DECATUR TX TEXAS RV PARK - Why You Should Consider Long Term Campsites

 

Camping is a wonderful way to explore new areas and connect with the great outdoors. Many people camp for a few days or maybe a week at a time. However, if you’re looking into the possibility of long term campsites, you may be interested to see all the benefits they can bring.

Long term camping is popular among retirees and people who have moved their entire lives onto the road. More and more people are jumping on the bandwagon as they recognize all the good things that long term campsites can bring. Of course, there are some drawbacks as well, but the good tends to outweigh the bad!

To illustrate our point, we’ve collected eight great benefits of long term campsites. It can be more comfortable, less stressful, and might even save you money over time—especially with the rising gas prices. Read on to learn if this lifestyle is a good fit for you. 

You have a guaranteed spot

First of all, when you book a campsite for an extended period of time, you don’t have to worry about finding a new spot in the future. A lot of campgrounds and RV resorts have a limited number of spaces, so it can be stressful to make sure you get a spot for the night. 

Once you’ve signed up for a long term camping spot, that’s one less thing to worry about. You don’t have to plan your next move or stress out about getting into a full campground. The mental benefits of having a stable place to return to cannot be overstated!

Spend time in your favorite areas

Another benefit of long term campsites is your ability to choose your favorite areas/campgrounds. Sometimes you have to pick and choose where you stay when you’re traveling over a great distance. You have to sacrifice convenience for comfort and might not get to relax in your favorite spots. 

Long term camping gives you the ability to stake a claim in a park/place that you love. You don’t have to ration your time. Even if you don’t buy property in the area, you can still spend plenty of time enjoying the places that you choose. This has made long term camping popular among retirees who have an area that they love but don’t want to commit to buying a house there. 

Cheaper rates for longer stays

Believe it or not, but staying in one place for a long period of time can actually save you money. Nightly rates for campgrounds and RV parks are often higher than long-term rates.

For example, staying for a week is more economical than staying for a couple of days. If you book a long term campsite for months, the money you save can really add up.

In addition, you could save money on gas because you won’t be traveling as much. If the place you’re staying at has free laundry services, you can also use this to cut back on laundromat fees. In general, you get a better deal if you stay for a longer period of time. 

Become familiar with the area

One of the worst parts of traveling is that you don’t really know the areas you pass through. You don’t know where the good restaurants are, when the local sports team has their games, or where the farmers market is. But if you set up camp in one area, you have plenty of time to discover the answers to all these unknowns. 

Once you have some local insight, you’ll enjoy your experience much more. Doing tourist stuff is fine, but there are usually local secrets that you’ll only discover once you really get comfortable. Plus, you can do everything that you want to without rushing or skipping things due to time restraints. Some areas are impossible to take in if you only spend a day or two there. 

Establish your campsite

If you’re constantly hopping between different parks and campgrounds, you never get a chance to fully settle in any of them. This is why long term campsites can be useful for people who want to “put down roots” in a way. If you don’t have to worry about moving soon, you can spread out a bit and make a comfortable setup.

This can cover both the inside and outside of your living space. For instance, if you have an RV, you might create a nice outdoor area with a shade pavilion, rug, pet enclosure, trash can, etc. You can essentially create a front porch for your campsite and really get comfortable in your space. 

It’s less stressful than constantly moving

Long term camping is also good for your mental wellbeing. Humans tend to enjoy routine and stability, so it’s comforting to have a place that you can call home (even if it’s just for a few months). This kind of mental stability will make it easier for you to relax and enjoy your surroundings. 

You might even gain some health benefits from this setup! If you reduce sources of stress, you’ll be able to sleep better, relax more easily, and have a more healthy body. Who doesn’t want benefits like that?

Get to know your neighbors

If you’re settling in for a long haul at a campsite, there’s a good chance that the people around you are doing the same thing. If campsites allow long term camping, there is usually a group of regulars that make themselves at home. Once you settle into your spot, you have the opportunity to make friends and get to know your neighbors. 

Short term camping is fun, but there isn’t enough time to forge long-lasting connections. If you make friends with other residents, you can involve yourself in the campground community. These people can be great additions to game nights, movie parties, bonfires, and any other activities you might want to take part in. 

Sometimes enjoy a longer camping season

Finally, long term campsites sometimes grant special benefits to campers who are in it for the long haul. For instance, some parks might only be open seasonally, but they offer special availability to those who want to commit to a longer stay. 

I’ve seen campsites that close in the winter but allow some people to stay during the off-season. Of course, you’ll have to make sure that this is the case before you plan on staying when the campsite is usually closed. Not everyone has this exception, but it can be useful if you really want to stay as long as possible. 

or all of your camping and trip planning needs, look no further than RV LIFE Campground Reviews and RV LIFE Trip Wizard. Campground Reviews is a trusted source of campground and RV park reviews offered by camping and RV enthusiasts just like you. With its accompanying RV LIFE App, RV Trip Wizard gets you to your camping destinations utilizing RV-friendly routes specific to your RV and travel preferences.

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 DOUBLE DUTY RANCH RV PARK

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RV PARK - The Many Uses of Dawn Dish Soap - Decatur TX Texas

We all know that Dawn dish soap is the best for washing dishes. I know I’ve tried many different kinds of dish soap over the years, and Dawn truly is the best. (This isn’t a sponsored post, it’s just my honest opinion.)

But what if I told you this soap is also ideal for a variety of jobs around your RV? That’s right, the next time something in your RV needs cleaning or fixing, you might find that that handy blue liquid sitting by your sink is exactly what you need!

Here are 10 of the best uses for Dawn dish soap in your RV.

Wash the Windows

Washing the RV windows—nobody enjoys it, but it’s one of those things that really does have to get done, especially if you spend time on the beach or in a dusty location. The good news? Dawn can help make the job a cinch!

To make an amazing window cleaning solution using dish soap, simply add ⅛ teaspoon of Dawn and ¼ cup of vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Mix well, pour into a spray bottle, and voilà, you have an excellent window cleaning solution that’ll work no matter what grime has made itself at home on your RV windows.

Note: This cleaner also works well for stainless steel appliances!

Cut Through Grease

Cutting through grease is Dawn’s whole thing, right? Well, that grease-fighting power isn’t limited only to dishwashing. You can also use Dawn to cut through the grease that has built up behind your stove, on your oven, and on your kitchen cabinet doors. 

Simply add a few drops of Dawn to a damp sponge and rub until sudsy. Use the sudsy sponge to wipe the grease away, making sure to rinse with a clean damp sponge and dry with a soft towel when the job is done. 

Remove Carpet Stains

Camping is dirty business. I know that when we’re parked out in the middle of nowhere, dirt, sand, mud, and all kinds of other messes end up tracked into our home-on-wheels. Unfortunately our current rig also has carpet, which has a tendency to catch this debris, often leading to carpet stains. 

The good news? Dawn can help with this, too!

To remove carpet stains with Dawn, mix equal parts Dawn and warm water in a spray bottle and spray the solution onto the stain. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then use a microfiber cloth to gently clean the stain. Use a damp cloth to rinse the soap away and then blot the area with a dry towel. 

Clean the Bathroom

Nobody wants a dirty RV bathroom, but I don’t especially like putting harsh chemicals into my RV’s holding tanks. What if they cause some sort of damage? Instead of risking it, I like to create a bathroom cleaning solution using Dawn.

To make your own bathroom cleaning spray, fill a spray bottle halfway to the top with white vinegar and heat the vinegar in the microwave until warm (obviously, don’t put the sprayer head in the microwave when you do this, just the bottle itself). Fill the other half of the bottle with Dawn, put the lid on the bottle, and shake vigorously. 

Spray the mixture on the shower walls, in your tub, and on the toilet. Let sit for ten minutes or so, then rinse the soap away for a shiny clean bathroom. 

Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Dealing with pests is never fun. Unfortunately, they seem to really like RVs. We’ve dealt with all kinds of bugs in our rig over the years, including those annoying little fruit flies that will sometimes go after your ripe produce. 

The best way to get rid of fruit flies? You guessed it: Dawn dish soap. In this instance, you will want to pour white vinegar into a bowl and add a small drop of dawn. The fruit flies will be drawn to the vinegar, but then can’t escape the bowl because the dish soap makes things so slippery. Genius!

Kill Ants

Another pest we’ve had to get rid of in our RV? Ants. These little pests have actually found their way into our rig several times.

There are lots of ways to get rid of ants, and ant poison is my favorite method. That said, Dawn can help keep them out as well. Simply put a couple of drops of the soap into a spray bottle of water, shake to mix, and then spray on the ant trail and on any suspected ant entry points into the RV. 

Soothe Poison Ivy

Poison ivy is something I don’t wish on anyone. My family has been fortunate enough to avoid it somehow, but our friend’s kids dealt with it recently and it was not fun. 

If you do end up walking through poison ivy during your RV adventures, Dawn can help. Start by washing immediately with Dawn and cool water. The oil-fighting power of Dawn will help get rid of the poison ivy oils. Follow up with another wash with Dawn and warm water to help soothe the rash. 

Scrub Up Oil Spills

Most campgrounds have strict rules about vehicle maintenance, meaning changing your engine oil in a campground is typically against the rules. That said, if you do happen to come across a park that allows oil changes, you’re probably going to want to take advantage of that. 

Obviously, the best thing to do in this case is avoid spilling oil at all. That said, if you do spill a bit of oil on your RV pad, you can get rid of it and leave it clean for the next guest. 

First, spread cat litter over the oil spill to soak up as much as possible. Pick up the oil-soaked litter with a paper towel then squirt a good amount of Dawn over the area. Use a damp scrub brush to scrub the stain until it is removed and then rinse the area with water. 

Seek Out Leaks

If you suspect a water leak or a propane leak on your rig, you’re going to want to find that as soon as possible. Water damage is no fun to deal with (trust me on this one) and propane leaks could be even worse.

Use Dawn to help you find leaks by spraying soapy water over the hose wherever you think it’s leaking. If bubbles appear, that is the culprit!

Remove Stickers

Lots of people like to put stickers on their RVs. This is fun, but when the stickers start to fade, they can look pretty ugly. The best way to remove them? Dawn, of course!

Rub some Dawn soap onto the stickers you wish to remove. Let the soap sit for several minutes then use a putty knife to carefully scrape the stickers away. Any remaining sticky residue can be removed using Goo Gone. Be sure to rinse the area after cleaning!

Obviously, Dawn is a great product to keep on hand while traveling in your RV. Pick some up today so you’re prepared for your next RV trip!

 DOUBLE DUTY RANCH RV PARK

Wise County's Best Kept Secret!