RV’ing vs Trailer Parks

Many people think when I say we are living in an RV that we will be living in trailer parks. Stereotypical images of men in tank tops, drinking beer and yelling at their wives, letting their dirty children run amuck, living in run down trailers that should be mobile but would take a crane to move with broken white picket fences around a dirt yard and faux flowers under the windowsill, may come to mind. This is not the RV lifestyle we are living. Trailer parks are meant for long-term, stationary living. Sure, you can park an RV in one of these mobile home parks and use it like a permanent home, but with our choice to travel the country we seek something much different. We look for beautiful surroundings and serene landscapes for our evening rest stops. That’s not to say that mobile home parks are not located in pretty locations, but by nature of the permanency of these homes they take on somewhat of an aged appearance and not much grass.

I’ve learned there are several types of RV parks. There are the parking lots. Because one of the markers of a good park is a level space some owners simply clear an area and try to pack in as many tenants as possible. Generally this type of park is good for an overnight stay where you might plan only to sleep in the home and take in the scenery by car. The spaces tend to be close to one another. Sometimes there are picnic tables and fire rings, but even with these small efforts of an outdoor living space you cannot get away from the fact that your neighbor is five feet away and your peripheral view is of another RV.

Another type of RV overnight destination is a campground. The sites we prefer are located in state and national parks and tend to be more rustic than private parks. They might include tent spots and free standing bathrooms sometimes with showers. Often they restrict overnight use of a generator and may even limit the size RV that can park in the spot. Clearance and entry routes may be difficult for some larger rigs like ours at 39’ so the campground is not always a viable option. Because these areas don’t want to encourage people to set their homes there permanently they limit the length of stays. We like campgrounds because they are often scenic and quiet (meaning off the road, but not without hoards of kids). Cost is usually less than private parks and your money goes towards preserving the park instead of into someone’s profit pocket.

RV Communities are private parks with a social atmosphere. They offer a social gathering spot where RV’ers can get to know one another through sponsored dinners and activities. It’s nice to stop and mingle with other people in the same situation picking up tips about where to go next, what parks to avoid, etc., and they are great resources for questions about the mechanics of your RV. Recently, we could not figure out how to get our cable TV to work inside our home and one of the community hosts had seen another RV of our same model that same day, so he was able to help us get it working. Costs can vary in these communities depending on what types of amenities they offer.

Seqoia at Wolf Creek Run
RV Community in Pagosa Springs

Finally, and most extravagantly you have the resort parks. As it sounds, these parks are similar to hotel resorts, only you bring your room with you. They offer swimming pools, golf, and other recreational activities. They are a destination in and of themselves. Costs can be exorbitant some upwards of $200 a night. We have yet to stay at one of these places, but I’m curious to check one out someday. It sure beats sleeping in the dirt in the woods.

So, for those of you who still have the idea that we are living in trailer parks, I hope you now have a better picture of the various RV options out there. We’ll probably plan to spend most of our time in the campground or RV Community type of rest areas to combine living in nature with a social component.