When camping with tent trailer (pop up), do you stay in the tent area of the campground or the RV area?
March7
We’re looking at a VERY long trip across the country using our minivan and tent (as is our family tradition). But a friend has offered to let us use his popup trailer. Will campgrounds charge us more because we’re using a trailer (vehicle plus trailer v. tent)? Will we be placed with RVs (and their nice generators) or with tents or…?
Since you towing a trailer you’re going to be placed in the RV area. Many campgrounds don’t make a distinction, they’re either drive in or park and hike in. You pay the same fee.
You will be placed in a section for RV’s. The campgrounds are usually split in to rustic and modern ( Complete hook ups). If you need electric you will be placed in that section, and charge for the electric hook up.
Stay in the RV section, where you can back the pop up into the space, where electric and water will be
They will charge you for a trailer and you will camp with the motor homes. You can choose between electric hook ups/ full hook ups and dry camping in many places.
I have camped in the upper Midwest for 35 years. Typically a campground segregates and charges based upon your needs. Many offer both electrical and non-electrical sites, electrical sites obviously being higher. Water is another consideration. State parks in our area do not offer water at each site though there are common areas to obtain it. We have camped in private campgrounds where we did have water to our camper. It’s often a nice luxury but can be considerably higher in price. Our usage in the camper is minimal enough to decline the option. We make sure our 25 gal. tank in the camper is full before we leave home and it usually lasts the weekend. Proximity to restrooms is always an important consideration if you have children with night bathroom habits. If you’re a parent you may be ready for the pop-up. A good nites sleep is important if you’re driving on an extended trip. It’s my opinion the worst matress is better than the best ground. I hope you have a memory filled trip.
It depends on the campground.
I went to Pismo Beach last summer [its in CA] and in my campground there were big RVs, pop up tents and regular tents.
It just depends on the campground though.
Also, I doubt they will charge you more but having a car and a trailer will be considered two cars so if they charge more for extra cars then yes you will be charged, but probably not for the site unless you get a site with more features like electricity and sewer.
Different campgrounds have different policies. Some will not allow trailers, pop-ups, conversion vans, etc in the tent area. Some will have a tent area and allow you to camp in it provided you do not run your air conditioner or other noise making devices (TV, etc.). Some will charge you according to what kind of “rig” you have (tent, pop-up, big RV), and some will charge you according what site you get like a “full” site with water, electric, & sewer vs a “primitive” site with nothing vs everything between.