I'm wondering if its even worth trying to camp at any National parks since staffing has been decimated. I hate to think of what is going to happen to all the parks with no staff to help people or to empty trash or to clean restrooms or no one to patrol to prevent vandalism. Very sad and maddening.

Hi folks, Jumping in to clarify some things… Political topics or posts made with the sole purpose of stirring the pot are not allowed. Similarly, posts disparaging another member or group are never appropriate. In this case, as this is a community of RVers and outdoor enthusiasts, a political context may be needed when discussing the state of the United States’ National Parks and how that could impact your trip planning. That said, I would like to remind you to keep the discussion constructive and respectful. As a reminder, here’s more on how to report a post to me or the moderator team: Here’s another look at our community guidelines: https://community.goodsam.com/communityguidelines Thanks!

Camping at National parks | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

way2roll
Navigator II
Mar 04, 2025
It's unfortunate that the political nature of this topic can't be avoided. Camping is one of those things that's usually the opposite of being political or being impacted by politics. Getting away from it all and enjoying what this country has to offer in terms of nature and new experiences. Often escaping the noise of politics. Yet here we are. I don't think there is anything from apples to zoos that won't be impacted in some way by this administration.
On edit - just read that Trump signed an executive order yesterday to cut 280 million acres of national forest citing too much dependency on foreign timber. This order violates the endangered species act.
- Community Alumni
  Mar 05, 2025
  Yes can't escape political aspects. I'd say if someone haven't visited some parks they want to, to go ahead and visit them asap, as there might be no access in the future. Aggressive campaign promoting the parks and paving the roads had destroyed what it used to be by drawing crowds. May be they will become very hard to visit, with difficult to win lottery soon. My last visit to a couple of big parks was a stressful nightmare. In fact presence of some parks had ruined entire communities and cities such as St George turning them into horrible tourist traps I would not want to drive through again! For years, I now give any national park a wide berth of dozens sonetimes hundreds of miles because of crowds in surrounding lands. Really wonder how these things can generate many millions in revenue, what they like to brag and lament about, yet parks are so underfunded, private entities pocket the grease off public lands. I say shut them all down to the public, but then it would only worsen impact on other lands. Glad its my last year of travel and leaving the countty for good, I traveled full time for years and then spent entire summers camping before that for many years. The crowding is insane now and glad it will be over for me after this year. The budget and staffing of public lands should be quadrupled now, based on insane crowds but they are cutting it, yet allowing these private firms to profit off them and the carnage from overtourism and now logging, while huge tax money are lost through loopholes and tax cuts
- d1h
  Nomad III
  Mar 05, 2025
  Laws don't apply because the person at the top is above the law so it seams.
- troubledwaters
  Nomad
  Mar 04, 2025
  Wow, you're saying this thread is political. Wonder why the mods haven't deleted it? Must be the rules changed. Or maybe they've only changed if the thread conforms to their particular political bent.
  - way2roll
    Navigator II
    Mar 04, 2025
    I think - at least it was this way in the old forum - is that a post can't be specifically political or politically driven. It just so happens in this case that the nature (pardon the pun) of this topic and camping in general for national parks (and maybe state too) is impacted by politics. Some of this is new territory. So, it's a question about camping in national parks and will there be an impact based on what we've seen by government budget cuts and allocating logging in national forests. I haven't seen anyone make any statements about being pro or against a particular candidate or party, nor have I seen anyone being attacked on this forum for a political stance. If you see something different, I guess you'll have to chase that down with the mods. I have seen some conjecture about a continuation of the party etc. which seemed a bit off topic. But this post is not political. It's a post about camping being impacted by government and politics.
dave54
Nomad
Mar 03, 2025
Most likely vary from Park to Park.
Some lesser used campgrounds may close, and services cut at the remainder. Trash will not be picked up as often, restrooms not cleaned, etc. Broken picnic tables may not get fixed or replaced.
With some campgrounds closed, the remainder will fill faster. Finding a vacancy may get more difficult. Visitor Centers will have reduced hours. Various programs and guided hikes will be cut. SAR, fire, and ranger services are already slashed. They are supposed to be protected as 'essential services', but are being reduced anyway.
You can always boondock on NF or BLM land outside the NP, and make day trips in.
StirCrazy
Moderator
Mar 01, 2025
the most likely effect is certain areas being closed down and locked up for the next 4 years or until they can hire again. this will allow them to shift staff and run the other areas properly.
- Community Alumni
  Mar 04, 2025
  Definitely, some campgrounds, and I think roads and boondocking areas will be closed accross multiple federal land agencies. When there 's not enough staff to watch over they close heavily used areas to prevent damage. Great Basin NP just had 5 out of 26 permanent rangers fired. Luckily a non-profit was able to pay to rehire them as temporary. They are not releasing most popular campgrounds reservations for now. Hoh rainforest vehicle access (78 campsites there) is closed indefinitely after road wash out, no resources to fix quickly. Stuff like that will put more strain on free boondocking campsites outside the parks, more trash and TP. Last several years I was already seeing NFS campgrounds being opened way too late or closed way too early for winter due to lack of staff. One thing that really concerns me is removal of burned, dead and other dangerous trees from forest service campgrounds, already behind on that with being severely underfunded for many years,many times I felt like I was taking my life into my own hands with those. It will not be 12 years, take my word on that one, US politics usually doesnt stick long on one end of the spectrum.
  - StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Mar 06, 2025
    ya I wish we had the same boondocking rules up here as you guys have. we can only boon dock in designated areas and there are none in national parks, or provincial parks and they take up anything that is accessible pretty much. if we are doing the US style of boondocking you're looking for a remote area where you don't have to worry about a cop seeing you and waking you up and making you move on.
    
    what we do have is in conjunction with the provincial park campground a second string we call rec sites or forestry sites. they are usually deal between logging companies and the Provence where while they are logging in a area when they move out they establish rustic campgrounds on lakes or rivers that you could never get to before they went there. these sites range from free to 15 bucks per night in the summer depending how improved they are. if they just opened 5 or 10 sites by the lake with a dozer and no other improvements other than a fire pit. they are usually free, if they put in gravel pads have outhouses and a maintainer who cleans the toilets and collects fees and sells firewood, then it is usually 15 bucks. the one place we found last summer the guy stays at one of the campground all season but actually looks after 3 different ones that are about 10 to 15 miles apart. they are quite often in clusters, so if you go to one, and it is full you keep driving to the next and so on, but for some people the issue is the road gets a little worse for each one haha.
    
    and the sites are generally not large enough for big units, there are some I can get my 5th wheel in but most I would not be able to, and they are first come first serve so we just use the truck camper
- troubledwaters
  Nomad
  Mar 01, 2025
  Don’t you mean 12 years?
  - StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Mar 01, 2025
    why would I mean 12 years when the president can only serve 4 in a term
Community Alumni
Feb 28, 2025
Sad developments indeed. I'd make your decisions based on individual park, how crowded and popular they tend to get. Parks that are less known and less visited would probably suffer the least impact. I, personally, no longer camp in national parks because of overcrowding, I boondock on other public lands fulltime and trash, toilet paper and general disrespect towards the land situation had been exploding since 2020 or even 2019 and not easing up, I'm the one who often cleans up public lands as there is not enough manpower in understaffed and underfunded public land agencies, not just national parks but I can assure you all federal lands will suffer the impact. I also help clearing roads and trails, another thing that needs more not less manpower. I suggest carrying trash bags and gloves to help clean up since all this is happening, and being ready to take down the plates of land abusers if you witness that and report them, having good binoculars helps
way2roll
Navigator II
Feb 28, 2025
I don't like to borrow trouble, but a reduction in Park staff is definitely happening. How it will impact visitation and camping is yet to be seen. But if many other sectors of government support that have seen major cuts are having some detrimental impacts, I can't see why parks wouldn't suffer some of the same.
nickthehunter
Nomad III
Feb 28, 2025
No, you shouldn’t go camping at any National Parks.
That will leave more (and better) spots for the rest of us who aren’t worried about “the staffing being decimated”.

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Camping at National parks

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