In spring, a frugalist's thoughts turn to camping
Posted
Mar 13 2009, 01:12 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Staycation? Forget that. When we get some time off, we're going somewhere. Cabin fever from a particularly harsh winter requires we get far away from the house.
But not too far. We're really watching our spending. Luckily we live about three hours from Glacier National Park.
National parks, state parks, Forest Service and other public lands offer great recreational opportunities at bargain prices. Here are some tips for enjoying a frugal visit to the great outdoors.
Find a park. This National Park Service map will help. Or look for state parks at your state's Web site. Chances are a state or national park or other public lands are nearby. "Gibble" at Gather Little by Little recently took his family to the old Cataloochee settlement in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 20 minutes from their mountain home. The cost of the day trip was $1 for a pamphlet and the gas.
You'll probably pay an entrance fee. Great Smoky is one of very few national parks where entrance is free. The summer entrance fee at Glacier is $25 for seven days for a personal vehicle, and $12 for seven days if you're on foot or riding a bike or motorcycle. An annual pass is a bargain at $35. Special deals: A one-year pass to all national parks is $80, only $10 if you're 62 or older, and free if you're permanently disabled. Access to other public lands costs little or is often free.
Campgrounds have fees, too (but they're a lot cheaper than the lodges and motels). Some parks allow camping reservations; with others, it's first come, first served. Camping in Great Smoky costs $14 to $23 a night. We couldn't find information for Glacier prices, but believe we paid $20 a night last summer. (For more about frugal camping, read this post at Frugal Dad.)
Consider a cabin. The U.S. Forest Service offers cabin rentals, as well as campgrounds, in national forests at affordable rates. Our friend Larry Kline recently described his weekend at one in a story in the Helena Independent Record.
Pack your own food. That applies whether you're going for a day or camping for a week. Food prices in and near national parks are high. Coolers and block ice keep perishables safe, and nothing beats cooking your own sausage and eggs on a campfire. (It's also a lot cheaper to bring your own firewood.)
Take in the campground programs. They're free, and fun for both adults and kids. Last summer we saw a show -- for free -- by the wonderful Jack Gladstone.
Avoid the gift shops, Gibble advises. He allowed his kids to take home some rocks as souvenirs. Sorry, in national parks that's a no-no. So is gathering firewood in many areas, unless you're at a backcountry campground.
Check online for special features and deals. For instance, Glacier now has free shuttle buses that pick up and deposit visitors at either end and along the world-famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. It used to be that you had to drive your vehicle (which can be very scary if you're afraid of heights) or pay to take one of the red tour "cars."
Be prepared for bad weather. A huge cold rainstorm arrived while we were hiking at Logan Pass. Many of the tourists had only the T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops they were wearing. You won't enjoy the bargain you're getting if you're miserable.
Bonus tip: Give the wildlife a wide berth, and keep a clean camp. Leaving food out can endanger the campground's human occupants.
Related reading:
10 tips for affordable family trips
13 things you can do for free
Save big with a flashback budget
Take your retirement on the road
