Comprehensive campground listings are an important part to enjoying the most of your time on the road.
Needing a place to camp along I-40 near Winslow, AZ. I consulted a campground directory (which will remain nameless) and listed an RV park that we felt would meet our needs.
The directory listed the campground as having electric sites and non-electric sites with potable water available at the dump station. Since the campsites weren’t listed as having water available (and we were in need of water), our first stop after arriving was filling the potable water tank.
Passing the first couple of sites, we noticed each site had a water spigot contrary to what the campground directory stated (the camp hosts and others that watched me fill my tank, then proceed to a site with water and electric, probably took me for an idiot.)
Setting up your Camp should be Quick and Easy
After my attempt to navigate the services this time around, I felt a little bewildered and a lot like a novice.
We then spied a few choice spots up on a rise and could clearly see the power pedestal. Assuming these were water and electric sites, we pulled into one only to find a sign stating “Non-Electric Site.” Mind you, this sign was attached to the power pedestal. Continuing around the campground loop we came upon another space that appeared suitable. I stepped out of my tow vehicle, took a look at the power pedestal to ensure it could receive power, and confirming that it did, we pulled into the space and set up camp that included hooking up to water.
Now, I have been RVing most of my life and I have been able to interpret campground listings fairly well. No Hook ups, electric, and water, or electric and full hook-ups are the standard. Yet, after my attempt to navigate the services this time around, I felt a little bewildered and a lot like a novice.
Comprehensive campground listings are an important part to enjoying the most of your time on the road. Had I checked other campground directories, I would have received the correct, updated information. I also recommend planning in advance. When researching online, it`s important to gain all the valuable insight from other RVer’s reviews and/or determine the list of amenities to meet your needs. Its also a good idea to even contact (via email) the campground to make reservations or for further inquiries.
Interpreting campground listings and signs are just another mysterious adventure in RVing!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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