I stayed at a campground for the first time in a camper van during the off-season, and I didn't think it was worth the price

Frank OlitoFeb 26, 2021, 21:08 IST

My camper van at the campground.Frank Olito/ Insider

In January, I rented a camper van and stayed at a campground for the first time.
The campground, which cost $60 a night, was largely empty and some amenities were unavailable.
After sleepless nights, the experience just didn't seem worth the steep cost to me.

I'm the first to admit that I'm a city person through and through, so when I booked a stay at a campground for the first time, I was immediately apprehensive.

I decided to rent a luxury camper van back in January and looked into campgrounds around New York City. I was surprised by how few campgrounds were open during the off-season, but, eventually, I booked the Philadelphia South/ Clarksboro KOA campground in Clarksboro, New Jersey, which was just outside of Philadelphia.

When the weekend came, I left my city apartment and ventured into the unknown world of campgrounds. Here's how it went.

The night before I arrived at the campground, I slept in a Cracker Barrel parking lot, so I was looking forward to a more RV-friendly atmosphere.

My rented camper van in the Cracker Barrel parking lot. Frank Olito/ Insider

When I arrived, I checked in at the office and learned my campsite was all the way in the back of the grounds.

The welcome center with houses next door. Frank Olito/ Insider

The campsite had a gravel driveway for parking, a patch of cement, a picnic table, and a fire pit.

The campsite. Frank Olito/ Insider

The campsite also had a hookup stand that would come to haunt me later in the night.

The amp set up. Frank Olito/ Insider

When I looked around, I was surprised that the campground looked largely empty.

The largely empty campground. Frank Olito/ Insider

I decided to walk around the campground to see what it had to offer.

A skirted RV at the campground. Frank Olito/ Insider

A few parking spots down from my campsite, there was a bathroom and laundromat.

The bathrooms. Frank Olito/ Insider

I was also surprised to find a few cabins that people could rent for short-term stays.

The cabins. Frank Olito/ Insider

Next to the cabins was a pond where people could fish.

The lake. Frank Olito/ Insider

There was also an empty children's playground.

The playground. Frank Olito/ Insider

There were a few communal seating areas, which were also empty.

The communal seating area. Frank Olito/ Insider

At the front of the campground, there was a swimming pool, which was closed for the season.

The pools. Frank Olito/ Insider

After my tour of the campground, I went to explore the city of Philadelphia for the day and returned to a dark van at night.

Trying to sleep in a winter jacket. Frank Olito/ Insider

Thankfully, the morning hours at the campground were the best part of my entire experience.

Morning in the camper van. Frank Olito/ Insider

The following night wasn't as cold as the first night, but I still missed the warmth and comfort of my bed at home.

The view of the campground out of the windshield. Frank Olito/ Insider

Although the campground was largely peaceful and clean, I don't recommend heading to one during the off-season.