narcodog
Georgia
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Joined: 04/02/2006
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Now lets see, I use to pay $.99 for gas, $.50 for a quart of oil, eggs were $.85 , LP was a whole lot cheaper as was a kilowatt of electric. Hmmm.
The States are in the same bind as we are. Here in this State the State patrol and DNR has cut their fuel consumption by having the Troopers do road safety checks spending time in the Post. Dnr has a limit on how may miles they can drive. The Forest service and some States are closing camping areas. So what would you like to do pay a little more or stay at home?
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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State parks are a bargain in Florida compared to private places. Even if they were more they would still be my preffered venue
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mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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We would nearly always pick a state park over a private one, even if the cost is greater. But it really burns my buns when they build fancy new 'visitors centers' which seem to serve the staff more than the public.
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bonscott
Michigan
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State Parks are a bargain in Michigan too. No idea where the original poster is finding any decent private parks for cheaper. Most expensive state parks are $33 and there are only a couple of them and they even have full hookups. Most are around $20-25 and many are even cheaper then that.
And as someone said that is the price all season.
Private parks...hmmmm....possible they are around $25-30 now but after Memorial Day look out, $40 plus easy if not more. Sure, you can find deals at private parks in April and early May because they will do anything to get people to stay there but in season there is no way they are cheaper then a state park.
So you make a choice...do you need full hookups to enjoy camping? If so then just go with the private parks. If electric only and being in nature if fine then state parks are great.
And there isn't a dime of Michigan tax money going to to the state park system, they have to be totally self funding. But even given that, fees have not gone up that much in the past 3-4 years. Site fees up a buck or so at some parks, car permit is the same price it was last year ($24 for the year).
We just toured our local state park and the camping fee is the same as it has been for the past 5 years ($21) and they were hard at work with landscaping, construction on some sites filling in low spots, and new picnic tables all around. Sounds like a good deal to me. 
Scott
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RRUGG
Newaygo, MI,USA
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The park we winter in in Arizona (private and immaculate) is $23 for electric & water, $25 for full hookups. We recently stayed in a North Carolina private park, full hookups for $22. That one has a lake, pool, rec hall, laundry, etc. There are a lot of private parks for less than many state parks.
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T&A
SE Michigan
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Joined: 08/24/2006
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I prefer the Michigan State Parks. Last summer we ended up at a brand new KOA near South Haven. Full hook-ups, pool etc. but otherwise it was just big dirt parking lot with no trees and tiny sites. We stayed one night and the next morning I drove to Van Buren SP and was there when the office opened and got a site for the rest of the weekend. It would have been cheaper except for the fact that I still had to pay for the 2 more nights at KOA as they would not give a refund. It was still worth it to have a large treed lot with a lake breeze. I'll take a Michigan State Park any day.
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mike3939
California
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Joined: 09/08/2001
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scbwr wrote:We've rarely found private campgrounds to be cheaper than state campgrounds. Most of the time, we prefer state parks because campsites are larger and more natural. Private campgrounds are fine when traveling/sightseeing and when full hookups are more desirable. But for "camping", I'll take a good state park.
Any night in the camper beats a night in a hotel!
DITTO
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Trailering Texans
Huntsville, Texas
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Joined: 01/01/2008
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Texas also offers a state park pass that offers quite a savings if you visit several times during the year. I'm sure other states do the same. We also have a Senior pass.
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billyboy
md
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Joined: 12/29/2001
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if your an out of state camper, michigan state parks really screw you, more then any other state does.
Remember: "Its Not The deal You Got, Its The Deal You Think You Got"
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rlh6805
Michigan
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Joined: 05/15/2001
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bonscott wrote:State Parks are a bargain in Michigan too. No idea where the original poster is finding any decent private parks for cheaper. Most expensive state parks are $33 and there are only a couple of them and they even have full hookups. Most are around $20-25 and many are even cheaper then that.
And as someone said that is the price all season.
Private parks...hmmmm....possible they are around $25-30 now but after Memorial Day look out, $40 plus easy if not more. Sure, you can find deals at private parks in April and early May because they will do anything to get people to stay there but in season there is no way they are cheaper then a state park.
So you make a choice...do you need full hookups to enjoy camping? If so then just go with the private parks. If electric only and being in nature if fine then state parks are great.
And there isn't a dime of Michigan tax money going to to the state park system, they have to be totally self funding. But even given that, fees have not gone up that much in the past 3-4 years. Site fees up a buck or so at some parks, car permit is the same price it was last year ($24 for the year).
We just toured our local state park and the camping fee is the same as it has been for the past 5 years ($21) and they were hard at work with landscaping, construction on some sites filling in low spots, and new picnic tables all around. Sounds like a good deal to me.
x1
Rob and Cindy in Michigan
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