Campground Costs Going Up?

Discussion in 'Trip Planning and Travel Concerns' started by Heatfactor813, Jan 12, 2021.

  1. Heatfactor813

    Heatfactor813
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    Good Morning Campers!
    Just an observation from little ole me, but it really seems like campground prices are going more and more. And to an extent I understand, but when some of the graces are being taken away... it’s a little aggravating.
    I have noticed more campgrounds charging by the person in addition to the the general camping site. While planning for this year, looking at various campgrounds, I have seen the prices of camping based on 4 people, now down to 2. And, you’re paying additional for each person.
    Just curious to what everyone is thinking about this? Will this trend continue? And, continue to get more expensive?

    Justin
     
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  2. mdcamping

    mdcamping
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    Hi Justin, welcome to the forum

    We had one this year where we had to pay a premium site fee and a site lock fee on top of peak season prices, luckly it was just me and my better half as I wouldn't be suprised if they charged for additional family members.

    Coming from the east coast which is always expensive now add covid to the mix = more $$$
    Hopefully in a couple of years it will not be as crazy

    Mike
     
  3. Offdutyboggs

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    We booked 4 campgrounds Wednesday and ALL 4 had gone up in price from last year. I can understand since most were forced to close in some capacity with the crazy year we just experienced. Hopefully it will start to ease back to normalcy for the upcoming season.
     
  4. garmp

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    I agree. I'm just hoping that we get this COVID thing behind us and get on with our lives. I do believe that many of the recently purchased RVs will soon be up for sale as the other tourist venues open up again. That the new comers can go back to the amusement parks and not the state parks.
     
  5. wiredgeorge

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    Haven't noticed prices up too much in my corner of Texas where we camp usually. I have noticed a lot of park occupancy seems to be up. Might just be folks from places that are very restrictive due to the plague escaping to a better climate and a more relaxed stance vis a vis the plague.
     
  6. Webmstr

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    Oregon camping sites are on the increase since 2 years ago. Due to COVID site space has gotten smaller and site fees have gone up in price and it's been increasingly harder to find a camping site without making reservations months ahead of time. Just the other week we were camping at Barview Jetty County Campground and was sandwiched between 5 campers and the original 90' pull through was changed to two 45' back in sites. There were 20 spots like this. UGH!
     
  7. BankShot

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    We haven't been traveling this year due to my Sigoth (significant other) having back surgery but we are looking at getting back on the road again sometime in mid July. I just finished checking one RV resort that we have stayed at several times in past years and got knocked out of my captain's chair when I found out the the price for the same site we paid $55 a night for just last fall has had a few price increases since then with the most recent one being up to $113 a night!!! When I found this out I called the place and they stated that this was the going price now and that management didn't seem to care what their customers posting reviews on CR's were saying about not coming back again after finding this out. I told them we were for sure not returning until someone with a brain got smart and lowered prices. I also told them this was just pure greed on management's part COVID or no COVID. Oh and by the way, this is an Indian casino hotel resort/RV park. With the attitude shown on their part we will for sure not be staying there again.
     
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  8. BankShot

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    Just wanted to add that I can fully understand and appreciate an RV park/campground having to increase their nightly rates due to what they have had to endure this past year with COVID, etc. but what I cannot and will not condone is when a park more than doubles its rates and doesn't even care what their customers think about it. Again IMHO this is nothing more than PURE GREED!!!:mad:

    BankShot.............(aka Terry)
     
    #8 BankShot, May 18, 2021
    Last edited: May 18, 2021
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  9. NYDutch

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    I don't like paying higher prices any more than anyone else, but I do understand that "Business 101" pretty much says prices should rise to the level that the demand for the product will support. If an RV park is seeing 100% occupancy and has additional unfilled demand for instance, good business practice says to raise the price until the demand equals the supply. The reverse is also true of course, that prices should drop to increase demand. That's no different than what we see at the gas pumps every day. I'm also seeing more split pricing lately at some parks, where weekend/holiday rates are higher than weekday rates in addition to the usual seasonal rate changes. Both of those practices are intended to increase demand during slower periods and decrease demand during the peak periods to maintain supportable service levels. That's very simplified obviously, since it doesn't take other factors like competition, inflation, etc. into account.
     
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  10. weighit

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    I recently sat down for 4 days trying to make reservations for our 3 month trip. So many parks were not able to take our reservation as they were already booked they said. Also the rates at the parks I was able to get into were up from what was listed on the reviews posted. I accept the rates as I understand that they have to make money when they can, but i do see it being much harder in the near and possibly distant future to get into many rv parks as the places are seeing so much more traffic. And we are planning on adding to our travel budget as it will probably get much much higher to stay at the nicer places.
     
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  11. Fitzjohnfan

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    So, were you having problems making reservations for all situations? One night stays, longer stays, weekends, weeknights, destination areas, remote areas?

    I ask because we will be doing a week long trip in August from Colorado to California and back and wondering what we will experiance.
     
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  12. weighit

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    I did this 2 weeks ago to plan out a 3 month trip from Az up towards Glaicer National Park and then meander around. So we made reservations in Az, Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Nevada. Lots and Lots of phone calls, some parks had zero space, they said booked soild for the time frames we were looking. Others could only give us a couple of days so instead of going to an area and sitting for a 2-3 week span, we are now going to 13 different parks. Listening to friends in Michigan, they too are experiancing the same issue, parks are full or have limited open dates.
     
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  13. mdcamping

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    I have read on FB & forum members that MA state parks are charging $70+ per night for out of state visitors, some parks have no hookups... yikes!

    Mike
     
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  14. NYDutch

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    NY state parks charge a $5 premium for out of state campers. I recall there was quite a battle among the politicians over whether the new rate schedule would have an out-of-state fee or an in-state discount. ;)
     
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  15. Fitzjohnfan

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    So, to add to this thread (and since there are very few posts recently), on our recent trip, we followed the same plan we have done in the past. We calculate where we will be the next night, and call or make reservations then or the next morning. We never had a problem getting a site. Also, the prices seemed reasonable compared to previous years. We paid a low of $23.00/night (casino), to a high of $68.00/night (KOA).

    Id say things are mostly like they were in years past with only isolated insidence of more campers and higher prices.
     
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  16. garmp

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    I'd say there has been a slight increase, but what hasn't gone up. Biggest issue we've found is availability. We're heading to the bad lands and had to book Custer SP for mid-September in Feb. Then wanted 3 nights, Got 2 at one park and another at a second park.
    Guess you gotta do what you gotta do.
     
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  17. weighit

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    I started in March looking for winter places and a few were already booked, so moved on down the list till I did get 3 different one month stays for this winter.
     
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  18. Fitzjohnfan

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    Custer SP is really beautiful!
     
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