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Has anyone ever gotten free camping?

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Has anyone ever gotten free camping?

Old 06-09-17, 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Doug64
Some of the California State Parks have closed their hiker/biker sites due to problems with transients. However, at one of the parks they did give us a reduced price on a regular camp spot, and allowed to share with other cyclists. We've also been told there are no hiker/biker sites available, because they were all occupied. Unlike other states, they seemed to have a limit on the amount of cyclists occupying a H/B site.

At St. Mary Campground in Glacier National Park we had 8 people in one site.
Ty & I biked out of Devil's Lake State Park in Lincoln City last fall and the hiker/biker sites were full of homeless people. The ranger let us camp in a regular spot for the same rate as the hiker/biker rate ($6/night instead of $18/night). It was mid week and it wasn't very busy. But the homeless folk were messy and they were having issues with raccoons because of them. I believe you're only allowed to stay in any one campground for 14 nights in a 30 day period though here right?
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Old 06-11-17, 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Ty0604
I have on occasion camped at a campground that was "cash only" and couldn't pay. If the ranger or host came by (which they did a few times) I'd explain why I hadn't paid and they'd either let it go or ring me up with my card somehow.
Drove into a few Texas state parks with no ATMs anywhere nearby, no one at the office, and not enough cash for the day use fee. (Usually needed a bathroom, next town was a half hour away, and figured I might as well rest a few minutes at whatever their main attraction was while I was there.) Each time I put whatever small bills I had on me (day use is usually $5-10, depending on the park) in the envelope, filled out the identifying info on the outside of it with a note that I didn't have enough cash on me, but would be glad to pay the remainder if they'd email me instructions on how to pay by mail, phone or web. Most never responded, though one did email me a "Don't worry about it. You're only $2 short and it's more trouble than that's worth to process a partial payment." I think they were just pleasantly surprised that someone didn't simply drive on in without even trying to pay.

I usually maintain the annual State Park Passport that covers the day use fee at most (maybe all?) TX state parks, but haven't traveled as much the last few years due to a job that just went away. Anybody know of an opening for a SketchUp designer, or a magazine looking for a series on bike touring Texas as an over-the-hill, average fitness guy? (Yeah, like you guys wouldn't have already filled that spot. Though seriously, if it would cover the child support, food, bike maintenance, camping/lodging and an extra $400/mo, I'd spend the next few years touring all sorts of Texas destinations and writing about it. Just gotta be home a couple times a month to see the kids, but it would be great to have stories about to tell them, instead of "well, I spent the last week trying to figure out how to get 2000sf of solar on a barn and arguing with suppliers to get the materials in.")
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Old 06-11-17, 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Doug64
Some of the California State Parks have closed their hiker/biker sites due to problems with transients.
Not sure if TPWD has a policy on it other than the regular time limits, but I've seen a few private campgrounds require reservations at least 72 hours in advance of any stay over 48 hours, along with a long list of reasons you could be permanently banned. Pretty well keeps the drifters moving along while still allowing folks on planned tours to get a spot. (And they're flexible enough if you've got a reasonable request and obviously aren't a bum looking to move in long term on the cheap.)
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Old 06-12-17, 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Doug64
Some of the California State Parks have closed their hiker/biker sites due to problems with transients.
Originally Posted by BikeliciousBabe
But the homeless folk were messy and they were having issues with raccoons because of them. I believe you're only allowed to stay in any one campground for 14 nights in a 30 day period though here right?
Seems like the easy solution would be to have a 1-2 night stay cap. If you want to hang around longer, get a regular site, and with modern computer systems, you could even do something like X number of nights a month in any hike/bike campsite in say a 50 mile radius. It really isn't hard to write policy to solve such problems, if the impetus for the change is truly that issue and not revenue generation.
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Old 06-12-17, 12:08 PM
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On recent trip I just found some good spots along the road, called the sheriff's department for wherever I happened to be and, after getting an Okay, setup for the night.

I used the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) maps and also several used city parks. In one town the sheriff's department (SO) also sent someone out to unlock the toilets and showers at the city park I was in (the map said to call the SO before setting up camp). In one city there were three of us, all with ACA maps, camping.

city park, it had restrooms and showers

I ended up paying for two campgrounds, one at a reduced, cycle/tent rate (but a real nice campground). I spent one night in a bunkhouse, and two nights in hotels. That leaves me four nights rough.


A couple of rough sites, both with the okay of the local SO

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Old 06-12-17, 01:11 PM
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I try and arrive at any State or Federal Park at least one hour prior to "opening" swinging open any drive through gates. An hours head start before the 1st traffic, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Anytime a fee is involved and I can't find a person or pay box, I have the full fee ready to pull out and hand over immediately should someone show up. Hello Mr./Ms. Ranger, no I'm not trying to evade you. I have even been leaving in the morning, pull over and offer the fee and have an arriving attendant just wave me out with a smile.
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Old 06-12-17, 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by jefnvk
Seems like the easy solution would be to have a 1-2 night stay cap. If you want to hang around longer, get a regular site, and with modern computer systems, you could even do something like X number of nights a month in any hike/bike campsite in say a 50 mile radius. It really isn't hard to write policy to solve such problems, if the impetus for the change is truly that issue and not revenue generation.
Ty reminded me that Devils Lake State Park in Lincoln City actually has a 3 night maximum stay consecutively in the hiker/biker sites. The car campground is 14 nights. How well it's enforced I have no idea? We've only stayed 3 nights the 3 times we've been. He plans the trips so I guess that's why we've only stayed that long!
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Old 06-14-17, 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by mymorningjacket
Today I set off on my first overnighter to my local park. I set up camp and waited for someone to come by to collect the fee. People around me were using firewood that I'm assuming they bought; so some people must have been working. It was getting late and I guessed they would come by in the morning. Come 9 am, I'm packed up and ready to go and still no ones has came by. I just set off and left. Free camping sweet!
Has this happened to any of you guys? Or did the owners ever offer you free camping after being inspired by seeing your loaded rigs?
Thanks
ever look here?

https://freecampsites.net/
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