By Paul Lacitinola When you go camping, you want to make it an experience that’s as memorable as possible. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and having some time in nature is a great way to achieve that. The best way to do this is to pick a campsite with everything you need for a relaxing trip. This includes amenities such as clean drinking water, bathrooms with hot showers, a fully stocked general store, and other services. If you’re new to the world of camping, you might not be aware of something called “long-term resident campers” who take over some campsites for months at a time. While this might seem like a good thing, there are downsides to having long-term residents take over your favorite spots. Keep reading to learn more about why long-term residents taking over campgrounds is not always good news for campers. WHAT ARE LONG-TERM RESIDENT CAMPERS? Long-term resident campers are people who occupy campsites for months, a season, or even years. Most people who stay at a campground for a long time are likely relocated or retired, not on vacation. They may stay in one place because they don’t want to move all the time, or they’re traveling or working remotely in an RV and don’t want to set up and take down their home over and over. WHY ARE LONG-TERM RESIDENTS TAKING OVER CAMPGROUNDS? Housing costs and availability or people displaced from their homes by fire or other tragedies may be reasons for an extended stay at a campground. Living in a campground may be less expensive than renting or owning a traditional home in the area. A temporary job that spans weeks or months is another situation that may necessitate temporary housing. A campground offers amenities like a pool and maybe even a convenience store, making it very appealing to someone working long hours each day. They might have found a place they enjoy staying at or have made friends with other people who stay at the same park, so they don’t want to leave. Other people might stay in one place for an extended period of time because of their health. If an older person or someone who is disabled is traveling in an RV, they might not be able to keep setting up and taking down their home. Full-time RVing also allows you to travel with the season. PROBLEMS WITH LONG-TERM RESIDENT CAMPERS While it may seem like there are a few problems with long-term resident campers, there are some issues. Long-term residents can become very territorial of “their home.” Often they are not tolerant of weekend warriors who are on vacation. They can be rude and aggressive about your campsite, kids, and parking abilities. Full-time residents often accumulate more outside possessions, including furniture, flags, plants, and even fences that junk up the property. If you are lucky, you may get a primered vehicle on blocks for your neighbor. The lower cost of living and the nomadic lifestyle can sometimes attract a less desireable element to the trailer park long-term life style. If you end up at this type of park be sure and take care to secure your possessions. CONCLUSION
Long-term resident campers can be a nuisance at RV parks, especially if they consume the majority of the campground sites and are intermixed with short-term visitors. If you’re going on a camping trip, you want to make sure that the site you’re going to has short-term residents who will leave after a few days or a week. If you’re looking for a place to go camping, you can check out reviews of different sites to see if there are long-term resident campers. You can also ask the site manager about the camper situation to know what to expect when you arrive. While park management may see long-term residents as an easy solution to cash flow, it will be at the expense of their reputation as a vacation destination. The atmosphere created by messy long-term residents and the shortage of campsites that it produces will be a problem for all campers looking for a clean and peaceful weekend getaway. Have you stayed at a park with an uncomfortable amount of long termers? Let us know in the comments.
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