JRS & B,
Yes, the very high cost of automotive fuel is hurting travel in so many parts of our country and people tend to travel less distance because of it. The U.P. is a long way for much of the RVing population but it's so well worth the cost. It's over 400 miles one way just to Muskallonge SP by way of Tahquamenon Falls/M-123 for us but that has never stopped us and won't. We do the trip a min of once a year. Sometimes 2-4 times a year.
The fall leaf trip is a MUST for us for over 30 consecutive years now but we don't just go as far as Muskallonge SP but go on to Copper Harbor, the Porkies, and usaully to the Wisconsin border and work our way back home on the south side of the U.P. over the Big Mac Bridge again. So that's a 1600 mile driving round trip alone. So happy we have a Duramax with it's high MPG's with the Lance TC or our Carriage CarriLite 12,800 lb loaded 5th wheel. Actual planning for the years ahead when you're younger sure does payoff bigtime!
We aren't happy with the price of fuel either but it won't stop us from taking our many various trips each year as we know that some day we'll be subterranean and want to do as much as we can while still vertical and able to. It's like: Now or never! Can't go back and do what you had missed!
We live on Lake Michigan west of Grand Rapids and our tourism here where we live has not suffered from the fuel prices and continues increasing and setting new highs every year. On a track to hit the 7 million mark this year and that's after a record setting very cold extremely wet spring. Not bad! Of course, where we live is so much closer to the 35 million population within 250-300 miles and that helps.
There are many ways for RV'ers to cut costs when traveling and also save wasted money when home so they will have more means for traveling sensibly to the many places they really want to visit. It's all up to the individual person or family as to how much they want to do something!
We just hosted a fellow RV'er couple/forum members from the Chicago area on friday and yesterday here at home and we're leaving for the U.P. in about a week and will be seeing several other rv.com forum members up there like we do each year.
If you have the will, there's a way! Not talking about getting the proceeds of someone elses "will" either...
