People are all but claim-jumping to get first-come-first-served campsites they can hold through Memorial Day around here. I may have to just stay where I am through this week rather than risk moving on and getting locked out. But, now I'm worried about July 4 and Labor Day. I really don't want to lock into a strict schedule, and I'm afraid these weekends are already be too late to reserve even if I did.
Are there any spots so unpopular, remote or obscure that they don't see the full-house frenzy on the holiday weekends? That don't involve 4 wheel drive access? I'm mainly interested in Midwest and Northwest areas this summer but whatever light anyone can shed regardless of location.
arcaguy said
08:30 AM May 21, 2018
If you want to be in Michigan they have state forest campgrounds that are generally on a first come first served basis, but you might want to get there on Tuesday or Wednesday. They're rustic, but it's camping and they're generally cheap. Here's the link www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79119_79145_81213_81218---,00.html. FWIW.
bjoyce said
08:46 AM May 21, 2018
"remote or obscure" is the answer. Pick somewhere people in a metro area would not go for a long weekend, at least 300 miles away and more would be better. If you can pick somewhere where kids would not have as much fun, even better. Also remember that President's Day weekend is a camping weekend in the south, a mistake we made once in the San Diego area.
Some examples from our past are Glendive Montana, Moses Lake WA, Grand Island NE and Thunder Bay Ontario.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 21st of May 2018 08:55:14 AM
LarryW21 said
09:46 AM May 21, 2018
Plenty of spots to boondock around Lone Pine (Alabama Hills along Movie Road), Bishop (Pleasant Valley) and Mammoth Mountain (Benton Crossing area) in California off of U.S. Hwy. 395. Fresh water and dumps available too such as French Camp and Tuttle Creek.
NWescapee said
11:03 AM May 21, 2018
We've had reasonable camping at various county fairgrounds on holiday weekends. Not always the most scenic camping and I check the fairgrounds website to make sure there isn't a big event planned. You mentioned traveling to the Northwest, we spent a wonderful 4th of July weekend at the Island County Fairgrounds in Langley WA on Whidbey Island one summer. For 3 nights of our 1 week stay we were the only RV there. A few horse trailers showed up for just a one day event, but other than that it was quiet and very inexpensive.
People are all but claim-jumping to get first-come-first-served campsites they can hold through Memorial Day around here. I may have to just stay where I am through this week rather than risk moving on and getting locked out. But, now I'm worried about July 4 and Labor Day. I really don't want to lock into a strict schedule, and I'm afraid these weekends are already be too late to reserve even if I did.
Are there any spots so unpopular, remote or obscure that they don't see the full-house frenzy on the holiday weekends? That don't involve 4 wheel drive access? I'm mainly interested in Midwest and Northwest areas this summer but whatever light anyone can shed regardless of location.
"remote or obscure" is the answer. Pick somewhere people in a metro area would not go for a long weekend, at least 300 miles away and more would be better. If you can pick somewhere where kids would not have as much fun, even better. Also remember that President's Day weekend is a camping weekend in the south, a mistake we made once in the San Diego area.
Some examples from our past are Glendive Montana, Moses Lake WA, Grand Island NE and Thunder Bay Ontario.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 21st of May 2018 08:55:14 AM