Why Are There So Many Different Types of Campsites?

A campsite is a campsite, right? You may be tempted to think that if you are new to the whole camping thing. But if you’ve been out of the while, you know that there are lots of different types of campsites. What’s more, there aren’t necessarily any standards. What one campground calls a ‘basic’ campsite might be called a ‘tent-only’ site by another.

So what’s the deal? Why are there so many kinds of campsites with so many different names? Nobody really knows. But it doesn’t matter. As long as you know what kind of site you’re getting before you arrive, all is well. The ticket to camping happiness is to ask your questions before you reserve.

To get you thinking about it in advance of the 2022 camping season, here are some of the more common types of campsites you will find listed online and in campground literature:

1. Primitive Campsites

If you think a primitive campsite is one without any electrical or water hookups, think again. A genuinely primitive site is everything its name implies. Not only are there no water and electric hookups, but it also offers no access to any amenities whatsoever. In most cases, primitive campsites are not even found in established campgrounds. A primitive campsite is one you set up yourself in the middle of nowhere.

By the way, you should definitely consider RV skirting if you ever plan to take an RV to a primitive site. There will be no one around to help if it gets so cold that your pipes freeze and burst. Remember that the word ‘primitive’ means something.

2. Unserviced Campsites

When it comes to campsite hookups, there are sites with and without. Those without electrical or water hookups are often referred to as ‘unserviced’. Back in the day, campgrounds would call them tent-only sites. But these days, some tent-only sites still have electric and wi-fi service. So campgrounds have resorted to the ‘unserviced’ moniker to differentiate between tent sites with service and sites with no service at all.

3. Standard Campsites

A standard campsite is usually defined as one offering basic amenities. You get a driveway, a place to park your RV or pitch your tent, and a picnic table and grill. Electric hookups are considered a basic amenity at some campgrounds; water and sewer hookups are generally not included.

4. Full Hookup Sites

Reserving a site with full hookups means getting electric, water, and sewer service. If you own a motorhome or trailer, this may be the site you want. You get everything you need to make camping as comfortable as possible. If you want even more, the premium campsite might be more to your liking.

5. Premium Campsites

In campgrounds that offer them, premium campsites offer full hookups plus a picnic table, barbecue grill, and fire pit. You might get even more at a luxury campground. The key to the premium campsite is that you get everything the campground offers.

Though we have only discussed five types of campsites in this post, there are many more. Just bear in mind that these definitions are fluid. Campgrounds are free to use whatever names and descriptions they choose, so be sure to read the fine print carefully.

Regardless of your preferred type of site, do not ever leave home with your RV and not take AirSkirts with you. Our revolutionary skirting protects against frozen pipes better than any other skirting solution on the market. Best of all, they install quickly and don’t require any special tools or knowledge. RV skirting doesn’t get better than that.