RV parking is the bane of existence for some RVers. When you plan, you'll have no issues parking at your destination. If you wait until the last second, you'll scramble to find a safe place to park at night. While there are oddball places you can park if you can't find a trailer park to accommodate you, there are ways to reserve parking so you don't have to worry about it after a long day's drive.

Does Every RV Park Reserve Spots?

Not every trailer park or campground takes reservations. Most National Parks do. Some parks are first come, first served, which means if you aren't there when the gates open, you'll need to look somewhere else. Some parks save a few extra spots for last minute arrivals, charging them a hefty fee to use them at the end of the day. It's best to reserve a RV parking spot in advance to avoid additional costs or having to find a last minute place to park.

How to Make an RV Reservation

Any RV park that offers reservations will let you book online or over the phone. Most will require you to put down a deposit, similar to booking a hotel room. Before you begin calling, locate a handful of RV parks in the area you'll be traveling to for your vacation. Go down the list one by one and narrow down the list to the best fit for your trip.

For the best results, we recommend calling RV parks or campgrounds to make reservations. You can find out about any specials going on, any activities or events you might be interested in and have a better opportunity to secure a prime spot in the park.

When reserving online, you don't always get to choose where you're parked which can be a big factor in whether you enjoy your stay or not.

Calling also allows you to have any questions or concerns you have answered. You can also find out about any extra or add-ons the park offers, such as Wi-Fi, pool access and other discounts on activities that may be available.

Make sure to save the e-mail or confirmation number given to you. Some RV parks will give you the spot number you'll be parking in right away. Others will wait for you to check-in to get you into a spot. Normally, you'll pay for the duration of your stay once you get to the park itself.

Confirming an RV Reservation

Always confirm your reservation with the RV park of campground at least two days before you hit the road. This ensures that nothing has come up that will cause troubles once you arrive. It's a good idea to confirm it once more the morning you're set to arrive. This allows you leeway in the event something does happen that forces you to readjust your arrival or departure to the park or grounds.

You're Late, Now What?

Believe it or not, RV parks and campgrounds deal with this issue often. Unfortunately, when you're on the road, bad things happen. Flat tires, accidents, unforeseen weather and more can cause you to be late for your check-in. If you know ahead of time that you're going to be late, call the RV park or campground and let them know.

Be courteous, offer to pay any late arrival fees and assure them you'll be there as quickly as possible. If you can, offer than a time frame for your arrival so they know when to expect you. This is proper RV etiquette and will go a long way should you want to reserve a spot at the park again in the future.

RVing doesn't have to be stressful. Arriving to your destination is only half the battle. Reserving a RV parking spot before you hit the road is an easy way to avoid worry about where you're spending the night.