How do you choose a campsite?

What are your priorities when choosing a campsite? It's not a problem to navigate a route, get on the highway, and drive the motorhome, but when we arrive at our campground it's often a task to decide which site we want to live in during our stay. If it's only a night or two then I'm not so picky, but if we're going to be there longer I look for certain qualities in a site. Some campground managers assign your site, but most that we stay in let us choose. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

I asked a number of other RV'ers what they look for when choosing a site. Here are a few of their requirements.

1. No tight spaces with overhanging tree limbs.
2. Enough space for the slides and awnings.
3. Hook-ups, especially electric, in good working order.
4. 50 AMP electric is preferred, but at least 30 AMP.
5. A level site.
6. Not muddy.
7. No trees so we can get satellite TV with the roof mounted antennae.
8. Privacy.
9. Close, but not too close to the amenities & activities.
10. A nice view.
11. Do the neighbors seem reasonable?
12. Do the neighbors have dogs?
13. Afternoon shade.
14. If a one-night stay, then a pull-through so the toad vehicle doesn't have to be unhitched.
15. Wi-Fi access.
16. The sun shining on the solar panels.
17. The firepit in a good location. (Not under the awning or right outside the door!)

I think an interesting view is number one with me. I've always liked to have a nice view, be it the ocean, mountains, valley, or the sunset. We like to be near the lake or stream if there is one. All the photos in this slideshow were taken at the campgrounds we've visited in the last 6 months. We didn't have to drive to find these views.

We don't need to be close to the activities, lodges, bathrooms, or showers. Some of the Thousand Trails parks have water and electric only, with no sewer connections. In those cases, if we are staying a long time, we might use the shower facilities to keep from filling up our grey holding tank. At one TT park we were a few rows away from the showers, but on the pathway to it. We had people walking by the motorhome at all hours, and some were real characters. We saw a variety of pre- and post-shower fashions. Somewhat entertaining, somewhat frightening.

We often camp at Thousand Trails/NACO/LTR parks since we've been members since 1976 or so and we have a VIP membership that lets us into all the parks. We also have the ability to stay 21 days at any TT park and then move directly into another TT park.