mike.t

Side note; there is no charge to veterans at national parks.

That's just the entrance fee though, not camping.

[5er_tom]

Location, location, location.
This was $23.00 full hookups and 50 amp:


This was $110.00 will full hookups:

[scottrubarb]

We did a 108 day cross country tip, 10,000 miles March-Jul 2018.
camping ranged from free in in-laws side yard to over $100 per night in downtown New Orleans and Disney World.
Total cost including all gas and service, groceries, dining out, tours $20,600 or 194 per day. Fuel $4,880, dining $2,350, groceries $4,150, Camping $5,850

I think this compares favorably to travel using hotels with the great benefit of having your home, food and pets (2 cats) with you. Welcome to the RV world

Greg Scott
California
Georgetown 270S Class A
Toad 2016 jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

[CedarCreekWoody]

Look at Corp of engineer parks. Usually very reasonable, clean and well maintained. Half price if your are over 65 and buy the senior pass.

[pgandw]

Originally Posted by robsshots

If you stay in state parks you can sometimes save money. Except for Colorado which charges an additional daily in and out fee of $5 a campsite. What idiots!!

I have yet to see a state park (or national park) that did not have a daily vehicle fee in addition to the campsite fee. FWIW, Colorado is now up to $7/day/vehicle. For Colorado, I buy the annual pass ($70 for seniors) because I use the parks enough to pay for it. Texas state parks I don't usually use enough to justify the annual pass; same for Wyoming and South Dakota.

The Golden Age (or whatever they call it now) is the national LIFETIME pass for entrance and vehicle fees at all National Parks, National Forests, Corps of Engineers, National Monuments, etc. Well worth what it costs. I paid $20, now costs $80. This year it is free to most (maybe all) classes of veterans.

National Parks, NF, and COE campgrounds (all half price with the pass) tend not to have full hook-ups; some to many are dry camping. Many to most state parks are electric only or water and electric only in my neck of the woods. We prefer the public parks because of the spacing between sites makes us feel like we are camping.

Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[TowPro]

Center east coast. Average 50 per night for us. But just under $100 at koa at beach in OBX.

[pawatt]

there should be no reason you need full hookups every night. We are usually good 4 to 7 days.

[PSUFan1]

Originally Posted by pawatt

there should be no reason you need full hookups every night. We are usually good 4 to 7 days.

That is a silly comment.

[ferrisjc]

Lots of choices for sure. We prefer national/state or regional parks where if you research and reserve early enough can find FHU sites at reasonable prices from 30-40 per night. Many of these sites have fewer rather than more FHU sites but are worth the effort for sure. No doubt some states are higher, out here we know CA sites are higher, way higher and anything on the Oregon coast is costly as well. Location means a lot. Death Valley NP in CA offers FHU for under 40 dollars. Again, time of year is important in high temperature desert areas summer versus winter. U.S. Military RV parks are even cheaper for FHU but you must meet active duty, retired, or DoD criteria to use those. We like the state parks because they offer more spacious layouts, beautiful scenery, and usually plentiful hiking, boating, and camp fire opportunities, etc. Outside of government parks the scope is wide open and normally offer FHU at higher prices, closer sites to neighbors, some have swimming pools, dog parks, community rec areas, etc. Glamping sites are much higher but do offer nearly every amenity including better shower facilities than your own inside of your Class C has to offer. Dollar wise your preference: $30-100 up to some of the others close to 300 bucks a night. The cheapest FHU we have stayed at was $10 at White Sands Military Reservation, New Mexico.

[Mr. Dan]

This FHU site in a COE park is $13/night with our old person’s 50% federal discount.
We’re always at a park 2 weeks at a time... we’re not hooking up after 4-7 days to dump anything!

[pawatt]

Originally Posted by PSUFan1

That is a silly comment.

Why pay for full hookups every day when you only need to dump every 4 to 7 days. what part of it is silly?

[PSUFan1]

Because not everyone likes to be restricted on water usage like showers. Especially if you have kids.

[Chuck_S]

In my experience state parks are the least expensive and have the largest and more private sites. Makes no difference if you have a camper or a "RV" you pay by site and amenities.

-- Chuck

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by pawatt

Why pay for full hookups every day when you only need to dump every 4 to 7 days. what part of it is silly?

It would be entirely silly for me at the age of 73 to stay at a site 2 weeks (14 days) and hook up my 5th wheel to drag it to dump in 4-7 days and then re-set it.

[rskeans]

Suggest downloading the RV PARKY app to your smart phone. We rarely plan ahead and wing it on the road. The App is fairly good. Pay attention to the reviews for parks! The comments are valuable.

[formerFR]

'full hookups' is also in debate here, as what you mean by this phrase may or may not reconcile with what the rest of us have in mind - a 'full hookup' to many of us is simply elec, water, and sewer. Now, the question many will also ask, though, is how 'much' elec is available - whether a 20amp household outlet, a 30amp 120v 'rv' outlet, or a FULL 50amp 240v outlet - and sometimes even 'all three'.

You cannot 'pin down' the cost of camping - it's too variable depending on WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and WHAT you are going for - some are absolutely FREE, with ALL THREE requirements. Some are $200 a night or MORE - just check out the Florida and California coasts where 'resorts' for RVs are prevalent, as well as many other places, and even more so in very Metro areas.

Now, if you are 'camping' where less than 'full' hook ups are required, then you bring into the mix many other various options - including National and State/Regional parks, which typically do NOT have most hookups - sometimes elec, sometimes not. sometimes sewer, most times not. Water tends to be a much easier accessible utility, even if it's 'shared' between sites. Some places have absolutely NOTHING - but your RV is designed exactly for that. You just have to be more proactive measure to make yourself as 'comfortable' as you might otherwise to expect to be with 'full hookups'.

If I were trying to find a financial 'middle ground' to use as a 'nightly charge' for camping, with 'full hookups' in mind for the most part - using a $40 per night would be a good start. Some will be $25, others $50, many somewhere in between.
Using a membership and app, such as Passport America, will give you a good start if you are traveling and don't need 'destination' rv parks or campgrounds, but more or a place to park for the night, but with the three utilities you need, many times even more. These 'tend' to be mom and pop parks, but can actually run between great rv parks, otherwise, and even 'resorts' - we've seen them ALL, in MANY differing types, sizes, and environments. Some may be 'travelers' rv parks, while some will be 'full time' parks where few 'overnighters' actually use much.

In our travels back in 2014 - 2017 all around this country, Alaska, and Canada - we found that there is no 'standard' rv park or campground. They may 'seem' similar', but all are actually sometimes VERY different. Many are easily accessible, others are hard to find, and even hard to access when you do find them. Many are concrete pads to park on, others are simply dirt, grass, or gravel. Some will have very up-to-date utilities, while others will certainly be old, un-cared for, and rarely used - the electrical can sometimes be less-than-desirable to even plug into - you take your chances.

But, having said all that, that's part of the fun, the lure, and the daily grind of 'camping', in whatever 'form' you choose to do it : )

[TheLutter]

Numerous camper clubs offer reduced fees, such as Good Sam, PassPort America, KOA, Military Discounts, America The Beautiful Pass for National Parks and Fed. Recreational Lands. Army Corp campground are wonderful. As well as State Parks.