Recreational Vehicle Park Map

Where can you Camp with your RV?

You bought an RV or decided to rent one before jumping in and buying one. Now what? Where do you go? The possibilities are endless. This map shows you the locations of RV parks around the US.

RV parks are campgrounds catering to those traveling in trailers, motorhomes, caravans and other campers. Travelers can spend the night, the week, the month, or the season. But where are this campgrounds? Below is a list of possible locations where you can have different expectations and amenities, depending on the site. Some are Public and some are Private.

PUBLIC LANDS RV PARKS

National Park Service RV Campgrounds

National Parks are the best locations you can visit. They have extraordinary geographic features while you surround yourself in nature. There is almost no limit to the RV camping opportunities. National parks have over 130 locations to choose from! Nevertheless finding developed locations is a different situation. Camping National Parks.

The best locations are inside national parks, but sometimes national parks do not have full-hookups. In fact, only 13 parks have at least partial hookups!

There is also a lot of competition for one camping site. It might take up to 6 months or more to find a spot in the calendar. Each park has a different reservation channel, and procedure. So you have to navigate through that too.

The alternative is to go to a private RV park. They are not inside the parks, but they will provide the hookups you need and you still have a quick access to the parks. Read below for more information on private RV parks. Source: National Parks Traveler.

The good news is that in National Parks, the price ranges from $25 to $60 a night.

I suggest that if you managed to get a good location you might as well enjoy good food. Just because you are in an RV, does not mean you cannot cook outside and enjoy the views with the best flavors of a grill. This portable grill found on Amazon will give you the ability to cook outside wherever you go: Weber 51010001 Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill, Black.

Interested in Camping sites? This map has Canadian, American, and Mexican National Parks.

State Parks RV Campgrounds

If you have decided you want to visit a state park to camp in your RV, it is important to weigh in the pros and cons. State parks have some of the best natural areas. They are also not expensive, plus the extra activities like hiking, swimming, horseback riding, and even stargazing!

Some drawbacks include, locations that may be far from stores and other amenities found in towns. Some may not have water or sewer hook-ups. They might not have Wi-Fi or any signal. Finally, they may restrict visits to two times a week.

From there, many details depend on each state. The best option is to navigate to the state website, and check what you can expect.

If you are a Beach Bum, this map has all the parks and Preserves of Florida!

Bureau of Land Management RV Campgrounds

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has land designated for public use. It is possible to camp with a Recreational Vehicle in one of the many locations of the Bureau of Land Management.

BLM sites are usually large swaths of land located mainly in Alaska, the Pacific Coast, the Rocky Mountains, and the Southwest Region of the US.

The BLM has many dedicated facilities for RV camping, but they are also recognized as ideal sites for "Dispersed Camping" or Boondocking (Read below). Source BLM

If you are boondocking on public land, your stay can’t exceed 14 days in a 28 day period of time. This means you have to move every 14 days.

In any case, these campgrounds are first come first serve, but it is also possible to make reservations in some locations at Rereation.gov.

If you find a great location your RV, and you want to start a cozy fire for you and your party, I suggest you get this portable gas fire from Amazon: Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit with Cover & Carry Kit, 19-Inch Diameter 58,000 BTU Auto-ignition. It provides warmth and comfort without the mess of a traditional campfire.

Not sure where you will find the best stargazing sites from your camper? I have a map for that!

United States Forest Service RV Campgrounds

The United States Forest and Grasslands has over are 193 million acres of vast scenic beauty, waiting to be discovered. As in other public lands each site has its own information service.

RV camps are usually located in beautiful areas, but the roads may be gravel and not all campsites are accessible by RVs. Source: RV-camping.org

Camping sites cost from $5 to $30 a night. Most of the Campgrounds are first come first serve, but for the most popular ones you can also make reservations at Recreation.gov.

Army Corps of Engineers RV Campgrounds

The Army Corps of Engineers is the steward of over 4,300 recreation areas and over 450 lakes. Source: Thervatlas.com. They manage land along lakes and rivers, as part of the mission to operate dams. This land is protected from private development. So the Corps of Engineers (COE) makes it possible for visitors to use it for recreation.

The COE are the number one provider of outdoor recreation. If you fish, boat or enjoy camping near water, COE RV campgrounds are perfect for you! Source: Thervatlas.com.

The camp sites range from $12 to $50. The best way to find the sites is through Corps Lakes Getaway, but to make reservations go to Recreation.gov.

Remember Public Lands are natural areas that belongs to us. Please remember to care for them and “leave no trace”.

You want to go to park and the perfect waterfall? Check this map of US waterfalls!

Boondocking

Boondocking also known as "Dry camping" or Dispersed camping" is camping outside developed campgrounds, usually in remote areas. It is camping off-the-grid, away from services and amenities, common in developed campgrounds. So there is no water, electricity, bathrooms, or sewer hookups.

These spots are usually more wild and secluded. The beauty of boondocking is the quiet surroundings without others distracting you from the peace of nature.

The Bureau of Land Management, the National Forest Service, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife are examples of Public land that allow off-the-grid camping.

Many Boondocking spots are free, as they are not providing an actual service with the exception of access to land.

The fact that you like wildlife, views, peace and quiet, does not mean you don't want to use your appliances while off the grid. In such occasions a solar panel can be a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and convenient to use on the go.

This 100 watt RV solar panel kit found on Amazon, comes with a solar panel, charge controller, cables, and mounting hardware: WindyNation 100 Watt Solar Panel Off-Grid RV Boat Kit with LCD PWM Charge Controller + Solar Cable + Connectors + Mounting Brackets, is ideal for RV owners who plan on spending lots of time in remote locations and dry camps.

To keep the electricity flowing you will also need this battery found on Amazon, Universal Power Group 12V 100Ah Solar Wind AGM SLA DEEP Cycle VRLA Battery 12V 24V 48V

If you want a more relaxing spot check this map of US Hotsprings!

Military RV Campgrounds

Military Campgrounds are available to active duty service members and family. They are also available to Veterans who meet certain requirements.

As in the campgrounds mentioned before, the amenities offered depend on the campground and it is important to find out more before traveling.

For more information on military campgrounds check Military Benefits.

PRIVATE RV PARKS

These campgrounds are run by individuals as businesses. There are several advantages to private camping. They might not be in pristine natural areas but they might be where the action is, close to bars and restaurants in cities and towns.

Another advantage of private RV campgrounds are the assurance of hookups plus other amenities and no time limit, as long as you can pay.

Private campgrounds offer all sorts of advantages. Some here in Florida might even grant you access to nearby hotel swimming pools!

RV clubs offer discounted rates as well as opportunities to meet people and make friends.

Resources to Make RV Camping Map

The shapefiles to create this map where downloaded from Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD). This file had locations for Mobile homes, residential trailer, and Recreational Vehicle parks in the US. For this map only RV parks where included.

The files for states where downloaded from Natural Earth.

Inspiration for RV Campsites Map

Recently I wanted to go camping with my children to one of Florida's State Parks. I found there were no camping locations. In fact most of the parks in the Emerald Coast where reserved for the next 9 months.

I talked to one of the rangers and she told me that the only way to reserve was online, and since COVID social distancing started, there was an flood of visitors. She said people where traveling and working from anywhere, including their RVs while traveling around natural parks.

I had to look for further campgrounds, as my desired location was booked. This is when I realized the best way to find one, was creating a map of RV parks.

This map will be updated with new data! To receive updates on this and more nature maps join my email list!!!!!!!

Made by Luz K. Molina with D3.js.