Can you put a tent in an RV site? (7 popular campsites)

In this blog post, we will explain: Can you put a tent in an RV site? We will discuss whether it is possible to camp in a tent on an RV site, but also recommend a few camping spots that you must visit. 

Can you put a tent in an RV site?

Technically yes, you could put a tent in an RV site, as long as the manager doesn’t prohibit it. In fact, there are many RV campsites that allow you to park both your motorhome and install a tent.

There are, however, three things to consider:

  1. Some RV sites are “RV ONLY campsites. The chances are you will not be allowed to install your tent there.
  2. You must ensure that the RV site has the proper size for a tent. The camp may be packed and there won’t be plenty of space to install your home. 
  3. And lastly, you must ensure that the ground is able to cater to a tent. Most RV sites are paved in concrete or other hard materials, which would make installing and staking the tent more difficult.

Other than that, in the table below you will find some of the most popular RV sites that allow tent camping as well. 

RV sites where you can put a tentCamping Details
Hobuck Beach ResortAddress: 2726 Makah Passage, Neah Bay, WA 98357.Most campers choose this site for its proximity to Cape Flattery and Neah Bay, a beautiful part of Washington State. It costs $20/night and its beachside location is ideal. 
The campsite offers no convenience beyond a patch of grass to pitch the tent on. No grill to cook, no table or other amenities. There is a single shower & toilet for men and one for women.

Cougar Rock CampgroundAddress: State Route 706 / Paradise Road, WA.You can stay at this site if you plan on visiting Mt. Rainier National Park. It costs $20 a night. The location of the campsite is great, in the heart of the national park and very close to the Paradise area, one of the most spectacular in the park. 
It is a magnificent campsite, in the middle of a lush forest and with the most suitable facilities.
The only downside is that there are no showers, and the taps in the sinks only have cold water. But for a short stay, it will not be a big problem. 
Johnson’s of St. Mary CampgroundAddress: 21 Red Eagle Road, St. Mary, MT 59417.Due to its location, this campsite is very practical when visiting Glacier National Park. Although the national park offers other more central campsites, this one was halfway between the two areas of the park. 
This campground is private and does not belong to the Glacier National Park campsite network. It costs $30 a night.

The facilities are great and it offers a very pleasant family atmosphere. The showers work with tokens, which are given to reception at the time of registration and are used to have hot water for a few minutes. 
It has a laundry room and the wifi next to the reception area works very well. The campsite has a great restaurant, with a very curious decoration and homemade food to die for.
Grant Village CampgroundAddress: Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park, WY.You can stay here while visiting Yellowstone National Park. The costs are $29/night. It is a huge campsite, but its distribution does not show too much that there are many people around you.
The facilities are unbeatable. The most curious thing is that the showers are not inside the campsite itself, but in a gigantic building nearby (a 10-minute walk or a couple of minutes by car). 
When you register they give you a card in which the showers that correspond to you are marked (one per day). Right next to it is the laundry room, in case you need it.
Ponderosa CampgroundAddress: 1815 8th Street, Cody, WY 82414.The costs at this campsite are $30/night. It is located on the edge of the city, very close to everywhere. The campsite is pleasant, with a family atmosphere. 
There is an entertainment room with free Wi-Fi. There, in addition to a television and a small library, they also have board games and a pool table.
Cedar Pass CampgroundAddress: Cedar Pass Lodge 20681 South Dakota Highway 240, Interior, SD 57750.During your visit to Badlands National Park, you can stay overnight at this campsite. Located inside the national park, it costs $20 per night. 
It is forbidden to make fires here due to the risk of wildfires, so there are no grills. There is indeed a picnic table, which is under a small roof that protects against the heat that it does here in summer.
The campsite has toilets with running water and showers, but nothing else. Very close to the entrance there is a shop where food and a little of everything are sold.

What should a camping space include?

When looking for sites to place your tent, there are a few basic things you will need (unless you plan on going wild). 

A camping space must include a picnic table and grill on all pitches. Bathrooms vary greatly in quality. In this sense, we find that the best ones were those of the public campsites. There are times when showers are included in the price. On the other hand, in other campsites, they go with coins or with tokens that limit the amount of hot water available. 

Finally, there are also campsites that do not have showers. Depending on your location, some do not have running water and the toilets are composting. It is important that you inform yourself beforehand on their websites to avoid surprises.

In some public campsites, especially in highly demanded places within national parks, reservations are not possible, and you have to make sure you arrive very early to get a place. However, the vast majority allow advance reservations through their website.

In almost all campsites a bonfire is included in which to make a fire. Obviously, this is not always possible if there are fire hazard restrictions. There is usually a firewood sales service since it is not allowed to collect it from the forest everywhere. For that, you have to consult the specific regulations of each campsite.

Something that is immediately noticeable when camping in the United States is that at night there is usually very little lighting. It is essential that you carry flashlights to move around in the dark.

As we say, each campsite varies a bit from the previous one, so always check what they offer and what they don’t! 

Final advice: Reserve your camping space in advance

At Recreation.gov you will need to register to reserve your camping pitch in the park of your choice. There are two types of campsites depending on their availability:

  1. Campgrounds: campsite that requires prior reservation. In high season it can be quite difficult to find a place. Most campgrounds have shared bathrooms and showers and fountains.
  2. First-come, first-served: campsite in which it is not allowed to reserve a place, so you have to be the first to arrive or they release the pitches that have been left free by clients who have not shown up. It is advisable to consult in each case because in many campsites this service is not offered in high season. Getting up early is not an option, it is mandatory.

Types of pitches that can be reserved at campsites

Generally, there are 3 types of pitches on each campsite:

  • Basic pitch (Tent Non-Electric): for camping tents. Usually, up to 6 people and two cars are allowed to camp. It has no power outlet. On the plot there is usually a fire pit with grills so that users can light a fire, a picnic table and benches to sit on. No electricity, so bring flashlights.
  • RV (RV Non-electric): Pitches for motorhomes. Up to 2 vehicles and 6 people can be allowed. For electricity options, it is advisable to consult according to each campsite.
  • Horse: Yes, you read that right. At some campgrounds like the Mather Campground in the Grand Canyon, there are pitches for those who bring their horse. 

Camping in the United States is quite inexpensive. Generally, the price of a basic plot without electricity ranges from $19-28. You may pay per vehicle in some parks.

Please feel free to contact us, should you have any questions or comments on the content. 

Other FAQs about RV parks that you may be interested in.

Are RV parks overcrowded?

Why do some RV parks not allow pop-ups?

References

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