Many private campgrounds and RV resorts from eastern Texas to the northern areas of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia can readily accommodate people who have evacuated their homes as Hurricane Gustav advances toward the Gulf Coast, according to campground industry officials.

Quite a few private parks have both campsites and cabin rentals available this weekend, so it makes sense for evacuees to consider staying in campgrounds as they wait out the storm, said Brian Schaeffer, executive director and CEO of the Texas Association of Campground Owners.

Schaeffer urges Gulf Coast evacuees to log on to TexasCampgrounds.com and GoCampingAmerica.com to make their campground reservations or to gather the phone numbers of campgrounds and RV resorts where theyd like to wait out the storm.

Texas alone has nearly 400 private campgrounds, many of which also offer cabin rentals.