Get The Most Out of Your RV

Get The Most Out of Your RV

No matter what RV you own or are thinking of purchasing, you’ll want to get the most out of your RV.  RV’s can be used for tailgating at sporting events, attending seasonal festivals or special events, temporary housing for out of town work, vacations, and a host of other applications as well. 

Most RVer’s know that camping and RVing is still America’s most cost-effective style of vacationing.  What most people spend on one, one week vacation, RVer’s spend on a whole season of camping or RVing fun!  That means that they get a lot more fun and recreation for their money! Seasonal camping will help you get the most out of your RV! 

Camping seasonally usually means that your RV stays on the campsite for the whole season or all year, depending upon the kind of camping agreement you have with the Campground or RV Park. 

Seasonal Campers usually occupy a site for a greatly reduced rate, because they have a long-term camping agreement with the park owner, make their payments during the campground or RV park’s off season, and provide winter income for the campground during low cash flow seasons.

Because of this trade-off, there are huge savings to be found for the Seasonal Camper.  They can participate in all the activities and events at the campground, and get a lot more use out of their RV than the person who travels from campground to campground on a regular basis.  Why?  RVing is a lot of fun, but it still involves a lot of work.  The clothes, food, bedding, towels, and personal toiletries need packed, the trailer needs hooked up, towed, set-up, tore down, towed home and unpacked.  Towing isn’t cheap.  There’s wear and tear on the RV, the tow vehicle, and the driver, not to mention the price of gas. 

The Seasonal Camper, cleans and stocks their RV in the spring, stocks food as needed throughout the camping season, and closes it up in the fall.  Other than washing the RV, or regular maintenance, seasonal camping is much less expense and less work – which makes it easier and more pleasurable, and in turn, more likely to be used more often.  It also allows the seasonal camper to spend the savings on other recreational activities like golf or other hobbies, or on other forms of entertainment rather than on gas and vehicle maintenance. 

Seasonal camping has also changed a whole generation’s way of life.  Instead of owning a home in the North and a Vacation home in the south, many people live in their RV’s full time, or own a home in one place and live in the RV in other.  RV’s are easily winterized and that makes it convenient to go south for the winter and leave the RV in the North, or you can always take it with you if you decide to do so!  The RVing industry has not only changed the way we vacation, it’s changed the way we live!

When we combine the convenience, savings, and the versatility, seasonal camping is the best way to get the most out of your RV and your wallet!

Call us today for a list of our available seasonal campsites!  We’re happy to show them to you!  

By Robyn Chilson  (Robyn & her husband Tim, CPO own & operate Meadville KOA Campground in Meadville, PA).

KOA’s Big Discount Weekends Bring Big Value!

KOA’s Big Discount Weekends Bring Big Value! 

February is a great time of year to begin booking your summer camping weekends!  Everyone loves a discount, and that is why you need to know about the KOA Value Kard Rewards Membership, and these special discount weekends offered at participating KOA Campgrounds.  They can provide big value savings for your family!

You do not have to be a KOA Value Kard Member to camp at a KOA campground.  All campers are welcome at KOA!  However, if you do become a KOA Value Kard Rewards Member, it pays you back with big savings!  The more you camp at KOA Campgrounds, the more points you accumulate, and the more discounts or free camping you’ll receive.

About KOA Memberships

First, for a yearly membership of just $30.00, you save 10% on every stay at any of the almost 500 KOA Campgrounds across the US and Canada.  Secondly, you receive points for each stay, card renewal, special offers, and more.  The points you receive can later be redeemed for more discounts or free camping.  And, as long as you maintain your membership they never expire.  Third, being a KOA member entitles you to the special discount weekends listed below at participating KOA Kampgrounds, and the Hot Deals advertised on the KOA website for each individual KOA Campground.  You can get more information about KOA’s Value Kard Rewards Program at https://koa.com/value-kard-rewards/.

If you have any questions about the program that we can answer for you, please feel free to call us, and we’ll help you!  And, we can sell you or renew your KOA Value Rewards Card with your reservation.  The card is good for 1 full year from your date of purchase.

Each year, KOA offers special discount weekends.  If you take advantage of just the VKR weekend, where you receive one night free when you purchase one, it will more than pays for your $30 membership fee, and you’re saving additional money every time you camp!  This makes the Value Rewards Kard an even better value!

KOA Big Value Weekends

May 10 & 11 is Care Camps Big Weekend!  All campers renting a campsite Friday May 11, receives Saturday May 12 for just $20.00!  We dedicate this weekend to raising money for Care Camps across the United States to help send sick children to enjoy the healing nature of camp.  KOA covers all the administrative costs for the charity.  That means, that every penny of every donation our campers make, goes directly to sending a critically ill child to camp!  We hope you’ll donate to help us send a child to enjoy the healing nature of camp!  You not only get a great deal, but walk away feeling great about helping a sick child!  It truly redefines who they are, and as always, we thank you for your generosity.

Each year in September, KOA hosts a national Value Kard Reward Members Appreciation (VKR) Weekend Sept 13 & 14 at all participating KOA Campgrounds!  KOA wants to make sure you know how much we appreciate all of our great KOA Value Kard Reward Members!  All KOA Value Kard Members receive Saturday night at no charge when they buy Friday night at any participating KOA Campground.  Come join us for this great weekend of fall camping that more than pays for your KOA membership and gets you points!

Start Planning Your Value Kard Reward Weekends

No matter how you add it up, if you take advantage of just the Value Kard Rewards Membership Appreciation Weekend, you’ll have more than paid for the cost of the KOA Value Rewards Kard Membership fee and already started saving money and collecting points.  You can get more information about KOA’s national events and which campgrounds are participating at http://koa.com/national-events/.

We hope that your summer camping plans include us at Meadville KOA Campground! Please join us for Care Camp Weekend!  It's not only a great value for your family, but to help us change the lives of critically ill children. Thank you, as always, for your generosity.

In addition, we hope you'll join us for more fun and great savings on Father's Day or VKR Weekend!  Just VKR Weekend more than pays for your $30 membership!  Start planning and booking now, because with the value and savings these weekends present, they book quickly!  We don't want you to miss these great savings!

As always, we look forward to seeing you this summer!  Until we do, we always wish you safe and fun camping, wherever your travels take you!

By Robyn Chilson

Tim & Robyn Chilson CPO, own and operate Meadville KOA Campground in Meadville, PA.  Robyn can be reached at 814-789-3251 or at www.MeadvilleKOA.com.

Why Seasonal Camping?

As summer gives way to autumn, most campers’ thoughts turn to thoughts of school starting, autumn campfires, and Halloween Weekends.  While you're enjoying those camping weekends, maybe it's time to think about next summer, and begin planning your family’s camping vacation time!  Why not make it less work and maximize your families use of your RV?

Here are some reasons why we think Seasonal camping at Meadville KOA might be the right choice for your family! 

The Price is right!  When you compare our unlimited seasonal camping rates to overnight camping, the discount you get by being a seasonal camper is huge!  Most campgrounds provide similar services and activities, but ask about extras!  Some campgrounds provide all inclusive seasonal rates like we do, and some do not.  Make sure you know exactly what your expenses will be before you sign that Seasonal Camping Agreement!   When you do the math, you’ll find that the price is right!

What’s included in the Seasonal Rate? 

Ø  We do the mowing!  That is a premium service.  Meadville KOA Campground is the only campground in NW PA that offers that at no additional charge.  What that means is no mower to buy, transport or store.  No gas to buy and transport, and no work!  You can spend more time having fun and less time working!  Even more importantly, it makes our park quiet.  There aren’t mowers running on Saturdays when you’re trying to relax and enjoy sleeping in. Oh, and it makes is safer for you, your family, vehicles, and RV.

Ø  Unlimited camping for 2 adults and 2 children, or a 3rd adult.  Most campgrounds charge extra for extra adults.

Ø  Seasonal Campsites have water, sewer, refuse, and the electric is metered.  The water, sewer, and garbage services are included in your seasonal rate.  The electric (and we offer 30 and 50 amp) are metered, which means you only pay for what you use.

Ø  Wi-Fi and cable TV are included!  We provide Wi-Fi to all of our Seasonal campsites, and each campsite has 48 channels of Cable TV.  Channels include Disney, ESPN, Movie Channels, 5 local channels, The Weather Channel, Movie channels, sports channels, and more!  They make camping on rainy weekends easier with, or without the kids or grand kids!

Ø  Themed event weekend’s planned activities are included!  We even include children’s crafts and meals for the people listed on your seasonal camping agreement!  Where else do you get that?

Ø  We have a reduced, pre-paid visitor’s program, and a reduced pre-paid extra camper program for your extended family members.  It’s affordable and allows your extended family to come enjoy the campground!

Ø  We have a reduced cost fun band for the rental amenities!  It’s affordable and will keep your tweens and teens busy!

Ø  The rate includes your on site winter storage of your RV!  (With your deposit and signed camping agreement for the following season.)

Ø  We have an interest-free payment plan with rebates!  Get a $75 rebate if you pay in full at the time your sign a Seasonal Camping Agreement with us (now through Oct 21).  And a $50.00 rebate if you pay in full by January 1!  That helps make it fit your family budget!

Ø  Right now is the perfect time to select a site!  Like most campgrounds, we have a few openings for next season this time of year.  So it’s the perfect time to shop for a campsite!  Don’t forget that we have a winter payment plan and we even include on site winter storage in the fees!  If you normally pay for a storage facility, that’ll save you even more money!

Our sites are spacious!  Our sites are roomy, with full size trees in a pretty rural setting.  So your family has some privacy and space for fun.

Our campground is in a pretty, rural setting!  It isn’t unusual to see birds (king fishers, orioles, turkeys, etc.), deer, and even an occasional bear.

Save more by getting an early bird discount!  You can save even more money by paying for your campsite early.  We provide that $75 rebate off the $2450 if you’re paid in full by now through Oct 21.  And a $50.00 rebate if you pay in full by Jan. 1!

Meet new people!  Seasonal campers are like a small community.  They become friends, hang out, play cards or yard games, have group campfires, their children become friends, play together, and much more!  Many volunteer to help with activities and events and bring lots of fun to their camping environment in a family friendly way!  What a great way to meet new people and make new friends!  We hope you’ll consider joining our KOA family!

We’re a family campground!  We run a family campground that caters to families of all ages.  There aren’t golf carts racing around, there are quiet hours, etc.  We are all about family fun!  We want your family to create a lifetime of memories from camping here!  That is our goal!  And we have 3rd and now 4th generations of campers camping here at Meadville KOA! 

We save you work!  Camping is never work free.  But, you can save all the work of hooking up, unhooking, setting, up, tearing down, and towing expenses by camping seasonally.  You get a vacation home away from home, for about the price of one vacation! Now that’s a savings and it makes vacationing every weekend all season long even easier!  Vacation right into autumn and enjoy the fall foliage and autumn events and activities, and who doesn’t love sitting around a campfire in the spring and autumn?

What if right now isn’t the right time?  It’s okay.  Contact us in the spring and we can show you sites in April, in preparation for the summer camping season.  But why not select that now, and have it all paid off so you’re ready to move in and start camping?  What a great gift for your family!  Did we mention that you can park your RV on your site now, and that free, on site winter storage is included with your campsite fee?  Why not save those storage facility costs?

Make the right choice!  Seasonal camping maximizes your summer vacation time and use of your RV while minimizing your expenses!  It can provide your family a summer full of fun, family oriented camping experiences for about the same price as one vacation!  Make sure you take a little time to consider that idea, and how it can help your family get the biggest bang for your buck next summer!  Then, we hope you’ll start looking at local campgrounds and thinking about becoming a seasonal camper!  It’s not too late to move into a site this fall!  Campground owners are looking forward to talking with you and showing you all the fun events and activities we’re already planning for next summer!

By Robyn Chilson

Tim & Robyn Chilson are both CPO, own and operate Meadville KOA Campground in Meadville, PA.  Robyn can be reached at 814-789-3251.

Come Enjoy Halloween In September!

At Meadville KOA, we do Halloween in September.  Generally, the weather is little better than in October, and we’re not competing with other campgrounds who do their Halloween Events on or near Halloween.

Halloween is a big deal.  Kids love trick or treating, parents love the creativity, and it’s just good old family fun!  If you’re looking for some family fun this fall, then come to Meadville KOA!  We have some great Halloween (and other autumn) event weekends in store for your family!  But you better reserve now, because the weekends are upon us!

On Sept. 15 is our KOA VKR Weekend!  All KOA VKR (Value Kard) members get Sat. night free when they purchase a campsite Fri. night. (Please note: Cabins are not included in this offer!  But you will receive your 10% KOA discount off our already low autumn cabin rental rates!).  We'll have family BINGO for everyone, and adults BINGO (with bigger payouts!).  We have specials at every game, door prizes, 50/50 to benefit Care Camps, and much more!  (* 2 night minimum.)  + Leave your RV for no charge (except electricity) as long as you’re coming back next weekend!  And, the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Show is being held at nearby Drake Well in Titusville Sept 15th!      

On September 22, we have Pumpkinfest Weekend! – Decorate your campsite with scarecrows and pumpkins theme to win free camping as prizes for 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd  place in our decorating contest!  Enjoy our free pumpkin party with pumpkin cake, ice cream, and apple cider!  And we’ll play Candy Bar BINGO (play 7 games on 1 full size candy bar) and take an afternoon wagon ride!  Join us for an after dark candy hunt!  (* 2 night minimum at summer weekend rate.)  + Leave your RV for no charge (except electricity) as long as you’re coming back next weekend! 

September 29 is Our Halloween Weekend!  Win prizes for 1^st, 2^nd, & 3^rd Day & Night time campsite decorating contests!  Join our costume contest (prizes for outstanding costumes of all ages), trick or treating (bring candy to hand out, too), Halloween party with apple cider, donuts, & an after dark glowing wagon ride, and our free pancake breakfast with the purchase of your campsite (for 2 adults and 2 children) on Sunday morning!  Breakfast is just $3.00/person for visitors & extra campers!  (* 2 night minimum at summer weekend rate.)  + Leave your RV for no charge (except electricity) as long as you’re coming back next weekend!    

October 6 is our Apple Fest & Columbus Day Weekend!  Don’t forget to ask for your returning camper discount!  Come join us for the colors and flavors of the season!  We’ll have free crafts for kids, an afternoon wagon ride to enjoy the fall foliage, and an apple dessert dish to pass social!  (* 2 night minimum.)  + Leave your RV for no charge (except electricity) as long as you’re coming back next weekend!  This is Franklin Applefest Weekend! 

October 14 Customer Appreciation & Bring A Friend BOGO! Ask for your returning camper discount OR, bring a friend who never camped at Meadville KOA before and you each get a BOGO (Buy One Night Get One Free) Discount!  (Two campsites rental is required to get BOGO offer)!  Ask for discount code CF!  Please note: Cabin rentals are not included in CF and returning camper discounts.    We’re having free children’s crafts, an afternoon wagon ride, and a free pizza party!  (* 2 night minimum.)  + Leave your RV for no charge (except electricity) as long as you’re coming back next weekend!  The Conneaut Lake Pumpkin Fest is this weekend!  Come and enjoy their giant pumpkin drop, and more!  And, The Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Fall Harvest Show is this weekend in nearby Saegertown!              

October 20 is our Closing Weekend!  (Save $5.00 per night on your campsite!)  This is our last camping weekend for this season!  Please note that there are no planned activities, and all rental amenities may not be functional this weekend!

If you don’t own an RV, don’t panic!  We have a camping cabin, kitchenette cottage cabin, and deluxe lake-front lodges to rent so your family doesn’t have to miss any of the fun!  And all of our autumn campsites and cabins (unless otherwise noted) are at our lower autumn rates!  Come enjoy some autumn camping with your family!

By Robyn Chilson                                                           

Tim & Robyn Chilson Own and Operate Meadville KOA Campground. You can contact her at 814-789-3251.

The Electric Breaker at Your Campsite Keeps Tripping!

When we hear a camper say, “Your electric breaker is bad, because all I’m running is my water heater and air conditioner and it keeps tripping!” we know we have to share more info with them!

Brace yourselves, because here comes the truth you may not want to hear!  Are you ready?  Just because the RV manufacturer put all of those electric appliances in your RV does not mean you can run it all at the same time!  There, we said it.  Yes, we know, it hurts a little, but it is the truth.  And you need to understand what exactly that means for you, as an RVer.

If your new travel trailer is wired for 30 amps (110 volts), your RV can sit on a 30 amp campsite.  That’s great, you think, because the 50/30 amp sites cost more at the campground!  So, it saves me money!  True story!  It certainly does.  And the RV dealer sales person may have even told you, “This baby has a propane/electric water heater, so you can heat your water on electric and save even more money, by having to purchase less propane.”  However, that is not necessarily true.

   

A 30 amp campsite only provides 30 amps of electricity or slightly less, depending upon the safety margin and age and condition of the breaker itself, it could provide slightly less – like 26-27 amps.

So, like the case of the camper above says, “I was only running my water heater and air conditioner.”  That is never true.  More experienced RVers know that you are running your air conditioner (15-17 amps), water heater (12.5 amps), refrigerator (5.7 amps), and electric converter (2-3 amps)!  You were trying to pull almost 35.2 amps on a 30 amp breaker.  (Light bulb comes on!)  The new RV thinks, “Oh wow, now I see the issue! So, I guess I can’t do that?”  Yes, that’s right.  You have to shut something off.  You can shut the refrigerator over to gas, and that might bring you below the threshold for the breaker to not kick, but that is, until you turn on a light, the TV, or the wife tries to make coffee, dry her hair, or attempts to thaw the chicken in the microwave, in which case, you’re outside resetting the breaker again! 

In addition, if your RV comes with an outside kitchen with a refrigerator, it too is running and eating up another 5.7 amps or so of power.  And so on it goes!  That 12.5 amps the water heater is using is the easiest way to drop that amperage draw back down below a safe area that won’t trip your breaker.  It gives you the room and flexibility to dry your hair, run the microwave, or have lights on.

This has been a recurring theme this summer as more people are buying these travel trailers that are wired for 30 amps – and trying to operate a 42-45 amps of electrical appliances draw off a 30 amp breaker because they are running their propane/electric water heaters on electric.  And apparently, some RV dealers are telling people to do that – as a sales pitch that it’ll save them money.

Okay, so how about if I move to a 50/30 amp campsite.  Can I do that?  Yes, you can do that, if one is available, but that won’t help the situation.  Your RV is only wired to use 30 amps!  You cannot plug into a 50 amp hookup with an adaptor and draw more than your 30 amps, anyway!  The only way to prevent breakers from tripping is to manage you amperage usage.

Below, we’ve attached an info sheet that will show you the approximate use of different appliances.  You are free to go through your RV and calculate your own appliances!  The sheet will show you how!  Hopefully, it’ll be of some use to you in calculating your approximate electrical usage, and save you some time and aggravation!  So if you’d like a hard copy to keep, please email us, and we’ll be glad to email you a copy.  We sincerely hope it helps you! 

Before You Blow Your Breaker!

Take a minute and see how many amps you could be using in your RVs 30 or 50 amp electrical system. It is surprising how fast the amps add up which causes your breaker or the RV park's breaker to "trip". Knowing the amps of all the electrical appliances in your RV can help you manage electrical use and prevent the inconvenience of "My electricity went out!". This list is the typical appliance used and the average amps required to operate them:

Air Conditioner	15-17 amps
Refrigerator	5.7 amps
Electric Water Heater	12.5 amps
Microwave Oven	12.8 amps
Electric Coffee Pot	9 amps
Toaster	10 amps
Hair Dryer	10 amps
TV	2 amps
Dirt Devil Hand Vacuum	2 amps
Electrical Power Converter	2-3 amps
Electric Fry Pan	10 amps
Iron	10 amps
Food Processor	6 amps
Crock Pot	1.5 amps
Heating Pad	0.5 amps
1,100 Watt Heater	10 amps

In the morning - if you start your air conditioner and the hot water heater is on, then you start your coffee pot, make some toast, watch some TV - you are pulling 50 amps when all appliances are operating at maximum. If you also cook something in the microwave at the same time - LOOK OUT! Most RVs have a switch so you can run only the microwave or the water heater at one time - HOWEVER, NOT ALL RVS HAVE THIS FEATURE.

Most electrical products show how many watts or amps it takes to operate the appliance printed on the product itself or on the instructions. If it shows the watts - divide the watts by 120 (volts) and that gives you the amps. To get the watts - multiply the amps by 120 (volts).

It is worth your time to take an inventory on the "amps" each of your electrical appliances uses, then you can manage your total usage at one time and this greatly reduces the "My electricity went out!" anxiety.

Reprinted with Permission from Frank & Willy Surrell of the New Orleans/Hammond KOA.

We wish you safe and happy kamping where ever your travels take you! 

By Robyn Chilson

Tim & Robyn Chilson own and operate Meadville KOA Campground in Meadville, PA.  Robyn can be reached at 814-789-3251 or at www.MeadvilleKOA.com

Why Visitor Fees Area Necessary

No matter which campground that campers choose to stay at, if they have friends or family living in or near that area,chances are, they’ll want to visit them.  When guests arrive at the campground, they are often charged a visitation fee, and many are surprised by that.  Below, we’ve listed some reasons why visitor fees are necessary. 

  

The campground’s facilities can only handle so many people at a time.  It isn’t that campground owners don’t want visitors.  On the contrary, we love you to invite people to come visit.  We love to have people see and enjoy our parks.  We take great pride in them.  However, additional people place an extra burden on the facilities.  There are the obvious additional expenses of toilet tissue, paper towels, cleaning supplies, attendant’s labor, garbage bags, and more.  The prices of these supplies have sky rocketed with increased petroleum prices.  Campgrounds have to recoup those costs. 

Popular, private campgrounds receive hundreds of visitors a month, which can translate into thousands of visitors a season, which translates into huge extra expenses for the campground.  The less obvious long-term expense is that expanding facilities is a huge investment these days and in order to maintain the facilities a campground has, they have to stay within the capacity boundaries for which their water and sewage systems were designed and for which they are permitted.  Water system quality, pool samples, and sewage testing are required by the state to the tune of thousands of dollars a season.  All for good reason, as they are designed to keep the public’s drinking water, swimming facilities, and ground water safe.  However, when extra burdens are cast upon those facilities, the costs to maintain and operate them increase as well.  If the testing of those systems is that expensive, imagine the increased operating expenses for them as well.
 State and local laws, set occupancy, and facilities are only permitted for so many people accordingly.  Design load and licensing of campgrounds or the facilities is similar to the ‘seating capacity’ license you see in food services, however recognize that because a campground does not have tables and chairs that limit occupancy, it must be done in another fashion.  The state issues sewer treatment permits based on the total number of campsites and number of people per campsite, times the average water usage per campsite.  That is why the number of people per campsite and the total number of campsites is limited.  When the campground is full, an extra 8 people is another campsite.  Multiply that by several campsites, and the idea of overflowing sewer systems should come to mind.
 In addition, the visitor rates aren’t normally set on the person who uses the facilities the least, but on the average cost of the visitors to the campground or RV park.  The campground owner assumes that your family will participate in activities and events, enjoy the entertainment provided, and or utilize the swimming pool, and other facilities and amenities.  These business owners know that their number of visitors go up dramatically on holiday and special event weekends.  The numbers of visitors increase because we have special activities and events; have better entertainers or entertainment and more things to do.  But even if you’re in the campground on a week day evening, and your friends drop over to sit by the fire, you’re still utilizing the campground facilities. No one visits for more than hour without using the restrooms.  If your visitor was injured, they’d want their injuries covered, wouldn’t they?  The campground restrooms costs of soap, water, paper towels, lights, water usage, and sewer usage all cost money.  They aren’t free, so why should your visitor’s usage be free. 
 In some states, laws require that every visitor to a private outdoor hospitality property register, regardless of intent to visit residents or use the facilities. State health department require that business owners can identify all in residence and visiting in case health issues arise.  User pay fees are the fairest way to cover the costs of those inherent costs, and should a health risk arise, to identify the users at risk.
 Security is always a concern.  Campgrounds, like anywhere else, can be a target for thieves, child predators, etc. So tracking who is in the park helps to reduce the chances of theft, child abductions, among others.  It provides more security for both your family and possessions.
 Emergency Preparedness is essential!  What if the campground had to be evacuated in the event of a fire, flood, hurricane, or tornado?  How would the campground account for who was on the premises and who might be missing?
 Parking extra vehicles is another issue.  In most campgrounds, real estate is a premium.  So, too many cars per campsite quickly become a congestion and safety issue.  Most campgrounds limit the number of vehicles per campsite to one or two for safety reasons and rescue vehicle access.  Therefore, the campground needs to provide extra visitor parking areas to relieve that congestion and ensure access for emergency vehicles.  That means that there is a clerk that has to assign the visitors tags, provide access to the park, a campsite map to help the visitor to find the folks they desire to visit, and finally directions on where they are to park.  All of these materials and the employee’s time is an additional increase to the cost of operations to the business.
 Be a courteous camper!  No one wants to be camped next to a mob.  If you’re planning a family reunion, birthday party or another celebration of some sort, ask about using a pavilion or facility so as not to intrude on your camping neighbor! 
 Increased visitors increase a campground’s liability insurance costs.  The rates for a campground’s liability insurance are based on the risk assessment and the number of people who occupy a campground during a season.  The higher the number of occupants in the RV Park or campground, the risk increases accordingly.  In addition, some insurance carriers argue that visitors are more likely to be injured because they are unfamiliar with their surroundings, may not be aware of all the rules or safety policies at campgrounds, and are less likely to be dressed appropriately for the camping or outdoor experience.  All of these things place the visitor at an increased risk for an injury.     Remember that privately owned and operated campgrounds aren’t subsidized by tax dollars like federal, state, and county parks.  Even at most of those campgrounds, there is an entrance fee, and then camping fees on top of it.  They charge for visitors too.  It’s called day use fees.      Read the back of your visitor's tag!  Many campgrounds, offer a full refund if you're only there a short time (like less than an hour).  You just take the time-stamped tag back to the office and they'll refund your visitation fee if you were there in less than that amount of time. 
 

State Laws define unlawful trespass and theft of services.  Visitors or users of any private property that have not identified their purpose are considered trespassers, and are subject to trespass laws, and or theft of service charges. In some states, this is also called defrauding an inn keeper.  These laws help protect campgrounds from thieves, vagrants, etc.  Trying to cheat or defraud a campground owner as to how many people you have camping with you or visiting you can land you in hot water with the law.  Please don’t do that! It’s not only more honest and the right thing to do, it’s the law.  Please don’t place a campground owner in the position of having to have you arrested for unlawful trespass, defiant trespass, and/or theft of services.

Visitor’s fees are necessary.  There are additional costs associated with visitors.  It isn’t fair to pass those costs on to all the campers.  That is why most campgrounds charge the people receiving those services (i.e. the visitor) for the services rendered.

So the next time you hear someone complaining about a visitor’s fee, or worse yet encouraging another person to cheat or to avoid paying a visitors fee, remember that it is you, the RVer or camper, who will ultimately pay for that visit.  At the end of the business year, when the numbers come in, and that owner looks at the bottom line from that camping season, the campground owner will have to set their rates for the next season to offset their losses.  In other words, they’ll have to raise the campsite prices accordingly to pay for those extra supplies, extra tests, extra labor and extra maintenance.  So when visitors cheat, they aren’t cheating just the campground owner and breaking the law.  In the end, they are cheating the American consumer, and in this case, that is you, the camper. 

By Robyn Chilson

Tim & Robyn Chilson, own and operate Meadville KOA Campground in Meadville, PA.  You can contact Robyn at 814-789-3251