gas prices and travel

[pete42]

I have been watching the gas prices going up at a rapid pace.

how many will limit their camping trips this year?

One trip I have planned is in April to Georgia for my aunts 90th birthday she's the baby of the family her sister is 99.
trip is about 630 miles one way my truck gets 15 miles to the gallon so trip will take about 42 gallons of gas
at a gas cost of $3.50 a gallon that's $147 one way add in return trip and milage while there it will cost about
$340 just for gas I'll be staying in a motel I figure $50 a night so another $150 for a total of $490.
I'm thinking a birthday card and stamp less than $2.00

other trip is to Baltimore Md with GF that trip I won't be able to get by with a picture post card.

living on a fixed disability income I now limit my trips to town only when I need to do more than one thing.
grocery shopping added to trip to barbers, oil change added to trip for new clothes
banking added to trip to pay taxes meal out when added to other trips
I don't make any trips where I only have one thing to do.

what are your plans will the high price of gas force you to stay home?

Pete

[eamarquardt]

what are your plans will the high price of gas force you to stay home?

Pete

Stay home? Not me. I plan on going all the way to China and back in May. Then, I have "permission" from the "boss" to take off for five or six weeks to go up the West Coast from Ventura County (just North of LA) to Vancouver, BC. Gonna be a busy summer. Suzy, fortunately, can afford it!

Gas may go up and down in price but I am only getting OLDER (but not necessarily wiser)!

Gus

[len19070]

Travel miles may go down but trips won't.

During one of the previous Gas Price Explosions I drew a 150 mile circle on a map around my home just outside Philadelphia, PA.

That was about 5-6 years ago...still haven't been everywhere in that Circle.

I also have a 50 mile circle, there's a lot of places to go in there too. I have 7 State Parks in PA. NJ. MD. and DE. in this circle alone.

There's no reason at all to curtail your Camping Trips because of gas prices.

Happy Trails

Len

[GPW]

Gas prices get too high and you can still camp out in the backyard ... good practice for touring ...see how everything works ... just ignore the house till you need a shower or the bathroom ... Don’t put your decorative lights on or play music too loud or the neighbors will think you’re having a party and want to come over and drink all your Beer..

[48Rob]

Travel miles may go down but trips won't.

During one of the previous Gas Price Explosions I drew a 150 mile circle on a map around my home just outside Philadelphia, PA.

That was about 5-6 years ago...still haven't been everywhere in that Circle.

I also have a 50 mile circle, there's a lot of places to go in there too. I have 7 State Parks in PA. NJ. MD. and DE. in this circle alone.

There's no reason at all to curtail your Camping Trips because of gas prices.

Happy Trails

Len

Unless a person is really down and out (in which case they really can't afford to own/maintain a trailer anyway) rearranging a few priorities such as expensive dinners out, large cable television bills, extra expensive cars, etc, will easily cover fuel costs for well thought out camping trips like Len has done.

Rob

[eamarquardt]

Travel miles may go down but trips won't.

During one of the previous Gas Price Explosions I drew a 150 mile circle on a map around my home just outside Philadelphia, PA.

That was about 5-6 years ago...still haven't been everywhere in that Circle.

I also have a 50 mile circle, there's a lot of places to go in there too. I have 7 State Parks in PA. NJ. MD. and DE. in this circle alone.

There's no reason at all to curtail your Camping Trips because of gas prices.

Happy Trails

Len

In Southern California with fewer campgrounds and 22 million folks here the above plan doesn't work out. Most of the campgrounds near the city are booked long in advance and getting a reservation at all is tough during the summer months and even in some of the winter months.

Cheers,

Gus

[mikeschn]

Maybe we need to get a Polo, and design a special lightweight aerodynamic teardrop for those long distance trips. 70 MPG!

Mike...

[GPW]

Slow , no disrespect my Brother , but sounds like you ARE camping ... ... and in “ some of the most fablous camping in the world.” I’d have to drive forever to see a mountain , or fish in a cold stream .. You Lucky Guy !!!!

[sagebrush]

Filled PU on way to work Friday AM. Pump price was 20 cents higher on way home
Might have to get cow droppings from Slow and build a methane system.

[Corwin C]

Unfortunately, I spent more last year than I made ... I have to make that up somehow (unlike the govt.) The ever increasing cost of living and the lack of any appreciable wage increases in the last 7 years is a major factor. The teardrop build is on an indefinite hold, however, camping is still on the agenda for the summer. I am so incredibly fortunate to live where I do. I could pick up a backpack, walk 4-5 miles from my front door in one of about 3 directions and can camp in some beautiful places. Things aren't quite that tight (yet), but trips will undoubtedly be close to home this year.

[parnold]

This year will be my longest trip yet, from NJ to Wyoming. Just a little over 1000 miles each way. Gas money will probably account for about 80% of the total trip cost.

I have several state parks that are close to me, so most of the rest of the summer will be spent closer to home.

[TENNJIM]

We have some long-haul trips planned this spring and summer and have decided not to let the gas prices deter us. Usually, if we figure out the additional cost for just the gas increase, it is not enough to change our minds or it can be compensated by cuts in other areas.

Jim B / Utah

[DragonFire]

I'm camping this year more than ever...I live pretty lean, so when gas hits $5.00 in the next few months it shouldn't be a big factor..Besides, I ride the Vespa most of the year...70 mpg. I'm guessing the Ranger I'll pick up in the next month will probably get horrible gas mileage...or so I've been told...about equal to my 90 Celica. Probably a bit better, since that one is sucking up the gas right now.

I don't have cable, I skip the fancy dinners, I cook at home, I don't have a gardener, I grow a bit of my own food, make due on a budget..so I can do fun stuff like camping. It doesn't bother me one bit that I don't see every movie when it's first released. It does bother me that I can't see RV Crazy, but so what. I'll live. That's what group camping trips are for..checking out other people's rigs!

But I'm not going more than 300 miles from home with the trailer. Closest will be 50 miles to Towerfest in Lodi, farthest will be the IRG. I'll see how that all goes before I go to SoCal or Walk the Winds next year.

[working on it]

At least you guys have your trailers and can travel, even if limited. I'm having to restrict my travels to only my daily commute (120 miles) five days a week, and am not even able to work on my trailer (100 miles round trip) which lies in the opposite direction. Unexpected major tax and health expenditures at the same time can/did wreak havoc on my build, budgeted for $500 by my wife (no clue of what it takes to build), and financed by my spare change.

[Aaron Coffee]

My trips will become camping trips rather than staying at motels. I am planning 2 trips to the Black Hills of South Dakota, both in June. Last year I was able to pull some strings and get a special rate on a family suite at Rapid City for $100 a night, this year it will be the teardrop at $20 a night(I could pay for a heck of a continental breakfast with the other $80). I am planning on camping at a state campground about 10 miles from me for a week and just commute back and forth to work.