I wanted to start a new thread where Snowbirds could list campgrounds and RV Parks that are either inexpensive, or offer cheaper overnight rates to people just passing through. This thread would be for bona fide campgrounds such as private campgrounds, State Parks, COE campgrounds, and the like, for those people that don't want to stay in rest areas, Wal Marts, etc. It may even encourage some private campgrounds to re-think their prices for overnight stays so that they might re-capture some of the customers they lost to overnighting in parking lots. Personally, I would rather not stay at Wal Marts, etc., but the thought of paying $35 to spend ten or twelve hours (as I did both directions this past winter) is going to cause me to reconsider. The guidelines would be as follows:
1) they are within a couple of miles of the expressway or highway
2) they have pull-thru's, or long enough sites so we don't have to unhitch
3) they are open all year, or at least until early January, and then re-open by early March for the return trip
4) the total price is about $20 or so
5) they have provisions for self-registration, or late night arrival, etc.
6) they are reasonably well maintained and kept up, even if they are not where you would consider spending your vacation
7) they are not in a shabby or dangerous neighborhood
If we come up with enough suggestions, we might even get the Administrator to post a "sticky" so that we can keep adding to it, such as the one for "Winterizing for Snowbirds".
If you want to add to the list, please start with the STATE, and then the INTERSTATE or HIGHWAY number first, for ease of searching later. I'll start it off with these two.
ALABAMA, off I-65 at Highway 157 in Cullman. Cullman Campground is just about 50 miles north of Birmingham. Their phone number is 256-734-5853. Their rates were $20 per night.
LOUISIANA, off I-12 and I-55 in Springfield. Tickfaw State Park is about 40 miles east of Baton Rouge. Phone number is 225-294 5020, and the price is $12 to $16.
MichDoc wrote: thought of paying $35 to spend ten or twelve hours ..
The thought of paying even $10 to sleep and use no facilities is repugnant. I think you're going to have a short list, especially when so few do it, and there are already Free/cheap campground guides.
I know what he's wanting, though, and I truly have seen a few campgrounds that have a lower posted price for overnighting. I remember one that offered electric-only for half price, and a couple with "no frills" overnight areas. I agree there aren't very many, and sure wish more campgrounds would offer it. There've been a few threads lately on this concept, and one poster said all the campgrounds in his area are full all the time. Well, they're empty here except for weekends, and the owners could only benefit by this concept. I wouldn't know how to address their concern that the overnighters would use all the facilities anyway, with no way to prevent it.
I think you missed the point. I'm not looking for FREE, as in Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Casinos, Truck Stops, or the others. I'm looking for a CAMPGROUND, not a business parking lot. The only difference is that I'm looking to pay less than some are charging. Tickfaw State Park charges $12 if you only want water, $16 if you want electricity too. That's what I, and hopefully others, are looking for. And I spoke with a few campground owners about reduced rates just to use a site without the amenities, and some seemed to see merit in that (as opposed to getting no overnighters at all at the full rate). And the "no frills" camping sites that Barbilou and Fujimo mentioned are just the things I'm looking for. That's what I'd like to see posted.
When we left in very cold weather last January. We used Passport America to find a full hookup RV park open that time of year. We found one in Berea, KY. $12 for the night. Across the freeway is a Walmart that we have used in warmer weather. Will use the campground again.
I don't` imagine that campground owners are any dumber than anyone else.
If they felt that it was in their interest to provide overnight stays for ten bucks, I am sure that many of them would already be doing so.
I'm not on the path to winter snowbird land but I do have an rv site for use cheap. $5 for 50 amp, water & sewer, wifi may work? Just my own rv spot which I would let fellow snowbirds use. So if you're in the Grand Rapids area this summer & need a spot for the night? Back-in site.
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