This Past Season - Finding Camping Space

We drove I-80 from Omaha to San Fransico and back in June. No reservations and had no trouble getting in RV parks.

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Like always, size and destination matters. Going to a popular place with a large rig, there are many less available sites. During peak season, we always turn away rigs most every night. If you have a big motorhome towing a trailer, you might need 12 months advanced reservations. Have a camping van and willing to take a leftover site, you can probably get in most any night (unless another camping van willing to take the last remaining site beats you to it).
The economy has very little to do with RV traffic. If someone has north of $100,000 invested in their RV and tow vehicle, the aren't going to let fifty cents or even two dollars a gallon for fuel stand in their way. To have bought the rig in the first place is almost proof positive they are not teetering on the poverty line. In some regards, bad economic times increase RV travel. It's cheaper to camp then to fly and spend two weeks in Europe. A Week at Smoky Mountain National Park is cheaper than a week at Disneyworld. While no recreational oriented business is recession-proof, RVing comes somewhat close.

I couldn't agree more, but it appears that folks are staying local. This I would assume is helping your business. As for fuel, we won't have a problem with this since we have a budget that allows for up to $6.00 a gallon, maybe higher depending on our returns.

As for economy, well if people start loosing their jobs due to a bad economy, then sites will open up and I'll have my pick....

-paul

Like always, size and destination matters. Going to a popular place with a large rig, there are many less available sites. During peak season, we always turn away rigs most every night. If you have a big motorhome towing a trailer, you might need 12 months advanced reservations. Have a camping van and willing to take a leftover site, you can probably get in most any night (unless another camping van willing to take the last remaining site beats you to it).
The economy has very little to do with RV traffic. If someone has north of $100,000 invested in their RV and tow vehicle, the aren't going to let fifty cents or even two dollars a gallon for fuel stand in their way. To have bought the rig in the first place is almost proof positive they are not teetering on the poverty line. In some regards, bad economic times increase RV travel. It's cheaper to camp then to fly and spend two weeks in Europe. A Week at Smoky Mountain National Park is cheaper than a week at Disneyworld. While no recreational oriented business is recession-proof, RVing comes somewhat close.

I always make reservations. I still work so I don't have the luxury of time to risk not having a spot. That said, never had an issue not being able to make one from a CG being booked solid. I usually avoid dates and places that would be prone to a packed CG anyway. Stayed in Annapolis over July 4th and the CG still had plenty of spots. I did make my reservation 4 months ahead of time in any case.

jplante4 wrote:
Mostly in your neck of the woods - Normandy Farms in Mass, Sebago Lake in Maine, Kingston NH, and a trip to State College PA to visit the sister. We had no issues getting a site, but we usually reserve a week or 2 in advance. I didn't notice that the campgrounds were particularly full. We were the only ones in the motor home transient sites at Sebago in the middle of July.

I have to say that Normandy Farms was packed in May, but it was the first really nice weekend after the winter from hell, so I think everyone was just blowing off the cabin fever.

Diesel was still over $3 a gallon early in the season. Last time I filled up it was $2.50.

Thanks. I've just hear horror stories from people across the country and it makes sense since fuel cost are down. I'm trying to gauge our travels when we full time. Could be hear say, but I've heard people who had to camp in Wally Worlds for weekends until a site opened up. Now this could be holiday weekends and in areas that have high vacationers. Just say'n....

Mostly in your neck of the woods - Normandy Farms in Mass, Sebago Lake in Maine, Kingston NH, and a trip to State College PA to visit the sister. We had no issues getting a site, but we usually reserve a week or 2 in advance. I didn't notice that the campgrounds were particularly full. We were the only ones in the motor home transient sites at Sebago in the middle of July.

I have to say that Normandy Farms was packed in May, but it was the first really nice weekend after the winter from hell, so I think everyone was just blowing off the cabin fever.

Diesel was still over $3 a gallon early in the season. Last time I filled up it was $2.50.

We camped in Northern Florida a couple times and a few campgrounds enroute (twice) this year. We camped mostly Indiana State Parks and a few Indiana private parks (Good Sam Parks), and made reservations for all of them. Did not have any problems at all. Enroute to and from Florida, we called the night before and made the reservations. Not any problem at all getting a spot.

It's been a great year for us. We have finally recovered from a VERY, VERY bad deal selling our house about 8 years ago (yes, it took that long to recover). But this year, we've been out almost every week-end. Summer is not over for us yet. We still have more planned. And another trip to Florida over Christmas this year too. (hope Indiana does not get hit with a snow storm about the time we are planning on leaving for the week).