55 and Older RV Campgrounds: What RVers are Saying

Our RV Lifestyle community members chime in on the 55 and older RV campgrounds. Plus, some helpful information about the restricted parks…

Did you know that some RV parks have age restrictions? They offer the same amenities as other campgrounds and resorts but require that its patrons are over 55. 

These places can be great for those boomers that have found they no longer want to camp with children running around. Or at least not all of the time. 

The following covers where you can find 55+ RV campgrounds and what you can expect from them. 

What States Have the Most 55 and Older RV Campgrounds? 

While every state has 55 and older RV campgrounds, two states take the cake in that category. They are Arizona and Florida. 

There are several reasons that these two states attract the most retirees. 

First, Arizona and Florida have beautiful weather. They can get pretty warm in the summer months, but they are a great place to find a temperate winter climate. 

Both states are also tax-friendly for retirees, appealing to many folks. 

Yuma, Arizona, is home to the most 55 and older RV campgrounds in the United States. Out of the top 25 parks in the city, 40% of them are age restrictive.

Other popular cities in Arizona featuring 55+ parks are Tucson and Phoenix. 

Speaking of Arizona, here are the Absolute Best Places to Camp in Arizona for RVers.

Why Do People Love 55+ RV Parks? 

In short, folks are drawn to these 55 and older RV campgrounds for their age-appropriate activities. Most parks have excellent amenities that encourage a sense of community and outdoor recreation. 

Most places offer pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and even golf courses. 

Many parks also have a recreation center that hosts bingo nights, dinners, live music, dancing, arts and crafts, games and cards, and other hobby workshops. 

While each park is different, you can expect to find some activities available to residents. Many also offer a meeting place for snowbird clubs to meet. These outside organizations have their events and are an excellent place for people to meet peers and begin friendships. 

Are 55+ Parks More Expensive Than Normal RV Parks?  

The answer to this question is that there is no answer. It depends on the park. 

Some 55 and older RV campgrounds are much more affordable than others. You will pay for the amenities you receive, so parks that offer more will cost more. 

There are some ways to save money, however. Consider joining a camping club, like Escapees. Jennifer and I love this membership because it includes many places to stay. 

Escapees is perfect for every age camper, not just those over 55. With your membership, they combine two clubs: Escapees and Xcapers RV Club. 

The other thing we love about this club is finding lifelong friends. When you stay at 55+ parks, you will find other like-minded campers there. You often become instant friends and find that you see each other at different places throughout the year. 

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Mike and Jennifer’s Summer T-Shirts for your next adventure

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Can People Under 55 Stay There? 

Again, you have to look at each park to answer this question. Some 55 and older RV campgrounds will allow folks younger than 55 to stay. At the same time, others adhere to a strict age policy. 

The bottom line is that these 55 and older RV campgrounds want respectful people that will be aware of those around them. If younger people are approved and follow the rules, there should be no issue staying there. 

Also, be aware that the retirees in many age-restrictive parks want a quiet environment. It is not the place to bring young children. While we older folks love the sounds of children’s laughter, there is a time and place that we want to hear it. 

Most parks do not have an issue allowing those younger than 55 to stay for a short period if they have the availability. 

What our RV Lifestyle Community Says

I got into writing this article when I realized there was so much interest in 55 and older RV campgrounds from our RV Lifestyle Community. 

On April 16, our member, John, asked for opinions about adults-only campgrounds in a Facebook post in our RV Lifestyle group. He said that it seems to be a relatively untapped market and explained why he is interested in these clubs. 

John said, “If we are going away for a trip as a couple, we’d actually pay more to have a kid-free experience. On two of our recent trips, a pool day was sidelined when a kid pooped in it. I grew up as a wild kid in a campground, so I have nothing against kids running free. Yet as I get older, my ideal camping situation is evolving.” 

I think many people can relate to our member’s point of view. While many of us raised our children and have grandchildren that we love dearly, we also enjoy the quiet of an adult-only vacation. 

When other RV Lifestyle members weighed in, they had a lot to say. 

Many members commented that they would love to visit a smoke-free campground. Debbie commented that she wishes “there were smoke free ones. Or at a minimum smoking area separate from non smokers.” 

Megan echoed this sentiment that she would even visit a smoke-free campground rather than a kid-free one. 

She also added that “if you want a kid-free campground go to Arizona. They have lots.” 

Another RV lifestyle member commented on wanting to enjoy a kid-free campground, even though she is not yet 55. She wrote, “Yes!!! (and I’m a mom of 3) I feel like we are in a weird zone now- kids are teenagers, and they rarely come with, but not ready for a 55+ campground. We still want to have fun!”

Her comment received some interesting feedback. John agreed with her and went on to say, “My ideal kid-free weekend is by a pool with a drink in-hand. I’d like a kid-free campground that is still fun.” 

All in all, many of our RV community members would like to enjoy a campground for adults only. Somewhere that offers excellent amenities, and fun activities, without some of the issues that naturally come along with children. 

How do you find over 55 RV Campgrounds?

One way is to just Google “over 55 RV campgrounds near me” or check your membership clubs or ask in our Facebook Group.

Mike and Jennifer’s Favorite Places in Florida – all 3 ebooks!

We RVers may wander far and wide but it’s true for most of us that we end up with some favorite “Go-To” places – places that draw us back again and again.

Florida is one of those places for us. And we know it is for many RVers looking to get away and explore during the winter. 

That’s why we’ve created three guides, covering Florida’s Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast, and the Keys. 

Each of these guides is a seven-day guided exploration of one of the coasts. And each stop is a curated view of the best things that we’ve enjoyed on this trip and want you to experience.

Altogether these guides are over 300 pages of content! 

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FAQ’s about Florida Gulf Coast beaches of interest to RVers

What is the weather like along Florida’s Gulf Coast?

The weather along Florida’s Gulf Coast can vary depending on the time of year and the specific location. In general, the area experiences hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters.

The Panhandle region can be quite cool in January. It is seldom below freezing, but daytime highs are typically in the 50s. It warms up about 10 degrees each month.

You can also generally add about 10 degrees for every 150 miles you travel south down the Florida peninsula.

By the time you hit Naples, daytime highs in January are in the comfortable 70s.

Did Hurricane Ian destroy many beach campgrounds on the Gulf Coast?

While it severely damaged almost two dozen RV parks and campgrounds, about 8-10 campgrounds in the Naples-Ft. Myers area were completely destroyed. Most of the damaged campgrounds have been repaired and reopened.

Check with the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds if you have questions or concerns.

Are there any websites that can help me get a reservation for a Florida beach campground?

One of the best resources we can recommend is called Campnab. This service monitors parks for cancelations and sends you an alert when an opening matches your criteria. That said, it isn’t magic. The app doesn’t create availabilities. 

The service works – but it is not free.

Campnab offers two ways to use the service. The first is individual pay-per-use scans. These watch for vacancies at a specific park for a specific date. These work well if you know exactly when and where you intend to camp. Pay-per-use scans cost $10 – $20, depending on how frequently you want them to check availability.

The second way to use the service is through a membership. These typically run monthly and are tailored to those who camp more frequently or are looking to maximize their chance of finding a site. Membership allows you to scan multiple parks and/or dates simultaneously. With memberships, you pay a monthly recurring fee ($10, $20, $30, or $50), depending on your needs.

Are there places in Florida where you can literally camp on the beach for free?

Not many. And they are very pricey. If you want to sleep directly on the sand in an RV, you’ll have to stay at a developed commercial campground like Camp Gulf on the Emerald Coast or an RV resort like Big Pine Key Resort in the keys. Some state parks like the Gamble Rogers State Memorial Recreation Area in the Atlantic Coast or  Bahia Honda State Park in the keys or Fort Desto State Park near St. Petersburg have beachside sites, too.

But are there free, unrestricted RV beach camping spots in Florida?

Sorry, none that I know of that would work for RVs.

There is unrestricted camping on wild beaches on a couple of islands, but you need a boat to get there, and it is for tent camping only. If you want to sleep directly on the sand, there is Anclote Key offshore Tarpon Springs, and Shell Key in Pinellas County. Another favorite is Keewaydin Island between Naples and Marco Island but that area remains pretty devasted from Hurricane Ian.

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