Picking the Quietest RV Spot When Camping

As RVers living in a major city, we understand the importance of finding a peaceful camping spot. After a long and noisy work week, we just want to unwind and enjoy nature's tranquility.

We'll share with you a few tips on how we find the quietest campsites wherever we are camping so you can have a peaceful weekend RV trip too.

TYPES OF QUIET CAMPGROUNDS

While popular RV parks offer convenience, they often come with the trade-off of noise and crowds. This is why we typically avoid this style of camping and head to less busy types of campgrounds. With a little strategic planning, you can discover those hidden gems that offer the serenity you crave.

Here are different types of quiet RV spots you will want to research when trip planning.

1. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CAMPGROUNDS

These campgrounds are our “go-to” places. We camp right next to lakes far more than any other place on our list thanks to this type of campground.

Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, these locations are often tucked away near lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. We have found they usually are a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle. Even though they have fewer amenities than traditional RV parks, they have the basics, which is good enough for us.

Also, they tend to attract a more nature-focused crowd like us, which means there's usually a quieter atmosphere in these parks.

You won't find any waterslides, pickleball courts, or other popular amenities here, but that's not why you pick an Army Corps campground. You choose them for a little boating fun, fishing, and amazing lakeside views.

We've found many spots are very well spaced out if you choose wisely, and we'll cover this topic of roominess in a bit.

2. PUBLIC NATIONAL LANDS

Controlled by the US government, National Forests, National Grasslands, and the Bureau of Land Management are excellent choices if you want to find a quiet place to park your Jayco. There are millions upon millions of acres to choose from, so you are essentially guaranteed you'll find a nice, isolated location.

On some public land locations, you can just park your RV wherever you can find a place. For most though, you will need to be in a designated area. We highly recommend checking online or by phone with the controlling government agency before heading to that quiet camping spot so you don't run into any issues.

In the National Forests, Grasslands, BLM lands, you are sure to find a quiet location, especially if you are boondocking. If you plan it right, you can have complete solitude sometimes miles away from everyone.

For the RVers that have never camped on public lands without hookups or amenities, it's not as tough as it seems. You just need a generator, some water, and to know where you can dump your waste water, and you're good to go. Once you get used to this new challenge, you'll find unparalleled opportunities for solitude. We've discovered countless spots to park and be all alone across BLM land, National Forests, and National Grasslands.

3. PRIVATE LAND

Another great option to escape all the noise is to try private land. There are plenty of vineyards, farms, and ranches all over the country that will allow you to find a quiet spot to park your Jayco. The best part is, not only do you often get to camp in isolation you also get to try a new experience.

If you've never tried it before, you're in for a treat. We have three spots we love to visit close to use: a 20 acre natural grassland glamp site, a 100 acre cattle farm, and a massive 1,100 acre vineyard. Most of the time, we are the only people besides the owners on the entire property!

Camping at these kinds of sites provides you a chance to connect with nature on a different level. Try both HipCamp and Harvest Hosts to explore this style of camping.

Now that you have selected a general type of campsite you like, it's time to find the best spot.

QUIET RV SITE SELECTION

There are several ways to minimize noise and maximize tranquility wherever you choose to camp.

As a general rule, we try to avoid sites near common areas such as restrooms, visitor centers, dump stations, and trailheads. These areas tend to attract more foot traffic and commotion.

Do your best to find sites on the outer perimeter of the campground, since these tend to be quieter than those in the center. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Army Corps allows you to look online and see how many sites are booked, so you can find the best site away from other people. This can sometimes be a central campsite with a big field in the middle as we have found at numerous campgrounds. We've even found it can be a campsite at a funky angle that extends away from other campers.

You might also want to steer clear of campsites next to major roads. The constant drone of passing traffic can be a major nuisance if you just want some peace and quiet.

The more you camp, the more you'll find sites that work for you.

SOLITUDE IN THE OFF-SEASON

Are you willing to brave cooler temperatures and potentially limited amenities? We always answer “yes” to this.

 Camping in the off-season is a game-changer when it comes to finding quiet RV spots. When the peak season winds down and the crowds disperse, you are rewarded with fewer campers and a more peaceful atmosphere.

For us in Texas, this doesn't mean fall and early spring since those are busy times of the year. You get beautiful autumn leaves or stunning spring blooms in addition to the best temperatures. In your area, you might find the same with plenty of RVers, or you might find that this is a great time with minimal crowds. Check to see how crowded your local parks are.

What we are really talking about is the winter. If the weather is tolerable for you, you'll find this is an amazing time to camp to escape the noise of the city. As long as the temperature is above freezing, we head to lots of our favorite quiet places all over the state.

Winter is a seriously underrated time of the year to camp. It's almost like our own secret hack to solitude. For instance, this last winter over all of the campgrounds we stayed at, we could count all the other RVers in the locations on less than two hands.

With a little planning and an open mind, you'll be rewarded with the ultimate prize: a quiet camping spot.  We hope you find a place where you can disconnect from the busy world and reconnect with serenity.