Significant impact on RVing!!

Not sure how this is an impact to "freedom". You are still free to go. Covid has impacted a million things, Camping being one of them. When conventional travel became difficult and more people worked from home, people bought campers. This has impacted just about every park, not just national parks. Due to the influx of people, what would you have the parks do? Too many people ruins the experience and to some extent the park itself, not to mention there just aren't enough sites. If you plan on going, make reservations. Not much different than any place else you might go. If and when things return to normal, lots of folks will sell their campers and things won't be so crowded. Until then, it is what it is. But the sky isn't falling and your freedom isn't being threatened. This isn't personal.

I won't be playing the game, I just don't need a string of appointments.

Lynnmor wrote:
I won't be playing the game, I just don't need a string of appointments.

Well, that will help the overcrowding ,and allow someone that has not experienced some of these parks . But not sure its a game, its a problem of overcrowding .

I spend a good part of the summer in southwest Montana ,not far from the west gate of Yellowstone Park, took one trip into there last summer to realize we got a problem with these parks, it worst I have ever seen it. I will be staying away until thinks get a bit better .

way2roll wrote:
Not sure how this is an impact to "freedom". You are still free to go. Covid has impacted a million things, Camping being one of them. When conventional travel became difficult and more people worked from home, people bought campers. This has impacted just about every park, not just national parks. Due to the influx of people, what would you have the parks do? Too many people ruins the experience and to some extent the park itself, not to mention there just aren't enough sites. If you plan on going, make reservations. Not much different than any place else you might go. If and when things return to normal, lots of folks will sell their campers and things won't be so crowded. Until then, it is what it is. But the sky isn't falling and your freedom isn't being threatened. This isn't personal.

Totally agree .

The problem as I see it is that you will have a time window with which to enter the park according to your pass. Also it would require making your entry pass reservation months in advance. I've always beat the crowds by getting up and starting very early. Now they are going to tell me when I can enter and how long I can stay!! Not the same experience anymore.

It all sounds reasonable to me. If you're camping in the park, the access fee to drive the road is already included, so no need to do anything extra.

Specific locales are charging a nominal fee to access a particular site (Carlsbad Cavern) or to ride the provided transport (Zion).

The reservation/timed tickets for road access are only applicable during the peak season and offer the option to purchase them 60-90 days in advance or 2 days in advance. This way you can plan way in advance or when you get to the area.

As for the passes, no offense, but that isn't a "freedom" that was a "freebie". Be glad you got that deal for as long as you have. Personally, I never did understand the reasoning for letting people 65 and older pay $10 and get free access and 1/2 off camping for the rest of their lives.

Likes to tow wrote:
The problem as I see it is that you will have a time window with which to enter the park according to your pass. Also it would require making your entry pass reservation months in advance. I've always beat the crowds by getting up and starting very early. Now they are going to tell me when I can enter and how long I can stay!! Not the same experience anymore.

The timed entries are only for specific hours of the day. If you choose to go early like before, no problem.

For example, one park will have time entry from 9 am to 3 pm. So, there is nothing stopping you from driving in at 6 am as usual.

If you DO want to enter between 9 am and 3 pm, you have the option of buying the ticket months in advance OR two days in advance. They will hold back a certain number of tickets to sell two days prior for those who can't or don't want to plan ahead.

I congratulate them for finding a solution that emcompasses the desires of most people.

toedtoes wrote:
It all sounds reasonable to me. If you're camping in the park, the access fee to drive the road is already included, so no need to do anything extra.

Specific locales are charging a nominal fee to access a particular site (Carlsbad Cavern) or to ride the provided transport (Zion).

The reservation/timed tickets for road access are only applicable during the peak season and offer the option to purchase them 60-90 days in advance or 2 days in advance. This way you can plan way in advance or when you get to the area.

As for the passes, no offense, but that isn't a "freedom" that was a "freebie". Be glad you got that deal for as long as you have. Personally, I never did understand the reasoning for letting people 65 and older pay $10 and get free access and 1/2 off camping for the rest of their lives.

Because people over 65 are sometimes financially stressed for funds and a little special offer is appreciated. It gets them off the couch and into nature. They have earned a little respect and this is a great way for their nation to show it.

I don't even bother with state parks much I have had a RV membership for 20 years and never had a problem getting a spot except on Holidays we have to call 2 months in advance for a spot I learned Early in my RV life that State Parks are not for me Too Noisy and overcrowded and making a Reservation a year in advance NO THANX