Campground Expenses

[ellenw]

Those of you who fulltime and are NOT workampers: How do you plan for your site costs? Are you monthly tenants at a discounted rate? Or do you move around and pay the nightly rate?

I'm feeling a real preference for State Parks, but in Washington the nightly rate is $28-$32! That'd be $900/month! Will I be compelled to stay in a "regular" campground in order to get a monthly rate? Or boondock half the nights every month?

[BirdbyBird]

Your COE parks often have a 14 day limit but if you are 62+ and have the Senior "magic" National Pass, their campsites are 50% off. Water and electric sites for 24 suddenly become quite attractive at $12.....

[ellenw]

Your COE parks often have a 14 day limit but if you are 62+ and have the Senior "magic" National Pass, their campsites are 50% off. Water and electric sites for 24 suddenly become quite attractive at $12.....

You're right, and we have 3 of those about 3 hours from Spokane and I have the magic pass! I can't stay here in this area in the winter (not well enough insulated) and those parks are crazy hard to get into in the summer, but they'd be perfect in the "shoulder" seasons. Thanks for putting my feet back on the ground, Tina. I was having a mini-panic!

[Liz]

Your COE parks often have a 14 day limit but if you are 62+ and have the Senior "magic" National Pass, their campsites are 50% off. Water and electric sites for 24 suddenly become quite attractive at $12.....

You're right, and we have 3 of those about 3 hours from Spokane and I have the magic pass! I can't stay here in this area in the winter (not well enough insulated) and those parks are crazy hard to get into in the summer, but they'd be perfect in the "shoulder" seasons. Thanks for putting my feet back on the ground, Tina. I was having a mini-panic!

And don't forget the National Parks and National Forest cgs. Some of those have hookups, but are even cheaper if they don't...$5 range with the senior pass. Almost always nice parks with hiking trails and things to see.

[BirdbyBird]

I don't have much experience with National Parks but I will attest to the National Forest part!

[Christine]

Ellen.. i believe you can get a winter camping rate @ $8 a nite .. it might have gone up i dont know... call the office in Lacey .....

[mnladyus]

Please tell me more about this senior pass. I will be 62 in the spring.

[snowball]

Also if you are into boon docking you can come to Quartzsite AZ and spend the winter (season is from Sept 15 to April 15) for 180 dollars...no hook ups but when you pay the fee you can use the dump and get water...if you go to the free areas have to move every 14 days but can't get water or use the dump but it's available in town or pay a fee and the water truck and the 'honey' wagon will find you
as to the card...you get the card from the National parks or National forests costs 10 dollars entrance into the national parks and some memorial sites are free..cuts the cost of the campgrounds in half
sheila

[chalet05]

Consider Passport America for 1/2 price camping tho each park has their own restriction - # of days, which days, etc.

I have had a Thousand Trails membership for several years, but I know that isn't for everyone. They have changed things so if you are going to be in a certain area of the country, you can buy a pass that I believe includes some of the affiliated parks. Some parks are nicer than others. California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona have some nice parks.

I have been staying at a COE in Kansas that is only $9 a night with my Senior Pass. I have also used the Nat'l Forest and Parks.

In the midwest, some of the small towns have campgrounds.

And then there are casinos, WalMart, etc. Another post mentioned Harvest Hosts and a Boondock site - both require a membership fee and I am considering them.

In the past, I have been known to pull into a rv park and stay longer than planned because of a weekly or monthly discount and because I liked the area. Sometimes I just needed a good break.

If you want to do winter in one spot, you can usually get at least a 3-month deal.

Ah, Sheila has jumped in with another idea!

Lots of options!

[mitch5252]

Please tell me more about this senior pass. I will be 62 in the spring.

..
Sad to say, I, too, will qualify for the Senior Pass next summer...sigh.

http://store.usgs.gov/pass/senior.html

..

[carold]

Sad to say I wish I was young enuf to be just qualifying carold

[VickieP]

Please tell me more about this senior pass. I will be 62 in the spring.

..
Sad to say, I, too, will qualify for the Senior Pass next summer...sigh.

http://store.usgs.gov/pass/senior.html

..

I've got another 10 years to go! Just sayin'....

[ellenw]

..
Sad to say, I, too, will qualify for the Senior Pass next summer...sigh.
..

I've got another 10 years to go! Just sayin'....

Help me remember... Who's the mean one again?
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Thanks for a lot of great ideas, friends. I'm really wanting to stay in the Spokane area while I can, at least for the first few months while I adjust to letting go of a lot of things. I have a close support network here, both friendships and medical people. I think I need a slow transition after I sort through "stuff" and move out of my apartment. The closest COE is 3 hours away and it's operated by a private agency and doesn't honor the Senior Pass. harrumph. There's only one other one that stays open after September 2 and it closes October 31.

Christine - You're right about Washington State Parks' winter rate. I found out about it last March and took advantage of it then at $6/night. The problem is they turn off the water and power in the state campgrounds here before the end of October! And without power, it's tough to stay warm in a rig without an Arctic package in this neck of the woods!

Maybe late October would be a good time to head to Texas. I have family in Houston and maybe I can find some workamping within a 4-hour radius after the 1st of the year. Many changes in store!

[dayspring39]

http://www.freecampgrounds.com
Kathleen

[BirdbyBird]

...and don't forget the flat driveways and/or roomy yards of good friends and relatives.... When you can stay in your RV and not be under foot in the house...the "three day/smell like fish" rule can be adjusted.