I've written about this before.

U-Locks are designed to go around the kinds of poles used in urban areas, such as, parking meters and street signs. If such poles aren't available where you need to lock your bike, your (heavy) U-Lock becomes an unsecured bike lock or, if you are carrying a cable, a padlock. In every campground I've been in, the only way to lock a bike is with a cable around some part of the picnic table, which a U-Lock can't do.

Consider this place. Which of these poles can you get your bike close enough to for your U-Lock?



The one next to the ice machine might work but I believe it was too thick.

Do you bring a cable as well as your U-Lock?