Yep. I rode the GAP twice last year. Once on my own, camping, and once with family, without camping. Far more expensive to get a room than camp. In a trip that went from Cleveland to Cumberland, incorporating the whole GAP, the most expensive place I camped was Ohiopyle at 20-something dollars. In retrospect, I would have paid double to not have to hike up that hill into camp, but I'm not sure even double would get you a room in Ohiopyle.

I remember when rustic sites in Michigan parks were $7 a night. Now, they are over $20 if you want to reserve ahead of time, and that gets you pit toilets and a hand pump water supply (and remember not to sleep in the site that has the hand pump, unless you want to hear it creaking all hours). I'm not even that old.

I'm a big advocate of doing tent camping Europe style: a grassy area that one pays a set cheap rate for, and pitches anywhere. No designated sites, not exclusive use firepits. You can always add more campers if you hit a busy time, and I don't have to pitch my tent in a virtual trailer park.

I disagee.

I am an environmental historian. I have studied and been involved in forest service policy for decades.
The relative important of front country camping/picnicking sites has diminished in the mix of forest service goals.
50 years ago, it was a primary means of public outreach and interaction.
Also 50 years ago, logging - even if unsustainable - provided a steady revenue stream.

Today, the core missions have changed - with habitat management and preservation taking precedence.
Hundreds of small campgrounds have been eliminated. Water availability has been curtailed.
Road access has been curtailed, with thousands of miles of forest roads eliminated, system-wide.

There are compelling reasons for these changes. Also, strong counter-arguments.
But they reflect internal policy of the USFS - something well beyond a call to your congress person.

I have spent a week or more each year camping in national forests since the 1980s and have had several conversations with Forest Service staff over the years about loss of service.

I am not convinced that a conversation with local Forest Service staff is more important than a conversation with a congressman. But I am not going to get into a long argument with you as it is clear that you and I are unlikely to convince the other to change any opinions.

Have a nice day.

forgive me, but i don't understand your complaint here.
this seems to be a private park unaffiliated with the national park.
you're looking at the prices of an rv park developed for rv campers
to park their rvs with rv services, charging rv prices ....and complaining
they don't cater to you specifically - dude on a bike wanting cheap camping?

if you don't want the kitchenette and jacuzzi and steam room
and fitness center, don't ***** about the cost of the hilton and
wonder why they don't have 12-bunk backpacker rooms.
go and stay at the motel 6, or a hostel if you don't want to
pay $39.95.

mr. googles tells me jellystone has 2000 campsites in 12 campgrounds
with sites starting at $15. (not including backcountry camping sites)
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

but you're looking at basically a private luxury campground for monster
rv's with wifi and cable tv, outside the park.....

jinkies, look at the photos on the site! it's like a suburban trailer park.

why do they charge this much?
because they are providing a service for which some want to pay.

$100/night is about right for an RV space at a nice park here in Southern California. I walk my dog near one and they have a pool, movie nights, game room, etc.

I work for a hotel chain and checked rates after spending close to $50 for a tent only space at a state park for next Sunday, I could have gotten a room at one of our less expensive brands for the same price.

True, those were the days but, I do remember one hiker/biker campground at the end of a steep hill -- with nothing more than a single water faucet spigot in the middle of a grassy windblown bluff -- that wasn't worth much more.

I don't need to see the guide. I know most of the campsites first hand. I have ridden the trail a number of times.

IMHO it is worth it just to stay at the hostel in Rockwood for another $15 or $20. The noise from trains at Husky Haven can be tremendous.

Never got the point of campsites. If I need to shower and do laundry, I pay for a room. If I'm camping, I find a hidden location or ask permission to camp on someone's property. I've also camped next to gas stations or convenient stores plenty of times.

What's the point of paying >$50 to camp when a room costs the same or less?

We Robo, another friend and I made that climb up that horrible trail one year. Once we got to the top, we realized we would need to make it again after dinner. We went back down the trail and took a hotel room. Never again.

I fail to understand why the parks service can't open a small hiker / biker campsite down by the river. That would be awesome.

More than the high prices, what pisses me off is campsites that don't have a hiker biker policy. I would think a number of campsites would have a small unused section that they can dedicate to hiker biker.

I asked about the policy in a state park. They had none. The would turn you away if there was no space. But there is an unofficial policy. Just be there after the man leaves at 6PM and be gone by 9AM when he arrives for work.

Yeah. I had food, but I was craving something cold and sweet. I asked at the registration building where I could find a vending machine or some soda and they said, "Back in town." I did not want it that badly.

When I got to the GAP turn off to Ohiopyle park, it was getting dark, and I figured the climb would be faster than pushing on to Confluence. I probably should have timed it, because it may have been a wash.

On the plus side: beautiful campground and very clean bath houses. But for all that, I don't expect to go there again.

I think it depends on where you're camping or getting a room. I have never paid more than $30 for a campsite, and I have never paid less than $50 for a room, so if I'm looking to sleep cheap and legal in the US, a campsite does the job.

Also, I like sleeping outside in my hammock. I'd do more but I think it would offend my wife and annoy the other people in my apartment complex. I look at bike trips as an excuse for some hammock camping, but that doesn't mean I don't want a shower at the end of the day. Sometimes a fire is nice, too, but I would never do that if I wasn't at an actual campground.

The best deal we ever had for a camping spot was the municipal campground in Serpa, Portugal. I believe this site cost us the equivalent of $8.40 in 2011.



The bathrooms and showers:

No showers and a bit toilet but the best deal I ever had was the city park in Marlinton, WV. A bath in the river was better than any shower, I HATE pit toilets so I rode into town, had breakfast at the restaurant and used their facilities.

Our $5 room with a $500 view Lime Kiln SP Campground, Hiker/Biker site, under Highway 1 in southern CA.

One wrong step when you get up to pee in the middle of the night and SPLASH!

We were both wrong. Chickahominy Riverfront Park is not state and not commercial; it's a county park. I knew it was not a state setup but it's surprising since I don't know of any other county parks around here that offer camping, although I have stayed in them in other states. While it gets good reviews and evidently has some nice facilities, I still think it's too much to pay for an overnight camping space when cycletouring.

Whatever do you mean?

If you ever do ACA's Trans Am route, the Bike Camp in Twin Bridges, MT is a great spot. It's close to town and free (donations requested) with a screened in shelter with lounge furniture and power outlets, lots of lush grass the pitch your tent, shower, flush toilet, cooking area and picnic table shielded from the wind and nice camp sink. And you might see a beaver wander out of the..wait for it...Beaverhead River.

Oh, heh, good catch, we really should have noticed that! I agree about the price, no discount either for early-spring or late-fall. BTW I'm a bit surprised to see that Northern Virginia has 2-3 regional parks with camping. Same high prices & are ~20-30 miles away from DC.

VT state parks last year. Hiker/ biker rate at Hapgood pond? $ 2.00. Nice. Warm showers, nice pond to swim in too. Lots places in the woods to hang a hammock.

Was there a lot of road noise from the highway above?

Hwy. 1 on the coast has quite a bit of tourist traffic during the day but is pretty quiet at night. But the ocean is noisy at all times.