Obscene Camping Rates
#1
Hooked on Touring
Thread Starter
Obscene Camping Rates
I though places charging $30 to $40 were bad.
Check out these rates at Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park - -
https://grizzlyrv.com/rates/
Of course, $89.25 is for RVs only - no tents allowed.
Cyclists would have to opt for a cabin without bath for $109.95.
Cabins with bath go for the low nightly price of $179.95.
(Sales tax and lodging tax not included)
Why do they charge this much?
Because they can.
Check out these rates at Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park - -
https://grizzlyrv.com/rates/
Of course, $89.25 is for RVs only - no tents allowed.
Cyclists would have to opt for a cabin without bath for $109.95.
Cabins with bath go for the low nightly price of $179.95.
(Sales tax and lodging tax not included)
Why do they charge this much?
Because they can.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,207
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3461 Post(s)
Liked 1,466 Times
in
1,144 Posts
A year ago I paid $99 USD for a tiny little site in Key West FL. We paid the same as someone with a huge RV, but we got a site so small that we just barely had room for our two small tents and picnic table. Plus of course the dumpster that took up a quarter of the site. Unfortunately I had a dirty lens on the camera so there are some smears in the photo.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,546 Times
in
7,329 Posts
https://www.loneoakcampsites.com/campsite-rates
Minimum of $63 for full hookups. Max of $95.
No hookups range from $46 to $77.
Stayed there in 2016. The cool thing is that there is an unadvertised special of $20 or $25 for cyclists. (The place is on ACA's Atlantic Coast route.) And there is a hot tub and bar!
Minimum of $63 for full hookups. Max of $95.
No hookups range from $46 to $77.
Stayed there in 2016. The cool thing is that there is an unadvertised special of $20 or $25 for cyclists. (The place is on ACA's Atlantic Coast route.) And there is a hot tub and bar!
#4
Heretic
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 2,246
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Giant OCR3, Giant CRS3
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2827 Post(s)
Liked 561 Times
in
429 Posts
I think the most I ever paid in France was around €30 (say $40) at a commercial campsite near St. Emilion. Normally it averages around €10 between municipal and commercial sites.
#5
Life Feeds On Life
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hondo,Texas
Posts: 2,143
Bikes: Too many Motobecanes
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4423 Post(s)
Liked 4,527 Times
in
3,029 Posts
Riding the GAP/C@O last summer we opted to stay in hotels because it was just a few dollars more than camping. Dragging all the camping equipment from south Texas to PA would have been a pain. I like camping in national parks and state parks the rates are reasonable.
#6
Every day a winding road
Riding the GAP/C@O last summer we opted to stay in hotels because it was just a few dollars more than camping. Dragging all the camping equipment from south Texas to PA would have been a pain. I like camping in national parks and state parks the rates are reasonable.
Not sure where you were looking at camping. Most of the GAP / C&0 is free camping. The KOA in Connelsville used to be very reasonable though there is free camping there too. Husky Haven in Rockdale has decent prices. YMCA in Cumberland is only $20 a person.
Lots of free camping on the C&O though the mosquitoes are a good reason to take a hotel along that stretch.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 720
Bikes: Road, mountain and track bikes and tandems.
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 18 Times
in
15 Posts
Yea, I really miss the old days when hiker/ biker sites cost .50c per person around California. Just has me doing more wild camping.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
The rates have jumped around some. As stated, they started at 50c/person-night (not .50c). Then they went up to $3/person-night by around '94. Then there was a big drop back to only $1/person-night until the state started running out of money and threatened to close parks. That led to a rate of $5/person-night which has remained pretty steady until now although a few parks have increased it by a dollar or two. Still plenty of places to camp on BLM land where it's free but I do enjoy some of the amenities at the State Parks.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18376 Post(s)
Liked 4,511 Times
in
3,353 Posts
Are these public or commercial sites.
I've always avoided places like "KOA".
But, it does look like a few of the local public campgrounds have come up to the $30 range. Others are still in the $5 to $10 range.
I've always avoided places like "KOA".
But, it does look like a few of the local public campgrounds have come up to the $30 range. Others are still in the $5 to $10 range.
#11
Hooked on Touring
Thread Starter
Most of the truly outrageous rates are private campgrounds.
But in the past 20 years, the national parks, national forests, & many state parks have switched from park management to subcontractors - cheesy Camps "R" Us firms that bid to "manage" public campgrounds then double the fees right off.
But in the past 20 years, the national parks, national forests, & many state parks have switched from park management to subcontractors - cheesy Camps "R" Us firms that bid to "manage" public campgrounds then double the fees right off.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,207
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3461 Post(s)
Liked 1,466 Times
in
1,144 Posts
I took the photo at a California state park campground in Summer 2014, hiker biker site at that park was $5, but sometimes was $6 or $7. I think the California showers were coin op, for about $0.75 or $1.00. Oregon showers were free.
***
On the topic of great camping sites, I have nothing but good things to say about the campgrounds in Iceland. Almost every community has one, plus a few commercial ones too. Fee was per person, during Summer 2016 I think I paid in the range of $8 to $12 USD but one place I paid about $15. (At that time, currency conversion was at $1 USD to 123 ISK, fees of course were in local currency.) All of those included showers, sometimes had community sinks for washing things, etc. I do not think they ever turn anyone away, which is important to a cyclist. If you could find a place to pitch a tent, you could stay there.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 782
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 226 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times
in
32 Posts
Most of the truly outrageous rates are private campgrounds.
But in the past 20 years, the national parks, national forests, & many state parks have switched from park management to subcontractors - cheesy Camps "R" Us firms that bid to "manage" public campgrounds then double the fees right off.
But in the past 20 years, the national parks, national forests, & many state parks have switched from park management to subcontractors - cheesy Camps "R" Us firms that bid to "manage" public campgrounds then double the fees right off.
This place was recently taken over by a private contractor from the Forest Service. He told me that the use fees and camping fees were being strictly enforced because of the cost involved in sending a guy with a truck up there to collect trash and clean the toilet seat. This place was miles from anywhere and I was taking a break on one of the picnic benches. I wasn't stopping for the night.
The site had no running water and a pit toilet. It was at the top of a mountain pass, basically in the middle of nowhere.
He went on to explain how the Forrest Service was a black hole (money wise) that had no accounting for what came in and what went out. The move to private contractors was an attempt to rectify the situation.
Last edited by boomhauer; 02-18-18 at 06:06 PM.
#14
Hooked on Touring
Thread Starter
When I stopped at a National Forest campground to get water - water from a pump installed by the forest service on forest service property - the campground host said I would have to pay a day use fee.
I told him where he could put his water and that I would report his actions. Down the road, I stopped in at the nearest ranger station. The USFS employee apologized and said that they had lots of problems with contractors and campground hosts - because they did not know USFS policies or chose to ignore them.
My pleas to get rid of campground contractors and go back to USFS management probably fell on deaf ears.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,546 Times
in
7,329 Posts
Most expensive along the GAP is $25.
https://gaptrail.org/system/resource...guide_2018.pdf
Don't know why Husky Haven is not listed, but it was $10/night will free firewood and showers in 2012. Web site still shows $10.
Husky Haven Campground: [Reservations & Campground Map]
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,546 Times
in
7,329 Posts
https://gaptrail.org/system/resource...guide_2018.pdf
Don't know why Husky Haven isn't listed. It was $10/night with free firewood when I stayed there in 2012.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Left Coast, Canada
Posts: 5,126
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2236 Post(s)
Liked 1,314 Times
in
707 Posts
Across Western Canada I find private campgrounds to be in the 25-30 range, sometimes with free showers, sometimes with pay showers. Small towns in the prairies almost all have a sort of civic campground site with varying services. I think these serve baseball tournaments, get together's and reunions. Most were 10-15. I actually like the Federal campgrounds in Banff/Jasper which are a little steep 27ish but have good maintained sites, services and free showers/firewood.
#18
Senior Member
The most I ever paid was around $60 to camp in Big Sur under the redwoods at a private campground. Flat ground and a picnic table only. Want a shower? Extra. Firewood? Extra. Average rate in Florida state parks is $20-30 for an upcoming trip, which is not too bad, considering the prime locations. Beats hotel prices by quite a bit.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,207
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3461 Post(s)
Liked 1,466 Times
in
1,144 Posts
They should have told you to contact your congressman and/or senator. That is where changes are made.
#20
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,446 Times
in
1,557 Posts
First night out of Yorktown VA on a westbound TransAm found us at a commercial campground along the Virginia Capital Trail near Charles City and it cost us $26 for a site with no water or power. I was shocked. That amount is what I expect to pay when I roll up in my VW camper, not on a bike.
#21
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,879
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1802 Post(s)
Liked 1,439 Times
in
989 Posts
Some of the campground fees are getting so high that I started using hostels. They're sometimes competitive with campgrounds (especially when you're charged $50/night to set up a tent), you get to sleep indoors on a bed, have a shower, and a clean bathroom. I've done a few simple credit card tours here on the West Coast last year using hostels and it was quite nice not to have to carry all the camping gear. The only odd thing I found was that some don't have linens on the beds (bring your own sleeping bag or you get charged for linens), and I tended to be the oldest person staying there (59 y.o., most others were 20-somethings). Overall its a great way to travel and I'll definitely do it in the future. Booking.com lists hostels (a lot, not all of them) so they're easy to locate.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,150
Bikes: 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2004 Novara Randonee , old fixie , etc
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 671 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
43 Posts
First night out of Yorktown VA on a westbound TransAm found us at a commercial campground along the Virginia Capital Trail near Charles City and it cost us $26 for a site with no water or power. I was shocked. That amount is what I expect to pay when I roll up in my VW camper, not on a bike.
#23
Senior Member
All the camping sites at Lake Garda in Italy were full. We managed to get a tiny spot for our tiny tent for 40 euros a night when the manager of one of the sites saw us bumbling around. Ended up staying for two nights since the spot was actually pretty awesome. We were 30m from the lake shore, temperatures were in the 30C region and we just had a straight up beach vacation then and there.
The thing I like about paying campsites is the ability to wash clothes and take a shower. Both do wonders for my skin which has a tendency to not appreciate cycling
The thing I like about paying campsites is the ability to wash clothes and take a shower. Both do wonders for my skin which has a tendency to not appreciate cycling
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,207
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3461 Post(s)
Liked 1,466 Times
in
1,144 Posts
...
I've done a few simple credit card tours here on the West Coast last year using hostels and it was quite nice not to have to carry all the camping gear. The only odd thing I found was that some don't have linens on the beds (bring your own sleeping bag or you get charged for linens), and I tended to be the oldest person staying there (59 y.o., most others were 20-somethings). Overall its a great way to travel and I'll definitely do it in the future. Booking.com lists hostels (a lot, not all of them) so they're easy to locate.
I've done a few simple credit card tours here on the West Coast last year using hostels and it was quite nice not to have to carry all the camping gear. The only odd thing I found was that some don't have linens on the beds (bring your own sleeping bag or you get charged for linens), and I tended to be the oldest person staying there (59 y.o., most others were 20-somethings). Overall its a great way to travel and I'll definitely do it in the future. Booking.com lists hostels (a lot, not all of them) so they're easy to locate.
Indoors where a sleeping bag can be too warm, also having a sleeping bag liner can be pretty nice.
Before I go somewhere, I like to look up all the HI hostels in the area that I will be going through, and adding their locations to my GPS in case I would rather stay indoors than camp for a night.