How did you meet your camping buddies, the Wife and I are both 29 and it seems that every campground we go its filled with older people (no offense to anybody). We would like to meet people to hang out thats our age and have kids that close to our sons age (8). It just seems difficult, my in-laws camp but they will only travel within an hour of their home and don't go that often.

It is difficult. Our group at one time consisted of DW's boss, who was a few years older, a co-worker and one of her husbands co-workers. Plus another couple a bit younger. Our girls were really the only kids. That group lasted several years then we drifted apart for a lot of reasons. To be honest, we camped a lot, almost every weekend. Our girls usually found things to do and could always find other kids. Start camping in state parks and NF camp grounds, places where families can aford to go, not resort type places.

Co-workersFriends your age group......take them camping and get them interestedCamp close to home...walk around and visit with younger folks with kids....make new friendsAnd some of us old folks like to camp with others.....even the ones with kids :B

We are what you refer to as "old" and we like to meet people while walking our dog around CG or RV park. We never have problems meeting others, but we are friendly to others and outgoing. It seems to me that younger people are UNFRIENDLY, as if "their world" excludes anybody that doesn't have little kids or an electronic device jammed into their ear!Give it a try....approach others in a friendly manner and see what happens.

We are friendly and make it a point to walk the dog around the camp ground and talk to everyone we see even if we don't get to say hi we smile and wave.

Been camping all my life, ever since I was a kid with my parents. Only for a short time in my life did I have a circle of "buddies" and that was when I was 11 to 15 years old. Mom and Dad took their camper where they could pay for the entire summer. Others did also. Over those years, there were about 5 families and everyone had boys about the same age, given a year or two either direction. We became good friends over the years. But as time moves on, as we all entered into adulthood, each one whet their separate ways and I've not heard from any of them in over 40 years now. As an adult myself, we've really never made "camping" friends. I don't think we've ever run into the same person twice, in over the last 30 years of camping.We have camped with family in the past. I belonged to a church once and the men had an annual fishing trip they went on. If you have a camper, you shared bed space with someone who did not have one. And if you had a boat, you shared boat space with someone who did not have one. It was an annual event, I went twice (when we had our pop-up), and it was a great time we had. Then once we went camping with another family we knew from work. Actually, there were 4 of us that had campers and we planned a long week-end together.Now to be HONEST with you .... my wife and I prefer to not go camping with someone we already know, work with, family, or have some kind of association with because of an organization (religious or other). Actually, we have found we prefer not having to engage on someone elses schedule or expectations. We have found our interests are simply too boring for "active" campers. We don't consume alcohol (except a little wine on very special occasions), and definitely don't have any "wild hairs" left in our old bones. I think all of our "wild hairs" have been pulled out one-by-one.We do really enjoy engaging in a conversion, or sitting around a neighbors campfire and enjoying the "moment". But the "moment" is really all we expect from a short term acquaintance. Maybe that's because I've lived a transient life, college, employment in several states for a year or two and then moving, the military, and job changes. Old friends make better friends on Facebook than in person we have learned.I know this may not answer your question as you were expecting. But I think, if you are looking to develop camping friendships, your best avenue is to camp in campgrounds where others your same age camp (state, federal, and private campgrounds), and stay away from "RV Resorts" that are designed for "old farts" like me! Once at the campground, just strike up a conversation with someone and see if it develops into a friendship. Be prepared to say "bye" when you check-out and never see them again. Or, make friend and keep them friends on Facebook to keep in touch, find out where they are camping and perhaps even plan to cross paths at the same campground sometimes. In today's age of technology, they my be the best way to do it.Good luck, and if we are ever in the same campground and our paths meet, I'll glady share a campfire with you, and we'll swap stories. Who knows, what may become of it. You're the same age as my son.

Camping Buddies | Good Sam Community

mgirardo
Explorer
Apr 20, 2015
Scott_85 wrote:
How did you meet your camping buddies, the Wife and I are both 29 and it seems that every campground we go its filled with older people (no offense to anybody). We would like to meet people to hang out thats our age and have kids that close to our sons age (8). It just seems difficult, my in-laws camp but they will only travel within an hour of their home and don't go that often.

You need to look for campgrounds that have have amenities/activities geared toward kids. And look for kiddie pools and/or kiddie play areas. A prime example is Twin Grove RV Resort in Pine Grove, PA. Look at their Activities page. Lots of stuff for little ones. Little ones usually mean younger adult campers although you might find older adults bringing their grand kids.

We home school our children. We try not to camp on the weekends when campgrounds usually fill up so we don't usually see people our own age. We are in our early 40s, our children are 14 and 12. At our seasonal campsite, there are lots of children so our kids usually have buddies. Unfortunately for us, most of the kids are there with their grandparents. We've meet some "friends" that stay for a long weekend or for a week, but most of the seasonal campers are all older.

We have found in our travels, that State Parks often times have more younger campers. Of course there are exceptions - places like Disney's Fort Wilderness, Hershey's High Meadow Campground or King's Dominion's campground, but at resorts like these it can be difficult to make friendships because everyone is at the Theme/Amusement Park(s).

-Michael
TomHaycraft
Explorer
Apr 20, 2015
Scott_85 wrote:
How did you meet your camping buddies, the Wife and I are both 29 and it seems that every campground we go its filled with older people (no offense to anybody). We would like to meet people to hang out thats our age and have kids that close to our sons age (8). It just seems difficult, my in-laws camp but they will only travel within an hour of their home and don't go that often.

You mentioned sons, age 8. Have you inquired at their school? Are there other families attending the school who also camp? Are there school projects you could blend into an outing, whether it be science / biology, history or physical education?

Hope this might help.
GaryWT
Explorer
Apr 20, 2015
We started camping with neighbors which was good. When we went alone we pup iced campgrounds with kid activities like Yogi and the like. Took the kids to the playground and pool to meet kids. We went the same week to Yogi for a few years and a lot of the same kids were there each year so that worked. We had other friends that we knew in town that started camping as well. We went seasonal for awhile and met tons of people, having 40 people to a fire or a breakfast is kind of crazy. We met good friends there whose youngest is only 2 weeks older than our youngest, we still camp with them. We are probably the older people you talk about but we are friendly, just don't have anyone for your 8 year old. We will have our first grandchild in August so maybe he will camp with us once or twice.
Maintcpo
Explorer
Apr 20, 2015
Make friends and go! We camp with wifes x coworker for the last 10 years about every other month!
pnichols
Explorer II
Apr 20, 2015
IDman wrote:
We are what you refer to as "old" and we like to meet people while walking our dog around CG or RV park. We never have problems meeting others, but we are friendly to others and outgoing. It seems to me that younger people are UNFRIENDLY, as if "their world" excludes anybody that doesn't have little kids or an electronic device jammed into their ear!

Give it a try....approach others in a friendly manner and see what happens.

X2

Well said!
Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Apr 20, 2015
Maybe have your son invite a friend to go camping with him. Maybe he'll get his parents interested! If not, invite someone different the next time.

As suggested, walk the CG and meet people!

There is also a Family Camping section on this forum. Have you checked it out?
colliehauler
Explorer III
Apr 20, 2015
There are campgrounds geared for younger families, Jellystone KOA ect that have activities for kids. State and federal campgrounds tend to draw a younger crowd as well.

None of my friends or family camp or RV. I've met a lot of likeminded people camping. You already have something in common, you like camping, travel and adventures.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Apr 20, 2015
We made friends and then talked them in to going camping with us!
Goostoff
Explorer
Apr 20, 2015
Wanna make freinds really quick. Get yourself a big "scarey" dog. Every time I walk my Rottweiler I have a swarm of kids wanting to pet him. This always brings out paranoid parents. This gives me the opertunity to educate people about how certain breeds get a bad reputation for no reason, and make some freinds at the same time. I think some of them actually like the dog more than me but I am OK with that.
tpi
Explorer
Apr 20, 2015
I have early 30s friend with a big motorhome so they're out there. I agree with the idea of seeking out the most kid friendly campgrounds. There has to be younger parents at these. One that strikes me, just as example, here in CA is the Petaluma KOA. There's so many kids I'm probably not going back myself but for you it would be perfect.

Also open yourself up to a broad definition of camping. Some of my camping friends camp in tents. Be flexible that you're not always in full hookup RV park.

Keep your eyes open around the neighborhood...

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