Are you looking for a place to park for the summer to enjoy your vacation time or retirement? Are you looking for a base for your snowbird adventures? You might love camping but bad experiences at campgrounds the challenge of reserving your perfect spot or the simple preference for returning to one place you love may have got you thinking about getting a permanent RV site. Whatever the reason if you’re ready to start looking or even simply thinking about making the investment we’re here to help.
Why choose a permanent RV site?
- You live full time in an RV and want a “home base.”
- You want to return to the same place you love every year cutting back on your transportation costs time spent organizing and camping-related storage.
- You’re tired of dealing with reservations ever-changing neighbours and all the annoyances of a new campground. You want a community!
- More practically, you save time and money. There’s less wear and tear on your RV and you can drive a more economical (and faster) vehicle to and from your outdoor destination. Plus you’ll save money with a flat fee for the month or season. Furthermore if you’re comparing a permanent RV site to something like a cabin or vacation home this option has less expense and less responsibility. Here’s an article that fully outlines the pros and cons of owning a permanent RV site.
What should you consider when picking a permanent RV site?
- Amenities – check out what the campground has to offer for amenities. While the majority will offer water and power you may want full bathrooms a clubhouse a store a laundromat a pool a playground or access to trails. Know your must-haves and what you can compromise on. Be sure to check out what’s available in the campground and in the surrounding area too.
- Atmosphere – each one is different and may be tailored to different types of campers. Choose one that suits you.
- Connections – does the campground have a cell signal or free wi-fi? These things may or may not be important to you but it’s good to know before you buy.
- Fees – obviously you’ll want to know how much you’re paying and what’s included. Some campgrounds may have facilities such as pools or mini-golf courses but charge an additional fee – make sure you know what you’re getting.
- Location – you want to use your permanent RV site so make sure it’s a distance you’re willing to drive every weekend. If you’re a full-timer or looking for a summer getaway don’t be afraid to look further afield. Check out the climate and geography as well as the local area for things to do – hiking shopping and whatever else!
- Pet Policy – each campground’s policy on pets varies so make sure you check this out if you plan to bring your critters. They may not allow pets charge a fee be limited to a certain type or number of pets or welcome every pet with open arms.
- Rules – it’s a good idea to know the rules of a campground before you buy. This will help you decide if it’s the place for you.
Where can you find permanent RV sites?
Permanent RV sites are found all over North America – it just depends on your price point and what you’re looking for. Kijiji is a good resource for Canada. Good Sam Club is one of the best resources with quite a few sites all over North America – both seasonal sites and park model homes and lots . Don’t forget to check out camping Facebook groups for reviews and recommendations!
What about insurance?
If you think your RV is adequately covered under your home and auto policy think again. It’s best to have a separate RV policy – you can read more about why adding it to your home insurance and assuming it’s fully protected while you’re in transit isn’t the best idea.
If you’ve already got a separate RV insurance – great! Having a permanent RV site comes with some benefits:
- Discount for being permanently parked
- Coverage for your outbuildings (such as sheds and bunkhouses as well as decks)
- Premises liability coverage
You’re also eligible for additional contents and outbuildings coverage if you need it. Of course the best person to talk to about your insurance is your insurance broker . They’ll be able to explain to you how insuring a parked RV works and help you navigate what you’ll need coverage for.