What Campground Amenities Should You Look For on Your Campervan Trip?

While getting ready for a motorhome or campervan trip, you are going to need to plan your itinerary, select campgrounds where you will stay, and of course choose the vehicle you are going to hire.

You actually will want to think about all three of these elements of trip planning simultaneously. Why? Because different motorhomes and campervans are equipped with different conveniences. Depending on the vehicle you choose to hire, you may need to look for campgrounds which offers specific amenities.

You can look at it the other way around too. Perhaps you really, really want to stay at a certain campground which has few amenities. If that is the case, then you will want to select a vehicle to hire which will provide you with those amenities onboard. That way you can enjoy a comfortable stay.

Regardless of the approach you end up taking, here are some campground amenities which you may want to look for while you are booking your reservations.

• Toilets: One of the awesome things about renting a spacious motorhome is that you should have your own toilet onboard. But if you are travelling in campervan or motorhome which isn’t equipped with a toilet, you will definitely want to look for toilets at the park where you will be staying. Check to find out if they are flush toilets or not.

• Showers: Unless you plan to shower in your motorhome (which may be feasible, but is frequently awkward), you will need to make sure that showers are included among the amenities where you will be staying.

• Sewer hookups, dump station, trash, and recycling services: You will accumulate various forms of waste while you are camping in your hired motorhome, 4WD camper or campervan. Find out what your options will be for waste disposal where you are going.

• Water hookups: Some campgrounds may allow you to hook up your motorhome and get running water in your sink and shower. Obviously, this is very convenient.

• Potable water: This refers to water which is safe to drink. If a campground does not offer this, it will be up to you to bring or treat your own water for safe drinking. Obviously, it is very important to know in advance if you are going to need to do this. Most motorhome campgrounds have potable water, but some of the more remote ones on protected parkland may not.

• Firewood: If you want to build a fire, you will either need to provide your own wood or purchase it. Some campgrounds may have it for sale. Make sure you also find out what regulations there are surrounding campfires before you attempt to start one.

• Ice: Is there a vending machine which dispenses ice on the grounds, or will you need to provide your own ice?

• Fire pits and grills: Find out whether the campground offers fire pits and/or grills for warmth and food preparation. This is particularly important if you are not going to be cooking inside your motorhome.

• Picnic tables: Even with a smaller campervan, you may have a dining nook inside where you can sit and eat comfortably at a table. Still, you may want to look for a campground with picnic tables so you can enjoy sitting outside.

• On-site staff: Are there park hosts to help you out if you need it? If so, are they available only during the day, or will they be there 24/7?

• Electric hookups: Some campgrounds allow you to get electricity inside your motorhome, but many do not. If full hookups are important to you, make sure you check into this.

• Wi-fi: Planning to get online during your trip? Find out whether there will be wi-fi available at the campground. This can be helpful not only in staying connected with life back home, but also for ongoing trip planning while you are on the road.

• Laundry facilities: If you will be taking an extended vacation, it can be really helpful to have somewhere convenient to do your laundry—especially if you are in a remote location. Some campgrounds offer laundry facilities, even in wilderness parks.

• Common areas: Most campgrounds will have some outdoor common areas for picnicking, kids to play, etc. Others may have additional common features such as clubhouses. This is more common at privately-run parks than national park campgrounds.

• Convenience stores: Convenience stores may be found at many campgrounds in remote locales. While they usually only stock the essentials, they can be a big help while you are camping.

• Swimming pools, playgrounds, pet parks, etc: These features are sometimes offered at privately-operated motorhome parks.

Remember, you do not necessarily need all of these amenities. It all depends on 1-what kinds of features your hired vehicle already comes with, and 2-what you need in order to be comfortable during your trip.

Here Are Some Important Questions to Ask About Amenities at Campgrounds

• Are the amenities listed available year-round, or are they seasonal only?
• Are the amenities free, or do some of them carry fees? If so, how much?
• Are the hookups which are available compatible with your vehicle?
• What are the rules regarding the amenities (i.e. what do you need to know about using the dump station)?

You can usually find pretty thorough information on motorhome campground amenities on campground websites, but if you have any questions, you can always call and ask.

It takes a bit of time to research the amenities offered at campgrounds, but doing so can go a long way toward ensuring that you will have a convenient and enjoyable trip in your rented motorhome, 4WD camper or campervan. Good luck planning the perfect vacation!