westernrvparkowner wrote: There are several reasons RV parks do not offer limited services sites. One, they do cost money. Two, it would somewhere between difficult and impossible to keep the separation between those that have paid to use all the facilities and those who only get to plug in the electricity and don't get to use the restrooms, pool, water, sewer dump, gameroom, wifi, etc. Three, most importantly, I am not interested in servicing someone for $10 or $15. and I really don't want someone who was perfectly willing to pay the full $40 rate to decide they could make do with the $15 site, in those instances, I am not making $15, I am losing $25. I am sure some will call this greed, but it is good business and I own my parks to make money, not to be everything to everyone, profits be darned.
For a park to only offer cheap overnight sites, they have to figure how many guests they would get that wouldn't opt for a full service, full fee site, yet still pay that cheap fee and not just opt for the, most likely more convenient, Walmart, Cracker Barrell, Flying J or rest stop for free.
I don't know where everyone finds all these Gas stations and motels with huge unused parking areas. RV sites take up a lot of room, Minimum of around 800 sq feet, plus entry and exit space. Maybe it is a business for someone, go around to all these places, sell them the idea and a power pedastal or two and make some money. Just be aware that in most states the Gas station or Motel will have to become licensed campgrounds. Once they start charging for the service that is what they are.
Just as there is a market for resort types places with manicured lawns and well landscaped sites, there is a market for wooded totally natural sites. There is a market for over night only sites. Your campgrounds may not be located close enough to the interstate to attract the overnighters, however if they are you could create a few over night only sites.
The key is to seperate over night sites from regulars sites. Have strict time rules and enforce the rules.
I'm not suggesting all campgrounds would benefit from overnight sites but I am saying a market exist for economy priced overnight sites. True overnighters simply want to sleep in a quiet secure place. They bare willing to pay however they do not want to pay the full rate. There is a price between a full service KOA and Wal Mart that overnighters will pay.
Motel 6 and Holiday inn express should promote this idea. They coild provide an area at the far end of the lot with eletrical connections.
No sewer or water. Self contained rigs only. Overnighters are not looking for amenities, heat or A/C (electric) is all they want and nite nite they go. $20.00 for any over night plug in. Or charge 3.00 hour. 25.00 minimum.
Stays longer than 8 hours could be charged at $5.00-6.00 an hour to keep extended stayers moving. The idea is for over nights only.
If Wal Mart can do it for free. I'm sure the hotels could do it for a fee.
As far as licensing, hotels are already in the hospitality business I'm sure they could find a way to get licensed.
Instead of "Leaving the light on" Motel 6 could "Leave the cord out for ya!"
Carolina Crossroads in Roaoke Rapids NC. Has about 10 overnight sites that they charge $25.00 a night for. The campground is fairly new. They are never at full capacity. The overnight policy has bought them more business. I will drive an extra 60 miles to reach them vs. paying $50.00 at the KOA. When I pull in it's late . All I do is plug in and sleep.
The idea seems very doable, epsecially for motels. A $10,000.00 investment in electric could yield $63K a year in revenue. Multiply that figure across a few locations and suddenly $25.00 overnights are real attractive.
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As stated earlier how YOU travel is a big key here. When we were tied to school breaks and or short vacation time it was destination and full speed ahead! Now that most of the time we have plenty of time to move about we plan to stop by 5 4 is preferable. Big reason I am paying for all kinds of amenities at a full service campground why am I not using them? Oh yeah I was trying to squeeze out the last 20-50 miles from the day and pulled in at 11 PM!
One other if you look through the posts many want a close quick on off campground. Ever notice that property near a freeway imoreor expensive? Especially if it has good visibility from the freeway. Then later in the same post they want quiet! Ok somehow those two don't go together real well. Other point how many areas would there be enough transients to support the campground. Destination campers won't be staying there they want to be away from the highway and the noise and the traffic.
We stayed in one park in Bishop during the fall, Thanksgiving weekend if I remember right. No people to talk with a drop box like the forest service, cash or check only. Pick an empty spot and plug in, they had water and sewer available but too cold to leave water connected. $20 for the night. Now they were basically trying to make some money off an otherwise closed off season campground. They own another in town too, don't know what their electric rate was but I could easily see people with electric heaters using up more than $20 when temps are in the high 20's and low 30's.
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I've seen a few motels that also have overnight RV spots/parking, but typically they charge a rate similar to surrounding RV parks.
I think it'd be impractical in many cases for motels to offer this service due to the sheer size of the area they'd have to set aside for the purpose. It seems to me that most motels have just enough parking for their "in house" customers, and even the smallest of RV's needs quite a bit more room than a single car.
I agree with Westernparkowner as to a lack of motivation/reason for RV parks to offer reduced rates for "electric only" sites. It seems to me that electric is probably the most expensive amenity to provide in the first place, and it's obviously a main reason that folks don't "drycamp".
Let's face it, ANY RV can go a few days without dumping or filling with water. I'd think that the park owner that offered this kind of "choice" wouldn't be in business for long.
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"One other if you look through the posts many want a close quick on off campground. Ever notice that property near a freeway imoreor expensive? Especially if it has good visibility from the freeway. Then later in the same post they want quiet!"
Well, yes, "quiet" as in less noise than a truck stop, or no nearby railroad crossings with several trains every night! If you are tired enough, a little traffic on the freeway 50 or 100 yards away is not a problem!
When we want REAL "quiet", we go to a USFS campground 20 miles (or more) from the nearest paved road. No hookups, no "amenities", and most of the campers go to bed early so they can get up and go fishing at daylight!
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One will always philosophize on what they think they "should" be paying but the business owners + demand = pricing. I don't know of any hotels, and I have been to many, that offer a reduced rate for someone in at night and out by morning. Most hotels are there simply FOR an overnight sleep and if you get longer than that its a plus.
Same with CG's. They are charging per "night" not per how many hours you use. If you are parked there thru the night, you have used up the amount of time that they charge per night. Those who get their early and leave at check out are the ones getting extra time for their dollar.
I personally can't see myself ever docking at walmart overnight, so I will pay the $30 to 35 bucks or whatever for an overnight stay.
Francesca Knowles wrote: I've seen a few motels that also have overnight RV spots/parking, but typically they charge a rate similar to surrounding RV parks.
I think it'd be impractical in many cases for motels to offer this service due to the sheer size of the area they'd have to set aside for the purpose. It seems to me that most motels have just enough parking for their "in house" customers, and even the smallest of RV's needs quite a bit more room than a single car.
I agree with Westernparkowner as to a lack of motivation/reason for RV parks to offer reduced rates for "electric only" sites. It seems to me that electric is probably the most expensive amenity to provide in the first place, and it's obviously a main reason that folks don't "drycamp".
Let's face it, ANY RV can go a few days without dumping or filling with water. I'd think that the park owner that offered this kind of "choice" wouldn't be in business for long.
Water mainly sewer is the most expensive utility to run. Copper is expensive these days but electric is the easiest to run. Ever notice many state parks are electric only. A wire can be run most anywhere. water and sewer are much tougher to get around. Wires don't freeze or clogged up. Yes they can overload and have issues, but they are more adaptable to all types of installations vs water lines.
As far as dry camping, again water and sewer are the issue. A genset can run as long as you need to to provide electric however sooner or later you will need to fill or empty your water supply.
But we not talking a survival mission, We are simply talking over nights.
I can understand Westernparkowner not wanting overnights sites because it is not part of his business plan. It is not the market he is is catering to. However the market does exist.
Wal Mart has been capitalizing on over nighters for years.
They understand the overnighters need supplies and spend money in the stores. Wal mart provides a relatively safe place to stop in exchange for their shopping.
Yes there are freeloaders and those who take advantage of Wal Marts policy but in the end Wal mart generates revenue from the overnighters.
The hotel chains could easily promote the idea of over nite sites very easily. Motel 6 could leave the cord out and a few parking places open every night. Yes there are available parking places. Granted some lots are more full than others, However every motel 6 or Holiday inn Express lot is not cram full! Sure the spaces up front are occupied but you could put a lot of RV's in the back. The parking does not need to be prime time. The hotels could really make it profitable if they tied the site to a breakfast package.
Cracker Barrel attracts a few overnighters who stay for breakfast in the morning.
The market is there eventually someone will think outside of the box and capture it.
If not a hotel than possibly a large convenience store or fast food joint. If they promoted the policy the word would spread fast. Time will tell. For now overnighters have free or full service but nothing in between...........one day
Francesca Knowles wrote: I've seen a few motels that also have overnight RV spots/parking, but typically they charge a rate similar to surrounding RV parks.
I think it'd be impractical in many cases for motels to offer this service due to the sheer size of the area they'd have to set aside for the purpose. It seems to me that most motels have just enough parking for their "in house" customers, and even the smallest of RV's needs quite a bit more room than a single car.
I agree with Westernparkowner as to a lack of motivation/reason for RV parks to offer reduced rates for "electric only" sites. It seems to me that electric is probably the most expensive amenity to provide in the first place, and it's obviously a main reason that folks don't "drycamp".
Let's face it, ANY RV can go a few days without dumping or filling with water. I'd think that the park owner that offered this kind of "choice" wouldn't be in business for long.
Water mainly sewer is the most expensive utility to run. Copper is expensive these days but electric is the easiest to run. Ever notice many state parks are electric only. A wire can be run most anywhere. water and sewer are much tougher to get around.
I might be wrong but I think Francesca isn't just talking about the cost of installing electric or ease that it is run, but the cost of the electric bill the CG's end up with. Electric bills are generally higher than water bills.
I might be wrong but I think Francesca isn't just talking about the cost of installing electric or ease that it is run, but the cost of the electric bill the CG's end up with. Electric bills are generally higher than water bills.
westernrvparkowner wrote: There are several reasons RV parks do not offer limited services sites. One, they do cost money. Two, it would somewhere between difficult and impossible to keep the separation between those that have paid to use all the facilities and those who only get to plug in the electricity and don't get to use the restrooms, pool, water, sewer dump, gameroom, wifi, etc. Three, most importantly, I am not interested in servicing someone for $10 or $15. and I really don't want someone who was perfectly willing to pay the full $40 rate to decide they could make do with the $15 site, in those instances, I am not making $15, I am losing $25. I am sure some will call this greed, but it is good business and I own my parks to make money, not to be everything to everyone, profits be darned.
For a park to only offer cheap overnight sites, they have to figure how many guests they would get that wouldn't opt for a full service, full fee site, yet still pay that cheap fee and not just opt for the, most likely more convenient, Walmart, Cracker Barrell, Flying J or rest stop for free.
I don't know where everyone finds all these Gas stations and motels with huge unused parking areas. RV sites take up a lot of room, Minimum of around 800 sq feet, plus entry and exit space. Maybe it is a business for someone, go around to all these places, sell them the idea and a power pedastal or two and make some money. Just be aware that in most states the Gas station or Motel will have to become licensed campgrounds. Once they start charging for the service that is what they are.
I for one totally get it, but I also understand business. I have frequented hotels for over 15 years and have yet to find one that gives me a cheaper rate if I come in at midnight and roll out at 6am then if I check in at 4pm and out by 11am.
At the first sentence you stated an electric only site is what you would look for. And your last sentence states a full hookup is needed?
Refill, recharge, refresh?
I do agree that many people use electric different. Some can get by on $25 a month and some can run well over $100 a month.
Sorry for the confusion. I was actually referring to two different situations. The first is a direct response to the OP. Yes, I would appreciate a cheap electric only overnight when traveling with DW and kids. The FHU refers to my return to civilization after a few days of solo boondocking or living in a parking lot. At that point the black and/or gray is full, fresh is empty, and the batteries may need a full charge, depending on how far I've driven. As for refreshing, a long hot shower and a dip in the pool does wonders for the soul.
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