When will camping season start?

[GSPguy]

So what do you think? When will campgrounds start opening up? I have a week booked in a smoky mountain campground for the first week of june, not sure I will get to go but at this point I don't know. What's everyones thoughts for this years camping season.

[TitanMike]

My thoughts are that it will start when it starts.

It's all going to depend on when the experts think the rate of new cases starts to drop sufficiently to show the spread has declined.

I think the major concern now is how soon people can get back to work in the industries that drive the largest part of our economy. Sadly campgrounds may not be as big a priority as all the factories that have closed down operations. When they're shuttered the domino effect puts all kinds of other businesses in a hurt.

[Fun finders]

[QUOTE=GSPguy;2303669]So what do you think? When will campgrounds start opening up?
In my opinion not soon enough

[kenandterry]

I’m not sure you’ll need the AC by the time campgrounds open this year.....but I really hope I’m wrong.

In the meantime, I’ll have the cleanest, shiniest most functional RV ever, when it is time to roll. inside and out.

[badger5301]

I'm a betting person but the damn casinos are closed so I'll wager here. At least here in Iowa, my money is on the July 4th time frame. Just got notified our Memorial weekend is not going to happen with the COE parks closed till May 31st. Hope I'm wrong and it gets better sooner but I can guess just as easy as the powers to be.

[TitanMike]

I just looked at two sites, one keeping track of the toll and the other predicting.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america

The site with the projections predicted 1983 deaths today.

The site tracking deaths shows 2017

(these are strictly US deaths).

It looks like the prediction was pretty close. If predictions hold, daaily deaths will have reached a plateau today with peak resource usage peaking tomorrow.

The death total will continue to rise until mid May when it approaches the predicted toll of just over 60k.

Personally I'm not so sure camping is all that important considering what's happening in our country right now.

[mad.dog]

Agree TM, but sometimes it's important to look ahead to better days for good mental health... Not that I any mind you

Originally Posted by TitanMike

I just looked at two sites, one keeping track of the toll and the other predicting.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america

The site with the projections predicted 1983 deaths today.

The site tracking deaths shows 2017

(these are strictly US deaths).

It looks like the prediction was pretty close. If predictions hold, daaily deaths will have reached a plateau today with peak resource usage peaking tomorrow.

The death total will continue to rise until mid May when it approaches the predicted toll of just over 60k.

Personally I'm not so sure camping is all that important considering what's happening in our country right now.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by GSPguy

I have a week booked in a smoky mountain campground for the first week of june, not sure I will get to go but at this point

I think the chances of you getting to camp the first week of June is pretty slim.... unfortunately.
It's possible that we might not have a camping season this summer. I'm hoping that I'm wrong.

[GSPguy]

Originally Posted by mad.dog

Agree TM, but sometimes it's important to look ahead to better days for good mental health... Not that I any mind you

Mad.dog you hit the nail on the head. Looking ahead to better times was the point of this post.

[GSPguy]

[QUOTE=TitanMike

Personally I'm not so sure camping is all that important considering what's happening in our country right now.[/QUOTE]

BTW TitanMike I do agree, just looking for this to be over with soon.

[badger5301]

I agree we're in a total mess but I also feel we have to at least try to make the best of it. My guess for the July 4th date is wishful thinking on my part.
When we got back from Key West, Florida after visiting our Coast Guard Son and his family for a month this pandemic was just starting here in the U.S. After being glued to the tv and computer we both agreed we needed to carry on as normal as possible.
My heart breaks for you folks living in the big cities. Here in Iowa we are very rural plus we live on an acreage pretty much away from everyone. We have the advantage of being able to pull the fifth wheel into the yard and pretend we're at the campground.
None of us want this to last very long but sitting around stewing about it is not going to do any of us any good both mentally and physically. We are doing what we can to help those that need it but at the same time we try to keep thinking positive if for nothing else to keep our own head on straight.
So, to end my mental therapy, I still stick with the July 4th date.

[BigH]

I would like to think that camping could start up as soon as late summer but we (humans in the US) are going to undertake an unprecedented experiment first.

All the timeline graphs for infection rates and death rates are not natural...we have controlled those rates by our actions of social distancing/shelter in place (except where we lost control). The experiment starts when we start relaxing the restrictions that have made this unnatural 'flattening of the curve'. We must be very careful with our next actions. I'm hopeful as we open things back up that it goes well. We need it to go well for our economy...if our experiment goes poorly, camping will be very unimportant.

One thing that brings great hope for getting going again soon is the best minds on the planet are busting their rears to find anything that will help...somewhere there is a chemical, protein, something that can damage this virus...it already exists we just need to find it and or put it together.

[My17Ram]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

My thoughts are that it will start when it starts.

It's all going to depend on when the experts think the rate of new cases starts to drop sufficiently to show the spread has declined.

I think the major concern now is how soon people can get back to work in the industries that drive the largest part of our economy. Sadly campgrounds may not be as big a priority as all the factories that have closed down operations. When they're shuttered the domino effect puts all kinds of other businesses in a hurt.

What factories have closed? None here in Ohio, 99% of businesses here fall under the “essential” umbrella and are eager to stay open for their customers, including the steel manufacturer I work for. I see no signs of “sheltering” here in Ohio.

[dblr]

Originally Posted by My17Ram

What factories have closed? None here in Ohio, 99% of businesses here fall under the “essential” umbrella and are eager to stay open for their customers, including the steel manufacturer I work for. I see no signs of “sheltering” here in Ohio.

I believe he was referring to the RV Factories that are shut down now

[D W]

Good news for Alaskans! Two days ago the DNR said all State Parks are to remain open. Some fees are waived, others reduced. For the interim it is all first come first served, no reservations. The Alaska Dept of Health has issued guidance for field sanitation/field hygiene, and camping "groups" are limited to 10 people. In reality it will be at least another 2-3 weeks of break-up to allow the snow to melt, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Apparently, the Governor realizes that personal recreation is an essential service. In the meantime this is how the wives social distance, and still get together: (perfectly legal according to Anchorage PD)

[dieselguy]

My17Ram ... dunno what pickle barrel you call home, but there are loads of factories closed across the US. Here in Wichita alone, Textron (approx 9000) has furloughed its workers ... Spirit (approx 14,000) has furloughed its workers. I think the big 3 automakers, most all the RV manufacturers, Boeing in WA state ... not to mention the thousands and thousands working for smaller supply chain companies feeding the above mentioned businesses.

[Teetime]

Here our our thoughts/choices:

Don't want to stay in motels
Miss family and grandkids
Don't want to fly
Miss family and grandkids
Must sanitize all the time
Miss family and grandkids
Afraid to eat out while traveling
Miss family and grandkids

Don't want to pick up something on the road and infect family and grandkids

Skype is OK, but just not the same


Hoping for an August/Sept trip to CA, but it's still very uncomfortable to consider.

I'd rather wait until I can see my grandkids when they (and we) are a year older.

[petrx]

I had planned a trip mid-may to Iowa to visit a friend. We were going to stay in Eldridge, Iowa at Bald Eagle. I checked online and it said it was opened, but no restrooms. Is that true?

[Bronco Carl]

We’re lucky Boondocking is open all the time, we can get to the high country and back on a tank of gas...����

[oldsmasma]

Here in Ontario the government announced last night that boondocking on Crown land is now off limits. We know our reservations for mid May will be a no-go but remain hopeful that our family plans for the first weekend in August may still happen. Only time will tell. IMHO the longer we try to “game the system” the longer this will last.