It looks like it's going to get crowded camping this year

[prndl]

This article says people are buying up "Covid Campers" and not planning on air travel etc. It may get really crowded in the campgrounds.

https://www.bloombergquint.com/pursu...sales-shoot-up

[jsb5717]

We've already been speculating that that would be the case. It makes sense, but unfortunate for those of us who are used to getting the spots we like.

[uhftx]

It has been terrible in the New England region of the country. Even before the current crisis. Reservations are a must. This all started when the GoRving commercials started. Prices rose at every campground. Surpassed the 60/night rate. Some are way over that for full hookups. $700 wk and above is the normal rate now for a good campground with hookups. That use to be the rate to rent a cabin and bring your own linens.
Even state campgrounds in MA for out of staters which use to be 22 / night are now over 40 / night with just water and electric. Motel 6 got their name because it was 6 bucks a night way back in the day.
When traveling, I now weigh the cost of driving a fuel efficient car and overnight stays vs hauling the camper and food / motel costs. But I still work full time and time is not always an option for leisurely travels when camping. Weekend warrior and I have not even made a single reservation. I do have a friend who owns a cg. So that may still be an option.

[ChaseTX]

Let me first say I do not have a CDL nor would I say I know it all about towing. With saying that, I did take time to do my research over break controllers and does and dont with towing before pulling my rig down the road. Camping-(Glamping) is a great way to spend time with the family and enjoy the outdoors, but I am a little concerned with those that get the biggest thing they can afford and think they just need a truck and they are good to go. This concerns me. Everyone has passed that person and thought to yourself (hmmm do they know that truck is way to small for that, or even more do they know the front tires are bouncing barely touching the ground). "Finger tip steering"

[lightsout]

Here in the PNW space was a major issue prior to this Pandemic. We gave up fighting to find space. The State allows advance booking 9 month in advance and most full hookup space is booked 9 months in advance. Private is much the same and if you are more than 36' cut that space by 60% or more. We were fortunate enough to buy into a private RV resort on Lake Chelan with a 150 membership with 38 spaces. No reservation required and in 30 years they have NEVER had every space full. $12K initial purchase and $400 a year dues and $40 a month to store our 5er there (fuel savings alone will pay the dues and storage).

Joining a private Camping resort (not club) was the best camping investment we have made.

The best part is most of the sites are right on the lake, sites like these would be $100+ a night at any campground on the west coast.

[steiny93]

Up here (ND / MN) the summer camping scene has been a reservations are a must for the last few years. Between the small number of campgrounds and the popularity demand has forced a plan ahead mentality; with the demand price has steadily climbed $65 - $95 per night is common.

We have actually lost the allure of camping vs renting houses. With the surge in rental home availablity we have transitioned to houses. Last couple years we have only used the 5th wheel a couple weekends but we've rented quite a few different homes.

Interesting how patterns change.

[Montana Man]

Lightsout, sweet spot! I bought into a private park once. They sold to KOA and now fighting with everyone else for a space.

It has been a while but when fuel was pushing $4 plus per gallon, camping spots were open all over the place.

[lightsout]

Originally Posted by Montana Man

Lightsout, sweet spot! I bought into a private park once. They sold to KOA and now fighting with everyone else for a space.

Our Private RV Resort is 100% member owned and run, so no chance of sale, bedsides the land lease is up in 15 years and the Indians who own the land desperately want to build a waterfront casino on this land. I will say this being a member owned Campground it is the best kept campground we have ever stayed in mostly because when the members see a problem it get taken care of and the members treat it like their own property.

[prndl]

Originally Posted by Montana Man

Lightsout, sweet spot! I bought into a private park once. They sold to KOA and now fighting with everyone else for a space.

It has been a while but when fuel was pushing $4 plus per gallon, camping spots were open all over the place.

Diesel is still $3.60-$4.00/gal here in SoCal. Hasn't slowed anyone down yet. If you haven't reserved a space yet down here you are not going to get a space this year. Talk about pent up demand.

[PeteandJoan]

Originally Posted by prndl

Diesel is still $3.60-$4.00/gal here in SoCal. Hasn't slowed anyone down yet. If you haven't reserved a space yet down here you are not going to get a space this year. Talk about pent up demand.

Holy Cow! $4? Just paid $1.71 at Buc-cee's in Temple, TX. Tues. No Discount card...just pump price.

[Charlie 3931fb]

Originally Posted by prndl

This article says people are buying up "Covid Campers" and not planning on air travel etc. It may get really crowded in the campgrounds.

https://www.bloombergquint.com/pursu...sales-shoot-up

Thanks for the heads up. I think we are going to be OK because we have reservations for all the trip's we are going to take. I would like to see how the Tri-Five car show is going to be in Blowing Green KY. Last year we were at 3000 attendees.


Charlie

[Charlie 3931fb]

Originally Posted by PeteandJoan

Holy Cow! $4? Just paid $1.71 at Buc-cee's in Temple, TX. Tues. No Discount card...just pump price.

Now you why I don't live in California anymore. We paid $1.65 for Diesel yesterday.

Charlie

[BiggarView]

Short term pain for sure. All the tiny house wannabes and weekend warriors will soon tire of the hassles and things will go back to relative normal. FTers will have to adapt, but then FTers are a different animal than weekend "glampers". Barring that scenario, markets hate a vacuum so I foresee a rush of new RV CGs popping up to meet the demand. Many will go bust when reality sets in. I expect small urban/suburban RV CGs may find a marketplace. People still want big city amenities even with an RV.

JMHO.

[DutchmenSport]

I agree with the "short term" group. Not because of tow vehicles or rising prices of campsites, no, no, no..... Those who are "dreaming" that RV ownership is a fantastic way to escape and isolate are going to find themselves with the customary "shoddy built" campers and RV's that start falling apart as soon as they are driven off the lot.

I see tons of dismayed people, who had this wild-haired idea that RVing would solve all their problems. NOT. Once these ill-informed, emotionally illiterate lemmings fall off the cliff with RV repairs, they will find themselves honkered down in motel rooms and kicking themselves and blaming the RV manufactures, and then, there will be a new rash of new users on these forums and others who do nothing but criticize and condemn the entire RV industry.

Once all these "wanna be's" hit the road and find out RV life COSTS money! Well, it just simply won't last long. Those of us who have been in "this" for years, or even all our lives, it's just another adventure we're having.

Think positive! Just like Army food, "This too shall pass"

[Coronabob]

with that

[prndl]

They will be unpleasantly surprised at the cost of campground "glamping" and give up.

[mtlakejim]

We had similar issues at government run parks in Arkansas. There were lots of people that would actually book a site for a week or even two prior to the weekend they wanted it so they could reserve it well ahead of the 90 day first day. Once they got past the 90 day they would cancel the week or two prior to that.


I'm not advocating for cheating the system but that is how a lot of folks were doing it.

[mtlakejim]

Then again MAYBE the influx will push the campgrounds to improve?? LOL

[Charlie 3931fb]

Originally Posted by Charlie 3931fb

Thanks for the heads up. I think we are going to be OK because we have reservations for all the trip's we are going to take. I would like to see how the Tri-Five car show is going to be in Blowing Green KY. Last year we were at 3000 attendees.


Charlie

Well I found out about the Tri Five. 2020 is CANCELLED!!! This is a weird time in our life's....


Charlie

[Dave W]

So far our summer seasonal CG has been mostly empty but then NY State is still 'reopening'. We were there last mid week and the total number of people there was 7 including us. They had two reservations for the weekend plus the other usual seasonals. Last summer that CG was seldom full on the weekends. As far as us traveling on the usual length late summer trip - nothing planned for this year so far though may go to the Asheville/Hendersonville, NC area to look at some property in mid October(winters here are wa-a-ay too long)