How many people are camping and how far are they traveling?

we're still taking three major trips a year, about 4000 miles for two and 2000 for the third one. this year, we're taking a cruise in place of one trip...and spending more on it ):

Iluv2camp13 wrote:How many people are camping and how far are they traveling?This week we are traveling 240 Miles to camp for 3 days. For us it is less expensive than staying in a motel, or condo. Gas for the trip around $175.00. Campsite, with tax, $165. Total, $340. 3 nights in a condo. $600+ 3 nights in a motel room, actually 2 rooms. $600+. SO. It's pretty plain to see. The camper is a better value.

Will go on 4-6 four day weekends, less than 120 miles round trip, and one trip to beach around 500 miles round trip. Our beach stay is six nights on the beach for $209 plus fuel approximately $200 for diesel. We eat our own food and sleep is our own bed. Can't get this at a hotel or condo. Loving every minute of it. Travel on.

No one ever said RVing was cheap...either suck it up and get out there and enjoy yourselves OR park the RV

Now that we are a 1 house owner couple again, our finances are not so tight. We'll be camping a lot more this year. Farthest trip will be from (near) Indianapolis to North Western Iowa (approximately 500 (plus) miles). That's the farthest we'll be going this year. But several week-end trips planned more local (all within Indiana - longest distance one way, about 150 miles). It's not the distance you travel to go camping, it's what the purpose is for going in the first place. If all you want is a get-away, camp in your driveway and close the windows so you can't see out and pretend you're somewhere. However, if you are going to an event, visit relatives, or even for business, then there's a purpose. Of course recreation is a purpose also? Boating, canoeing, hicking, ATV's =, sporting events, all excellent reasons to go somewhere!The older we get, we want to get "away" for a purpose. We live in the country and, as far as 'getting away' for the sake of just 'getting away'.... fact is ... we're already "there"! So, before we leave our solitude, DARK nights, peace and quiet, no traffic, no kids running through our campsite, cars blowing horns, and obnoxious people who have had too much "bubbly" next door, we've got to have a good reason to go somewhere now! So we are planning for a purpose now! Not just to "get away!"

Camping in this economy | Good Sam Community

Terryallan
Explorer II
Apr 24, 2013
Tvov wrote:
John & Angela wrote:

On edit. Just checked the history of gas prices here. Fuel is a couple cents per litre cheaper now than 5 years ago. Go figure. :).

I just went to Gasbuddy.com and checked price history... according to that site, what I am remembering is more like 5 years ago. Interesting. Those are average prices, I swear just two years ago I had a price drop in my area. It may have just been the local station's pricing.

I do know that on April, 20, 2009. the average Gas price for the US was $2.05, Up $.10 from $1.95 in March of that year. So any way you look at it. Todays gas prices are high. Waaaay too high
Tvov
Explorer II
Apr 24, 2013
John & Angela wrote:

On edit. Just checked the history of gas prices here. Fuel is a couple cents per litre cheaper now than 5 years ago. Go figure. :).

I just went to Gasbuddy.com and checked price history... according to that site, what I am remembering is more like 5 years ago. Interesting. Those are average prices, I swear just two years ago I had a price drop in my area. It may have just been the local station's pricing.
mdamerell
Explorer
Apr 23, 2013
We mostly travel about 75 miles to our campground about twice a month for a weekend or whatever we can squeeze in. $40 for fuel and some groceries is a deal. We have only one "long trip (1,600 miles)" planed to Mystic CT this summer.
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Apr 23, 2013
We have returned from our first excursion of the year. It was about 3800 miles and took 24 days. We have others planned. The coach is paid for, we have to buy food anyway so we might just as well eat where we want.

Not quite ready to sell off the S&B house yet, besides, it is in Michigan and we would have to give it away.

Matt
Shavano
Explorer
Apr 23, 2013
I'll let this thread run, as long as it stays friendly and nonpolitical.
John___Angela
Explorer
Apr 23, 2013
tplife wrote:
Prius/TorkLift Class II Hitch/Reese Lighting Kit/RideRite Air Bags/Thule Transporter Combi: 50 mpg tent camping for 3 passengers + gear + 3 nights firewood...

Got ya beat by about 4 or 5 mpg but we can only go with the two of us...and we have no room for firewood. But we do have a fridge/freezer...and a porta-potti :) Now if we could get the same mileage from our pusher. LOL :)
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Apr 23, 2013
mleekamp wrote:
We booked a trip to Fort Wilderness for June 8-14....our first with our TT. Thing is, I was notified I will be laid off the week after. Hmmm...So, instead of driving back, we booked another week at Fort Pickens in FL. From there, who knows? Point is, we now are in no hurry to come home....our girls will love it. We will already have spent the money on the fuel to get there....might as well stay awhile!!!!!!!!

I like your thinking. Florida is a great place to camp. If you need more ideas from a Florida junkie let me know.
mleekamp
Explorer
Apr 23, 2013
We booked a trip to Fort Wilderness for June 8-14....our first with our TT. Thing is, I was notified I will be laid off the week after. Hmmm...So, instead of driving back, we booked another week at Fort Pickens in FL. From there, who knows? Point is, we now are in no hurry to come home....our girls will love it. We will already have spent the money on the fuel to get there....might as well stay awhile!!!!!!!!
John___Angela
Explorer
Apr 23, 2013
Tvov wrote:
Our number of trips we are planning are less this summer, but that is more due to teenagers running around doing teenager things... fewer "open" weekends. We've got 4 trips planned so far, working on a couple more. All weekend trips.

I have learned to love the State parks and similar places with no hookups, that cost 1/3 (or even less) as much as a full hook up resort. We don't really "need" the full hookups with the teenagers now. We are also doing more hiking and exploring the area around a campground.

When the kids were younger, the full hookup resorts were nice with all the activities and other kids.

Fuel prices... well, they are what they are. They aren't much lower that I can see - ~2 years ago it was $1.99 a gallon, I just filled up yesterday at $3.79 a gallon. That is almost double, and I find it weird that people are saying fuel prices are low!

I find the "cost" of camping/RV'ing to be well worth it for the enjoyment I get out of it.

I think the fuel price thing may be what we get used to and also a bit
of a regional thing. Where we are fuel may have risen 10 percent in three years max. Sounds like it has almost doubled where you are in two years. Geesh. That's gotta hurt.

On edit. Just checked the history of gas prices here. Fuel is a couple cents per litre cheaper now than 5 years ago. Go figure. :).
Lantley
Nomad
Apr 23, 2013
Tvov wrote:

I find the "cost" of camping/RV'ing to be well worth it for the enjoyment I get out of it.

TVOV that says it all!
I will add to the point Skip made earlier in this thread. Regardless of size,type or purchase price or the economy the only way to get value out of any RV is to use it. Want more value use it more!
For me an idle RV is a waste of money,use it is the only benefit of ownership.