The Instagram Expectation vs. The Reality
Before we started RVing, we had this pipedream: we’d wake up, open our door, and step out into a private, secluded campsite on a river. Maybe there’d be a natural pool made out of rocks, crystal clear and perfect for a morning dip. Total peace, no neighbors, just nature.
And honestly? That place exists. We’ve tent camped there. It’s real, it’s beautiful, and it’s exactly the kind of spot we thought we’d be pulling into every time we hit the road in the RV.
But then reality hit.
Because while those dream campsites exist, most of RV life is a mix of scenic gems, crowded RV parks, and occasional “wait… we’re paying for this?” moments. Some days, you get the perfect off-grid spot by a lake. Other days, you’re parked on a slab of concrete next to 50 other rigs, wondering how the people next to you scored the spot with an extra two feet of space.
And honestly? Both have their place.
When I Realized That Perfect, Quiet Campsites Weren’t the Norm
Going into full-time RV life, I knew we’d end up at some crowded campgrounds. But I don’t think I fully realized just how often we’d choose them—not because we wanted to, but because we needed to.
We were working full-time on the road. I love the idea of an off-grid, middle-of-nowhere campsite, but no Wi-Fi = no client calls, no emails, no paychecks. You can’t exactly tell a client, “Sorry, I disappeared for two weeks—had to commune with nature.” When we stayed at my cousin’s property in Grand Traverse Bay in the Upper Peninsula, for example, I literally had to drive 10 miles into town to get cell service.
RV life isn’t a permanent vacation. Sometimes, we were just looking for a place to sleep, do laundry, and get back on the road. Oh and work. Romantic? No. Necessary? Absolutely.
Some places are just too much of a hassle. I’d love to off-road my way to a remote mountain escape, but our RV has too low clearance for that nonsense. Unless we want to rip off our undercarriage, we have to be realistic.
So we had to shift our thinking. Instead of looking for the most scenic campsite every time, we started thinking about what kind of stay we actually needed—whether that was full hookups, Wi-Fi, or just the easiest spot to park for a night.
Crowded Campgrounds: Annoying? Sometimes. Convenient? Absolutely.
At some point, every RVer finds themselves at one of those campgrounds. You know the ones—where you pull in, and you can hear your neighbor’s conversation without even trying.
We’ve stayed at plenty of them.
There was Carpinteria Beach, CA, where we could walk straight from our site onto the sand—which almost made up for the fact that our rig was wedged in tighter than a Trader Joe’s parking lot on a Saturday. Or Campland on the Bay, San Diego, which wasn’t exactly “nature camping” but had waterfront access, food trucks, and more activities than some cruise ships.
Then there’s French Quarter RV Park in New Orleans, where your RV is packed inside a giant concrete fortress for safety. But you can walk straight into the heart of the city—and honestly, I’ll take that trade-off every time.
And of course, KOAs. Some of them are nothing more than highway-adjacent parking lots, while others (like Munising, MI or Ellensburg, WA) surprise you with private, wooded spots or even riverfront camping.
Then there are the true “we just need a place to sleep” campgrounds. Truck stop RV parks or those random roadside campgrounds that look like they were last renovated in 1993. Not Instagram-worthy, but they serve a purpose.
And here’s the thing—sometimes these packed campgrounds end up being pretty great.
The Unexpected Perks of Crowded Campgrounds
Some of the best people we’ve met on the road? We met them because our sites were so close we couldn’t avoid saying hello.
Some RV parks go out of their way to build a sense of community—with live music, food trucks, or even group events. We’ve stayed at places where a band played under a pavilion, or an impromptu gathering formed where people pulled out their camp chairs, cracked a drink, and just hung out.
Sure, sometimes you want peace and quiet. But other times? You end up swapping travel tips, sharing campfire stories, or meeting someone who’s been on the road for years and has the best recommendations. Being packed in tight might not always be ideal, but it does make it easy to connect with people.
Secluded or Social?
There have been places we’ve stayed that were exactly what we dreamed of when we started RVing. Secluded, scenic, peaceful. We found some of those through Hipcamp, Harvest Hosts, and even Airbnb, where private landowners rent out gorgeous campsites. Some traditional campgrounds also do it right, designing sites with natural barriers or extra space so you don’t feel like you’re living on top of your neighbor.
And then… there’s the other side of RV life.
Once, we booked a spot that looked peaceful in the photos. It had trees, was on the ocean—seemed perfect. We pulled in and quickly realized we were essentially in an RV subdivision. Not only were the sites packed, but our neighbors were serious about socializing. Within minutes, someone was waving us over for beers, another person was showing off their “outdoor movie setup,” and before we knew it, we were deep in a conversation about changing tides and the best bait for catching big fish.
Would we have planned it that way? No. But it ended up being one of the most fun weeks we’ve had on the road.
That’s the beauty of RV life. Sometimes, you’re waking up to mountain views in total silence, and other times, you’re getting pulled into an impromptu happy hour with strangers-turned-friends.
And both add to the fun and adventure that is RV life.
What’s Your Take?
What’s the most surprising campground you’ve stayed at? Have you ever pulled into a place expecting privacy, only to realize you were basically in a parking lot? Or found a packed campground that was unexpectedly amazing? Drop your best (or worst) campground surprises in the comments—I need to hear these.
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