For travelling supporters, the choice is increasingly practical rather than glamorous. RV pitches are costing roughly $57 to $76 per person per night, while hotel rooms around Arlington have climbed into the hundreds during marquee matches.
That gap can transform the cost of an entire trip, particularly for groups sharing a motorhome. Argentina supporter Santiago Meneses travelled with five friends and said, “Prices are incredibly high, both for tickets and accommodation.”
The campground location also matters. Being only a short drive from Dallas Stadium can reduce the need for expensive post-match ride-share journeys, adding another saving to an already pressured budget.
The compromise is comfort. Meneses joked about busy communal bathrooms, while Behrens admitted that fitting three people into a camper during the Texas heat was far from easy.
Yet RV parks offer something hotels rarely provide: an instant supporters’ community. Fans are grilling together, sharing beers and swapping travel plans between matches. Nearly all 159 RV sites were occupied for several of the tournament’s biggest games, while walk-in demand added to the atmosphere.
“For the England game, it was pretty packed,” Dallas/Arlington KOA Holiday general manager Nona Gomez said. She added that Argentina and Austria fixtures also drew strong demand.
Behrens believes the experience has a cultural reward, saying, “We get more culture than just staying in hotels because we meet so many nice people from the U.S. and around the world.”
As the World Cup moves towards its most sought-after fixtures, the Texas campground may become more than a budget option. It could stand as a reminder that football’s travelling culture survives-even when the traditional matchday experience becomes unaffordable.