With gas prices projected to be at or above $4/gal the wife and I have decided to do only one long distance trip this summer and probably fewer local camp outings. We probably won't change the overall number of days of camping -we'll stay longer for each outing- but the number of trips will be less.
If prices do hit $4/Gal will it have an effect on your camping plans?
Gas as of today is $3.28 for regular unleaded. I dont care how how high it goes, it wont keep us from camping. We need to get out of this crazy town once in awhile or we'll go crazy, so its worth it to us........Ed C.
Me and the kids are going to do one long trip and the rest of the summer will be short trips in state.
Quote from: campdaddyIf prices do hit $4/Gal will it have an effect on your camping plans?
Yes. We are planning shorter "long weekend trips" this year, and will likely stay within 50 miles instead of the 300 mile radius trips.
This being our first year with a PU we will have only a couple of 150 or more mile trips. We also plan to use some of the excellent, and less expensive, state cg's vs using private cg's like KOA with pools. :morning:
No it won't effect us too much. Here in Nor Cal gas is $3.59 a gallon now. Camping is our main vacatoim so even if gas gets more expensive, it is still cheaper than flying somewhere and paying for all the tourist junk.
Jacqui
We won't let gas prices change our plans either. Yellowstone here we come! :) Our local campgrounds are only 20 minutes away, so that's not a big deal. We figure that when we travel with the camper, we're saving money in other ways, so higher fuel prices won't stop us from going.
If gas is $4 a gallon, I may drive slower. We may put off purchasing new equipment like the screen room we'd really like to add.
We're still going camping though! :D
Gas prices have put a crimp in my travels ... the number of them and the distance traveled.
I'm retired and am feeling the pinch every where I turn ... higher insurance, higher food prices, higher gas prices ... higher everything!
Fly
Quote from: flyfishermanGas prices have put a crimp in my travels ... the number of them and the distance traveled.
I'm retired and am feeling the pinch every where I turn ... higher insurance, higher food prices, higher gas prices ... higher everything!
Fly
Ditto.......I feel your pain :(
Won't really change anything, In fact our first trip next weekend will be longer (in distance) than our regular first spring trip.
Cant let it stop us, just shorter trips. I feel the pain every day, I have a service company and drive 80 to 100 miles a day. Hope it dosent get any worse. Rob
We don't buy a lot of gas, so we feel okay spending money on gas for vacations.
We consider cars a necessary evil, so we're very conscious about not driving needlessly. DH bikes to work, I walk DS to school, we live near the things we need so we can walk, and I always group other errands and try to schedule them around the days I have to drive to work. In years that include big multi-state vacations, we still rarely put more than 5,000 miles/year on all three vehicles combined. It's usually closer to 2,000-2,500.
Already has.
We used to take one trip each year that was maybe 3,000 to 5,000 miles round trip. With today's prices that's totally out of the question for us. We'll prolly do a 1500 mile trip this year. Still consider that a luxury and love every minute of it!
We make up for it with more frequent camping trips to local areas. It is stunningly beautiful here in the Finger Lakes region of central NY where I live. The price of gas is helping me appreciate what I have nearby.
-Speak
Camping is THE vacation activity for our family - DH & I have already decided that we will cut back on our 'personal' expenses as much as needed to keep on camping (not to mention that we already booked everything and the money we would lose by cancelling would about equal the gas price increase...)
Quote from: flyfishermanGas prices have put a crimp in my travels ... the number of them and the distance traveled.
I'm retired and am feeling the pinch every where I turn ... higher insurance, higher food prices, higher gas prices ... higher everything!
Fly
I'm in the same boat with you and Wayne. Speaking of boat, mywife doesn't sail so trips to the boat 60 mi. away may be affected. Oh well, the wind is still free. I burned 8 gal. of gas last sailing season and my canoe does even better. :-()
Wright
Most of our trips this year will likely be close to home - we are lucky that we have a number of state parks and COE cg's within an hour or less. However; this choice of location is not really prompted by the gas prices. Rather, my mom is fighting cancer and we don't want to be too far away. We haven't booked a single trip, though and probably won't until things settle down some. That may cut out camping at some of the COE parks, but our state parks don't take reservations so we can always hope for a few quick trips.
we are already paying more than $4/gallon... 1.13/litre... it's tough but you gotta get away...
Just a few years away from retirement and VERY concious of increasing cost of everything, especially gasoline. Have had to make numerous 400 mile round trips to grandkids for special occasions in the last 4 months. Will have to limit the distance we travel to camp this spring. Choices are limited within 100 mile radius since we are on the South AL coastline but don't care for beach atmosphere.
Last year when prices were topping 3 dollars/ Gal, we went from Jersey to Montana and many places in between (almost 8000 mi. roundtrip) with the PUP. It was still cheaper than driving out and staying at hotels and WAY cheaper than flying. Although we are not planning a big trip like that this year, I feel that even though the gas prices will be pushing $4/gal. it is still cheaper than going to a hotel. We will take the money we save on hotels and put it towards gas so it will hurt less. Camping for us is an important part of our family life so we will find ways to make it possible to go.
I said that prices wouldn't affect our plans, but that said, I should explain most of our trips are under 75 miles and the one 300 plus mile trip to Acadia is with tents, not a PU!
After spending $75.00 per weekend on gas to go cross country skiing, I can't say that gas prices don't hurt, but the alternative is to sit home and do nothing and that's not an option for us.
Our planning started last year, so it's hard to turn back now. We will be driving from Texas to Fort Wilderness @ DisneyWorld, then to Palm Coast, Florida, then to the Georgia mountains for another week of camping, then across to Tupelo, Mississippi to catch the Natchez Trace Parkway down to Natchez, MS, then across to Huntsville SP in Texas and finally back home to Austin, TX. I figured about 2725 miles without side trips.
OUCH - but we are so excited :-() about the whole trip. Planning to eat more sandwiches, fewer trinkets, and avoiding the big three gas profiteers (Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips - according to the latest news reports).
Also, moved up to a hybrid camper at the end of February. Sweet, but anticipating a pinch in the pocketbook due to towing a higher profile (nearly the same length) camper. Which reminds me - I need to change the signature line.
Happy Easter!
Gas prices won't affect my camping trips at all, here in northeastern PA there are more campground than I can count in an hour radius. The reason we go camping for vacations is because of the money we save. When I tell people that I usually spend under $500 for 10 days worth of camping, they tell me that its nuts that I spend that much, I tell them that we do everything that we want to, plus relax. Try to stay a week at the beach and spend that much, after eating out every night and hitting the boardwalk, I enjoy camping, even if its at my local SP that is 10 mins away from my house, it helps me free up my head. Something about campfire cooking that just makes me feel lucky that I can do it.
I still plan to do a 400 mile trip, but once there, the family can visit me rather than me run the roads.
The rest of my camping plans are within a 100-150 mile radius from home - with few (if any) side trips.
Am tightening the wallet till it squeeks to enable me to have funds to take my sanity get-aways.
I am fortunate to have an ample supply of campgrounds within an hors drive away. My favorites are the State Parks but have found some really nice small private campgrounds also. So this year I won't be camping less, just closer to home!
Gas prices won't change my camping plans but I may reconsider other business travel around town and use email and phone calls more often.
We are considering a new electric car. We saw a "Smart" electric car the other day. It is way cool!!! :-()
My wife only drives 2 miles each way for work and never sees 35mph anyway. This wiuld be perfect for her. It is ruining our Chrysler Concorde.
I can't wait for the fuel cell cars to come out. They will change life as we know it.
I love America! Americans don't give a crap how much that gas costs. We still want a V-8 with 300+ horsepower!
NH to FL in Jan. 1421 miles. $487 for gas. Average about 9 mpg towing.
FL to NH, haven't quite made it there. In PA right now and have spent $408 for gas so far. I figure another $100 to $150 to get home. Gas has ranged from $3.17 to $3.39 a gallon.
Roughly it cost about $1100 for a 2900 mile round trip. Not including 2 nights in a motel because of winter conditions in January and our last night on the road coming home.
I have three other local trips planned for the summer but have given up the plans of going back out to Utah
Any other camping will be within 200 miles of home until next January when we head back down to FL.
reg. unleaded $3.69 here in Cali....
Regular unleaded as of today here in Vegas is $3.51... I dont care what it goes to, i will pay what ever to get away from this crazy town for some R and R..............Ed
Quote from: GrizzlyTacoRegular unleaded as of today here in Vegas is $3.51... I dont care what it goes to, i will pay what ever to get away from this crazy town for some R and R..............Ed
Now that's a real American! I personally won't flinch until it gets to $10.00 per gallon. I ain't skeered! Let's "Git-er-done!"
gas up here just hit $3.85 on average.......and going up everyday.......It does make one think about how long our trips are now......It's hard on retirement income........
Two years ago I listened to the warnings about gas pricing and decided to do something about it. I sold my motorhome and went to a popup and a diesel pickup. Now I know diesel is at $4.09 a gallon, but with the truck I can get at least 15 miles per gallon vs. the motorhome at 7.5 mpg. My other advantage is I make my own diesel fuel which cost me about $1.00 a gallon to produce. So the way I see it, gas prices should never stop you or your family from having all the fun of camping whenever and wherever you want. Just change how you get there.
We were already planning on shorter trips this year (vs. 2000 miles worth last year). But this was due to vacation limitations vs. fuel cost. In fact, we just replaced our minivan with a new Explorer so our fuel costs have gone up even more.
Two years ago we did a 4800 mile trip, and spent $910 in gasoline. At the end of that trip I told the DW that I can't imagine doing that again, just because of the large amount of gas we consumed (nearly 300 gallons). If we were to do the same trip this summer, anticipating $4 per gallon gas, it would cost us $1158, or $247 more than last time. While we could "afford" it (thanks to the stimulus package), I don't feel that I should be consuming nearly 300 gallons of gas just for fun. My conscience is changing in relation to my use of non-renewable resources. The high cost is making me do a lot of reflecting. Even if you can get around the non-renewable resource issue, there is the issue of gasoline money ending up in the hands of middle-eastern terror-supporting nations. It's getting to be a real issue to me.
-Speak
It will not change our plans in the least...we camp most of the time within a 50 mile radius anyway. Our big trip to MD is still on...the way I see it, if I can't afford an extra $50 in gas I can't afford the vacation to begin with...
Nooo.
Camping comes first........after all bills are paid of course. Guess we are watching how far we drive and praying it doesn't hit the big 5.00 mark.......!!!
Well I have been planning my dream trip to Yosimite for about a year and it's not gonna happen. Gas is just too high. We are still taking out trip but are visiting one of the places we were suppost to go on the way back first. That is because it's more out of the way to "back track" more miles and more fuel.
3 places are on the agenda instead of 5. And they are all about 2-3 hours from each othe instead of an additional 8 or so more hours to get to Yo- and Grand Teton. Will still be gone for the same amount of time though. Rather have a longer break than a rushed trip.
MJ
We had to change because of gas price we well be camping close to home. we be going to Columbus Belmont state park here in KY its about 3.5 hours from the house.
While I voted no, it is not a solid answer. I wouldn't change any of my plans for this year. With that being said, I may be a little more careful for next year.
This thread was started in March. Many posted that gas was around 3.50 per gallon. Now that it's June, and gas is over $4.00 for most, and over $5.00 for you diesel peeps, anyone change their minds on their camping planns? Cause I fear it's gonna get ALOT worse.
We are reconsidering the trip to Lamoine SP, Maine. We're in SE PA and at this point aren't sure if we can afford both DH taking a week off and current gas $ too. We may substitute a closer trip.
Gas prices are effecting the economy in ways that are killing many industries. However, that isn't even our economies biggest worry. That is just a diversion from the real problem.
Real-estate prices went totally out of control in the 2000s. This encouraged many people to re-finance their homes and take out insane loans with the belief that the prices would continue to escalate at the same rate. Our government purposely let finance companies hand out $ on deals that were absolutely criminal, to falsely stoke the economy. This caused many problems and the biggest problems are yet to come.
Refinancing has increased the average American's spending power by over 25%. In many cases, a worker earning $50K a year suddenly had $200K worth of spending power in one year (400% increase). This pumped up the economy artificially. The government knew it but did nothing. Bush's war ethic was/is the most important thing on his mind. He and his administration knew exactly what was going on in the economy but the war was more important so they LIED. Every financial report that came out was doctored by his administration because Bush insisted that NO NEGATIVE news about the economy could be reported. If anyone had any negative reports (or comments), they were gone. They knew all of the figures were inflated by consumer debt but that was not reported or figured in to any reports.
For the last 8 years, our government has been telling the people that the economy is growing at a healthy rate. Most of that (falsely reported) growth was on the back of refinancing. Now that property values are falling, the average home owner has no borrowing power and in way toooooo many cases can't even pay the debt that he has.
Our entire economy has been surviving on borrowed real-estate $ for 8 years. Our government knew that and chose to ignore it. Reality has now set in and it's time to pay the Piper. It's also time to lay the problem on the back of a new administration that is doomed to failure.
That is why Obama is where he is. He will be the fall guy. Just like Colon Powell was the fall guy for the mis-information that was given to the UN just before we invaded Iraq. Do I see a pattern here???? HMMMMMMMMMMMM.
$5 a gallon for gas......... big deal. If you have a job and are free of debt, you can pay it. If your home has been foreclosed on or you are up to your eyeballs in debt, you are in real trouble.
You have about 2 years to become debt free. If you aren't and we have a depression (which I feel we will) it will make the 1930's look like a birthday party.
Sorry.....I just had to get that off of my chest.... :sombraro: Have a nice day.
I hear what you're saying, Wayne, but I'm not sure it's fair to lay all of the fault for the economy at the doorstep of the federal government. If someone is only making $50,000, he should know better than to be spending $200,000.
I think two rampant problems we have in this country are an overall sense of entitlement, whether one has actually worked for and earned something or not, and an inability to accept personal accountability for one's decisions and actions. :(
Quote from: griffsmomI hear what you're saying, Wayne, but I'm not sure it's fair to lay all of the fault for the economy at the doorstep of the federal government. If someone is only making $50,000, he should know better than to be spending $200,000.
I think two rampant problems we have in this country are an overall sense of entitlement, whether one has actually worked for and earned something or not, and an inability to accept personal accountability for one's decisions and actions. :(
I agree 100% but it doesn't change the fact that American citizens were constantly being told that the economy was growing at a healthy rate and there were no foreseen troubles in the future.
Anyone that was willing to sit down and look at the value of their home realistically, should have known that it was extremely inflated. This came about by criminal actions from financial institutions that was let run rampant because it brought $ into the economy. This caused a building boom that supposedly saw, "No end in sight" and people borrowing way over their heads because they could. I lay that squarely at the feet of the Federal Gvm't. They let it happen because the economy desparately needed a boost to keep Bush from looking like the total and utter failure that he really is. We have consumer protection agencies that were crippled and not allowed to do their job because it came right from the top, not to. If they did their jobs the "Cash Cow" (home refis) would have been cut off at the knees. The Bush Administration was not about to see that happen under their watch.
Quote from: waveryGas prices are effecting the economy in ways that are killing many industries. However, that isn't even our economies biggest worry. That is just a diversion from the real problem.
Real-estate prices went totally out of control in the 2000s. This encouraged many people to re-finance their homes and take out insane loans with the belief that the prices would continue to escalate at the same rate. Our government purposely let finance companies hand out $ on deals that were absolutely criminal, to falsely stoke the economy. This caused many problems and the biggest problems are yet to come.
Refinancing has increased the average American's spending power by over 25%. In many cases, a worker earning $50K a year suddenly had $200K worth of spending power in one year (400% increase). This pumped up the economy artificially. The government knew it but did nothing. Bush's war ethic was/is the most important thing on his mind. He and his administration knew exactly what was going on in the economy but the war was more important so they LIED. Every financial report that came out was doctored by his administration because Bush insisted that NO NEGATIVE news about the economy could be reported. If anyone had any negative reports (or comments), they were gone. They knew all of the figures were inflated by consumer debt but that was not reported or figured in to any reports.
For the last 8 years, our government has been telling the people that the economy is growing at a healthy rate. Most of that (falsely reported) growth was on the back of refinancing. Now that property values are falling, the average home owner has no borrowing power and in way toooooo many cases can't even pay the debt that he has.
Our entire economy has been surviving on borrowed real-estate $ for 8 years. Our government knew that and chose to ignore it. Reality has now set in and it's time to pay the Piper. It's also time to lay the problem on the back of a new administration that is doomed to failure.
That is why Obama is where he is. He will be the fall guy. Just like Colon Powell was the fall guy for the mis-information that was given to the UN just before we invaded Iraq. Do I see a pattern here???? HMMMMMMMMMMMM.
$5 a gallon for gas......... big deal. If you have a job and are free of debt, you can pay it. If your home has been foreclosed on or you are up to your eyeballs in debt, you are in real trouble.
You have about 2 years to become debt free. If you aren't and we have a depression (which I feel we will) it will make the 1930's look like a birthday party.
Sorry.....I just had to get that off of my chest.... :sombraro: Have a nice day.
Where is all the proof in what you say ?? I'm sure glad your not my financial advisor.....
Quote from: Old GoatWhere is all the proof in what you say ?? I'm sure glad your not my financial advisor.....
Proof!!!!! Proof of what?????
You don't know that real-estate prices were over inflated?
You don't know that people were refinancing their homes at unbelievable rates and spending that $ (putting it into the economy)??
You don't know that financial institutions were acting irresponsibly in their lending practices and are now being punished?
You don't know that homeowners borrowed over $3trillion dollars on home refis in the last 8 years?
You don't know that Bush constantly said, "The economy is growing at a healthy rate and I'm not a bit concerned about the economy........next question please. Let's talk about keeping America safe"?
You think that Bush didn't know about the amount of $ that was being pumped into the economy by consumer debt?
You don't think that giving out these phony rebate checks was all about keeping the economy afloat until he got out of office????
You don't know that the $ from the "Economic stimulus" checks are coming right out of you own pocket??
You don't know that Colon Powell was handed a bunch of lies to present to the UN and made a complete ass out of him and our entire country when all of the pictures that he presented as "Irreputable Proof" were found to be all phony??
You don't know that Bush intimidates the hell out of his entire staff to keep them from telling the truth??
You think that Obama (a 1st year Senator) is the Democratic Candidate by pure happenstance??
At some point, we all end up putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with the same answer. The problem is......we usually come to that agreement far too late, when it is painfully obvious that 2 and 2 does not equal 999 (add as many 9s as you like, they're meaningless anyway)..
So Wayne...How do you really feel about the gas prices, will they intrude on your camping ?? :confused:
Quote from: oreo57So Wayne...How do you really feel about the gas prices, will they intrude on your camping ?? :confused:
A little but the property value decline really hurts!!!!!! We could buy a lot of gas for the $hundreds of thousands we've lost in property value.... :eyecrazy:
We bought our house in Fallbrook exactly 2 years ago this month. Thankfully we don't owe anything on it. Our rental house in the valley has also declined and there are foreclosures everywhere.
Quote from: waveryA little but the property value decline really hurts!!!!!! We could buy a lot of gas for the $hundreds of thousands we've lost in property value.... :eyecrazy:
We bought our house in Fallbrook exactly 2 years ago this month. Thankfully we don't owe anything on it. Our rental house in the valley has also declined and there are foreclosures everywhere.
Sorry to hear that you lost hundreds of thousands on your house purchase...Buying real estate, like any other investment, has it's risks and is always a win or loose gamble. You gambled and lost....wise up, get a grip instead of a gripe and move on..........
We be gone camping,,,BYE
HEY! HILLARY & OBAMA!
All I asked was if the gas prices were gonna effect your camping plans since the prices have gone up so much since March. You two politicians turned it into a debate! I don't see Katie Curic around to mediate.......lets keep on topic here people!
Bwahhhhhaahhhhhah!
It's June, gas is over $4, and we are still going to Yellowstone. :)
Happy Trials! :D
Quote from: Old GoatSorry to hear that you lost hundreds of thousands on your house purchase...Buying real estate, like any other investment, has it's risks and is always a win or loose gamble. You gambled and lost....wise up, get a grip instead of a gripe and move on..........
We be gone camping,,,BYE
We haven't, "Lost" a dime. We paid cash for that house and have 5 more years to go on the other. We have no intention of selling either......ever. So the devaluation really doesn't effect us.
The point was/is, that a lot of people are in trouble over this whole housing market thing from one end (manufacturing) to the other (consumer).
The problem was caused by the gvm't lowering interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending (to prop up a failing economy), then not regulating the loan industry to avoid the catastrophe that this nation is now faced with. That caused unrealistic property prices and unprecedented home refinancing as property values sky-rocketed out of control due to unrealistic demand. Americans are in more debt than they can possibly pay back.
This country works on a free market system that works quite well when the gvm't doesn't mess with it. Having the gvm't messing with interest rates only prolongs and ultimately worsens the inevitable.
As Griffsmom correctly stated, people must be held accountable for their irresponsibility. However, in this case, the gvm't became the enabler by encouraging irresponsible borrowing to pump $ into the economy. There was no consideration for how people were going to pay that debt because the current administration will be gone and the next administration will be left with an impossible task. It went on at such an enormous scale that it will now not only effect the irresponsible, it will effect us all.
That, my friend, will effect every single American (that doesn't live in a cave). Trust me, $5 gas will be the least of our problems.
THE END!! :sombraro:
Quote from: waveryWe haven't, "Lost" a dime. We paid cash for that house and have 5 more years to go on the other. We have no intention of selling either......ever. So the devaluation really doesn't effect us.
The point was/is, that a lot of people are in trouble over this whole housing market thing from one end (manufacturing) to the other (consumer).
The problem was caused by the gvm't lowering interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending (to prop up a failing economy), then not regulating the loan industry to avoid the catastrophe that this nation is now faced with. That caused unrealistic property prices and unprecedented home refinancing as property values sky-rocketed out of control. Americans are in more debt than they can possibly pay back.
This country works on a free market system that works quite well when the gvm't doesn't mess with it. Having the gvm't messing with interest rates only prolongs and ultimately worsens the inevitable.
As Griffsmom correctly stated, people must be held accountable for their irresponsibility. However, in this case, the gvm't became the enabler by encouraging irresponsible borrowing. It went on at such an enormous scale that it will now not only effect the irresponsible, it will effect us all.
The problem was caused by the gvm't lowering interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending, then not regulating the loan industry to avoid the catastrophe that this nation is now faced with. That caused unrealistic property prices and unprecedented home refinancing as property values sky-rocketed out of control. Americans are in more debt than they can possibly pay back.
That, my friend, will effect every single American (that doesn't live in a cave). Trust me, $5 gas will be the least of our problems.
THE END!! :sombraro:
That, my friend, will effect every single American (that doesn't live in a cave). Trust me, $5 gas will be the least of our problems.
THE END!! :sombraro:
He always has to get the last word....even on himself..
BECAUSE of the gas prices I am going camping most of next week...I have an Emergency management 2 day training down state, it is not only the gas but the tolls, and if I drive to miss the tolls, I hit a myriad of traffic lights and traffic.
So I am opting to pull the Cabin A (the truck barely knows it is back there) to a SP not too far from Dover (Killens POnd) and dive back and forth to Dover. The training is providing lunch, so all I ahve to worry about is supper and breakfast.
Then there is the minirally at Tall Pines Harbor the following Weekend.
Since Killens is a good jump start to TPH, I am taking Friday off and going down to VA (on the Delmarva) and Raymond is meeting me with the COrolla and we will spend the weekend down there.
They will store the camper hooked up to electric and water, on the rally site for $2.00 per day (less than driving it back from Killens considering gas and Tolls), Then on Next Thursday, I will attend another out of town meeting, and take Raymond with me, he will shop for grocerys (from a list) and there is a Kmart also in the same shopping Center behind where I am meeting. We will grab a quick bite to eat and hit the road back to TPH.
This has taken a lot of thought so as to find the most economical way to get down there camp and enjoy ourselves. The gas prices are high and getting higher everyday.
I am learning to combine work with Pleasure, there is another 2 day training in August (Friday and Saturday) that I will take the camper down instead of commuting back and forth both days. There is the Rally in the Poconos and the fall rally at Locust lake, And the Columbus day/my birthday or close to it camping weekend that is all we are doing unless something comes up that is close close close...
Raymond is retired and I work for the State. we are not getting a raise this year to help offset the higher cost of EVERYTHING, because our state is in trouble financially. SO goes the circle of (the economic)Life.