Campgrounds costing less than $20 per night

[DarkSkySeeker]

A favorite campground of mine (Ackerman Campground near Lewiston CA) costs $16 per night. I read a review where the camper complained that the $16 was up from $13 despite there being water problems at the campground.

My question is, "how often do you encounter even the most basic campground where the fee is less than $20 per night?"

This excludes of course free, boondocking, or BLM options.

[doxiemom11]

There are many of them that participate with passport america - you can review the website and it's campgrounds without being a member. We use them a lot. Love COE parks and pay $8 - $14 per nt with senior pass, and that parks are usually beautiful.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Adiabatman wrote:
We rely on Ultimate Public Campgrounds to find free and inexpensive locations.

Although not always low-priced, I always prefer public campgrounds.

More times than not, it will have lots of trees and shades and not a glorified parking lot.

[sgfrye]

DarkSkySeeker wrote:

agesilaus wrote:

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
And that's in CA!

My thought exactly it probably costs more than that to get into a state park out there, never mind camping. I was stunned at the entry fee for Pt Sur State Park and that was 15 years ago.

I think that was why I posted the question. There are quite a few references now to $50+ per night campgrounds and even a few $100+ per night sites.

So why was the reviewer of Ackerman worried about $16?

i have been working in retail sales for almost 30 years. there are a large number of people out there that would even complain about a 25 cent increase. thats how some people's mind work.

[ppine]

The older USFS campgrounds are usually under $20 but do not accomodate RVs very well. Once you turn 65 all USFS and NPS campgrounds are half price. My last trip to Yosemite in the fall, we paid no entrance fee and camping cost $11 a night. Boondocking is free.

[Adiabatman]

We rely on Ultimate Public Campgrounds to find free and inexpensive locations.

[Trekkar]

Some NF campgrounds with pit toilets, no water go for $10/day; $5/day with Senior Pass.

[PNW_Steve]

Hmm... Link doesn't work????

[PNW_Steve]

Quite a number of inexpensive or free campsites at http://www.freecampsites.net

[stickdog]

We're volunteering at a BLM campground this season very nice area. Good boat launch, docks for over night campers, $5 day use or $15. Per camping unit 2 allowed per site and half the people complain about the price.

[garmp]

We are at Wax Campground on Nolin River Lake, KY. It'a a COE park. With the geezer pass it's $12.50 a night with water & electricity.
And besides that, it's is gorgeous!!!!
Check the Corp of Engineer Parks. They are great! And across the nation.

[goducks10]

Most all the FS campgrounds we go to are in the $18-19 range. In fact we have reservations this coming week for 3 nights @$19 a night. But with my Senior pass I only pay $9 a night. Hard to beat $27 for 3 nights.

[fitznj]

I've been staying at a couple of different State campground and pleasantly
surprised at the relative low cost (compared to PA and NJ). I just paid
$17/night (weekday) plus tax; I also stayed at a campground in DE which was
$14/night weekday + senior discount).

I'm headed up to the Adirondacks next week and I'm getting a site for $21.

All these are state parks

[4runnerguy]

ReneeG wrote:
You didn't mention that this does not include Forest Service campgrounds because there are a lot out there (at least in the west) for less than $20 and even with electric hookups.

That's true for remote and/or less populated areas. But $20 or is getting to be the norm for many NFS CG's in Colorado and Utah, especially if it's within two hours of the Front Range or the Salt Lake Valley or anywhere near a lake. In some of those places, $22 seems to be the going rate for a CG with pit toilets. Flush toilets adds another $3 +/- and hookups usually another $5.

Around Moab, they raised the rates for all the BLM CG's to $20/night, and none of them have running water. Any wonder why Willow Springs road is now just over packed with boondockers (we call it Willow Springs city anymore).

[DarkSkySeeker]

agesilaus wrote:

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
And that's in CA!

My thought exactly it probably costs more than that to get into a state park out there, never mind camping. I was stunned at the entry fee for Pt Sur State Park and that was 15 years ago.

I think that was why I posted the question. There are quite a few references now to $50+ per night campgrounds and even a few $100+ per night sites.

So why was the reviewer of Ackerman worried about $16?