We traveled from Ohio to Washington at a diesel cost of over $1200. Not quite sure how much because it's taken us 2 1/2 months to do it and we've done a lot of running around locally from stop to stop. We spread the fuel costs over 3 pay days.
What I have noticed out here in the Oregon/Washington area is that 90 % of the campers are from California, Oregon and Washington. My mid-west Ohio plates are definitely in the minority.
In talking to fellow campers, apparently many of the folks that were there over the weekend when we arrived were somewhat local(as in lived within 100 mi. or so).
Has anyone else experienced this phenomena that I blame high fuel prices for?
I've been watching for RVs on the road, wondering if there are as many this year as last, but I can't see a difference. It would have to be a BIG, BIG difference for me to notice it.
HOWEVER, I did see on TV yesterday that Yellowstone NP is experiencing a slight increase (3%) in visitors this year, despite problems this spring with closures due to more snow.
Yellowstone, as you all know, sits primarily in Wyoming, the least populated state in the nation. (Idaho and Montana also have low populations.) That means it has few "local" visitors. Considering the late spring and heavy snows experienced by Yellowstone, along with the higher cost of fuel, I was quite surprised to learn that visitation is up at all.
I drove through 2 local CGs today and was very surprised by what I saw. The ones 30 miles up in the mountains(55 sites), were about 75% full and had no, repeat, no out of state plates, where it is normally about 25% out of state. The one next door to us has about 50% occupancy, where normal for this time of the season, it would be 90% occupied and again absolutely no out of state plates. The locals are still camping close to home but the travelers are not coming. Also, the one next door has had as many cancellations for the 4th, as they have had pre-registrations, with a good chance that you will be able to get a site Friday afternoon.
Bob & Betsy - USN Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 FMCA #F203528 '05 HR Endeavor, 40PRQ w/400 Cummins - With -'05 GMC Sierra LT, CC Z-71, the pusher '07 Arctic Cat 500A & Wilderness Kayak, riding in the pusher - Our Current Location
Not having bought my RV yet, but still traveling, I have this observation only. I drove From Fort Worth Texas to Albuquerque NM this past week.. I saw very few Motor homes,, but some,, more 5th wheels and TT (that the right term for travel trailers? ) and the few dealers I saw had huge SALE signs out..
I have made that trip over the years more times than I can remember, and traffic is down and the 18 wheelers are all driving speed limit or below. it HAS to be gas prices. Driving my hybrid Toyota 4 door, I don't really care, I get 40 to 50 mpg, (if I don't get the dang ethanol gas. that junk drops my mileage to mid to mid 30s) Anyway,, IMHO campers and rigs are sitting parked as was evident in the lack of them being on the road.
Speaking of motor homes, one rig I saw had a 90 degree wind vain vent on what I assume was his black water tank through the roof, and on the top , it would move according to the wind direction. I assume this is an add on I had just not seen?
I am still shopping and looking for something for me, especially after this last trip,, I was drug out traveling by myself and so wished I had been driving a smaller rig,, could have pulled over many places, eaten, napped and rested,, won't do another trip like that till I have one. Will fly next time.
bufordt wrote: My fiver is parked in my yard and will stay there until further notice. I had a seasonal site, but the 320 mile round trip to go back and forth each weekend will not happen this year. And the boat will stay on the trailer this years also. I will not spend my hard earned money to help fatcat oil company execs get any richer. I know that this also hurts those who make a living from tourism, but maybe if enough local tourist destinations get hurt by this gas pricing farce, they can put pressure on their legislatures to do something about this raping of the American Public. This is a national disgrace.
Lynn Rupper wrote: We traveled from Ohio to Washington at a diesel cost of over $1200. Not quite sure how much because it's taken us 2 1/2 months to do it and we've done a lot of running around locally from stop to stop. We spread the fuel costs over 3 pay days.
What I have noticed out here in the Oregon/Washington area is that 90 % of the campers are from California, Oregon and Washington. My mid-west Ohio plates are definitely in the minority.
So were our Missouri plates during our just ended trip through Canada into Niagara Falls New York. Almost everyone was local. I saw VERY few other states plates around.
JUst returned from Pirate Land in Myrtle Beach. Full every day. We saw lots empty then full right back up. The traffic did seem lighter on the road from Tennessee and not as many RVs it seemed.
We'll still do our weekend thing but mostly in Tennessee State Parks.
Still planning one trip to Key West later this year and the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, other than those we'll stay close to home.
We did eat more in this trip to save a little so the people who will hurt lots are the tourist trap/T-shirt/etc dealers.
We did eat out once at Myrtle Beach. Went to Dick's Last Resort. What a hoot and it was packed. We waited 45 minutes for a table and there was still a line outside when we left.
Good luck.
sfprop wrote: Othertonka: I suspect a lot of the rental RVs are tourists from Europe - I have met a few that fly here and rent and RV so they can travel and "save" on hotels.
Also, now, coming to America is "cheep" for them and their Euro. Gas? Half the price of Europe. They LOVE it!
Come to think about it there were a lot of foreign languages being spoken all over the campground from people in those rental units. There was even one large red RV, Foreign made, larger than a prevost, I have seen one just like it a couple years ago in the midwest, that pulled into the campground. It has bus like seats for about 18 people up front and the back end has cubbie hole bunk like sleeping compartments behind a fold down porch and a canvas where they sleep. The kitchen came out on the side and the German driver also did the cooking for everyone. They were all foreign people and haveing a great time. So maybe it is cheaper here for them, and at least they got to see our beautiful Yosemite park.
Thanks for pointing that out to me.
We have seen that same red bus full of Germans thru out the southwest for the past 10 years.
Offline
