Category: RV Park Reviews

The RV 10 Year Rule – What Is It All About?

This article is about the RV 10 year rule that many RV parks have for older RVs. And what it means for RV camping going forward.

Now I’m asked about this an awful lot these days. And there’s a lot of discussion about it on the internet.

Watch my video on the RV 10 year rule

What Is The RV 10 Year Rule Anyway?

So what is the RV 10 year rule anyway? Well, basically it says that an RV park has the right to refuse you entry to their campground if your RV is 10 years old or older.

So suppose that the year is now 2025. Then the 10 year rule means that any RV that’s 2015 or older would just be turned away.

Why Would A Campground Have A Rule Like That?

So why would an RV park make a rule like that? Well, the main reason for the rule is most often to be able to allow the RV park to keep out older and poorly maintained RVs.

Ones that are ugly, junky and trashy. Or ones that have been maintained so poorly that it’s clear that they could break down right in the park.

In which case they could even be abandoned there in the RV park altogether.

An old junky and trashy RV that hasn't been maintained well
An old junky and trashy RV that hasn’t been maintained well

Also what happens if you get enough of these trashy type of RVs in a park?

Then before you know it, the RV park has a reputation for being a low quality park.

And that’s just the opposite of what RV park owners really want. Instead, they want good things being said about their park

They don’t want a reputation for having a whole collection of low quality RVs.

So 10 years is used as a number where they feel that these kind of problems can start to happen. Or start to show up.

In other words, for the first 10 years of an RV’s life it’s generally felt that they’re going to have a decent appearance.

But getting beyond that age things can start to get dicey. Now admittedly, that’s not a perfect rule.

What About Older RVs That Have Been Well Cared For?

And we all know that there are some older rigs that look fantastic. In fact there are many 30 – 40 year old RVs that are in great shape.

And that’s because their owners have cared for them very well. They look after them and they’re always maintaining them.

An older well cared for RV that is in good shape
An older well cared for RV that is in good shape

But on the other hand, I have also seen just the opposite too. In fact, I have seen five year old RVs that have been essentially trashed.

They look just awful and are in poor shape. Because the owners just didn’t care about them at all and haven’t done anything to care for them.

So clearly, the rule is not perfect. But it is generally sort of understandable and reasonable from the RV park owner’s point of view.

How Many Campgrounds Have The RV 10 Year Rule?

So how many parks have this rule? The truth is that it’s not all RV parks. But it is a significant number, and it is growing at this point.

But that’s not the real question. The real question we want to answer is, how strictly is that rule being enforced by the parks that have it?

In other words, if your RV is 10 years old or older, how hard is it going to be for you to find camping accommodations in the future?

Well here’s the answer to that. Most RV parks only use it in very extreme cases.

Do RV Parks That Have The Rule Always Enforce It?

Yes, they have the rule. It’s on their books and so on. But they rarely actually pull it out and use it.

Also it seems like it’s most often actually enforced in areas like Arizona and Florida in the winter time.

Because these are high traffic areas for RVers. Places where they’ve got a whole lot of people with RVs anyway.

So RV park owners can be a little bit more picky about things. And park appearance is very critical in these areas too.

Because if somebody doesn’t like staying in one RV park, that’s no problem.

They can usually just go down the road and find another RV park and stay there instead.

A park where there aren’t any junky RVs all around them. And so that is where you see this kind of rule often in force.

Why Do Some Higher End RV Parks Enforce The RV 10 Year Rule?

However there are some high-end RV parks that strictly enforce this rule pretty much all the time now.

And why is that? Mainly because they cater to a higher end crowd. They want RVers that are ready to spend a lot of money.

And they usually have a lot of amenities for them to enjoy. So they want people who spend money to stay there.

And as a result, they want to keep out any RVs that could offend that higher end crowd.

So what should you do if you find a situation where you are asked about your RV’s age. Especially you have an RV that’s older than 10 years?

What If you Are Asked The Age Of Your Older RV?

Well, to handle this situation properly, you need to have been doing something long before you’re asked about it.

And what you should have been doing is to make sure that you keep your RV looking good. You know, maintain your RV well.

And especially the outside appearance. Make sure that it looks good to folks that are going to be viewing it.

How To Keep Your RV Looking Good No Matter Its Age

Now I’ve made some videos on how to do that. And it’s not difficult at all to keep your RV looking great for its entire life.

Of course, a lot of people think that it’s too much work they will have to do.

Or that they’re going to have to pay a lot of money to have detailers constantly keeping it up for them.

But no. It’s actually very simple and inexpensive to maintain the exterior of an RV yourself.

In fact, there’s a system I use that’s easy, quick and very effective. And it’s worked for us through all of our years of full-time travels.

In fact, I’ve made a video that explains how that can be done. And you can watch that video by clicking on this link.

Watch my video on how to keep your RV looking good
Watch my video on how to keep your RV looking good

I invite you to check that RV wash and wax system out right away. It’s very inexpensive and it only takes me about an hour to do.

The Most Important Thing To Do To Prepare For The Rule

So now, suppose you get your RV in good condition and it’s really looking good.

Then now is the time take a good digital photo of that RV. And keep it on hand.

Have it ready so that you can send it to any RV park that requests a photo to be able to see what your RV looks like.

In fact, here is a photo of our rig. And this is what we like to send to RV parks who ask us about it.

Be ready for the RV 10 year rule with a photo like this
Be ready for the RV 10 year rule with a photo like this

Now if you’re an RV park owner, would you have any objection to that RV being in your park? I know that I wouldn’t!

So it’s important to have the photo ready. Have it on hand so that you can send it whenever it’s needed.

Now the reality is this. We have been all over this country for five years now.

And we’ve only been asked for a photo twice in all of that time. And that includes all of our travels across the U.S.

In fact, it also includes Arizona and Florida as well. And both times when we sent them the photo they said “that’s just fine, no problem. We approve your reservation”.

Conclusion

So I can say this with confidence. If you don’t stay at exclusively high-end campgrounds all the time, it’s really not going to be much of a problem.

It’s unlikely that you’re going to have any problems with the RV 10 year rule.

Of course, is the RV 10 year rule something you need to be aware of?

Oh yes, it certainly is. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s not something that you need to be overly worried and concerned about.

Not as long as you maintain your RV and you keep it looking good. Which is really what you should be doing anyway.

Well that’s it for now. Have safe and happy RV travels, no matter how old your RV is.

Silver Springs State Park And Campground – Our Review

The Silver Springs State Park and Campground is located near the beautiful township of Silver Springs. And it is only about 7-8 miles away from Ocala, FL.

The physical address of Silver Springs State Park is 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Silver Springs, FL. This is the main entrance of the Park itself where the attraction is.

About a mile away is where the campground entrance is located though. The actual address of the campground is 1425 NE 58th Ave. in Ocala, FL.

There is also an Equestrian entrance that you can look up online, if you need that information.

Silver Springs State Park Campground

Not enough can be said about this beautiful campground which is located in a gorgeous area of Florida. It is an area that is not quite as congested as many other areas of Florida to visit.

It is reminiscent of what we lovingly refer to as “Old Florida”. Meaning that it is where the landscape is not altered to look so groomed and pristine. It has a very natural look.

And there is wildlife galore. Also, fantastic hiking trails are located all through this region. Not just hiking, but bicycle, canoe and kayak trails to explore too.

Within about 45 minutes, there are many other places to explore that are part of the Florida state park system.

There are several bubbling springs with gallons and gallons of fresh water coming up through the aquifer. And usually they allow non or electric powered boating in these areas.

There is also swimming in water that remains a constant temperature all year round. These are great places to visit, particularly on a warm day. But enough about the area for now.

Silver Springs State Park Campground Features

The campground, what can you expect? Well, this is a very nice state park campground. But there are only about 59 sites though.

Click here for a campground map of Silver Springs State Park

They have recently upgraded all their electric to include 50 amp as well as 30 amp at all the RV sites. And as with many state parks, there are very few sites with sewer.

In fact this park has more than most state parks with 13 sites with sewer connections. But that really is not a problem. Why?

Because they have a double dump station to take care of that part of your camping needs. Which works well if you are not able to reserve a site with a sewer hookup.

The sites themselves have plenty of room in them and plenty of space between them. Most are deep enough to hold a larger rig and remain pretty level for the most part.

You definitely have a feeling of privacy when camping in these spots. How are the access roads though?

Well, to get to the campground itself is right off a main route in Forida called State Route 40. And the road leading from the ranger station to the campground itself is paved and well taken care of.

The roads in the campground are not paved all the way through. But they are well packed and very easy to navigate, even for large RV’s.

Silver Springs State Park Amenities

How about park amenities? The bath houses are very clean and well kept up. They even offer a washer/dryer if you are in need of those.

Campground WI-FI is not offered, probably because of the close proximity to Ocala. But there seems to be no issue with cell service from the major cell carriers.

So, you should be able to have easy connectivity through your phone or hot spot.

They also have a nice little playground for the kids if you have a family. And right from the campground itself you can go right onto quite a few hiking trails.

But what is really nice is that when you stay in this campground, you have free admission to Silver Springs itself.

Access To Silver Springs

This is an area with beautiful gardens to walk through. And it is home to the famous glass bottom boats (which are an additional cost, of course).

There is much information about the history of Silver Springs itself to enjoy. And there is an eating establishment on site and activities for the kids too.

They keep the area immaculate and it is such a peaceful place to walk through. Or you can just sit on the huge deck in rocking chairs and reflect.

Also, you can either bring your own or rent canoes and kayaks to navigate down the Silver River. It is crystal clear and you can see the bottom with all the fish and turtles swimming beside you as you go.

There are beautiful river banks with even some monkeys that live there. They are holdovers from when they had a wildlife zoo as part of the Silver Springs attraction.

So as you can see, this campground is unique and does offer a lot.

Silver Springs State Park – Surrounding Area

As was mentioned at the the beginning of the article, the area is within about 45 minutes or so of many other springs and parks to visit.

Many of them are free to access. And if you have not seen an area like this before, it is so interesting and beautiful.

If you choose to go a little further to the west for a day, there are other great places to see. Like Homossasa Springs or Weeki Wachee. And they are known for the manatees in their waters.

How far away from civilization are you at this campground? Not far at all. Silver Springs township is only about 1 mile away.

It offers restaurants and grocery stores. But Ocala itself is only about 6-8 miles away.

And there is a Walmart on Route 40 on the way to Ocala along with Harbor Freight and Home Depot. Ocala offers anything you want as far as groceries and restaurants.

Just so you know, Ocala is one of the RV strongholds in Florida. Although not as many RV’s as perhaps the Tampa area. But it has many RV dealers and repair shops.

So if any issues happen with your RV, you should be able to get it taken care of there.

So how far is this campground from some of the bigger cities that we hear of in Florida? Well, Orlando area is about 85 miles away or about 1 1/2 hours.

And Tampa is about 100 miles away or almost 2 hours. Just far enough away to enjoy the quiet of the real “Florida” at Silver Springs.

Our Conclusion

So, with all this information do you have any idea on how we would rate this campground? Definitely the area would be a big 5 stars. And the campground we would rate as 4.5 stars.

We would consider it a 5 star campground, but for two reasons we would rate it a bit lower. First, because it is so loved, it is sometimes difficult to get reservations. So booking out quite a bit in advance is usually necessary.

Secondly, many RVers like amenities such as pools, and other activities such as that. So since they do not offer those things, we will lower it to the 4.5 star rating.

Would we visit here again? In a hot second!!!! We have been here before three times, and would definitely go back again!

Thank you Silver Springs for a beautiful park and well kept campground!!!!

Fort DeSoto Campground – One Of Our Favorites RV Parks

Fort DeSoto Campground is located in Fort DeSoto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway So., Tierra Verde, FL. And it is near St. Petersburg, FL.

It’s a county park in the county of Pinellas. Florida has a beautiful state and county park system that allows you to see the beauty of the state.

Fort DeSoto itself is a very nice state park. And it has a sought after campground located within it. In fact, many of the sites in the campground sit right on the water.

So needless to say, the salt water views are beautiful and the sunsets are to die for.

Fort DeSoto Campground Features

But let’s talk a little about the campground first. This campground has 236 sites and it is divided into 3 sections.

Click here to view the map for Fort DeSoto Campground

There is a section with 85 sites that accommodates tents, vans, pop-ups and RV’s that are up to 16 feet long. At the time of this writing they run $37.86/night.

If you want one located on the water, it costs a little more at $42.38. These prices include taxes, etc.

Their next section, sites 86-164, is for those folks that have pets. The last section, sites 164-236, is for folks with no pets. And both of these two sections can accommodate RV’s of any size.

These campsite prices run $43.51/night. And if you want waterfront, the price is a little more at $48.03 including tax.

These sites have either 30 or 50 amp electric and water. But there is no sewer hookup, as is the case with most of the state parks in Florida.

They do have two very nice dump stations that can take care of those needs though.

Fort DeSoto Campground Sites And Reservations

One word of caution about Fort DeSoto Campground though ….book early. They fill up fast!!

Our experience is that they have a very pleasant office staff. They are actually Florida park rangers, who are extremely helpful.

And the campground also has a camp store where you can pick up a few things, including firewood.

At certain times of the year, it also has a little snack bar in it too. And it even has chairs on the porch that overlook the water.

What are the sites like? Well, they are dirt sites. And most of them are fairly level. But they do have some pull-through sites too.

They are definitely nestled in native Florida foliage and each one gives you privacy. The ones on the water are gorgeous. But as you can imagine, are a little more difficult to secure.

The ability to navigate the park is easy, even if you have a bigger RV. The roads leading to the park are very spacious and it is easy to get to the campground.

Fort DeSoto Campground Amenities

The park doesn’t have many amenities though. It has a couple of small playgrounds. And of course, bath houses with showers. They are older but clean.

But quite honestly, with the ocean as your backdrop to this campground, you don’t need much else. That being said…let’s talk about Ft. DeSoto Park.

Fort DeSoto Campground - lots to see and do nearby
Lots to see and do nearby to Fort DeSoto Campground

Things To Do Nearby

The park itself is just wonderful!!!! It is 1136 acres of unadulterated Florida land with beautiful wildlife and landscapes.

It has 5 interconnected islands or keys. And two of these have ferries that you can take, so you can explore them.

There are beach plants, mangroves and 328 species of birds, plus much more wildlife.

And there are 7 miles of oceanfront. About 3 miles of which are white sandy beaches with designated swimming areas.

There is also one beach that is a dog beach, if you have a furry friend who likes the water.

Anything else in this park??? Definitely!!! There are pavillions to picnic at. And two fishing piers (must have a fishing license), a snack bar and a souvenir shop.

Why a souvenir shop? Well, this was a fort at one time. And the fort is still there to explore along with a small museum. So yes, you can find a little bit of history at this place too.

Boating And Hiking Opportunities

There are also places to launch your boat if you desire, to explore the area or fish. In fact, there is a really cool 2 1/2 mile canoe trail, if you like to canoe or kayak.

There are also trails that can be used for biking or walking. And local businesses rent wind jammers and other aquatic equipment too. That way you can enjoy your time on the ocean.

If you want to just get into the park, it is only $5. Of course, if you are camping in the campground, your entrance fee to the park is included.

Fort DeSoto Campground – Shopping Nearby

What is nearby for provisioning? Well, there is a Walmart about 10 miles away. But there are plenty of other grocery stores in between too.

Publix is a huge grocery chain in Florida and they are just about everywhere. But there are also hardware stores and big box stores as well. So there is not a problem provisioning.

Local Restaurants

What about places to eat? Well, you are near bigger cities and eclectic townships.

So not only do you have the normal chain restaurants. But plenty of Mom and Pop restaurants that are unique to the area.

And if you want seafood, just throw a rock. They are just about everywhere you go. So you can please any taste and everyone will be happy with something close by.

As far as things to do….you are on the ocean. Plenty of water activities, botanical gardens, etc. And just hanging out on the beach enjoying the shelling and the sunshine.

The area offers way too many things to even mention. But if you visit the area, you are sure to find something to do!!!!

Our Conclusion

So how would we rate the area and the Fort DeSoto campground? The surroundings is an absolute 5 stars. This is just a very nice part of Florida to visit.

How about the campground??? Well, we would give it a 4.5 stars. The campground area itself is very serene. And the beauty it brings for everyone to enjoy is outstanding.

The facilities we would give a 4 star rating. It is a little older and could use some updating and there are not a ton of amenities.

But once again, given the area, you don’t need much. Especially when you are staying at a beautiful place right on the ocean.

So all in all, you may definitely want to put this on your agenda if you are visiting the St. Petersburg area.

Thank you Fort DeSoto for the lovely stays we have had there. We look forward to many more!