How and When To Select A Campground For Extended Stay

Are you thinking about parking your recreational vehicle for the season and becoming a “permanent” or extended-stay camper? Selecting the right campground is about matching your needs with a community of similar-minded people who value the things you value.


In a country that boasts thousands of campgrounds, there’s one that’s the right fit for just about every camping style. You can save time and money by doing your homework before going online or jumping in the car. Ask yourself these questions:

How does my family like to spend their free time? What do they enjoy most?

If your family would rather hike, fish or explore the forest, a campground with a crafts center and game room may not be a necessity. Look for what honestly matters to you. Camping is about enjoying your recreational time and recharging your batteries. The most popular campground in your neighborhood might not be the place to hang your hat for the summer Look instead to where you’d choose to “build” a second home.


What will it “cost” me to camp?

Decide what you are willing to spend in time and effort as well as dollars. Some campgrounds will require you to mow and trim your site every weekend, or volunteer to lead the charge in campground- sponsored activities. Others will charge you for special events, recreation or services. Some require no upkeep of site. Most charge additional fees for drop-in guests or exact penalties for late payment of fees. The bottom line is that seasonal stay camping is usually value camping that offers 24 hour recreation for less than you pay to take the kids to the movies. But it’s not a value if you drop by your camper only once a month to maintain the recreational vehicle. Read your lease carefully. Know what your responsibilities will be and what you can expect from the campground. If you’re not certain, ask.

How do I know if a campground is the right fit for my family?

Start by doing all the research you can about the campground’s history, policies and regulations. Drop by for a visit. If clean restrooms matter, the time to check them is during or after a busy weekend. If friendly personnel and campground security is important, stop at the front desk and measure how you, a stranger, are treated. Secure a day pass to walk through the property and ask seasonal campers what’s good and what’s not about the campground. Remember, one man’s meat is another man’s poison, so ask questions and listen carefully. Check out ratings and read what guests have to say. You might take some opinions with a grain of salt, but you should still honor your hunches by checking things out for yourself. Finally, when looking at policies and rules, ask yourself honestly: if these were applied to my family, would I willingly comply? Rules are not just for others, but for you, too.

What’s the biggest advantage of becoming a seasonal, or extended stay camper?

Other than saying seasonal camping is excellent economic value, campers will tell you that life-long friendships are formed when families take the time to sit around the campfire and relax in the presence of folks who enjoy similar lifestyle choices. Cooking together, lounging by the pool, walking pets and even gathering kindling in the woods bonds us to each other, especially when you have the same camping neighbors week after week. Not hassling with packing and unpacking, not stressing over weekend traffic or the uncertainty of learning the ropes in a new setting are often mentioned by moms and dads who want to maximize their free time by returning to a camp site “ready to use” whenever a free day or two becomes available.

Seasonal, extended stay camping is not for everyone. But during tough economic times, it’s an especially good value.

Spring Into Camping Without Breaking The Bank

Whether it comes in like a lamb or a lion, the weather in March, on average stinks. That’s OK, because we’ve had more than a few 60- degree, sunny days this month. Enough that the phone is ringing with plenty of April camping requests.


The first thing callers say is “Oh—I didn’t expect you to pick up the phone.” Then there’s usually a degree of surprise that we’re open year-round, followed by a second surprise: the best rates and often the best time to camp is during shoulder seasons and mid-week.

Think you can’t camp in April? Think again.

For the third year in a row we’ll host a gang of great guys from the Toyota Territory Off-Road Association. They’ll take advantage of area trails by day and sit around a bonfire most nights when they’re not playing pool in our carpeted clubhouse. One night they’ll have a big feast in the pavilion, using our commercial grill for a man meal in the woods.

The TTORA group camps in tents, but RVers, too, know that the fish are biting, the daffodils are blooming and the fresh air is a welcome blast of what’s to come as the green awakens in the woods. In April, while nights are still cool, sleep is of the deep quality that only gets interrupted by the smell of bacon cooking on an open fire.

We’ll give each camper a free night to encourage them to check in on Thursday, rather than Friday. During shoulder seasons we can afford to toss out perks for extended stays. They appreciate that and we’re delighted we can offer even more camping value for the dollar.

If there’s a theme for this year, its how can we help our campers save money in shoulder seasons, yet not cut the corners on their experience. We know that the weather can be iffy, but campers know they can always pick up a morning cup of free hot coffee and some sass at our front desk.

Some days we’ll have a fire going in our clubhouse. The free books will be stacked high in the bookcase. What can beat curling up on the couch with a paperback and staring out the picture window at a blanket of stars? One hour from Pittsburgh and two from Cleveland, yet worlds away from congestion, where all that you see and all the fragrances that surround you are a reminder that yes, it’s indeed a wonderful world.

How much time does it take to recharge your batteries and where do you go for a quick “fix?”

If you are like me, it only takes 48 to 72 hour in the woods to add a month of smiles. I have to admit that I’m not relaxed enough to toss my cell phone aside, but I can tell you this much: in light of listening to CNN up to 15 hours each day and being reminded of tensions in far corners of the world, I embrace the forced isolation for all it’s worth.

My “group therapy” might be with the early return of the robins or the crocus and grape hyacinths pushing their way to the surface. Just thawing out a container of frozen chili and eating it out of a throwaway container, sitting on a tree stump in a pair of baggy jeans, well, that’s what charges my batteries for not much more than what I’d spend taking my family to see a movie on a big screen in a multi-plex theater. Need I say more?

So, you’re not yet convinced that camping is a value experience? You’re not an April eager- to- be- in- the- woods type? Consider our other value option: mid week camping.

It matters not what time of year, if you avoid holiday weeks and can tear away from the workplace between Sunday and Wednesday nights, your family can save up to 45%. Check out our rates on www.ohiorvcamp.com and do the math.

Not only will you have the advantage the wide open park offers, but you can jump on the pedal cars without a wait, stretch out on a raft in the pool, grab a cue stick to play pool or pick out your favorite tunes on the juke box and know there’s not a crowd behind you. Go ahead, sing in the showers and shout at the top of your lungs.

Just don’t do it after 10pm or you’ll be in hot water. You see, we can save you money, but we won’t run interference if you break the rules. :=)

Have fun in 2011. Get to know your family. Take a short drive down the road, save fuel costs and do your own group therapy in a safe, comfortable retreat right in your own backyard, yet worlds away from city congestion and workplace stress.

Karen and the Lock 30 Woodlands Crew

Value For Your Camping Dollar

Ever wonder where your camping dollars go when you pull into a campground? Even though a camping staycation compares favorably to a higher- priced family vacation, for many, the questions remain: what am I paying for? And how can I stretch my camping dollars?

Here’s ten easy ways to get the biggest bang for your camping buck:


1. Camp mid week or in shoulder seasons. Often discounts apply when you camp during times of low occupancy. If the website does not indicate “best price camping” opportunities or “specials” then call and ask! There may be short-term promotions that could be posted at the last minute, so familiarize yourself with your favorite campground’s website and return often to browse. Lock 30 Woodlands in Lisbon, Ohio, surprises campers with these unannounced specials.

2. Add a day or two to your stay. Good planning cuts down on unforeseen expenses when camping, but consider the amount of time you spend grocery shopping, packing and preparing for your trip when you calculate cost. Adding an extra day or two not only increases the likelihood that you’ll get a better rate, but it means fewer hours on the road and more “relaxation time“ once you ‘ve settled in for your stay.

3. Take advantage of “Fuel saver specials”. Do you have a favorite campground? Ask what it might cost if you stored your 5th wheel from Sunday to the following Friday, when you intend to return for a weekend of camping. You’ll save money hauling your RV back and forth, plus you save yourself the hassle of packing twice.

4. Consider camping where pets or children are free. But keep in mind that leaving your dog in a kennel adds to your vacation cost and lessens your fun. Most campgrounds have graduated pricing for children and campgrounds who charge for children often offer amenities specific to kids’ tastes. Consider what motels charge if you want your pet to be part of the family vacation. Pet-lovers might agree it’s worth spending a few dollars more. Look for dog-friendly park that do not restrict breeds, numbers of pets or discriminate against pets greater than 50 lbs.

5. Celebrate a holiday at a campground. Whether it’s hosting a birthday party or frying a Thanksgiving turkey, holiday camping can actually save you money because casual is almost always cheaper than decorating, cleaning, and hosting for a party at home. Even with added costs for guests not staying in your camper, (day visitors who drop by for a meal) let the great outdoors be a backdrop for your next party. Ask guests to contribute to the potluck and see how creative partiers get when they’re faced with a limited size kitchen—or no kitchen at all!

6. Just as is the case in a motel or hotel, you are paying for the fitness room, the pool, the front lobby, game rooms and spacious, clean rest rooms. So use what the campground has to offer! Explore the nooks and crannies and make the effort to broaden your horizon checking out recreation amenities you might not typically use. Who knows who you’ll meet or what spark of talent you’ll uncover if you put a fishing pole in your hand and go for it.

7. Unlike a motel or a hotel, you can build a campfire and open doors of your imagination that may have remained closed for years. Can you think of a better place for a real conversation with your lover or your children? Can you think of cheaper way to unwind than by pulling up a lawn chair to the warmth of a fire? Consider the cost of a bundle of firewood vs. an hour of therapy with a counselor. ‘Nuff said.

8. Do you belong to a health or fitness club? Do you pull on a pair of running shoes every morning just to keep your weight in check? There isn’t a campground on the planet that doesn’t offer recreational opportunities probably far superior to what can be retro-fitted to the indoors. Hiking and biking are naturals at campgrounds. If there’s a pool or a lake, make the decision that you’ll jump start your exercise program by treading water, if not swimming laps. Control the urge to sit in front of the tube interrupted by trips to graze in the kitchen. Money dedicated to health club memberships can be stretched further at most campgrounds, where outdoor activity takes the place of machines.

9. Know what you are paying for. Just as the airlines have started “unbundling” costs, some campgrounds have adopted a similar practice. Why pay $3 to $5 extra each night for the camper in the next site who is using two air conditioners when you are using none? Look for campgrounds who give you options. Pay for what you actually use—not the electric one assumes you might use.

10. Know what amenities are included in the price. If you know you are intending to fish, ask when you make your reservation if miniature golf, fishing or pool use cost is additional. Some campgrounds bundle recreation opportunities and sell arm bands or punch passes. Campgrounds like lock 30 Woodlands have an all-inclusive recreation program. Compared to hauling the kids in the car to day recreation opportunities, a weekend at a campground can be a bargain.

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