We are really wanting an RV (trailer or motorhome).
We love the State Parks but it is almost impossible to get a spot at one these days.
I really don't want to get an RV and stay in parking lots with other RVs right next to you (like an RV Park).
What are you yall's expierences? Recommendations?

I'd like to know as well...

I love state parks because of the elbow room. The key is book way in advance or be flexible with your destination. Sometimes moving is an option. You maybe can't get a single spot for 5 nights, but you might get it for 3 and another spot for 2.

My wife love the stacked parking lots because of the full hookups and cable TV.

You have to reserve Texas State Parks well in advance. You should be making Spring reservations now. You make a deposit for the first day. If you cancel, they refund your deposit less a $5 fee.
Oklahoma has nice state parks too and I believe they are first come, first served. That works well if you can arrive early. It doesn’t work so well if you arrive late on Friday night.

I believe you can find some RV spots on Airbnb but I'm not sure what type.

And BTW, for some of you disabled Vets......you can go to your nearest State Park and get your "Get in Free Pass". Something I haven't done yet! Don't forget Your Letter.

You can only reserve 3 months in advance.

The Rv business is insane right now, was told all the babyboomers are cashing out and buying RV's, traveling around the country and not paying high dollar property taxes. We have one huge RV dealership to do and two more in the pipeline.

We are fulltimers in our 5th wheel,love it. Texas state park reservations are a joke, though during the winter months you dont always have to move every 14 days. As far as elbow to elbow parks, if you get out of DFW and other big cities, there are hundreds that are not . We typically stay most places a month before moving and other than a few winter months in South Texas, seldom in Texas anymore. Yes The RV world is booming right know so prices will be higher. Yes make reservations way in advavce.

Before we parked our RV at Lake Fork, we traveled with it quite a bit. The key is to make reservations in advance. There were places we would go in Florida that we had to make a reservation almost a year in advance. Same way in Arkansas. Never went to Oklahoma because they will take reservations for the state parks. It was a lot of fun and I miss doing it, hope to get back into it soon.

Oklahoma has great parks, enjoyed out stay there a few weeks ago.

Yep, when they reopened the state parks after the CV13 closure, they shortened reservations from 6 months to 3.

We’re retired so we camp during the week and it’s a little easier. I made reservations for Monday, October 5th today at Brazos Bend SP. It’s close to Houston so it’s hard to reserve a spot on the weekends.

My brother and SIL got a new 5th wheel this spring. They both work so they camp on weekends. They’ve been staying at the high end private RV parks where your stacked side by side and pay $55+ a night. I don’t care for those places. So far, we haven’t camped with them. My preference is SP’s.

Jimmy

We have been doing the RV thing occasionally the past 4 years. Bought ours in 2016. We have camped at Tyler State Park with the grandkids 2 years ago, and it was good but the reservation thing is a beating and sometimes you get the worst spot. There are a lot of "theme" RV parks across the country and many really nice spacious campgrounds. We like the Bluegrass festivals and jams in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. MountainView, Arkansas is awesome for example. The whole town revolves around Acoustic instrument pickers and jammers. I went in September a few years back and there was a "Mountain Dulcimer" convention going on. Great people, good time for us there. 3 Weeks ago, we spent a week at Grapeland, Texas. Salmon Lake Park. Big bluegrass festival, but the park is terrific. Really clean facilities, lake with slide and diving board for kids, old saloon like buildings to play in, etc. Last week, we were at the Texarkana RV Music Park. There is also a nice park hidden in Canton that not many know about. It is spacious but has the concrete pad. It has a nice pond. It is Mill Creek Ranch Resort. It is a nice quick getaway.

One thing we always look for in an RV park is "Full Hookup" which means Sewer, Electric and Water. The smaller RVs have much smaller Grey Water and Black Water holding tanks. We found out real quick that the Grey water tank (33 gallon) will fill up with just one of my wifes showers. So if you don't have a full sewer hookup you have to pull it to the dump station to empty every day. Same thing with the blackwater tank (poo and p), but it doesn't fill as fast as the grey water tank.

You would be amazed at some of the monster RV rigs "Olds" pull around and set up. It is inspirational to us and we are in in mid 60s. Couples in their 80's still backing these rigs in, connecting up 5th wheel trailers, pulling cars behind them etc. Amazing stuff to me.

The other thing to consider in RVs is their weight and the "safe" capability of your tow vehicle. The salesman will try to sell you that 40 footer to pull with your Pathfinder but do not be fooled by the snake oil. Run the calculations on weights and pulling and cargo capacities. A friend bought a 2020 Ford Explorer and a 32 Foot RV hitch tow trailer. He has the equalizer hitch and all but said it only feels stable pulling around 62-63 mph. I think he bought more trailer than tow vehicle capabilities. I bought a smaller trailer but a bigger tow vehicle. Ford website has a lot of info on this stuff.

Good luck.

My wife and I have discussed it but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.

I looked into buying a RV and taking it to various lakes (RV parks) each year for a few months. After pricing monthly rates and the cost of the RV, I nixed that idea pretty quickly. Unless you own the property where you’re going to park it or live in it full time, it’s expensive.