We spent many years tent camping. When doing so, you are entirely dependent on the campground or RV Park to meet and satisfy your restroom needs. Even now that we have “graduated” to a small 18” trailer that does contain a modest toilet/shower combination, we tend to make use of the “facilities” provided by our hosts whenever we are able to do so.

Due to my rather extensive experience in enjoying the restrooms provided for campers’ use at a large number of facilities, I have become what I would consider a “connoisseur” of these accommodations. I write this post to share my ideas of what campers can look for, but also for those running, remodeling or designing campgrounds or RV parks to help win over the largest number of travelers.

While we were traveling last month, we paid a return visit to the Holiday RV Park in North Platte, NE and I got the idea for this piece. We had first visited the park last summer on our journey west and it left a very favorable impression. This year, as I was looking over the park, the restrooms jumped out as one of the key components of that positive impression.

Here are my thoughts at what makes for a terrific restroom facility:

1. ^[1]Sufficient shower stalls—When on vacation or traveling, no one wants to have to wake an hour earlier than they need to just to be assured of being able to get a shower before taking off for the day. Similarly, no one wants to have to stand in line for 30” of precious vacation/travel time to wait for an available shower stall. Having enough stalls to accommodate the needs of travelers most of the time is a key here. Holiday RV Park has six stalls and during my two visits and four showers there, I have never had to wait. This is important to me.
2. Hooks! The shower stalls at Holiday have three hooks each, enough to securely hold your  towel, the clothing you are removing AND the clothing you will be donning after your shower. ^[2]This is one of the simple and inexpensive additions that makes these restrooms well thought-out and well-designed! There is also a bench in the dressing area of the stall upon which you can set your bag and other things you don’t want to get wet. Very helpful!
3. Separate areas—Separate shower and dressing room areas in each stall are also very helpful in preventing all of your things from getting wet. ^[3]In addition, Holiday has a regular shower-type door separating these two areas, as well as a small ridge between them that prevents water from running out of the shower and into the dressing area, drenching your shoes.
4. ^[4]A well-lit entrance—There is nothing worse than wandering around a campground or RV park in the middle of the night searching for the restroom. While most parks have some minimal lighting for guests, Holiday has a well lighted, easy to spot entrance that I have never had to search for, even after traveling 15-16 hours in a day and waking out of a very deep sleep.

These may seem like small, inconsequential items or like simple common sense things to add to a restroom, but I can tell you I have encountered many campgrounds and RV parks that did not have some or most of these things. And it is the rare park that boasts them all. It was a refreshing change to spend another night at the Holiday RV park and be able to truly enjoy my restroom experience. It is, after all, our home away from home, right? Comfort matters.

To find an RV park you will find comfortable, search Woodall’s inspected RV parks ^[5].

Last 5 posts by Diane Berry

• Protecting Our Investment ^[12] - May 19th, 2013
• Ready, Get Set...Hike! ^[13] - May 12th, 2013
• From Williams Lake to Wheeler Peak? ^[14] - May 5th, 2013
• A Beautiful Spring Hike ^[15] - April 28th, 2013
• A Spring Camping Adventure ^[16] - April 21st, 2013

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