After watching our Toy Hauler just sitting in the yard, and tired of sitting on the couch, we decided to head out monthly to anywhere within 2 hours of the house. We are fortunate to live in Navarre, so there are several destinations close by. As we camp we'll update this thread with our opinions.First stop, which was last month, was Camp Gulf located outside of Destin. The great thing about this place was being able to camp right on the beach, which the family loved. However, the weather was dreary and kind of put a damper on it. The resort itself is nice, with a couple of pools, a fire pit, small camp store, rec room and several sites to choose from. Since we chose a beach site, it was rather pricey and had no sewer connection. Our neighbors were mostly large class A coaches and older. Next time we go will be in the fall, when prices drop drastically. The staff was friendly and the facilities were clean. Overall, a nice place to spend a weekend. Unless you're dead set to be right on the sand pick one of the sites one up from the beach; they're just as nice (mere steps from the beach), have full hook-ups and you save some decent coin. Those were all full, so it may be best to call ahead for a reservation.This month was a wash due to family commitments and the holiday. Next month we're planning on hitting the caverns. Sometime after school starts again we're going to stay on P-Cola beach and at the Army facility on Destin.

Great plan... glad to hear that your RV is and will be getting used on a regular basis.We try to use ours at least once a month. One of our favorite destinations is 85 miles away another is 125 miles. There have been times when I have set the DW at a nearby RV Park for a week or month while I went to work each day and then visited her and the RV on the weekends.

From my very rough calculations I need to use my TT once a month to make it worth having. Over the last year that's been no problem at all. I don't actually keep track but I'd guess I've been out 20 nights in the last year.I go between state parks and and RV parks depending on which kids and/or if I have my wife with me/us (wife likes the full hookups and cable TV - kids don't know any better :) )Overall, there isn't a more economical way to get the kids out of the house to see world (or at least the world near us) than with an RV. I've bought and sold many cars/trucks/houses over the years and am usually left with a bitter feeling due what it ended up costing. I've never been anything but pleased with the value I get from my RVs.

I park our mh in our driveway and is visible from my favorite chair in the living room. It's a gentle reminder to take it out once a month to our favorite state park which just happens to be < 20 miles away. I've seen too many of these things just sit in a storage lot and rot.

With the tt we had, we pretty much stopped camping between end of October and first of march due to winterizing. But with the new class c we are getting and it's heated tanks, we are hoping to have a pad put in beside the house with electric hookup and can keep from having to winterize it and keep using it. There are many weekends during that time when the weather is nice and we could go out to one of the places still open. Or even if we do decide to winterize, we can still hop in it and go somewhere that has good bath houses. Park near them and just them for our plumbing needs.

great plan! making memories for the kids. we are out once or twice a month from March to November. Sometimes state parks, other times private campgrounds. We are willing to go up to 5 hours for a weekend trip. Enjoy!

Monthly family camping trips | Good Sam Community

33 Replies

Cecilt
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014
I am glad we use ours more than it appears many are able. We start in April and go to end of October. About every other weekend from April to Memorial Day. Between Memorial Day and Labor day we missed 2 weekends total. From Labor Day to October 21st we missed 0 weekends. Now, we camp within 1 1/2 hours on weekend trips and maybe 3 hours if 3 day weekend. During school we sometimes are not all together until Saturday. Wife may stay home with one child who has a game and I am camping with the other one who is not in a sport for that season. My wife and child meet us at CG after the game on Saturday. Children are 12 and 8. I think the 12 year old is going to want to spend more during school weekends at home vs camping so next year we may not all be together for an entire weekend.
Doug33
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
I just can't see camping anywhere really close to the house. I think the closest we've ever gone was about 50 minutes from home, but we usually camp anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours away.

There really isn't anything too exciting to explore within a half hour, that we haven't already visited many times. There is a state park 20 minutes away, and we often go there to hike or bike ride, but not camp.

We managed to get out 20 nights this past season, which was a good usage for us. We camped in DE, NJ, PA and CT. Our typical trip is 3 nights from Thursday through Sunday. The CGs are usually fairly empty until late Friday night when the weekenders come in.
Lantley
Nomad
Nov 07, 2014
michigansandzilla I feel your pain. Here in MD are season is a bit longer. We managed to do at least one trip a month from March thru Nov.
I always keep the pressure on and serve notice to friends and family that we are camping.
Honestly finding the time can be tough but letting the RV sit idle a lot is even tougher.
I committed to using it when I decided to buy it. Idle weekends are for the off season!:B
Actually I do understand how tough it is to make time to go. Going in fall when school first tough has gotten really hard, nevertheless we keep at it.
We do take shorter easier trips to local places, in order to make the trips more convenient.
In the end the only way to get value out of any RV regardless of type,model,year or price is to use it!
For me at some point, on some level lack of use/commitment equates to a waste of money.
michigansandzil
Explorer
Nov 06, 2014
I'd love to do once a month, but you can't really in Michigan. Our season is at most April-October.

We managed to get in 9 trips this year and I have to be honest, I was done after that. With kids in school and activities or other obligations nearly every night, it's like a treat to be at home for a weekend anymore.
Lantley
Nomad
Nov 06, 2014
PUCampin wrote:
I very badly want to go once a month, it doesn't happen. With 3 kids in activities and a DW in school, not to mention all the little side jobs, it is very hard. Especially this time of year. I have to pick a weekend and designate it for camping before something else trys to take it, and then say NO to everything else. I designated Nov 21-23 back in September as it was the only weekend in Nov not already planned. Since then I have lost count of how many things that have popped up to try to take it away. Kids choir perfoemance, rain day make up for baseball, end of season parties, botique for DW to sell at. I have stood firm and said NO to all of it, we are going camping that weekend!

If you really want to go once a month you have to apply the no we already have plans policy on a monthly basis. Otherwise you won't go.
Which than begs the question. How often do you have to use the RV to make it a worthwhile expenditure?
For me it is at least once a month.
PUCampin
Explorer
Nov 06, 2014
I very badly want to go once a month, it doesn't happen. With 3 kids in activities and a DW in school, not to mention all the little side jobs, it is very hard. Especially this time of year. I have to pick a weekend and designate it for camping before something else trys to take it, and then say NO to everything else. I designated Nov 21-23 back in September as it was the only weekend in Nov not already planned. Since then I have lost count of how many things that have popped up to try to take it away. Kids choir perfoemance, rain day make up for baseball, end of season parties, botique for DW to sell at. I have stood firm and said NO to all of it, we are going camping that weekend!
norfla71
Explorer
Nov 06, 2014
Stayed at FQRV in NOLO last weekend; nice place, near the Quarter. Clean and easy to get in/out. Just noisy so near the freeway.
Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
I wanted to try to shoot for the last weekend of the month as a camping weekend a year or so ago, but it never happened...DH has commitments all other weekends(UGH) so it never materialized...Now that I'm retired, too, maybe we can get on schedule next month and for some longer trips too...Having a sale this month to get rid of MILs belongings. Come on October!!!
Lantley
Nomad
Aug 19, 2014
The only way to get value out of any RV is to use it. This is true regardless of type of RV or value of RV. If you don't use it it is a big waste of resources.
I have a once a month minimum use rule.
norfla71
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
Groves was nice, but smaller spaces; first night it rained, and they had us between 2 small C's with no room front or back. Moved to a back pull-in and all was good the rest of the week. Friendly staff. Typical south FL retirement resort; more small shacks than RV lots.

Next trip will be heading to NOLO for Halloween.