Hotel prices spike in cities; campgrounds rarely do. Even pricier urban sites usually undercut a hotel room when you factor in the convenience of bringing meals, your kit, and a private bathroom. For couples or families, treating your Kingstar as a mobile apartment for a long weekend of urban travel camping is a surprisingly affordable way to experience a big city. Here’s how to do it right, Kingstar style.

Urban Camping Tips 

Treat the Campground Like a Basecamp

Think of the urban campground as a hub, not the destination.

• Pick a campground with good transit connections like bus lines, light rail, or ride-share friendly locations that make it easy to leave the truck behind.
• Manage expectations. Urban sites vary from leafy, full-service campgrounds to concrete lots with hookups. You’ll likely spend little time at the site; that’s okay.
• Book early for holidays and major events. Even in winter, prime urban parks fill fast.

Plan Your Route & Arrival

City driving with a camper has its quirks. Ask the campground staff for the best approach roads and times to arrive. Avoid rush hour if you can, downtown traffic and tight turns are no fun with a rig attached. If you’re towing, know low-clearance bridges and downtown restrictions before you roll in.

Security & Practicalities

Urban camping asks you to be mindful. Lock up valuables and consider a small motion light or camera if the park feels exposed. Use shore power if it’s available; it will mean less generator noise and more comfort. Expect smaller site footprints. You might park closer to neighbors than on a remote loop, so bring a compact outdoor setup and keep the footprint tidy. Follow campground rules about generators, pets, and quiet hours, urban parks enforce them pretty strictly.

Quick Urban Camping Checklist

• Reserve a campground near transit.
• Check approach routes and vehicle restrictions.
• Pack window covers, shovel, and a small social-light.
• Bring layered clothing for day/night temperature swings.
• Plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.
• Keep valuables locked and visible-light on at night.

Why Urban Camping in Winter Works

Winter doesn’t have to mean hunkering down at home. In fact, the colder months are prime time to turn your Kingstar Truck Camper into the best sort of city hotel: warm, private, and parked exactly where you want to be.

Urban camping flips the script on “off season” by using campgrounds near cities as launchpads for museums, coffee shops, shows, and snowy downtown strolls.

Cities in winter breathe a different kind of life. Holiday lights linger, galleries and breweries are quieter, and lines for popular attractions shrink. Instead of paying hotel prices and shuttling luggage, your camper becomes a cozy basecamp after a day of city wandering: warm, private, and way more economical than nightly hotel rates.

Make Winter Amenities Work for You

A few winter-specific adjustments make all the difference.

• Use your Kingstar insulation and heater to stay cozy after a chilly city day. A thermal window cover at night saves propane and keeps things quiet.
• If streets get plowed overnight, keep a shovel handy for clearing your spot. Many urban parks will do plowing, but a little self-sufficiency helps.

Urban Camping in Michigan

Don’t sleep on Michigan for city-based adventures. Sure, the UP’s wild places get the headlines, but urban camping here unlocks a different kind of weekend: museum days, college-town energy, and skyline strolls, then back to your warm Truck Camper for a quiet night.

Here are some Michigan urban campgrounds we like for a more city-centric basecamp:

• Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park (Belleville / Detroit) — Minutes from the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Pull-through sites with 30/50 amp hookups make arrival easy and your rig ready for downtown exploring.
• Detroit / Ann Arbor KOA (Ypsilanti) — Big, full-hookup sites and lake access. Great for families and longer stays near Ann Arbor and Detroit attractions.
• Haas Lake RV Park (New Hudson / Ann Arbor area) — Quiet lakeside sites, activities, and easy access to University of Michigan museums and the Matthaei Botanical Gardens.
• Steamboat Park Campground (Grand Rapids) — Riverfront park with pool and family amenities—close to Meijer Gardens and downtown culture.
• Lansing Cottonwood Campground (Lansing) — Longstanding family-run park with month-stay options; ideal for Capitol visits or Michigan State events.

Urban Camping: The Secret Way to Enjoy the City 

Urban camping is a fantastic way to enjoy the city: fewer crowds, lower costs, and the simple pleasure of coming “home” to your Kingstar Truck Camper after a day of discovery.

Whether you want museum days, food hunts, or a snowy skyline stroll, your Truck Camper gives you flexibility and comfort, no hotel required. Park smart. Plug in if needed. Catch a show, chase the lights, then come back to a warm, private space that’s truly yours.