The joys of RV camping: finding the right spot to park your motorhome, travel trailer, or pop-up camper calls for a little homework
The fragrance of pine trees permeates your national park campground site. After savoring the trout you caught this afternoon, your family toasts marshmallows over the glowing fire pit. In the background, someone gently strums a guitar. Tomorrow you’ll go on a ranger-led hike and watch a slide show at the amphitheater. You’ re at peace with nature, and it doesn’t matter that your site lacks hookups.
ANOTHER SCENARIO: YOU’RE spending a busy week visiting an area’s tourist attractions. However. you’ve decided to stay at the campground today. Your youngsters are delighted to try out the swimming pool. grab a hamburger at the snack ban and play a round of miniature golf. You’ve checked out the campground grocery store for those hot dogs you forgot. Tonight a band will perform. Next weekend, if you decide to stay, they’re having Christmas in July, when everyone decorates their RVs.
Maybe it’s winter, you’re retired and want to defrost. The desert warmth sounds good. You check in for the season at one of Arizona’s huge resort campgrounds catering to the 55+ market. You’ll enjoy state-of-the-art exercise centers, whirlpool spas, indoor and outdoor heated pools, lighted tennis courts, the putting green. But they offer lots more–craft shops for woodworking, silversmithing, and ceramics, on-site restaurants, card and billiards rooms, computer centers, grand ballrooms for dances and dinner theater, and hundreds of organized special events. A few days on site. and you realize the hype you heard is true. You’ll never get bored.
America’s more than 15,000 campgrounds come in many sizes and personalities. A park exists to fit every budget and wish list of activities. Keys to finding your favorite campground are recognizing where you want to go, deciding the style of camping you prefer, and knowing how to do a little research.
National park campgrounds are ideal for those seeking spectacular scenery and plentiful activities. Campers find these campgrounds at most national parks with the exception of metropolitan areas and historical sites. Some, such as Yosemite and Yellowstone, contain several busy campgrounds.
Most provide picnic tables, grills, flush toilets, individual parking spaces, and waste dump stations, Some have electric or water hookups, hot water, and showers. What you’ll also find at most national park campgrounds are evening and daily activity programs, particularly during weekends or summer months.