Camping Plans for 2011

**Spirit Deer** · 02-23-2011, 11:08 PM

I invite you to check out the forums at Pop Up Explorer for any and all info you might need regarding pop ups.

There's a lot of info there about camping at YS, too. Forum members were very helpful to us last year when we were planning our trip and worried about various things.

Pop up camping is about the cheapest way to travel and still have some creature comforts and conveniences.

**happymomof4** · 02-24-2011, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

I invite you to check out the forums at Pop Up Explorer for any and all info you might need regarding pop ups.

There's a lot of info there about camping at YS, too. Forum members were very helpful to us last year when we were planning our trip and worried about various things.

Pop up camping is about the cheapest way to travel and still have some creature comforts and conveniences.

We had a pop up camper for years. We had 4 kids and we use to take my fil with us also. I loved the pop up much better then sleeping on the ground in a tent.

Now we have a travel trailer. That is like a hotel on wheels.

**happymomof4** · 02-24-2011, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by brennasmom

Where did you camp? Any tips?

I am on the east coast. We camp in NJ, Maryland, PA, etc. Gettysburg and Lancaster County are my 2 favorite places to camp.

I plan my meals for camping and take almost all my food with me. That way I don't have to worry about finding a grocery store or the prices.

I take my laptop with me(most campsites have free wifi). I plan my day trips ahead of time. If you want to go to amusement parks try to hit them on a Tuesday or Wednesday--less people.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-24-2011, 10:09 AM

I felt like an idiot for all the food I took when we went to Wyoming! It seemed stupid to haul all that along, and if we had taken our van with its lower tow rating, I wouldn't have. But the truck has towing capacity for days, so I just threw in all the food I thought we'd need. We actually bought very little, but of course needed ice and some fresh things like milk and veggies. I was glad I had brought so much when I saw the prices at West Yellowstone! Although since we live in a tourist town ourselves, we understand they need to make their money during the short summer season to sustain themselves the rest of the year. But having the food from home did save us a considerable amount of money, so that worked out well.

Storage space is also an issue when you can't keep food in the trailer in grizzly country, so that can be a limiting factor.

Our first RV was a travel trailer. It was big enough to sleep all ten of us, if our three boys slept on the floor or in a tent. We never really liked towing it although we loved the trailer, and after the kids moved out, we bought a motorhome. Then gas prices went to $4/gallon, so we ended up not using it much. The same year, we bought a small pop up and really liked that, especially after driving in pouring rain and a strong headwind across North Dakota. It would have been torture to have either the moho or the TT on that trip! But our little pop up behaved nicely, no sway or any other problems. It didn't have any options though and it was small, so we bought the giant economy-sized trailer we have now, with every possible option. (Yes, we're spoiled.) We drove to Michigan to get it, and still saved thousands on it so it was worth it. It's been a great trailer so far.

We're thinking about retirement in a few years and debating what type of rig we'll want for that. We live in northern Minnesota, and most of our long trips involve driving long stretches of interstate across the Dakotas. High wind is common there. Consequently, we don't want any kind of full-height trailer. We also don't want the hit in gas mileage we'd have to suffer by going back to a full-height trailer, and we never want to own more than a half-ton truck. Right now we're looking at A frame hardside pop ups or possibly a TrailManor. As gas prices go up, it's going to be interesting to see what kinds of lightweight rigs the RV industry comes up with in the next few years.

We're looking forward to traveling to Maine and the maritime provinces at some point, and seeing places in between like PA. It would take all five weeks of vacation though, so we're not willing to give that up right now, since we prefer to take long weekends here and there throughout the year with a couple of week long or two week trips thrown in. So that might have to wait till we retire.

We prefer state and national park campgrounds, most of which don't have wifi although that would be nice sometimes. When we're someplace like YS we're not 'home' much anyway, so no time to spend on the computer, really.

**low-1** · 02-25-2011, 02:46 PM

I do a lot of backcountry camping through the entire year. I actually prefer winter camping to summer camping. Already been out twice this year, although I haven't been able to convince my wife to brave the snow and cold yet. I want to do a couple of overnighters yet before the ground thaws. First family camping this year will likely be taking my daughter into fish camp again. Boat trip down an isolated river in the middle of nowhere with a few friends to catch some tasty walleye. She had a blast last year, there were a few girls close to her age in camp. She caught more fish than I did.

Summer family camping in a *shudder* campground will be a family gathering in Spruce Woods (in Manitoba) in July. That will likely be all the "family" camping I will get to do unless I can convince my little girl to come out with me more.

As far as tenting goes... One thing I started doing that I will never NOT do again is sleeping on a cot. Walmart or Canadian Tire sells cots for around $30 (probably find some thrift store deals or online even cheaper) and I find them SOOOOOO comfortable to sleep on, so does my wife. Completely enhances living in a tent. Plus you have storage underneath for all of your bags and gear. Much better use of space.

If it wasn't for stupid work, I'd probably be camping now. I can't wait to get out again.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-25-2011, 02:55 PM

We also have a complete tent camping set up, including cots. We bought it in anticipation of going to Yellowstone, since we were too chicken to tow our trailer into the Rockies. The guys on the pop up forum linked to above wouldn't have any of that though, and they talked us into taking the trailer. The clincher was when the six-cylinder van developed a leak in the AC system, without enough time for the repair before we left. We took the truck and never looked back. Much better tow vehicle! And in the mountains, there's no such thing as too much horsepower. Our Avalanche marched right up those mountains like nothing, dragging the trailer obediently behind. No problem! Everyone said we'd be sorry if we didn't take the trailer and they were right.

However, we're not getting rid of the tenting set up. It's very nice, and we spent a lot of money on it. If gas prices keep going up, the tent may get more of a workout than it has so far.

**Lady_V** · 02-26-2011, 06:08 AM

We submitted the reservation -- just waiting on her to call for the deposit

You can find out ALL the vacation details HERE on my post

**laura-n-sasha** · 02-26-2011, 10:25 PM

Although we live in a RV full-time, we also have tent camping gear for when we want to go out for a weekend to someplace more remote. As our RV is 37 feet long, it does not get into most NPS camping spots.

When we car camp - we make it very easy for ourselves. No real cooking, and we are usually only gone for a couple of days. It will be interesting this summer as I will not have the same schedule as last year. So it is a little harder to get away.

However, I think this summer we will try getting to Mesa Verde National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument (was there last year and it was really nice), and hopefully Dinosaur National Park. Last year we also went to Capitol Reef National Park, and if we can get there again, that would be great.

So I guess it is a wait and see for this year.