We’ve had a lot of conversations lately about the pros and cons of staying in an RV park or campground versus Boondocking or dispersed RV camping. You’d think that RVing would be pretty similar no matter what, but after a year of doing parks and a year of mostly boondocking, we’ve been shocked at what radically different experiences they can be. So let’s talk about it!
Before we get into it: if the idea of boondocking or dispersed RV camping feels totally overwhelming to you, I’ve got you! I wrote a Boondocking 101 guide that will teach you everything we’ve learned about living off-grid as a family of five:
Boondocking 101 Guide
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
We think there’s a time and a place for camping in an RV park, and for us personally, there’s even more time and place for dispersed RV camping. So let’s chat about why!
The Benefits of RV Park Camping:
Electric hookup
The perks of being plugged into basically unlimited electricity are real. We can use almost whatever we want in here when we’re plugged in, from our printer to all the lights to space heaters to a blow dryer to a fancy toaster oven. We use it all, and we use it with abandon! Which means we don’t have to think about what we’re using or if the sun is shining haha.
Unlimited water
The other thing that makes life really easy is having unlimited water and sewer. When we’re plugged into a city water connection with a sewer drain, our RV feels very similar to apartment living. Hot showers, laundry right in the rig, washing dishes with as much water as we want…it’s a real luxury!
Kids to play
Our kids’ favorite part of being in a campground is that it’s more likely that we’ll come across other families to play with. They love when we’re parked near other kids and can make new friends just by stepping out the front door. It’s not a guarantee that every campground has kids, but most do! Especially on weekends or holidays.
Easier road access
There’s absolutely no argument against the fact that it’s way easier to drive into a paved campground that’s designed for big rigs than it is to access most dispersed RV camping. This is a plus, especially at the end of a long travel day.
Amenities
We don’t typically stay in fancy “resort style” campgrounds, but when we do, those amenities sure are nice. Things like heated pools, rec center activities for the kids, mini golf, etc. are all super fun. Even in the less fancy RV parks, there are amenities we appreciate like playgrounds and the ability to send packages to a package room.
Closer to town
Most RV parks aren’t *super* centrally located, buuuut they are usually much closer to town than the good dispersed camping. This can make a big difference if you’re looking to do a lot of city errands or sightseeing.
Less rig wear
Because you can typically reach RV parks pretty quickly from a main highway, it’s ideal driving conditions for keeping rig wear down to a minimum. Rough, washboard roads to get to boondocking spots will definitely put more wear on your suspension, tires, frame, and everything else than a smooth interstate will.
Less gear needed
RV park camping feels like the easiest access point to me when learning how to RV. You need a whole lot less gear (check out what we recommend for boondocking gear!), and there are lots of experienced RV folks just twenty feet away from you. If you’re new to RVing or nervous about it, campgrounds are a great place to start for this reason.
The Benefits of Dispersed RV Camping (Boondocking):
Free or cheap
One of the biggest benefits of dispersed RV camping or boondocking is that it’s either free or extremely cheap. Most of the places we’ve stayed have been BLM land (totally free in most places!) or state land (some states have small annual fees to camp there). Considering we were spending an average of $800-1,000 a month on RV parks last year, this is a massive savings in our life.
Better views
This is the other major benefit to boondocking. Simply put…it’s gorgeous. I have had the most amazing views from my couch and been privilege to the most amazing sunsets from my front yard. Truly, words can’t express how amazing the places we’ve parked our house have been since we got comfortable with dispersed RV camping. It’s the views we all see on Instagram with rigs parked in AMAZING places. I’m so grateful for the beauty we’ve witnessed this way.
More space
There’s also just so much more space when boondocking. RV park sites can range from sort of spacious to REALLY tight, but none of them compare to dispersed RV camping. There can be miles between you and the next camp, although I’d say we typically have more like a few hundred feet. Our kids can go outside and play freely without us worrying that they’re bothering the neighbors, which is another true gift from our boondocking time.
Flexible plans
Okay, I’m a planner for sure, but I’ve been surprised at how nice it is to have some flexibility in our travels! If we get sick, we just leave later (sick travel days are the worst!). If we like a place more than we expected, we stay longer. If we’re all tired that morning, we take our time not worrying about making an RV park checkout time. I have a general plan for the year, but our plans never really have to firm up.
Quiet
It’s quiet. So beautifully quiet. Some parks can have a lot of music or parties a little late for my taste, especially on holidays. Boondocking (if you read the reviews first!) is generally so peaceful. Avoid places where there’s a lot of off-roading if this is also a perk for you 😉
Closer to trails
While RV park locations may win for city conveniences, dispersed RV camping usually wins for trail proximity! If you do a lot of hiking, biking, trail running, or riding, this may be a benefit that you also enjoy. I love that we get to camp nearer to amazing trails!
No weird park rules
Every campground is different, and that’s kind of the point. There are ever-changing, sometimes very weird rules to follow in each RV park. It can be a lot to keep track of, and sometimes parks aren’t exactly nice about it. There are very few rules while dispersed RV camping, and that can be kind of refreshing. Especially when our kids are outside being rowdy or digging dirt holes. We love that we’re not breaking any rules doing it.
I hope this post has been helpful as you learn more about the different ways you can stay with your RV (including dispersed RV camping!). If you’re interested in learning more about Boondocking, don’t forget to check out my Boondocking 101 post and my Boondocking Gear List!
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4 responses to “RV Parks vs. Dispersed RV Camping: Ultimate Pros & Cons”
Great info. You have learned so much over the past few years and it is so lovely of you to share it so freely! If anyone is wondering–her e-books are totally worth it. Soooo much information!
Thank you so much for the e-book endorsement, Cheryl!
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