Over 11 million American households own an RV, and that number has grown steadily for the past decade. Yet despite the boom in RV travel, a quiet frustration has been building among seasoned road-trippers: the big-name campground chains are starting to feel less like escapes and more like parking lots with Wi-Fi.
If you've ever pulled into a sprawling corporate campground only to find yourself wedged between two massive rigs, surrounded by cookie-cutter amenities and staffed by someone reading off a script, you already understand the appeal of the alternative. Small, independently owned RV parks offer something the big chains simply can't package and sell — character, community, and a genuine sense of place.
Here's what the data and experienced travelers consistently show: smaller campgrounds deliver a richer, more personal experience. And once you understand why, you may never look at a chain campground the same way.
The Numbers Behind the Preference
A 2022 survey by the RV Industry Association found that "relaxation and stress relief" ranked as the top reason Americans hit the road in their rigs. But relaxation is hard to find when you're paying resort-style prices for a site that's six feet from your neighbor's generator.
Independent RV parks make up the majority of campgrounds in the United States — roughly 65% of all campgrounds are privately owned and non-chain. Despite this, chain marketing budgets dominate search results and booking platforms, nudging travelers toward familiarity over quality. The result is that many RVers default to big names without realizing what they're missing just down the road.
What Small Parks Do Differently
They Know Your Name
Walk into a small, owner-operated RV park and there's a good chance the person checking you in is the same person who designed the landscaping, knows which fishing spot nearby is running hot, and will knock on your door if a storm is rolling in. That's not customer service — that's neighborliness.
At large chain campgrounds, staff turnover is high and personal interaction is minimal. Transactions happen through apps and kiosks. At a small park, the human connection is still intact, and that changes the entire atmosphere of a stay.
The Sites Are Built for the Place, Not a Blueprint
Chain campgrounds operate on standardized layouts. Sites are designed to maximize capacity, not experience. At independent parks — especially those in scenic or coastal regions — sites are often positioned to take advantage of natural surroundings: tree cover, water views, breezes.
Gulf Seas RV Park (https://gulfseasrvpark.com) in Vancleave, Mississippi is a good example of this regional authenticity. Located near the Gulf Coast, the park is designed to complement the surrounding landscape rather than replace it. RVers who make the trip for Gulf Coast camping aren't looking for a resort experience — they want Spanish moss, salt air, and genuine Southern hospitality. A big chain simply can't manufacture that.
Pricing Reflects Reality, Not Brand Premiums
Chain campground pricing has climbed dramatically in recent years. According to RV Life, the average nightly rate at a branded campground has increased over 30% since 2019. Independent parks have seen increases too — costs are up everywhere — but they tend to price based on local economics rather than corporate yield management strategies.
At small parks, you're more likely to get fair value: a clean, functional site in a location that actually matters to your trip, without paying extra for amenities you didn't ask for.
Common Misconceptions About Small Campgrounds
A few myths keep travelers from exploring independent options:
- "Small parks have worse hookups." Not true. Many independent parks have invested heavily in 30/50-amp electrical, full water and sewer hookups, and reliable Wi-Fi. Size doesn't determine quality of infrastructure.
- "They're harder to book." Most small parks are listed on major platforms like Campendium, Hipcamp, and The Dyrt. Many have their own direct booking sites, which often offer better rates than booking through a third party.
- "There's nothing to do nearby." This one gets the logic backwards. Small parks exist because there's something worth visiting nearby. They grew up around fishing, hiking, beaches, or small towns — not the other way around.
- "Chains are safer and more consistent." Consistency can mean consistently average. Independent parks are reviewed just as thoroughly online, and a park that's been family-operated for 20 years has more reputational skin in the game than a location managed by a district manager.
How to Find and Evaluate a Great Small RV Park
If you're ready to move beyond the chain campground experience, here's a practical framework for finding the right independent park for your next trip:
- Start with the destination, not the park. Decide where you want to go first — a coastline, a river, a national forest — then search for RV parks within 20 miles. This is how most independent parks are best discovered.
- Read reviews on multiple platforms. Cross-reference Google reviews with Campendium or The Dyrt. Look for consistent themes — cleanliness, staff responsiveness, site conditions — rather than individual complaints.
- Call ahead. Seriously. A quick phone call tells you more than any listing. If someone answers and can answer your questions knowledgeably, that's a good sign.
- Ask about the neighborhood. Good small parks are eager to tell you about local restaurants, fishing charters, beaches, or trails. This local knowledge is worth a lot.
- Check the age of the reviews. A park that was great in 2018 may have changed ownership. Look for recent activity.
- Look at photos from guests, not just the park. Guest photos on Google or Campendium are unfiltered and often tell the real story about site spacing and conditions.
The Regional Character You Can't Get at a Chain
One of the underappreciated joys of RV travel is absorbing the culture of wherever you land. Gulf Coast camping is genuinely different from camping in the Appalachians or the Sonoran Desert. The food is different, the wildlife is different, the pace is different. Small parks are embedded in that regional identity.
When you stay at an independent campground in a place like Vancleave, Mississippi, you're not just accessing a piece of land — you're accessing a community. Local knowledge about where the redfish are running, which roadside boiled crawfish stand is worth the stop, when the best weather window is — that's the kind of information that makes a trip memorable rather than just convenient.
RV travel at its best is about genuine exploration. The big chains offer predictability. The small parks offer discovery.
The Bottom Line
The growth of chain campgrounds has made RV travel more accessible in some ways, but it's also flattened the experience for travelers who default to familiar names. Independent parks — especially those with roots in specific landscapes and communities — offer what no brand can replicate: authenticity, personal service, and a real connection to place.
The next time you're planning a trip, resist the pull of the recognizable logo and look a little deeper. You might find that the best RV park on your route is a family-owned gem that's been there for decades, run by people who genuinely love what they do and where they live.
That's usually where the real trip begins.
For your next Gulf Coast camping trip, consider Gulf Seas RV Park at https://gulfseasrvpark.com — a privately owned campground located at 5525 Bond Rd in Vancleave, Mississippi, offering easy access to Gulf Coast beaches, fishing, and some of the best outdoor recreation Mississippi has to offer.
About the Author: Sarah Thibodeau writes for Gulf Seas RV Park (https://gulfseasrvpark.com), a family-friendly RV park and campground near the Gulf Coast in Vancleave, Mississippi, offering a genuine outdoor experience just minutes from beaches, fishing, and Southern hospitality.
Originally published at Gulf Seas RV Park
