Camping in all forms can be an awesome time.
While you may like some more than others, I would say that any form of camping is a great way to escape from the chaos of everyday life and reset.
They give you a chance to turn off your phones and find alternative ways of passing the time.
Today I want to compare the differences between camping in an RV inside of a campground and camping in the woods.
What are some of the similarities and differences between the two?
Let’s explore and find out!
What’s it like to camp in an RV?
Camping in an RV can be as luxurious or as minimalist as you’d like.
RVs can be packed full with extra items if that’s what you’re into.
So I would say storage space is the largest difference between the two types of camping.
The second?
Shelter.
Unless you’re RV has a leak or hole in it, you aren’t getting wet.
You won’t be sleeping on or near the ground.
You have the tools to make sure everything is level.
Your shelter is sturdy, can connect to hookups for power, water, sewer, and protects you from the elements.
However, being limited to camping inside of campgrounds does have its downsides.
First, your traveling is limited.
You simply can’t bring an RV places that you can bring a pack with a tent.
And campgrounds can be packed full of people.
The campground owners have to make a living and upkeep the place, so sometimes it can have way too many spots than it should.
And that can get pretty noisy.
So it’s really a trade-off between comfort and mobility, with an occasional loud camping neighbor.
What’s it like to camp in the wilderness?
Tent camping in the wilderness, on the other hand, allows you to get lost in the sounds of the woods.
You can sometimes see no one for a large portion of your trip, which is nice when you’re really looking to just rewind and recharge.
Your shelter isn’t as sturdy and you won’t always have level ground, but there are plenty of ways to get around that.
Chances are there are campsites set up for you already on your trail and they’ve been properly prepared, so those issues are sometimes non-existent.
You won’t be able to pack as many things for your trip, but that’s often one of the fun things about it!
And you’re free to go wherever you’d like, because you are a person that can travel the trails and not in a large RV confined to the roads.
So if you’re up for it, I’d say sacrifice some of those comforts an RV brings for the exchange of a quieter, more explorative trip that allows you to take in everything nature has to offer.
What is available inside of campgrounds that won’t be in the wilderness?
I’d say the biggest thing that campgrounds offer that the wilderness doesn’t is filtered water.
While you can filter your own water, it’s always nice to be able to just drink straight away.
Just make sure the campgrounds do offer filtered water beforehand!
The second thing campgrounds offers is access to electricity.
A lot of campsites will have their own power, there’s often a clubhouse with A/C, ice and vending machines, etc.
I don’t know about you, but I personally have never bought a Coke out in the wilderness.
And a lot of campgrounds even have WiFi nowadays.
Got your clothes dirty?
Head over to the laundromat located within the campgrounds.
And don’t forget to take a hot shower in the bath house!
Depending on where you go, camping inside of campgrounds will allow you to have pretty much the exact same amenities you have in your own home if you want them.
Sometimes that keeps you too connected and you need to get more primitive while RV camping.
In comes dry camping.
What is dry camping?
A term you may have come across during your camping research is ‘dry camping’.
So what is it?
Basically, dry camping is the practice of camping in an RV without any hookups.
So that means no electricity, water, sewer, etc.
And just for reference, you may also have heard it be called ‘boondocking’.
And it often entails driving into the backcountry and camping outside of campgrounds, although if you’re just starting out you may want to try it in campgrounds.
It offers a somewhat similar feel to that of tent camping in the woods.
If you’ve got an RV and are feeling adventurous, it’s definitely worth giving it a shot!
Are there any items that you should bring for one that doesn’t matter for the other?
I would say every type of camping offers a different set of necessities.
Car camping gear is even going to be different than RV camping gear, let alone tent camping.
And then you have your personal style.
Are you more minimalist or do you like packing extra?
So when it comes down to the basics of RV camping and the basics of camping in the wilderness, are there some useful items in one that are useless in the other?
Yes.
For starters, you won’t need a tent if you are RV camping.
You won’t even need to worry too much about how light you pack since you’ve got an RV to store everything.
Things like backpacks and super lightweight items don’t need to be prioritized when you’ve got a place to store everything.
Sleeping bags can be replaced by blankets.
Small water bottles can be replaced by jugs.
You can bring a ton more toys (bikes, kayaks, etc.) in an RV.
When it comes down to it, having an RV allows you to pack pretty much anything you’d like.
When camping in the woods, you generally only want to pack the essentials and maybe a couple comfort items.
That way you aren’t lugging around a super heavy pack all the time.
The cool thing about all of this?
It’s totally up to you to decide how much or how little to bring for either camping style!
Just remember for camping in the wilderness, anything you bring has to be carried around.
What’s your favorite way to camp?
I think it’s safe to say that there is room for every style of camper.
We all want to go out and have fun, and each of us has a different meaning of that (without sounding too philosophical).
So what’s your favorite way to camp?
Is it in the woods with a tent pitched or inside of campgrounds in an RV?
Or maybe something else.
Whatever it is, go have some fun!