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jarata1's avatar
jarata1
Explorer
Jun 26, 2020

Is camping Fun Anymore

Being a full timer for the last couple years I notice a change in camping styles.It seems now when you go to campgrounds mostly state but some private,you can count on about 8-10 people camping on the side of you.I like to go camping camping to relax not to listen to parties.
Maybe Im destined to boondock or forget about this style of life.
Anyone else feel this way.

46 Replies

  • ppine's avatar
    ppine
    Explorer III
    In the West, public campgrounds like USFS have the weekend crowds that are noisy on Fri and Sat nights. Usually okay the rest of the week. I avoid campgrounds in summer and boondock. Spring and fall they can be fine. A little frost takes out a lot of tent campers.
  • The previous 5 years, I've spent a month or so hosting at an NFS campground, and the last 60 years or so camping from time to time. As long as I can remember, there have been occasional encounters with narcissistic campers who disturbed others. I have not particularly noticed much increase in their numbers. But I also haven't been camping yet this season, partly because it has been raining a lot here, and the field through which I have to drag the TT to turn around before I can leave home with it has been too soft to attempt.

    But I would not be surprised given the current state of affairs to find the loud party crowd more frequently camping out. People are being encouraged to take their mass assemblages outdoors.

    Those I have encountered over the years ranged from the family that may have all been particularly hard of hearing, in the sense of not realizing how loud they were. I remember being awakened early one Saturday morning by the two kids INSIDE their own TT, carefully whispering back and forth so as to not wake anybody, parents in particular. Thing is, they didn't realize that their breathy whispers were around 80 dB.

    There was also the group of college kids around a campfire just before midnight, who, though respectful of my hostly request to keep it down, clearly did not understand that voices carry a long way in the otherwise silent woods. In their defense, they did remind one another to tone it down from time to time after I made my request. They were trying.

    Only once have I encountered folks who were aggressively entitled and in-your-face. They were both drunk and delusional, having decided both that we were an Amish extended family (because one of us had a beard) and that we had 35 children (3, by my count) on site. That was a long weekend, btw, as the private campground management lacked the balls to toss them out. The pile of beer cans they accumulated was impressive.
  • If you are on public park, bring it up to the park ranger. I found them would act promptly.

    My kids almost got kicked out of a national park just because they must be giggling too loudly past quiet time.
  • We camp in large groups (extended family or friends are almost always with us)
    we stay up late
    we often consume alcohol
    we never have the sterio pumping
    we sit around the campfire
    conversations are had, songs are sung (while the kids are up and its not that late)
    food is had
    more food is had
    more more food is had
    we dont disturb.........

    ive had trouble with couples, solo campers and small groups.
    its not the numbers its the individuals that make the problems.
  • I hear ya. We are a family of 4, but it seems state parks (our fav unless we can get in a national park) have "parties" as you mention. I have seen (heard actually) stereos blasting from 4 campsites away or more...and folks livin' it up till midnite. On the other hand, I've seen large groups gather 'round the campfire till midnite...and not make an issue of it as they talk within the group and not make their presence known. If you are out having fun, be respectful!

    Still, we are not done yet. For us, it does allow mobility and unique experiences for our kids and dogs...while seeing the real America...national parks. So, we take the good with the bad.

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