camping getting tough

[D W]

Originally Posted by yukongold

Camping is getting tougher and tougher. I was hoping that the "covid" crowd would be bowing out by now but I guess I am wrong. This is Oregon - - similar problems in other states?

https://katu.com/news/local/crowded-...s-camp-pirates

Here in Alaska 98% of our State Parks are first come-first serve, no reservation system. Our Park Rangers have all the authority of our State Troopers. Claim Jumpers?,.... our Rangers won't hesitate to cite you, or cuff you and stuff you in the event of a violation. You either play by the rules or suffer the consequences.

[tomkatb]

Heading toward Libertyville Il tomorrow.

Anyone know of a nice park kind of south and a little west of Chicago to sleep in on Friday? Been looking.

We are in the “Bong” parke in Wisconsin for Saturday and Sunday. For a Russian weeding!

[ppine]

I moved West 50 years ago because I did not like the crowds in the East.
I avoid popular places in the summer.
We have endless camping places, once people learn to boondock.
Figure out was is popular and never go there. except in the most off season.

[Nick Danger]

Originally Posted by sherman12

...when they realize their 20-year loan on it is worse than their student loans.

My parents taught me many moons ago - rather than pay someone else interest for your toys (which depreciate once you drive off the lot); save the money you would allot toward monthly payments. Once you get the amount needed, then buy it. If you can't afford to put the money away now you can't afford the payment with interest. All that happens when you borrow money is that it makes whatever you purchase that much more expensive. But of course that goes against the immediate gratification mentality.

[Axeman49]

In 2019 I was able to book a site in Florida for 3 months when I called in November. This year I started two weeks ago and it took me 25 campgrounds before I could get 3 months from January to April. None could do even 1 month. One said they were booked for 2 years and another said they would put me on a cancellation list for $500.00. Finally found one inland but it will do.

[desuhu]

One trend we definitely don't like that's came about the last couple of years, is RV parks making you pay in advance for the entire stay. Some will let you cancel 48 hrs in advance and refund all except maybe for a one night stay. I don't like paying in advance for anything because a lot can happen before you get there. Like getting ill, equipment breakdown, illness or death in the family, etc. Everybody wants you to pay in advance now, satellite TV, cellphones, internet, etc.

[Thatdarncat]

Bide your time...let those interest rates and a good ol fashion recession kick in and those toys will be the first thing to go. 95% of Americans live in debt and know no other way. Lots of Campers and duallys will be for sale very soon....people taking on debt are getting punished on interest rates as I'm writing this...most don't have any dry powder for some very good CD rates that are starting to emerge

[Denver Dan]

I managed to snag a last minute, two night stay in a Colorado state park in August. When I got there a number of sites were unoccupied and stayed that way during my brief visit. The morning I was buttoning up to leave the campground host came by to tell me that I could stay longer if I wanted as the reservation following mine had just canceled.

He also mentioned that if I just showed up in the middle of the week there was a high probability that a site would be available because a lot of people are reserving the sites well in advance and then just not bothering to show up. I guess that the COVID crush has made some (quite a few, actually) people take a toilet paper approach to their camping plans: GRAB IT NOW, GRAB EVERYTHING, EVEN IT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE WE DON'T NEED IT.

I miss the old days.

[fanrgs]

Yesterday we got home from a 3-week trip to the PNW. Last week we camped in multiple locations in Oregon, including along the coast between Astoria and Newport. We stayed in a state park, county fairgrounds, private RV park, and boondocked, but never made any of our reservations until the day before we arrived at the campground. We had no problem finding campsites with hookups when we needed them.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

My parents taught me many moons ago - rather than pay someone else interest for your toys (which depreciate once you drive off the lot); save the money you would allot toward monthly payments. Once you get the amount needed, then buy it. If you can't afford to put the money away now you can't afford the payment with interest. All that happens when you borrow money is that it makes whatever you purchase that much more expensive. But of course that goes against the immediate gratification mentality.

That's all well and good in theory but if we waited until we had the money to buy everything we'd a) never have anything or b) by the time we got the money we wouldn't need it anymore.

We bought our first trailer fairly cheap but our family kept growing and the kids wanted to bring friends along so we kept having to go bigger. Now we have a 5th wheel and have yet to find anything we like better. So I'm glad we got it when we did

Same thing happened with cars, houses, etc...

Fortunately, we are at a point now that all our bills are paid every month with a little left over. So the only debt we really have is the car/house/trailer.

[mokershner]

Florida State Parks: 7 to 10 years ago we (2 adults & 3 kids) generally had no problem getting a campsite; even around holidays. Put in camping criteria and we would get a half-dozen state park options with available sites. This past Labor Day week we had a hard time finding anything with 4 nights available. Out of 14 or so state parks nearby, only one had any available.
I feel it has gotten a lot tougher finding available sites the past 18 months or so.

[Marv n Mabel]

[QUOTE=yukongold;2787993]Camping is getting tougher and tougher. I was hoping that the "covid" crowd would be bowing out by now but I guess I am wrong. This is Oregon - - similar problems in other states?

Boondocking is Bliss! Still no neighbors here.

[Phreak480]

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

My parents taught me many moons ago - rather than pay someone else interest for your toys (which depreciate once you drive off the lot); save the money you would allot toward monthly payments. Once you get the amount needed, then buy it. If you can't afford to put the money away now you can't afford the payment with interest. All that happens when you borrow money is that it makes whatever you purchase that much more expensive. But of course that goes against the immediate gratification mentality.

But if I can earn 10% on my money I'm better off to pay 3% on a loan vs liquidating investments to pay for an item and then not be earning money.

[RacerRalph]

Took a trip from Kansas to Maine inJ. Other than Maine, the campgrounds we stayed in were sparsely populated. All were private campgrounds. On the flip side, we planned a trip to Key West for December, started a year in advance and struggled to find short term spots in Florida.

Photos are from Geneva on the Lake, Ohio.

[cboss]

Originally Posted by RacerRalph

Photos are from Geneva on the Lake, Ohio.

One of our favorites!

[Martsing]

IMHO, COVID forced an artificial bubble into the RV industry to include campground usage and availability. CG's then felt like they could raise prices; and they did. I think, now that COVID craziness is subsiding, people are reducing the use of their RV's and are returning to their normal modes of vacationing, whatever that may be. Availability is normalizing and people are starting to dump their COVID campers. I think most private CG's will reduce their prices accordingly as competition for campers returns to "normal".

I am no expert. I am just a retired fed who watches things. I will be the first to admit that I may be wrong.... just ask my wife.

VR

Marty

[NevadaMiniLite]

Heading today over the hill to Fallen Leaf Campground at Tahoe for 4 nights. Just checked Recreation.gov and campground appears maybe at 80% capacity. Weather will be in the mid 70s during the day and low to mid 40's at night. I am surprised it is not full as this is a very large and popular campground.

[jlynn721]

Originally Posted by yukongold

Camping is getting tougher and tougher. I was hoping that the "covid" crowd would be bowing out by now but I guess I am wrong. This is Oregon - - similar problems in other states?

https://katu.com/news/local/crowded-...s-camp-pirates

Disperse camp. Stay away from campgrounds. Stay away from OR, CA, and WA.

[TowPro]

Originally Posted by Axeman49

In 2019 I was able to book a site in Florida for 3 months when I called in November. This year I started two weeks ago and it took me 25 campgrounds before I could get 3 months from January to April. None could do even 1 month. One said they were booked for 2 years and another said they would put me on a cancellation list for $500.00. Finally found one inland but it will do.

think what its like to Live in Florida. I could not get a campsite even for a weekend short of 6 months advance reservations but I work full time and its hard to plan that far in advance. My answer was to give up the RV, to be reconsidered after we retire.

[D W]

Originally Posted by Martsing

IMHO, COVID forced an artificial bubble into the RV industry to include campground usage and availability. CG's then felt like they could raise prices; and they did. I think, now that COVID craziness is subsiding, people are reducing the use of their RV's and are returning to their normal modes of vacationing, whatever that may be. Availability is normalizing and people are starting to dump their COVID campers. I think most private CG's will reduce their prices accordingly as competition for campers returns to "normal".

I am no expert. I am just a retired fed who watches things. I will be the first to admit that I may be wrong.... just ask my wife.

VR

Marty

We stopped venturing outside (to the lower 48), over six years ago, but I remember when the 9 month window for WA State Park reservations opened, you'd better be on it, and this was long before COVID. We have friends in WA State and they tell us it is still the same way today. Nothing has subsided. The private parks thrive because folks can't get into the state parks. This is the new norm.