Best of Spring Camping & Discounts

Are you ready to get the camper out? How about some Spring Camping? It really depends on what part of the country you live in. If you are in a warmer, southern state, you may be camping now. If you live in a colder, northern state, your camper is probably locked up tight with a tarp on top.

NOTE: When I use the term camper, I am talking about RVs, travel trailers, pop-ups, and motor homes.

I know some die-hard campers who continue camping, rain or shine, Winter or Summer. They even camp in the snow! We prefer it a little warmer, so Spring is a great time to camp! Although, some campgrounds are not open year-round. This post will give you information on where to find campgrounds that are open for Spring camping. Even though we have a travel trailer, a lot of this information will be useful to tent campers as well.

Be aware that the statistics say that camping is up about 39% from last Spring, so book early!

NOTE: While COVID is still with us, some campgrounds may have limited capacity, activities, and facilities.

Good Sam Club benefits

There are a few good resources to help you find the perfect campground. If you join the Good Sam Club, not only will you get a discount on camping fees and gas, you will receive the annual Good Sam Campground Guide. This Guide has thousands of campgrounds listed and it’s divided by state. They provide a rating for each campground, as well as valuable campground information. I think if you use this book alone, you will have an endless supply of camping opportunities Nationwide! Good Sam Club also has an app. that you can download which works great!

Good Sam offers many benefits to its members;

• Discounts – at Camping World and Gander Outdoors, free shipping when purchasing online
• Member-only coupons – dining, shopping, travel, and entertainment
• Camping World – Free RV & Boat Dump stations, Free annual RV inspection
• Discount on Fuel & Camping fees(At Good Sam Campgrounds)
• Online Trip Planner
• Good Sam Mail Service

Passport America

With Passport America, for a small annual fee, you will receive 50% off on your camping fees at specific campgrounds Nationwide. This works great if you are traveling and need a campsite for a night or two. We used this while traveling back from Wisconsin to North Carolina. Our camping fees have been as low as $15/night! I downloaded the Passport America app., then searched by the city to find a campground. When you find the campground, you need to pay attention to the individual rules for Passport America. Some will only let you stay a few nights, and others limit your stay during certain times of the year. All in all, we love Passport America, it has saved us a ton of money.

KOA Value Kard

The KOA Value Kard gives you a 10% discount off your campground fees at KOA campgrounds, and reward points that accumulate for cash off future stays. They also provide free camping during Value Kard Rewards Appreciation Weekend. It’s a good value at only $33/annually. You will also receive the KOA campground directory, which is a valuable source to locate KOA campgrounds Nationwide. You may enjoy reading about the KOA in Lynchburg, VA

Phone apps

If you download a few good phone apps, that will be all you need to locate the perfect campground.

• Good Sam Campgrounds
• KOA Campgrounds
• Passport America
• Park Advisor

Park Advisor

I think Park Advisor is my favorite app for finding a campground. You can look at the United States map and zoom in on an area you are interested in, then you will find red stick pins indicating a campground or RV resort. When you click on the red stick pin, you will see details about the campground, including their name, address, phone number, amenities, photos, and access to their website(if they have one). You will even see the campground rating and reviews. If you zoom in further, you can find gas stations, rest areas, stores, and more!

NOTE: We tow a Travel Trailer so I am usually looking for campgrounds and RV resorts. Although, most of these will accommodate tent campers as well. I use an android phone so these apps are compatible with android phones.

If you don’t own a camper or RV, why not consider renting one from RV Share. They have a variety to choose from and you can find one where you live. COVID is still with us, and traveling can be risky, but in a camper, you have more control over safety precautions.

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So where can you go Camping in the Spring?

Let’s start first with some private campgrounds that are open year-round. Heading down the East coast of the US is a good choice. The weather tends to be warmer by the coast and more campgrounds are open year-round. The Southern States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida are good places to start. Also, you will find a lot of KOA Campgrounds open year-round!

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North Carolina Coastal Campgrounds

We live in North Carolina and enjoy camping in our own state. The average March temperatures are 62/44. The campgrounds in the Mountains of Western North Carolina are usually closed from October until late March or early April. For spring camping, it’s easier to find campgrounds that are open on the coast. The weather is warmer on the coast, although it may still be a little chilly at night. The Outer Banks is a great place to go for exploring and camping. The Neuse River runs through New Bern, NC, making it a great place to camp. This is the longest river entirely contained in North Carolina and is 275 miles long.

New Bern KOA – is located in New Bern, NC, on the beautiful Neuse River. New Bern is the second oldest city in North Carolina which makes it a great historic place to explore! This campground has a 100-foot pier, great for fishing or just watching the sunset. They also have a pool, pavilion, WiFi, Cable TV, and bike rentals. Rates range from $50-$80 depending on the site you choose.

Cape Hatteras/Outer Banks KOA Resort – located in Rodanthe, NC, this campground is surrounded by water. with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Pamlico Sound on the other. You will also find a pool, hot tub, poolside cafe, and lounging room with WiFi. Rates range from $39.99-$69.99 per night.

Waters Edge RV Park – is located in Newport, NC. This is a smaller campground but has a lot of charm. It’s located on the water with a long pier that stretches out on the Bogue Sound. It’s a very quiet and peaceful campground with 89 full hook-ups and a bathhouse. Just a short drive from local beaches and Morehead City, NC. Rates start at $70 per night.

South Carolina Spring Camping

South Carolina is also a great choice for some spring camping! You will find some beautiful coastal cities; Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Hilton Head Island. The average March temperature is 65/47, which is pretty much ideal for camping! You probably won’t need your air conditioner or heater. Myrtle Beach has always been a very popular vacation spot, with beautiful beaches and great camping. Make sure you book early!

Myrtle Beach, – Pirateland Family Camping Resort, is an oceanfront campground with 2000 campsites. Other amenities; a waterpark, arcade, mini-golf, camp store, 9 bathhouses, laundry, WiFi, playground, and the rec room just to name a few. This is a HUGE campground right on the Ocean. You will find many campsite options like; campsite with a shelter and concrete pad, pull-thru campsites, beach lakeside, inland lakeside, oceanfront, beach area, inland, and Buccaneer Bay, They have so many different rate options, you would have to choose your campsite to get a rate.

Charleston – Mount Pleasant/Charleston KOA, is located on a private lake and old antebellum plantation. Amenities include; renting a bike or boat, nature trail, disc golf, horseshoes, fishing, cable TV, WiFi, and a swimming pool(open 4/1-11/1). Rates average from $69-$99

Hilton Head campground – Hilton Head Harbor RV Resort, has 200 sites, 2 bathhouses, WiFi, Cable TV, 2 swimming pools, hot tub, laundry, playground, and fishing pier. The non-peak season rates(9/15-3/15), $79 interior and $109 waterfront. Peak season rates(3/15-9/15) are $89 interior and $129 waterfront.

Coastal Georgia Camping

Coastal Georgia camping is perfect in the spring! The average March temperatures are 72/51, which is great camping weather! For this post, I am trying to stay close to the coast to find the best spring camping. Georgia has about 100 miles of coastline with a few coastal cities, Savannah, Tybee Island, Brunswick, Kingsland, and St. Mary’s. Georgia is a very popular place to camp in Spring, book early!

Savannah RV Resort – Savannah South KOA(Richmond Hill, GA), is located on a 35-acre lake, each evening the ibis, blue heron, and egrets fill the trees around the lake! The city of Savannah is really worth exploring! The campground amenities are; Cable TV, Fishing, Dog Park, Pool, WiFi, a Tour shuttle available, and large sites. I had to go out to June to get availability. Camping fees range from $52.50-$99.

Tybee Island Campground – Rivers End, RV Park Tybee Island, located on Tybee Island, 1/2 mile from the beach and a 15-mile drive to downtown Savannah. Campground Amenities; Full hook-ups, Primitive sites, Close to beach and fishing, Cable TV, and WiFi. They offer standard sites as well as preferred sites. The rates vary by season and site preference, from $52 – $99. This is a Good Sam Camp so you will enjoy 10% off with the Good Sam Club Card.

Coastal RV Resort Brunswick GA – Brunswick was once known as the shrimp capital of the world due to its rich fisheries. The campground is located off I-95 on a Southern Georgia lake, enjoy fishing from the bank, or swimming in the pool. It’s just minutes from golf, beaches, and historical sites. Amenities; 2 bathhouses, laundry, a dock, cable TV, WiFi, and a camp store. One low rate of $50, and 10% off with your Good Sam Club Card.

Spring Camping in Florida

With the average March temperature being between 75-80 and the lows rarely dipping below 65, Spring is a great time to Camp in Florida. Be aware that camping in Florida is very popular year-round, you will need to make your reservation well in advance to get the best sites. In the late fall, winter, and early spring, you will find many “snowbirds” (people who have come to Florida to avoid the winter weather where they live) camping in Florida. But, with the number of campgrounds and RV resorts in Florida, you are sure to find the perfect one for your Spring Camping!

St. Petersburg – Madeira Beach KOA Holiday – This is a beautiful campground near Florida’s gulf coast with a pool, fishing, pavilion, hot tubs, and WiFi. I was able to get a (hypothetical)reservation for mid-March but it was pricey at $118/night. The website lists their fees from $50 – $97.50.

North Beach Camp Resort – This campground is in beautiful St. Augustine Florida. They have something that’s hard to find in most campgrounds, Trees! I am always looking for campgrounds that have shade trees. Located on a heavily wooded barrier island between the saltwater of the North River and the Atlantic Ocean. They have riverfront campsites and Riverview campsites as well as wooded sites. The rates start at $88.40 per night.

Orlando/Kissimmee KOA Holiday – Campground near Orlando theme parks in Kissimmee Florida. This Campground is a great location close to all the Orlando attractions. The campground itself has good amenities; a heated pool and hot tub, WiFi, bike rentals, a playground, and transportation to the theme parks. The rates start at $78 per night.

Other options

I’ve been talking mainly about private campgrounds but there are other options.

Federal RV Camping

• The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE/COE) has built over 450 Campgrounds throughout the US. Many of these campgrounds are near water and are spacious sites at the fraction of the cost that private campgrounds charge. Keep in mind that they are “no-frill” campgrounds with just basic amenities like water and electricity.
• National Park Service(NPS) – camping in National Parks and NPS-administered lands. These campsites are also usually larger and less expensive.
• US Forest Service(USFS) – Free Camping(Boondocking) and developed campgrounds at USDA National Forests

State RV Camping

• State Parks – RV camping is available in most State Parks. A lot of great options here for camping, by a lake, or in wooded areas.
• Wildlife Resources Commission(WRC) – has camping available in many wildlife areas. This could be a lot of fun, imagine what kind of wildlife you might see there.

In Conclusion…

Last spring we were in lockdown. due to COVID19. This year we are hoping and praying that we will be able to go camping very soon! We are planning a trip later in March. I think that Spring is a wonderful time to get the camper out for a test run! It’s a good time to check all the systems to make sure they are in good working order. It’s also a great time to do some spring cleaning on your camper. Just be aware that camping is very popular these days, so plan ahead and BOOK EARLY!

I would love to see photos of your campers, you can email them to me at creechc1216@gmail.com. Please comment below and let me know what your Spring plans are. Maybe you’re not a camper, a lot of the places that I mentioned above also rent cabins.

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You may enjoy reading; Break out and Go Camping

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