Are we Spoiled? Or Am I a campground Snob? - Page 4

IDguy · 07-27-2020, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryand

Its been awhile since I last posted here so forgive me for injecting this topic for my return back but it's currently the situation we have found ourselves in and I wont name any campground names but will give generalized locations....This is only a vent session!!!!
First off, we are from the St. Louis area and there are many, many State and COE options within a 2-5 hour radius from home that we spend time at. We normally take one big trip a year consisting of multiple weeks while the kids have time off in the summer. This year we elected to head north into Door County WI, Then into the UP of Michigan and then down near Torch Lake in Michigan and Traverse City. Even on the big trips we try and stay with federal and corps/state parks when we can. We are on the final leg of our trip and staying at a private campground and yet again have found ourselves disappointed with the facility, sites and the cost. The online reviews of this place are glowing....95% positive but yet we all feel underwhelmed based on what we are used to. Its hard to stomach hotel room prices (Before covid, Hotel travel was my work life)per night to be 10' from my neighbor, dirt and sand/mud sites, laundry rooms that smell like sewage and so on. There are so many people here that makes me think we are the minority. I think my expectations are too high. Perfect campsite is lake side, paved including patio so shoes are optional, full hookups, isolated from others, wonderful views and less than $30 a night. I think I am asking too much. I have constantly been disappointed with private campgrounds that over promise and under deliver. With that said, we are having a great time and have gotten to do some neat and different things on this trip. I would highly recommend Michigan's UP its a wild unlike anything we have experienced.

I have a class A now. I hardly ever pay for camping. When I do it is usually between $5 and $10, with senior pass discount.

Try boondocketswelcome.com and U S Public Campgrounds App.

I know back east is a different world.

Seawood21 · 07-27-2020, 06:50 PM

My husband and I bought a TT last year (spent 5 years without camping). We have just come back from a 5 week trip Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon (where we live). What we discovered are a few remote campgrounds that are small, away from any populated areas and quite charming for under $35 a night with full facilities. However, the closer we got to a city (not even a big one) the more expensive things became. We ended up in one KOA that was complete mud, 6 feet from the nearest camper, had full time residents (old trailers) and cost us $50 a night - the worst KOA I have ever stayed in. If you want patios they are going to cost you a ton. Camping prices have definitely gone through the roof. We did stay in a very old and small campground near my daughters in Montana. Sewer run was 45 feet from the camper, only had 20 amp service and zero facilities. Cost $24 a night - however in all fairness it is under new ownership and the owners couldn't have been nicer. They have plans to make major improvements over the next year. I am from Michigan and there are many beautiful campgrounds there but you do need to be choosey. We rarely stayed at State Parks as there is usually way too much smoke and far too much noise. We lived in the Upper when we went to school and found a lot of out of the way campsites (rustic in nature) which are great if you can be self contained. One of my major gripes are the number of "RV Only" parks in areas we want to visit. Seems a bit discriminatory to me...

scrapyqltr · 07-27-2020, 06:52 PM

I agree wit what your saying Mike. I recently stayed at a private campground again promising you the moon. The staff was great, the owner was great. They put me in a mud pit of a site with straw. The mosquitoes were what i am calling "the new national bird" were thick as apparently they drained 2 feet of water from a previous rain storm. They knew the bugs were going to be bad. They should of fogged the area they took off that much water. The electricity almost blew my ac unit as it too again had been under water. NO specified fire pit or ring. I could not enjoy the campsite itself. I did use the pool, the lake a half mile away or more from campsite, and played bingo. But it was for a large price.
Then this past weekend in IL again promised the moon to be on a sandy site, no fire pit, no ring. We had a difficult time leveling as the sand pit was 2 in different than on another side. The full amenities were as promised. Not anywhere near as friendly of staff. Needed to be in wrist bands for the weekend. NO view of the pond or river. Again this was for a large price per night. I think I am preferring to stay at the state parks because i can have a view of the lake or river.

2005gts · 07-27-2020, 06:58 PM

i stayed in a private campground in Destin, FL, $85 for the night. they would not let you self-park, instead someone lead you to your site and then directed you where and how to park; well, they kept telling me to keep backing and they backed me into a tree. they took no responsibility...

Bill

sportsdad12 · 07-27-2020, 07:09 PM

Totally agree with you. Our state parks don’t have full hook ups but they have more space and woods and under 30 dollars.
I will splurge once a year to stay at upscale campground if I want to go on a special vacation. Not doing that this year.

Kathyquilts · 07-27-2020, 07:13 PM

I'm with you! It seems like many campgrounds are charging more and more and more, yet no upgrades have been made with that extra money. In those areas that charge us the most (usually in areas where Walmarts don't allow overnights or no state parks in the area), are close to family recreation sites and you just have to eat that huge cost if you want to stay close.

We stayed in New Jersey, right across from NYC (45' trailer), and the owner of the campground (really just a glorified gravel lot with power only) said they are taxed as if they are a high rise apartment building and would probably soon close, because even though their rates are high, it's not high enough to pay those kind of comparable taxes. In places like that, the property is worth much more to someone building on it than we can pay for convenience. So sad.

On the other hand, some owners are greedy. We just visited a small town in Colorado, and the regular residents were so angry that someone from out of town bought their campground and more than doubled the monthly and daily rents. What summer workers normally pay (like $700/month per lot) went up to $1700/month! And for seasonal workers, they don't make that kind of money! No improvements were made other than draining the small lake/duck pond and putting more dirt sites in the spot. Up goes the rent. Now people that loved to visit the area for the summer just can't pay that price.

So now we are mostly looking for dispersed FREE camping, and enjoying the areas around the country where we can. (I'll tell you that everywhere is PACKED this year though!)

Kathy

Major Oz · 07-27-2020, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryand

Its been awhile since I last posted here so forgive me for injecting this topic for my return back but it's currently the situation we have found ourselves in and I wont name any campground names but will give generalized locations....This is only a vent session!!!!
First off, we are from the St. Louis area and there are many, many State and COE options within a 2-5 hour radius from home that we spend time at. We normally take one big trip a year consisting of multiple weeks while the kids have time off in the summer. This year we elected to head north into Door County WI, Then into the UP of Michigan and then down near Torch Lake in Michigan and Traverse City. Even on the big trips we try and stay with federal and corps/state parks when we can. We are on the final leg of our trip and staying at a private campground and yet again have found ourselves disappointed with the facility, sites and the cost. The online reviews of this place are glowing....95% positive but yet we all feel underwhelmed based on what we are used to. Its hard to stomach hotel room prices (Before covid, Hotel travel was my work life)per night to be 10' from my neighbor, dirt and sand/mud sites, laundry rooms that smell like sewage and so on. There are so many people here that makes me think we are the minority. I think my expectations are too high. Perfect campsite is lake side, paved including patio so shoes are optional, full hookups, isolated from others, wonderful views and less than $30 a night. I think I am asking too much. I have constantly been disappointed with private campgrounds that over promise and under deliver. With that said, we are having a great time and have gotten to do some neat and different things on this trip. I would highly recommend Michigan's UP its a wild unlike anything we have experienced.

If we are CAMPING, we do so at COE, BLM, or boondocking. If we are just TRAVELING, we stay at WM, CB, or some church lot.

We avoid private CG's completely, mostly due to price, but also noise, barking, and those folks who outline their rigs with runway approach lights.

I mean....you have an RV so that YOU DON'T NEED someone else's shower/restroom. And laundromats are everywhere, many next to friendly bars.

And, unless you have a nasty stomach, you need dump your tanks only about once a week.

So......screw KOA's and their ilk

(probably get deleted, as advertisers won't like this)

IDguy · 07-27-2020, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolharts

The best value are State Parks, around NC and SC $30-$50 a night, W/E usually 50 AMP. I could care less about sewer, we have a blue tank for grey and can go for a week on the black with no issue. I have stayed in 2 private campgrounds, one being Ft Wilderness, we like our space and State Parks offer that.

Not out west. State Parks tend to be MOST expensive. And usually full.

National Forest and BLM CGs are best out west. Nominally $10 with senior discount. Sometimes $2.50.

But dispersed camping is free.

D W · 07-27-2020, 07:42 PM

OP said "I think my expectations are too high. Perfect campsite is lake side, paved including patio so shoes are optional, full hookups, isolated from others, wonderful views and less than $30 a night."

No such animal here in AK! Sure there are plenty of places to camp for free (just pick a random State owned slough, but you had better bring all the amenities with you!

dmayo13 · 07-27-2020, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryand

Its been awhile since I last posted here so forgive me for injecting this topic for my return back but it's currently the situation we have found ourselves in and I wont name any campground names but will give generalized locations....This is only a vent session!!!!
First off, we are from the St. Louis area and there are many, many State and COE options within a 2-5 hour radius from home that we spend time at. We normally take one big trip a year consisting of multiple weeks while the kids have time off in the summer. This year we elected to head north into Door County WI, Then into the UP of Michigan and then down near Torch Lake in Michigan and Traverse City. Even on the big trips we try and stay with federal and corps/state parks when we can. We are on the final leg of our trip and staying at a private campground and yet again have found ourselves disappointed with the facility, sites and the cost. The online reviews of this place are glowing....95% positive but yet we all feel underwhelmed based on what we are used to. Its hard to stomach hotel room prices (Before covid, Hotel travel was my work life)per night to be 10' from my neighbor, dirt and sand/mud sites, laundry rooms that smell like sewage and so on. There are so many people here that makes me think we are the minority. I think my expectations are too high. Perfect campsite is lake side, paved including patio so shoes are optional, full hookups, isolated from others, wonderful views and less than $30 a night. I think I am asking too much. I have constantly been disappointed with private campgrounds that over promise and under deliver. With that said, we are having a great time and have gotten to do some neat and different things on this trip. I would highly recommend Michigan's UP its a wild unlike anything we have experienced.

I feel your pain. We are accustomed to staying at COE parks and with the seniors discount pay only $12 or $13 per night. Since retiring I cannot afford $40+ per night. Yes I think we are spoiled because the COE parks are nicely kept and cheap. Have not gotten to camp very much since hurricane Michael and was just planning to get to camp some this year when Covid 19 came to visit. We got a double whammy here in the Florida panhandle.