Camping Dictionary
Let’s take some of the mystery out of booking a campsite by breaking down some common terms you might encounter while planning your trip. You might find these terms looking at campground reviews or websites. This also addresses common options you might be asked about when booking a campsite.
Amp- 30 or 50- vehicles with less electricity demand will have a 30 amp plug and vehicles with more demand (think full size fridge & dual AC units) will require 50 amp. As a renter your vehicle is most likely a 30 amp.
Bathhouse- climate controlled building in a campground with showers and toilets
Camp Store- small convenience store that typically sells firewood, basic toiletries, basic food, and likely some souvenirs
Class A- very large, think bus
Class B- smallest class of motorhome. Think vans.
Class C- built pickup chassis. Typically a smaller RV and can fit in a traditional parking spot.
Dispersed Camping- usually located on national forest land or BLM but outside of a designated campground. No services. I.E. no trash services, bathrooms, water or tables. Typically will have an established fire pit and could be marked with a sign.
Electric Only- site will have a place to plug in for electricity. No septic hookup.
Fifth Wheel- tow behind RV that connects via hitch inside a truck bed
Forest Service- campground run by the national forest (rather than the national park). Tend to be primitive, affordable and be at nice locations.
Full Hookups- site will have plug for electricity, spigot for water and hole in the ground for your septic hose to go into
Hookups- what you plug in the RV into or “hookup” to
Motorhome- any RV that is has driving capabilities built into it (not a tow behind)
Pit Toilet- kinda what it sounds like. No flush toilets here. Expect a hole in the ground and be sure and close the lid when you’re done.
Primitive- campground or sites will not have electricity and if there are bathrooms expect no running water.
Pull Through Site- Sites you can drive into and then drive straight out of when you leave. No backing required. This is especially helpful when towing.
RV- longer and taller than a van. Likely will have larger/more appliances than a van and a larger bathroom.
Site Length- some sites have length restrictions. A typical van is about 18-22 ft long while a small RV is about 26 ft. You will want to make sure you have exact measurement for your rented vehicle before reserving a site. Places can be pretty strict.
Slide Outs- some RVs have a portion that slides out to give you more space when parked. When booking campsites sometimes campgrounds will ask about slideouts.
Travel Trailer- tow behind RV situation, connects with a bumper hitch
Van- shorter in length and height than a RV. Will have less head room and probably not ideal for someone over 6 ft. Sometimes have toilets and showers but not always.
