Camping or motels across the US?
 

Hi there,

Just wondered what you all thought about the pros & cons of camping versus the use of motels en route while travelling across the US.

Is there a directory for camp sites across the States? What's the average cost of a site compared to a cheapish motel?

Reason I ask is coz we always try an travel 'light' while touring – in all of Europe we've always just headed out, stopped where we felt like and booked into a hotel... saving on all the clutter associated with camping.

What do you think?

Camping in US
 

Depends on the style of trip you want to take, but if you enjoy camping at all I would very highly recommend it. The US is so large and there are many places to camp that are good and in some cases great, especially if you are willing to explore a little. It is very different from Europe where the camping is expensive and crowded. You can find plenty of hotels if you want to mix it up, but IMHO that the camping experience can add a lot to the trip.

Camping is by far the cheapest. $10-15 per night. Each state will have a directory of their state parks on-line. The national park service also has a nice web site. Availability depends on where you are and when. It is not uncommon for state and federal parks to fill up. Some parks accept reservations. Private camp grounds usually have washrooms and laundry facilities and many have Internet access for e-mail and researching your next stop/weather. Many private campgrounds are converting a lot of their tent space to motor home spaces. More profitable. Don’t assume a “campground” has tent space. I usually camp for around 5-6 nights then get a motel room for 1 night to clean up equipment and myself. Some private campgrounds have small, minimally furnished cabins for around $30-40. I've used these instead of motels in expensive areas. You can check hotel rates on-line. In my area, it's getting very difficult to find a room under $40. Some small, family run motels are a bit cheaper. Again it depends on when and where. You can carry minimal cooking gear/food, as inexpensive food is widely available. When doing my own cooking, I carry no more than 1-2 days in my bag. It’s usually as cheap to eat at local restaurants.

I don't know where you are currently located. One thing different here than in many parts of Europe and South America, is the general reluctance of property owners to allow camping on their property, no manner how remote. Again, it depends when and where. It never hurts to ask.

Please feel free to ask more questions or PM me. I’ve traveled a bit and know the frustrations of getting answers to the more mundane issues. The community sections located on this web site have some good contacts. If you have a particular route, post it and we’ll help. One last thing. Do an internet search for motorcycle friendly camp grounds. More and more are opening. They know the needs of motorcycle travelers. Here in North Carolina, we have many excellent locations such as the one Grant hosts the June HU meeting.

Oops, I see you're in SE England. We do have more weather choices, depending on routes. :biggrin3:

lol

cheers.

Yup... I'm planning a month's tour... squeezing in as many National Parks as I possibly can. Starting out around August. I'll be solo this time so I guess I have more space on the back for camping gubbins so its well worth considering. Breaking it up into camps & motels is a good idea.

I may PM you myself, my wife and I are due to do 3 months in the states(NY->Chicargo->R66->LA->NY, the 1st five weeks are with another couple so we will be using motels to start with, but once they leave us at SF we will start camping as we wander back to NY via the parks.

We will be buying camping gear in LA, so any clues to cheap camping shops welcome, REI looks expensive to me :biggrin3:

Some things to check out
 

Woodall's North American Campground Directory as well as a number of other directories list the campgrounds in the U.S. In addition, they list the price and ammenities. Also check out Camping With the Army Corps. of Engineer's. Some other's are; Rand McNally RV Park and Campground Directory, U.S. National Park Campground Guide aand Frommer's Unofficial Guide to the Best RV and Tent Campgrounds in the U.S.A.

All U.S. states offer some sort of visitor's information center near the state lines. Most of these places have info on campgrounds and lodging, as well as historical sites and various attractions.

All of the said books can be found at either www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. You can also get a lot of information by visiting the Visitor's Bureau of whichever states you will be going to.

Thanks, will go and have a book hunt

Another option
 

I read somewhere that there is a website that you belong too, which eneables you to find ..basically a couch in someones house! There are thousands of houses signed up now.

I wish i could remember the site....:confused1:

good luck

Bruce P.

PM away. Be glad to help out. A NP tour sounds terrific. You can get a pass for national parks that will save you a little money. There's usually lots of campgrounds next to NP's if they are full or not to your liking. Do stop at the first welcome center you come to as you enter each state. (on major interstates) They'll have walls full of free maps and other information for that state.

Someone asked about inexpensive camping gear. Oh course, buy as good as you can afford. I have a good friend that is always ragging on my expensive gear and how many times he can replace his tent verses buying one like mine. His theory was shot down during a recent trip when his tent collapsed (permanently) in a thunderstorm. No tents to be found for a couple of days. I found www.sierratradingpost.com They have name brand clothing and equipment at very good deals. Usually last years model. REI also has an outlet on-line. http://www.rei.com/outlet/index.html

Best of luck.

No contest !
 

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...otlout/245.jpg

Alec

Camping VS motels
 

I personaly much prefer a quiet campground to the less expensive motel where the drunks rattle in at 2AM waking up the cockroaches. That is unless it has been raining for days or you happen to be the drunks.

Camping
 

This seems obvious ... but ... when on the road I eat at little Mom and Pop cafes, the places where the locals have been drinking their coffee for 25 years. When you pull up on a motorcycle you are their entertainment. Conversations are then easy to start. I ask, "where is the best place to camp aroung here?" You find the little spots that no one knows about or ... I have even been offered (and taken them up on) camping in people's back yards.

To "No contest"
 

Alec.
BTW is your photo taking at the little campground at Goulding, Monument Valley?

Lots of things to consider. Personally, camping would be the choice for me. If inclement weather strikes, you can always get a motel room.
Camping costs are $8 - $15/night. It is hard to find a motel room under $40. In some locations during prime time (yes, August) you'll be lucky to find a motel room for under $80/night. If you happen to be in the Black Hills during the 2nd weekend of August, you'll be lucky to find a motel room for under $200/night.......due to the Sturgis Rally.

Consider the social aspect of camping. If you're traveling solo, you'll likely (at least occasionally) want to interact with others. With camping, there are no barriers to socializing. Everyone is outside.
Compare this with the walls of a motel room.

I always take my camping gear when I hit the highway. I don't camp every night, particularly if there are lightening/thunderstorms, very high winds, really cold temps, really hot temps, etc

Camping in the US has a wide range of amenities. Generally, the public campgrounds offer very little. There may be only an outhouse and a hand pump for water. There are many campgrounds a few miles from me that are operated by the National Forest. None of these have running water or electricity. Some of these may be exactly what you are looking for. Well off the beaten path, usually located on some pristine lake.
Private campgrounds also have a wide range of amenities. Nearly all of them have running water, flush toilets and a "mini store" on the premises. Many have swimming pools, whirlpools, a laundry room, a restaurant/bar, wireless internet service and the like.

Use this as a rule of thumb. Generally, the biggest campgrounds with the best facilities are located fairly close to major highways. The very scenic off the beaten path campgrounds are usually more basic in their offerings.

I really enjoy the KOA campgrounds www.koa.com as most of them have the very best of facilities. Check them out online & get one of there free campground directories.

Unfortunately, tent camping is becoming less and less popular in the US. Most campgrounds actively seek RV business moreso than tent campers. All campgrounds in this area rent out RV & pull behind trailer spots for the season. That way, they don't have to rely on the ups & downs of weather/etc to establish a good business base of income.
Just a few miles from me, a campground that has been in business for 50+ years shut there doors. They were located on some very valuable lakefront property. The campground owners walked away with $6,000,000 and the place was developed into high end condos.

I say tent camp.......while you still can! There will always be motel rooms.

It will be less expensive, you'll interact with many more people, and it will be more fun.:clap: :clap:

Sorry folks. I got the prices wrong. Badly wrong.

I went to the KOA website and punched in a nights charge for tent camping. It doesn't matter if there are 2 people or 1, the rate is the same. I saw prices in some areas up to $29/night!!! :eek3: Then there will be $2 or so in sales taxes. For example, the KOA in Cody, Wyoming has this rate. Cody is a beautiful city 50 miles or so from the east entrance to Yellowstone Park. A VERY popular tourist destination with many museums/attractions/etc

A slightly less popular destination in the area just north of Yellowstone in Red Lodge, Montana has rates of $22/night :eek3: plus sales tax.

Just for the heck of it, I checked the rates for tent camping at the KOA in San Diego and a 1 night stay in August is a jaw dropping $45/night + taxes close to $5!!!:eek3: :eek3: :eek3:


So, the idiot (me) that told you camping fees were $8 - $15/night was WAAAAAAAAAAAAY off the mark. Of course, KOA campgrounds are often more expensive than there counterparts.

Hope you don't need a motel room in Cody, Wyoming, because you'll likely be dropping over $100 for a nightly stay.


My advice.......better bring 1/2 the clothing and twice the $$$$.

You're right!

I'm sold on the idea... what could possibly be better.

June-> End of July will be Route 66 with another couple and using motels (4 to a room to cut costs hopefully), so August -> mid september it will camping or couch surfing (watchout for the please for a bed and shower :-) )

The one luxury I like on a campsite is a flushing toilet :-), I can live without just about anything else, especially if there is a lake nearby

Gulp ! We are only planning to survive with with 3 sets of clothes each as it is ! :eek3:

http://www.couchsurfing.com .... or was that sarcasm ?

Camping's the plan - motels the option
 

I always pack and plan to camp. On a motorcycle, you already chosen to travel in a manner that puts you in greater contact with the evironment. So camping is just adding to that experience. However, sometimes contact with nature can become too much of a good thing. Try 5 solid days of constant downpour. That's when it stops being fun and the motel is an appreciated option.
A word about camping. If you choose campgrounds anywhere near populated areas on weekends, you'll need to wear your earplugs at night. The "party harty" gangs that we travel on bike to get away from, make many campgrounds less than enjoyable.

Have fun, be safe

narly

Hostels
 

Sort of late to the game but I feel obligated to mention Hostels. For some reason they're not as popular in North America as they are in Europe and Africa but there is a decent distribution of them, they have showers, fewer bugs and showers. For you they may have one big detractor -mostly used by Europeans (It may feel like you never left home).

Some links:
Hostel Reviews of All Hostels Worldwide - Hostelz.com
Hostels.com - Every Hostel Everywhere - Youth Hostels & Independent Hostels

:funmeteryes:

Love 'em,

Brad

Stealth Camping
 

I'm planning a 3-4 month c2c trip of the US next summer 2010 and I plan to stealth camp as much as I can. I intend to stay in hostels or motels very occassionally and this will be when I hit the more Urban areas/cities. Even then I may still stealth camp but just well outside of the more populated areas.

Hoping too that I can hit up a few offers from the HU community and the good will and hospitality of the locals. I also hear that it is free to camp in US National Forests but that this fact is very rarely advertised.

Steve
xXx

Out West...
 

Most of the relevant info has already been highlighted by others...but I might add a couple of additional notes...

If you are coming from England, your experience of North America will be immensely enhanced if you have the options to camp at places like Arches Nat Park, Utah, the Alvord Desert, Oregon, Wallowa Lake, Washington, Port Townsend, Washington, Long Beach, Nat Park, Vancouver Island, Waterton Lakes Nat Park, Alberta, Grasslands Nat Park, Saskatchewan, Silver City Oregon, Atlantic City, Wyoming, and the tons of other places 'off the main routes'.

In my mind, if you are travelling in the Western US and Canada, camping is a must. You can then stay in the National Parks, State Parks, Provincial Parks and even in municipal campsites. And, especially if you want to go to slightly more out of the way places, camping will give you lots more of the authentic 'western' experience. Camping in the eastern part of the US may be slightly more difficult due to simple population and urban density...Out west here though....there still a few wide open spaces....

My usual approach is to camp 3 or 5 days then motel it for the shower, etc. However, in many state parks in Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, etc. and most National Parks have shower amenities which can serve to extend 'non motel' days. And many state and national parks have the 'rent a yurt' (or other basic cabin option) which can serve as a variation on the camping theme. Costs during summer at the parks range from 15$ to $30 per night. Cheapest motel in the off season was at Riggins Idaho $45. In lots of out of the way places camping can be less or free (BLM Land).

Also, you do need to consider when you are planning to visit - many parks -especially as you go north offer very limited services after mid - late Sept. and are shut tight over winter....

KOA has seemed most expensive and least flexible. Most small communities have town run campgrounds that offer good value. I've also found in many 'Mom amd Pop' type campgrounds that still keep plugging along - often because they art in locations where alternative business isn't readily available. And of course, you can use the HUBB Communities all across North America to seek out ideas for camping or other accomm...

To add to Alex's terrific shot of camping near/at/in Monument Valley, here's another example of why camping just has to be done...Alvord Desert near Fields Oregon

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...1&d=1251075347

Lots of free camping out west on government land--no facilities though.

The other option
 

The website is CouchSurfing - Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time
Great way to meet people.

Free Campsites, Free Campgrounds and Boondocking Locations

hi

plenty of free places to camp, just spent 2 1/2 months around US mostly free camping, hostels and sometimes campgrounds. someone suggested that people were reluctant to let you camp on there land although i found they were quite happy to let u but maybe thats because of the strange accent.

also just ask the locals

also anywhere in national forests is fine and sometimes theres free primitive sites but many organised areas are pay

gazz's Photos you´llsee a few of my stops

cheers

I'm wild camping couchsurfing my way through the US next year, TAT and Pan American

I was lucky last year when I turned up unannounced in Yosemite NP. Apparently your supposed to book up 3 weeks in advance in the summer! They managed to fit me in though. I had a great time camping with the bears. I wasn't scared, honest.

The rest of the time I just found somewhere when it got late. The first night I was camping out under the stars in Joshua Tree NP listening to the coyotes. There's some amazing camping to be found in the US, motels all look the same and you don't get to watch the local wildlife.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...shuaTreeNP.jpg

There are many free places to camp in the western US, but no facilities; however, showers can be found at most major truck stops. Sign up on Adventure rider Adventure Rider Motorcycle Forum and they have a section on folks allowing camping on their property/back yards. As far as clothes, pack very light as there are Walmarts everywhere and colored T-shirt can be had for $3-4 and 10 pack of socks for $6, cheap enough to be disposable. Mom and Pop eateries are the way I like to go but if on a budget all the fast food joints have dollar menus and breakfast can be had for <$3, same for lunch and dinner, stay away from bottled water as free water is available at all convience stores. Fuel will be your biggest expense as 300 to 400 mile days will cost about $20-$30. All in all, I can travel US on $50 per day easily with no frills and for $100 per day I can live like a king. BTW, do buy the National Park Pass for $80. Just visiting a few parks can cover that cost, as some parks are $20 just to drive through.

CAmp

Camp

camp

You have national parks, state parks and at a push Koa (Camping and Campgrounds - KOA Kampgrounds of America, Inc.)

Get an Eagle card for the National parks, free access to all parks.

State Parks charge an access, but with camping still cheap.

I *loved* it.

We also did motels going East -> West (with friends). Preferred camping.

:-)

Now I am back in the right year with the thread, yes , couchsurfing. Look us up there, bdporter, you will see our US experiences (in between camping :-) )