One Downside To RV Camping That Can Become A Nightmare Before The Trip Even Starts

There's something truly special about RV travel. You pack up your home on wheels, stock the mini-fridge with snacks, and get ready to hit the road with your windows rolled all the way down. Compared to traditional vacations, RV travel offers an unparalleled level of freedom to explore everything, from national parks to coastlines to mountains, and pretty much everywhere in between. And let's be honest, nothing beats the excitement of waking up to different views every morning without having to leave the comfort of your own space.

After all, the flexibility of bringing your accommodation with you means you can go pretty much anywhere without worrying about hotel availability or inflated prices in tourist hotspots. That said, this type of travel also comes with its own set of challenges that can easily derail your RV trip. From ensuring your RV stays clean and functional to finding the right dump stations and navigating tight campground roads, RV travel tests your problem-solving skills in some pretty unexpected ways. However, the most significant challenge of RV travel happens before you've even started your engine: securing a campsite reservation.

Finding and securing an RV campsite has become increasingly difficult in the past couple of years. As of 2021, more than 11 million households in the U.S. own an RV, a 26% increase over the previous decade. This means that competition for spots has intensified dramatically — especially in popular destinations like Yosemite or  Yellowstone National Parks, which fill its reservation calendars within minutes of opening up its systems.

This surge in RV ownership (as well as the uptick of millennials making the switch to full-time vanlife) has ultimately created a reservation rush that catches most RV travelers off guard, with sites getting snatched up more than six months in advance. This means that the days of spontaneous weekend getaways with guaranteed camping spots have largely disappeared, especially during peak travel season, between April and October.

Instead, hopeful RVers now need to approach their campsite reservations with a more developed strategy. Think using multiple devices, asking family members to help, and even setting multiple calendar reminders for exactly when reservation windows open (often at 7:00 a.m. sharp on a specific date). However, this isn't a foolproof strategy. No matter how many alarms or laptops you have at hand, you can still end up dealing with the frustration of watching available sites disappear before you've completed your booking.

Besides simply hoping for the best, there are several other ways to approach RV reservations to help improve your chances of success. First, make sure you research each campground's specific reservation policies before making any booking attempts. You'll also want to create accounts on all booking platforms in advance, so that you can move quickly when spots become available. Beyond that, consider calling campgrounds directly instead of only relying on online booking — staff often know about recent cancellations or can add you to waitlists.

Another great way to succeed is to use technology to your advantage. Campsite availability apps like The Dyrt, Hipcamp, and Campspot compile campgrounds in your target area and usually let you filter them based on RV size, required hookups, and amenity preferences. Most of these platforms also include user reviews and photos that provide more accurate information than official websites. Better yet, they can even alert you to any last-minute cancellations at popular destinations, potentially saving you from the dreaded "fully booked" message.

Finally, try looking beyond popular destinations to increase your options. If your campsite is fully booked, consider hitting up less-visited parks where you won't have to deal with that much competition. In most cases, first-come, first-served campgrounds remain available — especially if you arrive mid-week or early in the morning. Additionally, public lands that offer boondocking (aka, camping without hookups to water, electricity, or sewer) provide beautiful alternatives for more self-sufficient RVers who don't mind going back to basics.