Community Forums

IronRick · 03-25-2007, 11:54 AM

HI All,

At about 2pm. CDT March 25th. 2008 (Today) I arrived at the Indiana Dunes Stae Campgroung and wanted to view the campground before making a researvation. To my amazement, I was told that I had to pay before looking even in my car.

THEY are not camper friendly and my opinion is for us to take our money elsewhere. Where else are you required to BUY BEFORE LOOKING???

Please view http://www.in.gov/dnr/contact/ and let them know you will not patronize a campground that does this sort of thing..

IronRick · 03-25-2007, 11:54 AM

HI All,

At about 2pm. CDT March 25th. 2008 (Today) I arrived at the Indiana Dunes Stae Campgroung and wanted to view the campground before making a researvation. To my amazement, I was told that I had to pay before looking even in my car.

THEY are not camper friendly and my opinion is for us to take our money elsewhere. Where else are you required to BUY BEFORE LOOKING???

Please view http://www.in.gov/dnr/contact/ and let them know you will not patronize a campground that does this sort of thing..

Toby · 03-28-2007, 02:29 AM

Rick
We were staying at the Monaco factory last April and took a drive up to the campground to just check things out. They let us drive all thru the park. No problem. In fact there was a Federal park around there also with no facilities that we drove thru. I think you got one of those clerks who like to be a rear-end. s/Toby

IronRick · 03-28-2007, 06:16 AM

Toby,

Initially I thought the same thing and just down the street from the entrance to the dunes is a shared office with the National Park Service / State Park Service ( nice new building and the National Parks Office closed the old one about 5 miles east ) where I then drove and asked why? The lady at the desk said that can't be so she called and was told the same thing I was told. I verified with her that she did not call the girl at the entrance gate and she assured me that she did not.

Last year I was able to tour the Nationl Park Campground before paying however Sunday they were still closed for the season as that is where I went first.

hokywolf · 04-12-2007, 01:37 PM

Indiana State Parks have "always" charged a fee to enter the property, regardless of the length of the proposed visit. Many years ago when we frequented the State Parks, we would purchase a seasonal (yearly) pass for our vehicle.

Also beware in Michigan. We camped at a state park near Battle Creek and went out for supplies the day after we registered. We were forced in paying the entrance fee even though we were camping at their facility. (we were staying for 3 nights) We also had to pay to use the shower facilities!!!

There are a few campgrounds in the Chesterton/Michigan City areas. Most privately owned campgrounds will allow you to take a drive through. But be fair and follow their speed limits and campground rules as they are intact for everyones safety.

milt · 04-12-2007, 04:09 PM

I'm not surprised they wanted to collect the fee to enter IN dunes park. they got no way of keeping track of you once you've entered and it's a large park.
Hokywolf the park near Battle Creek would be Fort Custer SRA.
Mich is one of the few states that require campers to pay the entrance fee for each day they will be there. I'm surprised they didn't collect for all three days when you regidtered.
We've stayed ther and have never been required to pay for the use of showers.
Milt

Bob (WA0MQE) · 04-19-2007, 02:32 AM

All State Parks in Colorado have a vehicle fee of $5 to enter a park. Doesn't matter if your a resident or not, they still require the fee to enter whether your there for 5 minutes or all day.

Ray,IN · 04-20-2007, 04:55 PM

All Indiana state parks charge an entrance fee. That's the way it is, set by the state legislature. Since they are so heavily used, the prices were raised a few years ago to offset the rising maintence costs. If you visit the on-line CG reservation system, they are booked up nearly every holiday already.

Izzyblueye · 05-02-2007, 02:44 PM

We do a lot of camping in Indiana, they have some great parks. However, I have never quite understood why if you reserve a campsite,you must also pay an entrance fee. They have certainly raised the camping fees to the limit. Most parks are worth the high fee, but an entrance fee on top of this is redundant.