Choosing the Right RV Park for Your Family
Picking the “right” RV park can make all the difference between a stressful stay and a peaceful, memory-filled stop. But here’s my confession—I’m not a book-it-six-months-ahead kind of traveler. We roll into town, Google “RV park near me,” and see what’s available.
That doesn’t mean we leave things to pure chance. Over time, I’m learning exactly what to look for so my family (and yes, even future trips with friends or a partner) can enjoy the stay.
1. Location Comes First
For us, location is everything. I start by looking for parks close to our planned attraction—a short drive means more time having fun and less time in the car.
One of our favorites? A quiet spot just minutes from the Uncle Nearest Distillery in Shelbyville, TN. It had everything we needed and felt like an extension of the trip itself.
2. Know Your Must-Haves
Our list is short but non-negotiable:
- Full hookups (or at least water + electric with a dump station)
- Clean bathhouse with strong water pressure
- Shade in the summer
- Playground
- Bike accessible roads for the kids
- Reliable Wi-Fi
A paved road once kept the kids happily riding in loops while I cooked mid-day meal—a small thing, but it made the afternoon much easier.
3. Nice-to-Haves That Elevate the Trip
While not essential, these “extras” can turn a good stop into a great one:
- Laundry room
- Pool
- Scenic view
- Basketball court or pond
- Unique attractions (like Bedrock City at Raptor Ranch)
- Non-gravel sites for outdoor yoga
- Trolley service to town
- Mixed-stay-options — Some parks also offer tent sites, cabins, or even luxury glamping setups. Perfect if you’re traveling with friends or family who don’t have an RV but still want to be part of the trip. We’ve stayed at places like Firefly in Fredericksburg, TX where the cabins gave non-RVers a cozy, quiet space while we enjoyed our RV spot nearby.
Sometimes these are surprises you didn’t even know to look for —and those moments are magic.
4. Learn From the Misses (Without Regret)
Even the less-than-perfect parks have a place in our story. Take Nashville—the only park we’ve ever planned for weeks ahead—due to it being New Year’s Eve. It ended up being one of the loudest we’ve stayed thanks to a nearby train and freeway. Would I rush back? No. But it had laundry, and the location worked for that trip.
5. Think About Kid Comfort & Safety
For families, safety and freedom are everything. I’ll let my kids head to a nearby playground on their own, but never to the pool. I love knowing they can play while I’m cooking or working—and I can still see them from the RV.
6. Booking Strategy for Stress-Free Travel
We’ve found that calling the day-of (before 5 or 6 pm) works almost everytime. Many parks have after-hours check-in systems so you can arrive late and get settled.
👉🏾 I actually walk through what this looks like in one of my YouTube videos — [watch here] to get a feel for how after-hours check-in works in real life.
It’s how we ended up camping at Assateague State Park—we’d planned to visit the island, but staying at the campground meant waking up to wild horses outside our door.
7. Always Leave Room for Serendipity
RV life is full of surprises—and the community is one of the best parts. Like the time we pulled into High Sierra RV near Yosemite after hours. The office was closed, the manager was gone, and we were tired. The workers waved us in, let us dump for free, and told us we could stay in the overflow lot overnight. No hookups, but safe, and we were grateful. The next morning, we paid for the remainder of our stay, and moved to a proper site.
Then there was Elaine’s outside Crater Lake in Silver Lake, Oregon—just an arrow and a handwritten sign in the middle of nowhere, mosquitoes the size of small birds, but the most welcome sight after a long day’s drive.
When it comes down to it, the best RV park is the one that fits your lifestyle. For us, that means space for the kids to play, clean and comfortable facilities, and a location that keeps us close to what we came to see.
BTW: “He who does not travel does not know the value of men” — African Proverb
What’s on your RV park “must-have” list? Have you ever stumbled on an unforgettable park by accident? Share your story in the comments —I’d love to hear it.
If you want to see exactly how we set up the RV at a campsite—water, electricity, and all—check out my YouTube video going live tomorrow.
Other Post You May Enjoy:
Top RV Parks from Our Summer Road Trip-Family-Friendly + Black Mama Approved
Our Family 30 Day Bucket List Road Trip
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