Doing the Assateague State park dance!

Leaving in two weeks, it will be our first time there. We did not get an electric site but are not too concerned. We have a genny if needed but hopefully not, I prefer the quiet. Can't wait.

kfp673 wrote:
This post just reminded me of a soap box I like to get on once in a while. I love camping (RV'ing whatever, I still call it camping) but I must say that over the past few years I have really gotten frustrated with it. All of the "must see" places book a year in advance. The way my life and job work with travel, kids activities, etc. I can't even begin to think about next summer. We are happy if we can book 2 or 3 weeks out. We love to just watch the weather and head out for the weekend at the last minute instead of always planning but this has become very difficult. Pipe dream I know, but I wish there were more campsites available at some of these locations. I would love to camp on Assateague but it is very unlikely for many years. I just looked and there is not a single day available for all of next summer and we would love to take our kids there. Frustrating! Maybe we will have to go back to tent camping like when I was a kid. When I was growing up all PA state parks were first come first serve. We would roll in with our tents, pick a site, and setup. Now it's a stressful race a year in advance just to get a site.

OK, back to your regularly scheduled program

Plan a trip in late September or early October. You can also visit the National Seashore CG year round. it is still pretty mild that time of year.

CapeM1 wrote:
I am sitting here doing the happy dance because I was able to finally snag one of the hard to get "electric" sites (loop H) for next year the week after Labor Day at Assateague. My only complaint is that that the Reserve America site really makes the bucks! Not only do they make you pay for your reservation in full (collecting interest on all those ressies for a year in my case!) but then they add a more than $30 fee for the week! Cha-ching!:( Anyway, being able to camp along the dunes is worth it!

Just waiting for you;

I would love to camp on Assateague but it is very unlikely for many years. I just looked and there is not a single day available for all of next summer and we would love to take our kids there.

That's just for the 1 loop with electric, and you might make do in the much larger number of campsites without electric with some planning. Generators are allowed outside of quiet hours (10:00PM - 7:00AM) unless they're unusually noisy, so those with a generator can use A/C except at night. If you watch the long-range forecast, there are weeks in summer with highs in the mid-80s, but nighttime temperatures in the mid to low 70s. That's not bad for sleeping without A/C. During the day, most folks will be at the beach or otherwise out and about anyway.

I've been at Assateague when it was 95-98°, with electric, and even that was uncomfortable despite the A/C, so you do have to pick your spots.

bresdogsr wrote:

spoon059 wrote:

gbopp wrote:
You live in Cape May and you're excited about going to the shore? Okay :)

He is excited to get out of Jersey... that's an accomplishment all by itself!!!

Another South Jersey guy who gets excited about Assateague. Would much rather be there than the Jersey Shore. And yes anytime I can leave Jersey I get excited too ;)

Actually SHE (as well as my DH) does get excited about Assateague but still do love the shore here in New Jersey! Many different areas and islands to visit, each with their own style and taste, ,but no CGs on the islands themselves, all our offshore. One of our best gifts is some of the beautiful sunsets that we see each nite just one block at the Delaware Bay. For these reasons I love New Jersey...now if we were talking about taxes and car insurance I would certainly be singing a different tune!:B

kfp673 wrote:
This post just reminded me of a soap box I like to get on once in a while. I love camping (RV'ing whatever, I still call it camping) but I must say that over the past few years I have really gotten frustrated with it. All of the "must see" places book a year in advance. The way my life and job work with travel, kids activities, etc. I can't even begin to think about next summer. We are happy if we can book 2 or 3 weeks out. We love to just watch the weather and head out for the weekend at the last minute instead of always planning but this has become very difficult. Pipe dream I know, but I wish there were more campsites available at some of these locations. I would love to camp on Assateague but it is very unlikely for many years. I just looked and there is not a single day available for all of next summer and we would love to take our kids there. Frustrating! Maybe we will have to go back to tent camping like when I was a kid. When I was growing up all PA state parks were first come first serve. We would roll in with our tents, pick a site, and setup. Now it's a stressful race a year in advance just to get a site.

OK, back to your regularly scheduled program

Just an FYI..the sites that fill up a year in advance are the few (38 I believe) sites available with electric only. There are very many sites without hookups available right up to the date needed (though weekends may be harder). I know down in Florida the state parks are pretty much the same way, a year in advance and people need to sit at their computers on a particular day a year in advance to get a chance at a site. Assateague is one of only two parks which we reserve a year in advance. Our other one is a local one, just a few miles away from our home. Seashore Campsites in Cape May, a great place for quick getaways with the grandkids. While it is a real pain trying to plan a year in advance for these parks, we enjoy them so much that it is worth the hassle. Otherwise we just go with the flow and just go with what is available. We do make sure we try to visit at least one new CG per year.

spoon059 wrote:

gbopp wrote:
You live in Cape May and you're excited about going to the shore? Okay :)

He is excited to get out of Jersey... that's an accomplishment all by itself!!!

Another South Jersey guy who gets excited about Assateague. Would much rather be there than the Jersey Shore. And yes anytime I can leave Jersey I get excited too ;)

This post just reminded me of a soap box I like to get on once in a while. I love camping (RV'ing whatever, I still call it camping) but I must say that over the past few years I have really gotten frustrated with it. All of the "must see" places book a year in advance. The way my life and job work with travel, kids activities, etc. I can't even begin to think about next summer. We are happy if we can book 2 or 3 weeks out. We love to just watch the weather and head out for the weekend at the last minute instead of always planning but this has become very difficult. Pipe dream I know, but I wish there were more campsites available at some of these locations. I would love to camp on Assateague but it is very unlikely for many years. I just looked and there is not a single day available for all of next summer and we would love to take our kids there. Frustrating! Maybe we will have to go back to tent camping like when I was a kid. When I was growing up all PA state parks were first come first serve. We would roll in with our tents, pick a site, and setup. Now it's a stressful race a year in advance just to get a site.

OK, back to your regularly scheduled program

gbopp wrote:
You live in Cape May and you're excited about going to the shore? Okay :)

He is excited to get out of Jersey... that's an accomplishment all by itself!!!

CapeM1 wrote:
I am sitting here doing the happy dance because I was able to finally snag one of the hard to get "electric" sites (loop H) for next year the week after Labor Day at Assateague. My only complaint is that that the Reserve America site really makes the bucks! Not only do they make you pay for your reservation in full (collecting interest on all those ressies for a year in my case!) but then they add a more than $30 fee for the week! Cha-ching!:( Anyway, being able to camp along the dunes is worth it!

I was lucky enough to get a loop H site in the first week of june for next year. I usually don't book this early and I had booked the site 2 months ago and it was the ONLY site available . I hope nothings come up where I have to cancel.

Mike