Cost at campground

[Java Jack]

It varies from park to park. Some state parks near us offer primitive walk in only tent sites for about $10 per night. However, those obviously will not work with a teardrop. The next level up is water/electric sites but short spaces which will usually work with teardrops (some spaces are deep enough for car/trailer while others are double wide but shallow. They can run about 24 per night and up.

[daveesl77]

If you are disabled, you can get the Federal pass at no cost. This provides free access for you and one other to essentially every Federal site. It also provides 50% off the cost of standard camping (including utilities) but not things like cabins. Certain States will also recognize this pass, but check in advance. You can get it at any NFS Ranger HQ and most primary park or monument sites. These are good in all NPS, NFS, BLM, COE and TVA facilities.

dave

[albion2]

Some years ago I pulled into a campground in Moab Utah with my popup as a guy on a bicycle who was tent camping. They charged him the same price as they charged motorhomes and fifth wheels.They had sand with wood frames around the tent sites for tent camping and bloody long parking pull through sites for the motorhomes.I thought how they ripped the bicycle rider off at the time.BTW that guy was pedaling from Canada to Mexico.

[albion2]

Some years ago I pulled into a campground in Moab Utah with my popup as a guy on a bicycle who was tent camping. They charged him the same price as they charged motorhomes and fifth wheels.They had sand with wood frames around the tent sites for tent camping and bloody long parking pull through sites for the motorhomes.I thought how they ripped the bicycle rider off at the time.BTW that guy was pedaling from Canada to Mexico.

[48Rob]

Some years ago I pulled into a campground in Moab Utah with my popup as a guy on a bicycle who was tent camping. They charged him the same price as they charged motor homes and fifth wheels. I thought how they ripped the bicycle rider off at the time.

Rip off?

Maybe, maybe not...

If you develop a campground and spend x number of dollars to build it, and use the proceeds from renting spots to support it, why should one "spot" cost more or less than another, a few square feet more, or less isn't enough to justify a cost difference.
Should a business "lose" money just because someone has a "small" camper as opposed to a giant one?
If a campground offers "utilities" such as water, sewer, and electric, then certainly it would be unfair to charge a non utility site the same as a full hookup site.

In the end though, "fair" doesn't always go along with a business, in business to make a profit.
If all spots in a campground are roughly equal in cost to develop, and maintain, but one had a nice view, or a shade tree, or... the business may choose to maximize its profits by charging more for that "premium" spot. They may also choose to charge more based on the size of your camper. If all costs were equal with regard to their expenses and maintenance per spot, that would be unfair, or a "rip off" however, it is just business... no different than options on a new car, etc.
In the end, the customer determines what the business can charge. If the customer will "pay" the price, the business isn't going to reduce the price.

Rob

[jstrubberg]

We typically pay $15-25 per night for an electric site. May through September here I won't camp without electricity. Nights are like sleeping wrapped in a wet dishrag.

Definitely watch for state parks versus private parks. Not only are they cheaper and the accommodations more predictable, we find that unless the state park is sitting right on top of an attraction, they tend to be quieter.

[bc toys]

Just got back from Gold Point Nv they charged us 15 a night and around the lake Mead out side Las Vegas Nv they charge 15 a night but in town you will pay 25-50 a night

[albion2]

R8BOB, the guys with 30 ft + trailers and 5th wheels were taking up very large pieces of the camp ground that would hold many smaller tents etc, the cyclist was on a 15x15 ft site,he hardly used any electric water etc whereas the big rigs used sewer electric a/c etc.That's why I believe the cyclist was ripped off.

[MtnDon]

Maybe the CG had no "tents only" space for the bicyclist to use. Lots we don't know as we weren't there.

[jandmz]

We got the America the Beautiful card at Gulf Islands NP. We had reserved a campsite and prepaid by credit card. We paid $12 for the card that is supposed to be good forever, and when we checked in at the campground office, they refunded half of our campsite fees. The campsite ended up costing $14 a day with water and electric hookups.

[Cosmo]

With a 15x5 is it bad form to ask for a tent site?
Or in general must a trailer go in a trailer site.
This is Assuming I dont need hookups

Thanks
Cosmo

[gudmund]

here in Washington camping rates are getting out of line - $30 to $45 per nite with hook-up's + $8 to $10 extra just to reserve a spot + $10 extra per each extra vehicle. Go a US Forest Service campground and it's only $15 to $18 per nite + $5 for the extra vehicle. Big difference!!! Was in Oregon a few weeks ago and $20 to $24 for a comparable site with hook ups.

[Socal Tom]

here in Washington camping rates are getting out of line - $30 to $45 per nite with hook-up's + $8 to $10 extra just to reserve a spot + $10 extra per each extra vehicle. Go a US Forest Service campground and it's only $15 to $18 per nite + $5 for the extra vehicle. Big difference!!! Was in Oregon a few weeks ago and $20 to $24 for a comparable site with hook ups.

California has everything from free to ridiculous.
A San Diego county operated campground is $34 per night for partial hookup ( electricity & water) a reservation cost an extra $5
A primitive spot at a state park within about an hour of town is $5, but a developed site is $30, you can camp for free in the anza borrego state park in many areas.
A private campground near San Diego's Mission bay is $40 for a dry site in the corner away from the water, up to $198 for a "Super site", with a bay view and a Hot tub. I paid $56 a night for an average spot with electric and water only.
Tom

[gudmund]

did find the same in Calif. last year when I stayed at one of your campgrounds close to Napa. $35 for a spot with no Hook up but there was one big difference, you paid with a credit card - they had a credit card pay station which I have yet to see at one of our state parks up this way. Still about the best deals I have gone to are the 4 to 5 Teardrop Gatherings I have gone to so far - great people!!! Food!! and very affordable at $10 to $20 a nite!!! The IRG was Great!! (along with the 3 Dam Gatherings so far!!!) just don't know how they do it for the $50 fee for 5 nites in the Redwoods!!!??? It can't be beat along with the great hosts!! Joanie and Dean (nor Grant!! at the Dam) (Brian and Sandi in Canada rate with them also!! which is where I'll be heading in July!!!!! that a 100 ++ present sure thing for me Greg P., I got a "free get out of Jail" card just to go to this one!!!! )

[Gold5one]

I have good memories of easy and cheap camping- before Corp online reservation companies started jacking the prices - Making plans six months out, because you have to, in order to reserve a spot, even before you are sure you can go camping those days, is not my style.