Community Forums

AJMike · 08-16-2022, 08:27 AM

In the cooler months we always try to boondock but when the evenings are going to be hot we always try to stop at campgrounds that have power so we can run the air conditioning. We always try to start early in the morning and tend to stop early in the day and a typical driving day for us may start at 7 am and end at noon or 1 pm, when we pull into someplace to camp. We usually try to keep using our own local time so when we are traveling East (and gaining an hour or two) we have the advantage of the local time being "later" than our home time.

This has usually worked well for us, but recently when we stopped at one of our favorite State campgrounds we were told that we would have to pay an extra fee for stopping before checkin time. I am not sure if this was a new policy or if they just had not enforced it before, but we have been camping at this State park for the past 10 years and always stopped early, and never had to pay an extra fee.

The space we had rented was open but they would not let us in before checkin time without paying that extra fee. And one of the commercial campgrounds we stop at on our way from Arizona to South Padre Island in Texas has a 2 pm checkin time and they do not allow anyone to check in before that time. Want to come in early? Pay for an extra day (although this has been their policy ever since we started to camp there).

Given this change by the State I was wondering what time most people on this forum stopped for the day. Most campgrounds we use are pretty empty when we stop and we see people mostly coming in between 4 pm and 11 pm local time, but I don't know if that is typical of those on this forum.

**pasdad1** · 08-16-2022, 08:37 AM

We leave at about check-out time (usually 11am-12pm) and drive 2 or 3 or 4 hours to next campground (which puts us past check-in time). I thought that was what most people did….. it works for us. We are up by 7:30am most days, but enjoy getting ready to leave at a leisurely pace….plus we avoid making any noise (slamming compartment doors, starting engine, etc before 9:30am) in consideration of other campers that may still be sleeping.

PDR John · 08-16-2022, 08:38 AM

We will normally pull off between 3 and 5 pm, simply because check in time was 1 pm or later.

When it's hot I always run the genny and have the house AC on during travel, so it's never hot. One of the benefits of class A and Cs rvs.

glwinger · 08-16-2022, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJMike

In the cooler months we always try to boondock but when the evenings are going to be hot we always try to stop at campgrounds that have power so we can run the air conditioning. We always try to start early in the morning and tend to stop early in the day and a typical driving day for us may start at 7 am and end at noon or 1 pm, when we pull into someplace to camp. We usually try to keep using our own local time so when we are traveling East (and gaining an hour or two) we have the advantage of the local time being "later" than our home time.

This has usually worked well for us, but recently when we stopped at one of our favorite State campgrounds we were told that we would have to pay an extra fee for stopping before checkin time. I am not sure if this was a new policy or if they just had not enforced it before, but we have been camping at this State park for the past 10 years and always stopped early, and never had to pay an extra fee.

The space we had rented was open but they would not let us in before checkin time without paying that extra fee. And one of the commercial campgrounds we stop at on our way from Arizona to South Padre Island in Texas has a 2 pm checkin time and they do not allow anyone to check in before that time. Want to come in early? Pay for an extra day (although this has been their policy ever since we started to camp there).

Given this change by the State I was wondering what time most people on this forum stopped for the day. Most campgrounds we use are pretty empty when we stop and we see people mostly coming in between 4 pm and 11 pm local time, but I don't know if that is typical of those on this forum.

The check out/check in times give the hosts and personnel time to clean the site. Sounds as though they are just enforcing the rules.

BTW, we normally to get to the campgrounds between 3 and 5.

EdInArk · 08-16-2022, 08:42 AM

We're all over the board. If we're headed home or to a remote destination, we'll be rolling by 8:00 and go as late as an hour before sunset. I've driven our old class A gasser 600 miles in one day. OTOH, once we're in vacation country we may hop as little as 150 miles between campgrounds just seeing the sights and relaxing.

shootist · 08-16-2022, 08:49 AM

I always have a destination when I drive. So many times I will drive from sunup to 11 or 12 at night. 500 miles is a typical day, I've done 750 a few times, but 350 is what's really comfortable. It's just driving alone stopping, checking in, etc is more work than driving, so a few hours in a rest stop is enough. 3 days gets me anywhere I've wanted to go.

Marine359 · 08-16-2022, 09:13 AM

We hate checking in after dark, and don’t like driving at night. We try to arrive by 3:00pm. If we must drive more than 300 mi in one day, we leave by 9:00am. Otherwise we have a leisurely breakfast, and pack up by 11:00am.

AJMike · 08-16-2022, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glwinger

The check out/check in times give the hosts and personnel time to clean the site. Sounds as though they are just enforcing the rules.

Yes. I am not complaining. I was just surprised at the change in how the State campground handles checkins, and the difference in how many campgrounds handle the checkin process. Almost every commercial campground we have stopped at allows early checkins without any complaint, but not all do that.

Private campgrounds are private companies and they have the right to set whatever checkout and checkin times they choose, and I can agree to those terms or go somewhere else. My post was just out of curiosity.

ChrisDParise · 08-16-2022, 09:21 AM

Always have a reservation in advance, but daily distance of travel gotten less as we get older.

Around 200-300 miles a day fits us now traveling as a couple.

I travel solo alot and have always been an early riser so when alone I wake up before 5 am and depart campsite before 6 am. I prep for travel the night before so there's only disconnecting hookups, the bare minimum in the morning.

Often, I'll have 120 miles knocked off by 9 am. when alone.

I slow my pace by taking longer breaks to arrive at check in time.

KOA charges $10 to check in early at least at the Jackson MN Journey. Worth it to me. I asked, the fee is KOA not the CG, it didn't inconvenience the owners - if it did, I would have moved my rig to a nearby truck stop for a bit.

TXiceman · 08-16-2022, 09:45 AM

We are seeing more parks with an early check-in fee. One of them said it was for the use of the services for the extra couple of hours. Well that does not hold water as, they do not give you any credit for the service you do not use when you depart hours prior to the check-out time.

Ken

DGBPokes · 08-16-2022, 10:28 AM

We ran into that at a private campground for the first time, a few weeks ago. Kinda ticked me off, to tell the truth. And I would bet, the spot was empty. I mean Tuesday. The park access was a bit of a challenge for about 1/2 mile, so that added to my ire.

We normally target legs up 8:00-8:30. Off the road 4:00. 300 to 350 miles a day.

twogypsies · 08-16-2022, 10:34 AM

We've stopped around 2-3pm. There is a recent very long post complaining of parks' checkin times.

carybosse · 08-16-2022, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisDParise

...

I travel solo a lot and have always been an early riser so when alone I wake up before 5 am and depart campsite before 6 am. I prep for travel the night before so there's only disconnecting hookups, the bare minimum in the morning.

...

Remind me not to get a campsite next to you when you are departing at 6 AM.

I haven't done any of the long trips with my rig. I typically am leaving at noon on a Friday, getting to campsite about 4-6 PM. On Sundays, pack it up, sometimes need to depart by 9 AM for my schedule, other times, we try to scoot out just at check out time.

I want to reach campsite before o'dark:30, but I have a trip scheduled in September that I cannot leave until probably 5 or 6 PM. Probably a 2 hour drive, so I will be setting up camp after dark.

Planning a longer trip in October, and I am listening to various comments here to try to determine just how far I want to plan for a day's travel. I would think 7 hours max, in a day, at an average of 50 MPH, gets me a 350 mile range. Push that to 60 MPH, and 400 miles in a day seems doable.

I haven't had any issues with arriving too early for check-in, but I have had to push the crew to get us moving out before check out time.

2cyber71 · 08-16-2022, 11:13 AM

All depends on where. Am and where I’m going.
Also, the number of daylight hours I have to drive.
My last 5 week trip to Yellowstone and back we tried to limit between 250-300 miles a day. We took our time leaving campgrounds and always arrive before dark.