Planning Your Camping Trip but Worried About Electricity Availability? Read On! In this article, we’ll discuss a few ways to make sure you book a campsite with electricity if you need one. We’ll also cover a few ways to get electricity at your campsite, if your campsite doesn’t offer it itself. Some people need electricity at campsites for all different reasons, from creature comforts, to keeping medication refrigerated or CPAPs functioning. Whatever your specific reason for asking if campgrounds have electricity, I want this article to ease your pains planning to help get you and your family and friends outside easier.
Do Campgrounds Have Electricity?
Yes, many campgrounds, including tent campgrounds, offer electricity to campers at their campsite. They do this via “power pedestals” at campsites, which are short electrical poles that have anywhere from 15 amp to 50 amp outlets on them to help power your devices.
How Does Campground Power Work?
Campsites that offer power to their campers will have a power pedestal, pictured in the article, with typically a few different types of receptacles (outlets) for campers to utilize when they’re camping.
You do not pay per watt or per minute when you use the electricity, the cost is simply baked into whatever you paid when you reserved the site. So you can use all the electricity you want, or none at all, your payment for the campsite when you reserved will not change.
The power pedestal is in an “always on” state, so as soon as you arrive you can treat the pedestal just like an outlet in your own home.
However, there are 3 main receptacles (outlets) you may find on your power pedestal, so you may need to bring the proper adapter to utilize the outlets. Read on for the info.
Do Tent Campsites Have Electricity?
Yes, some tent only campsites have electricity. They are becoming more and more common to find, especially in State Parks and National Parks.
When you are booking a site, look for the phrases, “Tent Only Electric” and “Standard Electric.” Those sites will be great options for tent campers who need electricity.
“Tent Only Electric” refers to electric sites that does not allow Camper Trailers and other RVs.
“Standard Electric” refers to sites that do allow Camper trailers and RVs, so if you choose this site for your tent, you will likely have some RV neighbors.
What Electrical Plugs Do Campsites Use? Regular Outlets?
There are 3 main types of outlets found on power pedestals. The outlets are named by their amperage.
A 15 amp outlet, a 30 amp outlet, and a 50 amp outlet.
The outlet you’re probably wondering the most about, if you’re American, Canadian, or Mexican, is a 15 amp outlet. This is the “regular” outlet you find in your home, the one you charge your phone into, or plug your coffee maker into, etc.
| Amps | Description | What Does It Support? |
| 15 Amp Outlet | Typical American AC outlet found in homes. | Common Appliances: Phones, Coffee Makers, TVs, Refrigerators, etc. |
| 30 Amp Outlet | Most campers, from small pop-ups to large travel trailers. | Large Appliances: Same as above, but adding a Rooftop Air Conditioner would warrant a 30 amp outlet. |
| 50 Amp Outlet | The largest travel trailers and RVs being made. | Many Large Appliances: Same as above, but adding a Washer & Dryer and second Air Conditioner would warrant a 50 amp outlet. |
If you see 20 amp outlet being advertised, your 15 amp appliances will fit into it.
50 amp outlets will be used when the camper doesn’t just have a single fridge, a single air conditioner, and other small appliances like a TV and phones to charge.
50 amps is typically used when there are likely two air conditioners, a large fridge (not just a tall one, but think full residential size) a washer, an electric dryer, etc.
50 amp outlets are becoming more and more common in campgrounds, but they are still the most rare ones, so large campers that utilize 50 amp plugs will typically still come with a 30 amp adapter so they can utilize 30 amps when they need to.
Will My Campsite Have the Outlet I Need?
This is my own anecdotal evidence, but amperage advertised include everything below it as well. So in my 10+ years of both tent and pop-up camper camping all across the country, on tent and RV sites, every 30 and 50 amp power pedestal I’ve seen has also had a 15 amp (regular house) outlet as well.
If you’re a crazy cautious person like I am, or a constant worrier, you can purchase a pretty cheap adapter on places like Amazon or in most Walmart Supercenters called a “30 amp to 15 amp adapter”
This would be used if you needed to plug in your normal house outlet appliances, but for some reason only had access to 30 amp outlets.
If you opt for a different brand or retailer, you just need to make sure the 30 amp portion is the “male” side, and the 15 amp portion is the “female” side like the one listed above. Also, don’t spend more than $19.99 or so for it. Pretty cheap for a great peace of mind.
Reminder: if a power pedestal has a 50 amp outlet, it will likely have everything up to a 50 amp outlet as well.
If you’ve reserved a site that doesn’t have electricity, don’t worry, check out my blog post here that tells you how to get electricity from a basic 12v car battery:
https://campfirecompass.com/2024/03/15/how-to-use-a-car-battery-for-camping/
Does Electricity at the Campsite Cost Extra?
Electric campsites do cost a little more money than non-electric campsites, the cost is included when you book the electric campsite. You will not pay per watt or per minute of electricity used, but a flat additional cost that is paid when you complete payment for the site.
Typically, an electric tent campsite will be $5 – $10 more per day than a non-electric tent site. An electric Travel Trailer/RV Site will be $10 – $20+ more per day than a non-electric Travel Trailer/RV Site.
What Is “Standard Electric” at a Campsite?
People see “Standard” by “Electric” and think “Standard” is related to the electricity options at the campsite, but this is usually not the case.
“Standard” is typically refers to the type of camper: Tent Camper or Camper/RVer.
So common descriptions you might see is “Tent Only Non-Electric” which would mean, no camper trailers or RVs are allowed, only Tent Campers, and the sites do not have electricity.
“Standard Electric” would mean Camper Trailers & RVers are allowed, as well as Tent Campers, and electricity is available.
| Site Name | Electricity? | Who Can Camp There? | Who Cannot Camp There? | Why Not? |
| Tent Only Non-Electric | No | Tent Campers & Camper Vans | Trailers and other RVs | Sites/parking space too limited |
| Tent Only Electric | Yes | Tent Campers & Camper Vans | Trailers and other RVs | Sites/parking space too limited |
| Standard Non-Electric Camper/RV Site | No | Tent Campers, Camper Vans, & Travel Trailers/RVs | Everyone can camp here, check vehicle length restrictions | N/A |
| Standard Electric | Yes | Tent Campers, Camper Vans, & Travel Trailers/RVs | Everyone can camp here, check vehicle length restrictions | N/A |
| RV Only Non-Electric | No | Tent Campers, Camper Vans & Travel Trailers/RVs | Everyone can camp here, check vehicle length restrictions | N/A |
| RV Only Electric | Yes | Tent Campers, Camper Vans & Travel Trailers/RVs | Everyone can camp here, check vehicle length restrictions | N/A |
As a general rule, if the listing says “RV Electric” there’s a 30amp and/or 50amp outlet on the service pedestal
If the listing says “50amp” that usually means it’s got 50amp, 30amp, and maybe even 15amp outlets all on the same service pedestal. Campsite listings normally only show the maximum amperage available, not every electrical hookup option available.
What Do “Full Hookups” Means In Regards to Campground Electricity?
If you see “Full Hookups” listed on a campsite, it is referring to electricity, water, and sewer hookups. These are used mostly by large camper trailers and RVs so they can shower and use their own restroom inside the RV.
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