Campgrounds for large families

[el_jefe1]

Finding a few other families here that are as large as mine it's got me wondering, where do the large families camp? I wonder if we could post some of our favorite campgrounds that don't charge an extra $5-$10 for each of the kids? Thinking a little bigger, some kind of online directory for where families such as ours can go would be useful to me, I wonder would it be of use to anyone else? Or does such a thing exist already?

I find a lot of camgrounds with a base rate of $50-$60, but that that only includes 2 or at most 4 kids. If I pay $5 per person over 4 kids, that's as much as $30 per night extra depending on how many we have with us for that trip. I do understand campgrounds wanting to keep large groups from getting a single site and packing it full, but we end up paying $80-$100 a night for just an average campground unless we do a lot of research ahead of time to find places that just let us park our big trailer full of our own kids on a site just like everyone else.

Anybody else run into this problem, or are we just so few and far between that it's only a couple of us that this kind of thing is a problem for?

And no, I'm not talking about "resort fees", though the term "resort" is often used quite generously by the campgrounds themselves. If there are extra amenities and things that are included that makes perfect sense. I'm willing to pay extra for those, paying for extra people is fair. I'm talking about your average run of the mill campground with a playground and maybe a pool who wants the extra $30 per night from us with no real added benefit, or to whom at least we are a negligible burden.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

lots2seeinmyrv wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
In our case, we use the extra charges, maximum occupancy per site and a requirement that each site reserved must have a camping unit on it as tools to make a large group decide to go elsewhere. Large groups stress our infrastructure. Every additional person in a rig geometrically increases the odds they will need to use the park's showers and restrooms. There is no way 10 people waking up in one rig will be able to use the one toilet and one shower in that rig. Cycling thru everyone would take hours. When that group returns from a day's outing, everyone descends on showers and literally takes them over, leaving all the other guests out in the cold. Same with the laundry and the entertainment items.
We don't want to argue about whether or not we will accept a large family. We don't want to get into questioning whether or not they are all relatives. We don't want to draw lines defining what a family group is or isn't. Great grandma and Grandpa brings their two married kids, who bring their two married kids, who bring their two kids and suddenly allowing parents and children is adding up to 30 people. Instead, we let the fees and policies do the talking. We price large groups at a price that has them saying "no". Takes some of the pressure off us.

Thank you. These large families should pay for 2 sites.

Extra fees pay for toilet paper, soap, water usage, paper towels, wear and tear, they take over the pool and amenities and add to clean up costs.

If you had 12 people occupying 4 sites that is 48 people 😞

Add in the pets and it is mayhem for everybody else.

We are only 2 people on a site...do we get a discount?

You may have missed the fine print in our policies. We don't allow large groups to even take a second site unless they have a camping unit to place on it. Two sites for twelve people with only one RV does not mitigate the congestion issues. Like you imply, for us it is not about collecting money from a large group, it is about maximizing the satisfaction of all the other paying guests. That is what we feel will ensure the park's long term success.

I agree...2 sites, 2 camping units. Thank you for considering the satisfaction and having courtesy for others.

[myredracer]

We were at a Thousand Trails CG this past weekend in WA. Was really lucky to be able to snag one of the nicer sites (for the 2 of us). Man, it was HUGE! Enough for 2 RVs and still have enough space at the rear for a few tents. Their policy is max 6 persons per site but have never seen them do a head count and have seen some pretty large families. Not sure if they charge extra but I wouldn't tell them. If you had a party of 20 and were causing a disturbance they'd be all over you tho.

Some of the T/T CGs have teeny weeny sites as well. If you want one of their nicer sites in the high season, it's going to be pretty tough, esp. if you want one with sewer. Their sites are all first come first serve. Being members, we don't pay anything per night for a site.

You might try doing some googling for area CGs and/or look at CG review sites like RVparkreviews.com. To find out if they have any larger sites, you may have to do some phoning. Online CG maps aren't going to show what individual sites look like. Maybe google earth? The occasional CG we've been to has a family/group area where you can get adjacent sites.

I don't buy that more people on a site is more work and therefore should pay more. Have yet to see trash left on a site where workers have to come and clean it up but we don't stay in "those" sorts of CGs... 🙂

[westernrvparkow]

lots2seeinmyrv wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
In our case, we use the extra charges, maximum occupancy per site and a requirement that each site reserved must have a camping unit on it as tools to make a large group decide to go elsewhere. Large groups stress our infrastructure. Every additional person in a rig geometrically increases the odds they will need to use the park's showers and restrooms. There is no way 10 people waking up in one rig will be able to use the one toilet and one shower in that rig. Cycling thru everyone would take hours. When that group returns from a day's outing, everyone descends on showers and literally takes them over, leaving all the other guests out in the cold. Same with the laundry and the entertainment items.
We don't want to argue about whether or not we will accept a large family. We don't want to get into questioning whether or not they are all relatives. We don't want to draw lines defining what a family group is or isn't. Great grandma and Grandpa brings their two married kids, who bring their two married kids, who bring their two kids and suddenly allowing parents and children is adding up to 30 people. Instead, we let the fees and policies do the talking. We price large groups at a price that has them saying "no". Takes some of the pressure off us.

Thank you. These large families should pay for 2 sites.

Extra fees pay for toilet paper, soap, water usage, paper towels, wear and tear, they take over the pool and amenities and add to clean up costs.

If you had 12 people occupying 4 sites that is 48 people 😞

Add in the pets and it is mayhem for everybody else.

We are only 2 people on a site...do we get a discount?

You may have missed the fine print in our policies. We don't allow large groups to even take a second site unless they have a camping unit to place on it. Two sites for twelve people with only one RV does not mitigate the congestion issues. Like you imply, for us it is not about collecting money from a large group, it is about maximizing the satisfaction of all the other paying guests. That is what we feel will ensure the park's long term success.

[ppine]

Group campsites are ideal for a group but they can cost a lot. How about diving up your group into 2 campsites? Often you can get 2 near each other. That would allow 12 people.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
In our case, we use the extra charges, maximum occupancy per site and a requirement that each site reserved must have a camping unit on it as tools to make a large group decide to go elsewhere. Large groups stress our infrastructure. Every additional person in a rig geometrically increases the odds they will need to use the park's showers and restrooms. There is no way 10 people waking up in one rig will be able to use the one toilet and one shower in that rig. Cycling thru everyone would take hours. When that group returns from a day's outing, everyone descends on showers and literally takes them over, leaving all the other guests out in the cold. Same with the laundry and the entertainment items.
We don't want to argue about whether or not we will accept a large family. We don't want to get into questioning whether or not they are all relatives. We don't want to draw lines defining what a family group is or isn't. Great grandma and Grandpa brings their two married kids, who bring their two married kids, who bring their two kids and suddenly allowing parents and children is adding up to 30 people. Instead, we let the fees and policies do the talking. We price large groups at a price that has them saying "no". Takes some of the pressure off us.

Thank you. These large families should pay for 2 sites.

Extra fees pay for toilet paper, soap, water usage, paper towels, wear and tear, they take over the pool and amenities and add to clean up costs.

If you had 12 people occupying 4 sites that is 48 people 😞

Add in the pets and it is mayhem for everybody else.

We are only 2 people on a site...do we get a discount?

[mgirardo]

I've never encountered a campground that allows more than 8 per site, unless it is a group site. I think a lot of that has to do with what westernrvparkowner said as well as local ordinances. A hotel can't allow more people in a room than the # of beds allows. In a hotel without large suites, your family would need 3 rooms. Go on a cruise, same thing.

With that being said, I would imagine if you talk to the campground owners, you will find they may be accommodating since you are a single family.

-Michael

[westernrvparkow]

In our case, we use the extra charges, maximum occupancy per site and a requirement that each site reserved must have a camping unit on it as tools to make a large group decide to go elsewhere. Large groups stress our infrastructure. Every additional person in a rig geometrically increases the odds they will need to use the park's showers and restrooms. There is no way 10 people waking up in one rig will be able to use the one toilet and one shower in that rig. Cycling thru everyone would take hours. When that group returns from a day's outing, everyone descends on showers and literally takes them over, leaving all the other guests out in the cold. Same with the laundry and the entertainment items.
We don't want to argue about whether or not we will accept a large family. We don't want to get into questioning whether or not they are all relatives. We don't want to draw lines defining what a family group is or isn't. Great grandma and Grandpa brings their two married kids, who bring their two married kids, who bring their two kids and suddenly allowing parents and children is adding up to 30 people. Instead, we let the fees and policies do the talking. We price large groups at a price that has them saying "no". Takes some of the pressure off us.

[Tvov]

We've found state parks to be more forgiving on the amount of people, and usually have MUCH larger campsites. In Connecticut at least you probably won't have electric or water connections but bath houses are common, and sitting around a campfire requires no electricity.

When we've "dry camped" (no hookups) usually only Mom and Dad get to use the camper's bathroom while everyone else uses the campgrounds bath houses. With careful use and a strict policy of "shut it off!" the camper's battery easily lasts a weekend - and we've stretched that to a week with a brand new battery.

For a few years we camped with up to 3 other families. Tried to get adjoining campsites and then would sort of set up a "compound" to gather and eat. A LOT of fun!

If you search around you will be able to find more affordable camping opportunities. Also, ASK when you make reservations about any extra costs with a lot of people. Sure, a lot of campgrounds don't necessarily enforce all of their rules (ESPECIALLY if your group is polite and quiet!), but you don't want to run into any issues in the middle of a camping trip.

[Crowe]

Two thoughts are going through my head. This isn't directed to anyone in particular, but why do some think just because a family is larger than average they should be exempt from rules such as max numbers on a campsite? My concern would be some nosy nellie doing a head count and filing a complaint or some campgrounds making the max number even smaller as a result.

Second is I always camped with a max of three, but always paid the minimum rate which usually covered 4 persons. Should I also be exempt from the rules and pay less? I never did-I just decided it was a cost of being an RVer. Rules are based on averages and those of use who fall on the outside of the bell curve shouldn't expect special treatment. I fully understand the OP isn't expecting such treatment.

OP I just did a Google search on "campgrounds for large families" and it popped up a bunch of local campgrounds plus Tripadvisor. Try searching that way and see what happens. Group areas are always a possibility but lack of hook-ups may be an issue for you.

[el_jefe1]

We have 6 of our own and often anywhere from 1-4 Foster kids. Our cost of living is high, and we don't go out to eat, ever! That's part of the idea of camping, it lets us travel when we really wouldn't be able to otherwise.

When we have just our 6 kids, if it's an extra $10 per night, then it is what it is. Call it large family tax or whatever. But when we have more than that, it really adds up. Or for the campgrounds that start charging you extra after 2 kids.

It's not that I wouldnt pay the $100 if there was a real reason to. The big Jellystone campground in northern Indiana would cost us $130 a night to go there. I'd consider it for a night or two because it's really a destination kind of place for a family with kids. But every little campground with little more than a grassy area and maybe a swimming pool thinks they need the extra $30 a night too, and that's where it starts to really add up.

I know state parks always say 6, but I've always interpreted that to mean 6 people or my whole family, so I'm glad to see that at least some areas have defined that as such.

Now the next problem is big family = big trailer, so that is going to limit us a bit also. I don't know if we'll always be able to get into state parks.

For now it just means a lot of extra homework calling around and asking questions bof a lot of different campgrounds to try to find something reasonable that can accommodate us.

[SoundGuy]

el.jefe wrote:
Finding a few other families here that are as large as mine it's got me wondering, where do the large families camp?

You don't indicate where in Michigan you are but if you're anywhere near the border try any one of our many great Ontario provincial parks. :B Yes, the site limit is 6 people but that's intended to prevent large, unrelated groups from taking over just one site and doesn't apply to an integrated single family. Ontario Parks rules & regulations are here. To whit - "No more than six people can occupy a campsite unless these people comprise a single family of parents and their children." There is no additional charge for more than 6 people in a family. With the current exchange rate you might end up paying ~ $35 US a night for a 30 amp electric site.

[WTP-GC]

If you read this forum much, you'll see plenty of people no have a $60K (plus) truck and a $40K (plus) rig complaining about the cost of a $100 item. In this case, the OP has (presumably) 8 kids and is complaining about the few extra dollars of a campsite. IMO, having a family that large automatically means your cost of living is much higher than the average Joe.

(OP, not trying to pick on you, just trying to be a little funny. I'd hate to think what it costs your family to go out to dinner LOL)

[valhalla360]

2gypsies wrote:
Your Michigan state parks allow 6 on a site. How many do you have?

If they typically allow 4 and at $5/head he said it would be an extra $30...solve for x(children).

I'm betting it's a family of 10 (8 kids and 2 parents).

But no, Michigan State Parks don't go around doing head counts...at least they never have when we've been around.

This is a lot like the 10yr old rule for snowbird parks down south...if you aren't causing problems, they tend to look the other way.

[Ralph_Cramden]

doxiemom11 wrote:
Many forestry parks, corp of engineer, county, state parks have a 6- 8 person limit and I've seen others that do not count children under a certain age as extra people.

2gypsies wrote:
Your Michigan state parks allow 6 on a site. How many do you have?

The chances of some park official or Ranger at a State Campground or ACOE facility coming over to your site and doing a line up / head count is remote. And even if they did so, I would be willing to bet the farm they would say nothing if it's immediate family members such as your kids, nor even it it was not so immediate family members.

[2gypsies1]

Your Michigan state parks allow 6 on a site. How many do you have?