I've got a 6-week trip planned starting in a couple of weeks. Since a large part of it is in FL state parks, some of our planning has been in the works for the better part of a year.What's going to happen to campers like me if the fear of this new bug continues to spiral out of control? If the authorities decide they need to close the parks, where will we all go? I have no intention of cancelling my trip at this point, but I'm concerned about where I might find myself if I'm 1500 miles from home and being evicted from a campground. I envision Walmart parking lots being inundated with displaced RV'ers.What plan B's is anyone developing?-Speak

Compared to hotels, RV camping is the much safer option. Think about it: Not only do you have your own private living space--used by no one else!--but your own cooking facilities, toilet and shower. No reason for campgrounds to close.

I hope Uncle has it all figured out by then since we head for Florida at the same time.

Make sure you're stocked up on supplies and go. The more you take with you, the less you will have to go in crowded stores.I would not cancel my trip over something that could happen.

Getting a Flu shot will do you more good. 16,000 dead so far this Flu season. What, 12 dead from this over hyped epidemic.

Worry about the flu, highway deaths, lightning strikes,snake bites,buffalo stampedes. Coronovirus is way down the list. Maybe you will have the park all to yourself.

Impact of Coronavirus on Parks? | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Mar 18, 2020
Minnesota just announced that they plan to keep the State Parks open. (At least for now.) But, the visitor centers will be closed, no large groups or parties allowed, and everything ; like reservations; is going to be done remotely by phone or internet. (No one is going to be in the offices at the parks)

MODERATOR'S EDIT: Per the site Admin's request, I am closing all COVID-19 threads and directing future comments to one thread in Around the Campfire.

2019–20 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC POSTINGS
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 18, 2020
COVID-19 rapidly spread from a single city to the entire country in just 30 days. The sheer speed of both the geographical expansion and the sudden increase in numbers of cases surprised and quickly overwhelmed health and public health services in China, particularly in Wuhan City and Hubei Province.
Edd505
Explorer
Mar 18, 2020
azdryheat wrote:
Hope there are a lot of sky-is-falling campers out there, there'll be more campsites available to the rest of us.

Not in SW NM RV parks are getting filled. Schools out, state parks closed, many asked to stay home from work. That equals lots loading kids and heading out for unscheduled vacations.
kellem
Explorer
Mar 17, 2020
We have over $1500 tied up in State park reservations in the coming months.
I would not expect these rural areas to be high risk but starting to lose some optimism.

Someone please hit reset. Lol
pasusan
Explorer
Mar 17, 2020
CavemanCharlie wrote:
I found this. I have no idea how accurate it is:

https://www.campendium.com/camping/covid-19-state-by-state-campground-closures-responses/?fbclid=IwAR1nGYfQo72COLSEVz_7NiCSncj-N2BjyEGiewWybE26WdnBpFoxGpmCOE8
Thanks much for this!

I check on it every day now. Very informative site - with direct links to each state and their parks.

It's not looking like this will be a good year for camping. We've got lots of reservations that will probably be cancelled. Boo hoo.
SpeakEasy
Explorer
Mar 17, 2020
Well.

Florida is closing the state park campgrounds for the next 60 days.

There goes our spring trip. 25 nights that we had reserved in various FL state parks. Some reservations that we bagged eleven months ago.

****.

-Speak
dturm
Moderator
Mar 17, 2020
Gjac wrote:
Florida may turn out to be a safer place to live because of the warmer weather. The virus thrives in the cooler weather but becomes less contagious in the warm weather.

We don't know this. It is "suspected" that this is the case but this virus has spread through parts of the world where temperature is similar to our summer. Not sure I'd risk exposure on a suspicion.

Dr. Doug
kellem
Explorer
Mar 17, 2020
The wife made 5 reservations for 5 different state parks on the east coast, all said " we'll be open " .
Ofcourse things could change but we're optimistic.
Gjac
Explorer III
Mar 17, 2020
Florida may turn out to be a safer place to live because of the warmer weather. The virus thrives in the cooler weather but becomes less contagious in the warm weather.
RambleOnNW
Explorer II
Mar 15, 2020
Bummer the ski areas are closing. We like to take our rig up to the overnight areas for some ski fun.