How to Find the Best RV Parks for Families

When you’re traveling with the kids, a little bit of upfront legwork goes a long way toward ensuring a fun vacation for everybody. In this article, we’re going to walk you through how to find the best RV parks for families, including which amenities to look for, why they’re helpful, a handy checklist to keep nearby when you’re booking your stay, and RV campground tips specifically designed with kids and families in mind.

What Makes an RV Park Family-Friendly?

What is a family-friendly RV park? It’s one that has all the amenities you need to keep the entire family comfortable for the duration of your stay — which means kid-friendly activities and all the logistics taken care of for the adults.

Family-friendly RV parks often have extras that can help the kiddos both stay safe (obviously the main concern) and burn off their energy for a great night of sleep. These may include:

• Playgrounds or other features built for kids
• Pool or water access (i.e. proximity to a river or lake)
• Clean facilities, including a comfortable and clean bathhouse 
• A safe layout including bike lanes or pedestrian walkways that keep your kiddos out of the line of traffic

These days, many campgrounds understand the needs of traveling families and work hard to include family-friendly features. Let’s take a closer look at some of the additions to look out for.

Key Features to Look for in Family RV Parks

Here are some items to keep an eye out for when you’re deciding how to choose an RV park.

Kid-Friendly Amenities

Playgrounds are great, but pre-planned family activity programs are even better. And keep an eye out for campgrounds that go the extra mile to make their amenities unique and memorable.

For example, in Washington state, Friday Harbor’s Lakedale Resort leads tie-dying workshops that are fun for older kids. We’ve also seen campgrounds that augment their regular swimming pool and playground equipment with a splash pad and jumping pillow, like Treasure Beach RV Park and Campground in Fenwick Island, Delaware.

Safety and Accessibility

Safety is always first, and that’s especially true when you’ve got little ones around. A family-friendly RV park always features:

• Well-lit areas to keep the family safe as evening falls
• A clear layout that helps avoid traffic-related troubles
• Proximity to services including urgent care — because even in the safest places, accidents just do happen!

Location and Nearby Attractions

While fun things to do on-site at the campground are a great first step, the great outdoors can expand your “backyard” exponentially! Choosing a destination is just as influential as choosing the campground itself. Consider staying close by to:

• National parks
• Beaches
• Other family attractions, such as amusement parks or events like state fairs

Types of RV Parks and Campgrounds

Next up, we’ll talk about the various types of RV parks and campgrounds that may (or may not) be family friendly. 

At the highest level, most RV campgrounds can be broken down into two categories:

• Private RV parks, which include often the resort-style parks like the ones we’ve linked above that feature fun amenities
• Public RV parks, which are those on state and national park grounds

Private RV parks are, as their name implies, privately owned and operated, and they do often cost more to stay in per night than public campgrounds. That said, they are also often better appointed with amenities, including family-friendly amenities like pools, playgrounds, and organized activities and programs.

Public RV parks are still great options, though — and because they cost less per night, they’re more accessible for many families. Along with the fact that they’re often stationed on beautiful preserved lands that offer plenty of recreation opportunities of their own, many public RV parks still have on-site facilities and amenities including playgrounds, swimming pools, and more.

Questions to Ask Before Booking

As a parent, there are a few concerns that are especially important for you to consider when you’re choosing an RV park (or any accommodations). Reading reviews can be really helpful, but you can also go straight to the source and ask the following questions of a representative from the park before booking:

• Is the park quiet at night? Obviously, rest is critical for healthy kids and a peaceful vacation.
• Are hookups full or partial? While partial hookups can be enough for some campers, usually, with kids along, it’s nice to have unrestricted access to both electricity and water
• Are pets allowed? Many families want to bring their four-legged fur kids along, too!
• Is there an internet connection? Yes, part of the point of an outdoorsy vacation for most parents is to get kids away from screens — but chances are you’re going to want a connection at some point, at least for some amount of time.

Tips for Booking the Right RV Park

No matter which family-friendly RV park you choose, following a few simple tips can help you avoid snafus when it comes to booking.

Book Early for Peak Seasons

RVing is more popular than ever, which is a good thing — but it also means that when you’re booking your spot, you are dealing with more competition than ever before, too. 

Especially if you’re traveling during peak seasons (i.e., summer, while the kids are out of school) or to uber-popular destinations (like national parks), you’re going to want to book as early as you can to get ahead of the crowds and ensure you get the site you want at the campground you want.

Read Reviews Carefully

Reviews can tell you a whole lot in just a few words (or stars). Of course, people are more prone to leave bad reviews than good ones, and every organization has an off day or an occasional issue, so apply salt as necessary. Still, reading reviews can alert you to family-friendly facilities and amenities… or warn you about some not-so-family-friendly policies. 

Match the Park to Your RV Type

This is such an important and easy-to-overlook step! If you’ll be traveling in a big Class A motorhome, for example, ensure that the RV park you choose has large enough spaces, ideally with concrete pads to help keep that big rig leveled and ready. 

On the other hand, if you’re in a tiny camper van, having more outdoor amenities and a bathhouse is even more important since you’re likely to want to spread out. Just like the type of RV itself, it’s all about customizing your experience to your own travel style.

(Psst: When you rent through the peer-to-peer marketplace at RVshare, you have access to a much wider range of RV vehicle types than through a traditional rental dealer!)

Family-Friendly RV Park Checklist

As promised, here’s a handy-dandy checklist that can help you decide if the RV park you’re considering fits the bill as a family-friendly campground.

Does the campground you’re considering have:

• Clean, well-maintained playgrounds with age-appropriate equipment and shaded seating nearby?
• Slow traffic patterns, with well-enforced speed limits and clearly marked pedestrian areas?
• Bright lighting around roads, bathrooms, playgrounds, and common gathering spaces?
• Family-friendly activities like pools, mini golf, crafts, movie nights, or nature programs?
• Spacious campsites with room for kids to play safely away from vehicle traffic?
• Clean restrooms and showers with reliable hot water and regular maintenance?
• A secure environment with visible staff, gated access, or campground security presence?
• Quiet hours that are respected to support children’s sleep schedules?
• Safe swimming areas with lifeguards, fences, or posted safety rules?
• Easy access to groceries, pharmacies, medical care, and emergency services nearby?
• Reliable internet or cell coverage for communication, entertainment, and emergencies?
• Positive reviews from other families mentioning cleanliness, safety, and kid-friendly atmosphere?

Why Planning Ahead Makes the Trip Easier

Planning your trip ahead of time reduces stress, ensures your site will be available, and overall is a major improvement on the experience so you can focus on the important stuff: being on vacation and making fun, lasting memories with your kids. 

RVshare helps by offering the widest range of RV vehicle types on the market. Plus, every single rental is covered by comprehensive protection and roadside assistance.

Find your ideal RV and start planning your family camping trip today.

Family RV Parks: Frequently Asked Questions