We live in an extremely rural area, at 5,000 feet in elevation, on a large parcel of land. Any place we could camp within 30 miles would be no more gorgeous or tranquil than Home-Sweet-Home. There are campgrounds within 10-20 miles of home, that we might sometimes visit for day use especially with out of town guests, but there's really no point on camping there when home is just as wonderful...with more amenities.
About the closest we travel to camp is dark sky sites (for astronomy) about 50 miles away in the Mojave desert. We also do some overnighters with our astronomy club on other club members parcels of land about 50 miles away (though the sky is actually darker at our house.)
Our most common "vacation" spots take us to the central coast, about 180 miles away.
2005 31' Coachmen Freelander 3150SS, Stargazer II - Mobile Astronomy Unit Do you remember when the sky was dark, and the stars were bright? The International Dark-Sky Association American by birth...Scottish by the Grace Of God.
We usually camp within 40 minutes or so from home. We're fortunate that there's a lot of good camping (open and NFS campgrounds) within that short distance. I work nights and it's nice to get home, hook up, and be at the campsite and sleeping in less than an hour.
Jerry, Lori and Parker the Chocolate Lab
2000 Chevy 2500 7.4L 4X4
2007 Dutchmen Lite 18B
Reese Pro Series SC, Prodigy, Honda EU2000i
Our local spot is 21 miles from home, we have the boat right there in it's own garage. Not a lot of prep for the DW and I, just a few clothes, a little food, etc.
2007 Keystone Laredo 29RL, 2000 Ford F250 SD 7.3 PSD, Firestone bags, Pressure Pro / Metal Stems. 16" Michelin XPS Ribs. MorRyde Pin Box. Dirt Devil CV950 Central Vacuum, 2000W AllPower by Kipor (Honda Clone), 4000/3500W Champion C46540, Honeywell 2000i
husker 2 wrote: Well we must not be the norm! We wouldn't even consider dragging our 5ver 20-50 miles to "camp" out. Way to much work loading, unloading, cleaning, etc.
This is exactly why we are adding a simple, no frills pop-up. I want something I can quickly and easily hook to the Jeep and head out with little prep time.
When we were weekenders and working, we just kept the trailer loaded. Only thing we had to add was perishable foods...took less than 15 minutes to load, hookup and go...I would quite often take the TT to a nearby park on Friday evening and call DH to meet me there after work!
We usually get away 3 weekends a month during the summer where we go within 100 miles at home. The weekends we are home, we have the fiver set up at out transmitter/tower site (we own a radio station). This is our second summer there and is a work in progress. We have fixed up the pad with one inch rock, railroad ties and have our own big fire ring. We have 2 30 amp hook ups and right now working on getting a bigger water source using a 425 gallon tank on a pickup box trailer with a demand pump. This fall we may dig in a drain field for the black.
It is fun the weekends we don't leave to be at the tower site and even stay there some week nites as well.
Every meal is a feast, everyday is a parade and every paycheck is a fortune! Rick & Sheila's RVing Album Rick's Facebook
2004 Ford F350 6.0PSD
2008 Keystone Montana 3585SA
We live in Northern CA so there area lot of places close by. For a regular weekend, our rule is the drive cannot be more than two hours. We like to get out once a month and try to find a different place each time. This month we are going to the Delta.
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi
2010 Keystone Cougar 244RLS
Food source for one beagle and two cats
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