Obscene Camping Rates
#53
Senior Member
All KOA are not alike. We stayed at a KOA on the pacific Coast that charged us $10 per person and included a ton of amenities, activities, and what not. They were having a pizza part to send off a couple long time employees who were moving away and invited us for that. It was super nice and cheap enough. We were an impromptu group of 7 or 8 at that point and had a great time.
I admit that that one was are the exception, but after that I stopped my blanket condemnation of KOA.
I usually keep going if the prices are high and find a cheaper place or even a free place to camp. In the East I think prices are typically worse, but I have rarely toured in the east other than a bit at the end of a coast to coast tour.
I admit that that one was are the exception, but after that I stopped my blanket condemnation of KOA.
I usually keep going if the prices are high and find a cheaper place or even a free place to camp. In the East I think prices are typically worse, but I have rarely toured in the east other than a bit at the end of a coast to coast tour.
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Yes, some are quite nice. The one in Arcata, Cal., just north of Eureka, has a separate hike&bike area that was nice and quiet but still pretty close the showers and other amenities. It's on a section of the coast route where state parks are rather far apart.
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1182 Post(s)
Liked 833 Times
in
435 Posts
All KOA are not alike. We stayed at a KOA on the pacific Coast that charged us $10 per person and included a ton of amenities, activities, and what not. They were having a pizza part to send off a couple long time employees who were moving away and invited us for that. It was super nice and cheap enough. We were an impromptu group of 7 or 8 at that point and had a great time.
I admit that that one was are the exception, but after that I stopped my blanket condemnation of KOA.
I usually keep going if the prices are high and find a cheaper place or even a free place to camp. In the East I think prices are typically worse, but I have rarely toured in the east other than a bit at the end of a coast to coast tour.
I admit that that one was are the exception, but after that I stopped my blanket condemnation of KOA.
I usually keep going if the prices are high and find a cheaper place or even a free place to camp. In the East I think prices are typically worse, but I have rarely toured in the east other than a bit at the end of a coast to coast tour.
#56
Senior Member
Last edited by u235; 02-20-18 at 06:51 PM.
#57
Senior Member
Average prices in Australia are $50 per nite powered site, $30 per nite unpowered, National parks no services or toilets $15 per nite, with toilets and cold showers $25 per nite. Virtually no where in Australia do cyclist sites. That's why most cyclo tourists wild or stealth camp.
#58
Every day a winding road
That takes a LOT of getting used to.
I remember camping at the YMCA in Cumberland. I thought I was going to have to get up in the middle of the night and open the door to my tent to let the train go through!
#59
Every day a winding road
All KOA are not alike. We stayed at a KOA on the pacific Coast that charged us $10 per person and included a ton of amenities, activities, and what not. They were having a pizza part to send off a couple long time employees who were moving away and invited us for that. It was super nice and cheap enough. We were an impromptu group of 7 or 8 at that point and had a great time.
I admit that that one was are the exception, but after that I stopped my blanket condemnation of KOA.
I usually keep going if the prices are high and find a cheaper place or even a free place to camp. In the East I think prices are typically worse, but I have rarely toured in the east other than a bit at the end of a coast to coast tour.
I admit that that one was are the exception, but after that I stopped my blanket condemnation of KOA.
I usually keep going if the prices are high and find a cheaper place or even a free place to camp. In the East I think prices are typically worse, but I have rarely toured in the east other than a bit at the end of a coast to coast tour.
I loved the one an Montara. Big Sur could really use a hostel.
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,150
Bikes: 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2004 Novara Randonee , old fixie , etc
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 671 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
43 Posts
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gmfl...a/?recid=64915
Says camping only in designated sites, $10? Still a bargain though.
#61
Senior Member
When were you last there? I'm pretty sure I stayed at that one in October 2016 and there was no hike and bike area or price. We might be taking about different places though.
#62
Senior Member
Not sure on the ice cream. I think maybe, but memory fails me on that. Oh, and it looks like it was $9 per person rather than the $10 I mentioned.
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
My stay was several years before that, so they may have eliminated the H&B area in the meantime. It was right off Hwy. 101 between Arcata and Eureka. Looks like it's under new management so they may well have rearranged things.
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,618
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1068 Post(s)
Liked 785 Times
in
504 Posts
Happiest Place on Earth.... Walt Disney World's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Tent site $60.00 to $142.00 per night
RV site $90.00 to $196.00 per night
Tent site $60.00 to $142.00 per night
RV site $90.00 to $196.00 per night
#68
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,203
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3459 Post(s)
Liked 1,465 Times
in
1,143 Posts
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,203
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3459 Post(s)
Liked 1,465 Times
in
1,143 Posts
#71
Senior Member
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gmfl...a/?recid=64915
Says camping only in designated sites, $10? Still a bargain though.
Says camping only in designated sites, $10? Still a bargain though.
#72
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1182 Post(s)
Liked 833 Times
in
435 Posts
I checked my notes and it looks like that was September 13, 2011. I didn't note the location, but it was a couple days above San Francisco.
Not sure on the ice cream. I think maybe, but memory fails me on that. Oh, and it looks like it was $9 per person rather than the $10 I mentioned.
Not sure on the ice cream. I think maybe, but memory fails me on that. Oh, and it looks like it was $9 per person rather than the $10 I mentioned.
Bottom line is that we also had a good experience at a KOA, wherever the heck it was
Last edited by Doug64; 02-21-18 at 03:27 PM.
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tucker, GA USA
Posts: 133
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
On my Pacific Coast tour last fall we heard the Manchester State Park Campground was closed so we rode past. Afterwards we heard the KOA next door had hiker/biker sites for $10. Maybe that was the one.
#74
Senior Member
I knew it would be a real long shot that we would be at the same place at the same time, but I thought it was worth checking out. We ended up camping with a forum member on one tour, so it does happen. It could have been the same campground, but we thought it was further south, and we were a year earlier. We did not take good notes on the location, but I'm sure about the date.
Bottom line is that we also had a good experience at a KOA, wherever the heck it was
Bottom line is that we also had a good experience at a KOA, wherever the heck it was
#75
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,235
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18411 Post(s)
Liked 15,531 Times
in
7,327 Posts
It's a small world. While riding across PA in 2014 a guy pulled up to me in a car. Turned out he was a BF member whose posts I was familiar with. In 2010 I did ACA's Cycle Vermont. In 2016 I was doing a solo tour in MT and ended up camping at the same place as ACA's Cycle Montana tour. Three tour participants had been on the 2010 Cycle Vermont. The Cycle Montana leader had also participated in that tour.
In 2000 I ran into a couple in CO who I had seen riding in MT the year before. Earlier during that tour a car pulled up to me while I was riding in Yellowstone and I heard a woman in the passenger seat call my name. I looked over and it was a woman who had been part of my cross country group tour the year before.
In 2000 I ran into a couple in CO who I had seen riding in MT the year before. Earlier during that tour a car pulled up to me while I was riding in Yellowstone and I heard a woman in the passenger seat call my name. I looked over and it was a woman who had been part of my cross country group tour the year before.