This Past Season - Finding Camping Space

[Flanz]

Hello All,

Well, another season has just about pasted us by and we are very close to purchasing a new MH. Most likely Jan - Feb 2016. We stepped out of this season because we sold our 15 year old coach.

So, I've got a question for all the part time as well as full time campers and also the weekend warriors. How did everyone find travelling around the country this year? Since the price of fuel was relatively low and, this is a big AND, the economy is suppose to be getting strong 🙂 Was it easy to find sites and just pull in OR did folks have to make sure that they have reservations? I've heard that it's getting difficult to move around and find sites if you don't have reservations.

We plan to go full-time in the fall of 2016 and we're trying to gauge what we need to do to move around freely.....Especially if we're in a 45' coach.

-paul

[darsben]

Flanz wrote:

darsben wrote:

Flanz wrote:

darsben wrote:
double post

Some people need to get a life!!

\AND YOU SIR need to learn that the rules apply to you as well.
If you did not know the rule that is worse because you have been here a long time and never bothered to familiarize yourself with the expectations from a member.
You are a bad citizen of this forum you cause more work for the unpaid volunteers who have to clean up after you when you do not follow the rules. Bet it carries over into all your activities

I think we have enough "Net Nanny's" floating around here and other places! I don't think we need another one....

Very articulate reasoning you have

[Flanz]

Executive wrote:
I was going to respond, but with the OP's attitude, he can go fly a kite...just sayin....Dennis

You just responded. Oh and I like flying kites, think I'll do it this weekend. Have you ever been to Bretton Point State Park in Rhode Island? Awesome place to fly a kite!!!!

-paul

[Flanz]

Dale.Traveling wrote:
We're weekend campers with a two week trip early July every year. Like Effy my time is limited so I have reservations before leaving home. Most of our weekends are at state parks here in Virginia and didn't have much of a problem getting a reservation in a week or two out. The CG's did seem to fill up faster for the three summer holidays. It does seem like I'm seeing more rigs including towables on the road this past summer.

Your absolutely correct Dale. I've got a buddy that sells campers here in the north east. He states that more and more manufacturers are building low quality and cost TT's for family's. This is what is filling up the CG's due to the low cost of camping, and in some case's, the equipment needed. It's what I've been told since I haven't been to a CG at all this season. This is why I asked the question for when we get out FT'ing next year.

-paul

[Dale_Traveling]

We're weekend campers with a two week trip early July every year. Like Effy my time is limited so I have reservations before leaving home. Most of our weekends are at state parks here in Virginia and didn't have much of a problem getting a reservation in a week or two out. The CG's did seem to fill up faster for the three summer holidays. It does seem like I'm seeing more rigs including towables on the road this past summer.

[Executive45]

I was going to respond, but with the OP's attitude, he can go fly a kite...just sayin....Dennis

[Flanz]

Billinwoodland wrote:
In N. California, we had to make reservations weeks in advance to get into the better parks along the coast (summer time). And the county and state parks were essentially booked all summer, with just the first come first serve sites available. Calif maybe the exception though. The population is high as is the demand for spots. Looking forward to retirement so I can travel on the off days!

Us too Bill. We've worked hard for what feels like a long time. We now want to enjoy the fruits of our labor while we can.....

-paul

[Billinwoodland]

In N. California, we had to make reservations weeks in advance to get into the better parks along the coast (summer time). And the county and state parks were essentially booked all summer, with just the first come first serve sites available. Calif maybe the exception though. The population is high as is the demand for spots. Looking forward to retirement so I can travel on the off days!

[Flanz]

DSDP Don wrote:
"Flange".....We found it much more difficult to get spots this year and last, from staying at Elks Lodges to National Parks, to campgrounds at Quartzsite. I don't necessarily think fuel has had an impact on travel. Fuel fluctuates so much, that you really couldn't plan an RV purchase or make future travel plans based on fuel. Like you, many are prepared to pay a variety of prices for fuel.

I think the increase in RVing is due to baby boomers, at the height of retirement, moving into the RV world. I also don't think the economy is any better, other than artificial stimulation, but rather that people who have a little money, like you and other baby boomers, are tired of waiting to see if it's gong to get better and are going camping. I know we're not going to waste our healthy years waiting to see if things get better.....we're going camping!!!!

With all that said.....as a full timer, you'll have plenty of time to plan ahead and book spots that may be popular. As we travel in areas that ARE NOT destination spots, finding a campground is pretty easy. Again, as a full timer, you can often stay a few miles farther away from the popular places and commute.

Yes, I think your right. Our plan is to stay on the out skirts and ride the Harley or truck into attractions. But, at times, it's nice to be in an area that we don't have to drive far to enjoy the sights. This is where we will make reservations. We'll have time to research and make these reservations as well as have the time to enjoy during the week when hopefully others are at work.

As for baby boomers, we aren't one of them. We have been fortunate through-out our careers to sock away some money. We are looking to travel while we are still able too and enjoy ourselves. Our plan is too find our next "home" while we travel. Could take a year or maybe 10. Not in any hurry. We're also done waiting and are making the move at this very moment to be on the road in less than a year....

-paul

[darsben]

Flanz wrote:

darsben wrote:
double post

Some people need to get a life!!

\AND YOU SIR need to learn that the rules apply to you as well.
If you did not know the rule that is worse because you have been here a long time and never bothered to familiarize yourself with the expectations from a member.
You are a bad citizen of this forum you cause more work for the unpaid volunteers who have to clean up after you when you do not follow the rules. Bet it carries over into all your activities

[DSDP_Don]

"Flanz".....We found it much more difficult to get spots this year and last, from staying at Elks Lodges to National Parks, to campgrounds at Quartzsite. I don't necessarily think fuel has had an impact on travel. Fuel fluctuates so much, that you really couldn't plan an RV purchase or make future travel plans based on fuel. Like you, many are prepared to pay a variety of prices for fuel.

I think the increase in RVing is due to baby boomers, at the height of retirement, moving into the RV world. I also don't think the economy is any better, other than artificial stimulation, but rather that people who have a little money, like you and other baby boomers, are tired of waiting to see if it's gong to get better and are going camping. I know we're not going to waste our healthy years waiting to see if things get better.....we're going camping!!!!

With all that said.....as a full timer, you'll have plenty of time to plan ahead and book spots that may be popular. As we travel in areas that ARE NOT destination spots, finding a campground is pretty easy. Again, as a full timer, you can often stay a few miles farther away from the popular places and commute.

[btilfan]

We drove I-80 from Omaha to San Fransico and back in June. No reservations and had no trouble getting in RV parks.

[Flanz]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Like always, size and destination matters. Going to a popular place with a large rig, there are many less available sites. During peak season, we always turn away rigs most every night. If you have a big motorhome towing a trailer, you might need 12 months advanced reservations. Have a camping van and willing to take a leftover site, you can probably get in most any night (unless another camping van willing to take the last remaining site beats you to it).
The economy has very little to do with RV traffic. If someone has north of $100,000 invested in their RV and tow vehicle, the aren't going to let fifty cents or even two dollars a gallon for fuel stand in their way. To have bought the rig in the first place is almost proof positive they are not teetering on the poverty line. In some regards, bad economic times increase RV travel. It's cheaper to camp then to fly and spend two weeks in Europe. A Week at Smoky Mountain National Park is cheaper than a week at Disneyworld. While no recreational oriented business is recession-proof, RVing comes somewhat close.

I couldn't agree more, but it appears that folks are staying local. This I would assume is helping your business. As for fuel, we won't have a problem with this since we have a budget that allows for up to $6.00 a gallon, maybe higher depending on our returns.

As for economy, well if people start loosing their jobs due to a bad economy, then sites will open up and I'll have my pick....

-paul

[westernrvparkow]

Like always, size and destination matters. Going to a popular place with a large rig, there are many less available sites. During peak season, we always turn away rigs most every night. If you have a big motorhome towing a trailer, you might need 12 months advanced reservations. Have a camping van and willing to take a leftover site, you can probably get in most any night (unless another camping van willing to take the last remaining site beats you to it).
The economy has very little to do with RV traffic. If someone has north of $100,000 invested in their RV and tow vehicle, the aren't going to let fifty cents or even two dollars a gallon for fuel stand in their way. To have bought the rig in the first place is almost proof positive they are not teetering on the poverty line. In some regards, bad economic times increase RV travel. It's cheaper to camp then to fly and spend two weeks in Europe. A Week at Smoky Mountain National Park is cheaper than a week at Disneyworld. While no recreational oriented business is recession-proof, RVing comes somewhat close.

[Effy]

I always make reservations. I still work so I don't have the luxury of time to risk not having a spot. That said, never had an issue not being able to make one from a CG being booked solid. I usually avoid dates and places that would be prone to a packed CG anyway. Stayed in Annapolis over July 4th and the CG still had plenty of spots. I did make my reservation 4 months ahead of time in any case.