How to Book RV Parks and Campgrounds (Without Getting Stuck at a Site Your Rig Won't Fit)
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Long weekends and holidays fill campgrounds fast. Knowing where each type of campground is listed saves you an evening of tab-hopping.
Step 1: Know your rig numbers before you search
Every booking site asks for these. Write them down once and keep them in the glovebox:
- Total length, bumper to bumper (tow vehicle + trailer if you're not unhitching)
- Slide-out count and side (some sites can't fit door-side slides)
- Electrical need: 30-amp or 50-amp
- Hookups needed: full (water/electric/sewer), partial, or dry
- Pets and number of people
Most bad bookings come from a site that's "40 feet" when the pad is 40 feet but the turn-in is too tight.
Step 2: Pick the right platform for the trip
| Platform | What it lists | Best for | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campspot | Private RV parks and campgrounds; says it lists 280,000+ campsites in North America | Full-hookup private parks, resorts, family campgrounds | campspot.com |
| Hipcamp | Private land (farms, ranches, backyards) plus some parks | Unique, quieter stays; smaller rigs; tent+RV mixes | hipcamp.com |
| KOA | KOA-branded franchise campgrounds (US & Canada) | Predictable amenities along interstates; families | koa.com |
| Harvest Hosts | Membership: overnight stays at wineries, farms, breweries, attractions | One-night stops, self-contained rigs | harvesthosts.com |
| Recreation.gov | Federal campgrounds (NPS, Forest Service, Army Corps, BLM, etc.) | National parks, lakes, forests; often cheaper | recreation.gov |
| State park systems | Each state's own reservation site | Scenic, affordable, often popular on holidays | Search "[state] state parks reservations" on the state's .gov site |
(Recreation.gov and state parks don't pay affiliates. We list them anyway because they're often the best value.)
Step 3: Federal campgrounds and the Senior Pass
If you're 62 or older and a US citizen or permanent resident, the America the Beautiful Senior Pass costs $20 for a year or $80 for life, according to the National Park Service. NPS says it "may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping," but it "generally does NOT cover or reduce... fees charged by concessioners." In practice, check each campground's fee details on Recreation.gov to see whether the senior discount applies; concession-run campgrounds often don't take it.
Step 4: Book the right way for holidays
- Book early for Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day and fall color weekends. Popular federal and state campgrounds open reservations on a rolling window. The window length varies by agency and campground and is shown on each listing.
- Read the cancellation policy. Private parks, KOA, Hipcamp hosts and state systems all set their own.
- Call the park for tight fits. If you're over about 35 feet, a two-minute call to confirm the pad and the access road is worth it.
- Ask about pull-throughs if you'd rather not unhitch for a one-night stop.
Step 5: Have a no-reservation backup
If everything's full: first-come, first-served federal sites, BLM dispersed land (14-day limits apply, see BLM), or a permitted overnight at a store lot (see our free overnight parking guide). Whatever you pick, plan where you'll dump tanks next: find a dump station.
Which one should I use?
- Two-week cross-country trip on interstates: KOA or Campspot for the travel nights, Recreation.gov for park days.
- Retiree "slow travel" in a big rig: Campspot plus state parks; Senior Pass for federal sites.
- Long weekend with the kids: KOA or a state park with a pool.
- Self-contained and you love wine or farm stands: Harvest Hosts.
- Small trailer or van, want quiet: Hipcamp.
FAQ
What's the easiest way to find RV parks along my route? Search by the town you'll reach at the end of each driving day, not your final destination. Most platforms let you filter by hookups and rig length.
Is Campspot or Hipcamp better for RVs? Campspot focuses on established RV parks and campgrounds with hookups. Hipcamp leans toward private land and varied sites. Check the hookup and length filters on either.
Does the Senior Pass give discounts on camping? NPS says it may give a 50% discount on some amenity fees such as camping at federal sites, but generally not at concessioner-run facilities.
Do I need a reservation at KOA? Many KOA campgrounds take walk-ins when space allows, but holidays and summer weekends often fill up. Reserving is safer.
What if my rig is too long for the site? Call the campground before you book. Listed site lengths don't always account for trees, turns or slides.
Last verified 2026-10-21. Platform features and fees change; confirm on each official site.