Frequently Asked Questions

Pea gravel is a smaller rock that is great for use on:

• Pathways, walkways
• Fire pits
• Ground cover around sidewalks, porches/decks, gardens
• Drainage projects
• Patios
• Playgrounds
• Driveways
• Camper or RV pads
• Grave sites and cemeteries

River rock, sometimes referred to as pea gravel (smaller), egg rock or deco rock (medium sized), is a naturally occurring rock.  It’s edges are smooth from the years of erosion in beneath the water.  Colors of river rock vary from brown, tans, yellows, and oranges.  Typical sizes are as follows:

#7s – small, pea gravel

#57s – small pea gravel to rock size

#4s – medium sized rock (egg to golf ball sized)

Large river rock – comes in many sizes, usually by range in inches (i.e. 3-5”)

River Rock is an excellent accent to your landscape.  It can be used as a beautiful, permanent ground cover (substitute for mulch and pine straw) or to reduce erosion.  It can be placed in gardens, around shrubbery, beside sidewalks, around pools, beneath porches, or the edges of a house.  It can also be used as driveway gravel, walking paths, or for fire pits.  The best advantage of using river rock is that it does not have to be replaced over time. 

Most of our River Sand has parent material (the rock from where it eroded/broke away from) of quartz.  So, it is primarily a silica sand (SiO₂), or quartz sand.  The different hues of brown, red, and yellow comes from iron oxides on the surface of the particle. 

Crusher run, or crush and run, is the most economical gravel used for a driveway.  It is a mixture of sand and stone that makes a smooth compactible surface. 

Both gravel and river rock can be used for many of the same purposes.  Both come in a selection of sizes.  The primary difference is the cost of river rock is usually 2-3x more than the same size granite gravel.  River rock is generally more appealing aesthetically though. 

RSI supplies both pea gravel that is from a river that is smooth, rounded pebbles and crushed from rock that is sharp, gray pebbles.  Both are very functional.  The granite gravel is more affordable but the river rock is very attractive. 

Pea gravel or pea pebbles make a great surface to walk on.  The small gravel is not slick and drains water rapidly.  Pea gravel creates a relatively smooth surface compared to larger gravel that you can feel the edges beneath your shoes and tends to shift your feet. 

The two most popular sized river rock for landscaping is #57s (dime to quarter sized) and #4s (quarter to golf ball sized).  Both offer a great, long-lasting look for relatively flat surfaces to landscape.  For dry creek beds, larger river rock should be used. 

#57s is the size of gravel most commonly used for aggregate in concrete.