Will the economy cause an increase in family camping?

[sandykayak]

$10 a night in a state park!!  wow!!  Many of the state and county parks in south florida are now $30.  And the one I wanted to go to in Palm Beach County (John Prince Park Campground), has a 2-night minimum at weekends.  I also paid $30/night at Larry and Penny Thompson Park (a Miami-Dade County Park)...and the rates don't even go down in the summer.

I realize that the increased (a year ago) cost of fuel can justify that and that their budgets are tight, but I now have Fri/Sat/Suns off and $90 for 3 nights is high for me.  

I have a new Aliner and have camped the past 4 consecutive weekends!!

My storage facility is closed on Sundays, and I don't go in to work til 10 AM, so on 2 occasions, I've stayed the Sunday night as well.

I'm able to get the Senior Citizen (at 62) for Big Cypress Preserve and paid half price, but I could tell that on the board they had scratched out the "half" part.

Next try is Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park.

[PattieAM]

Back when my kids were little, camping was an affordable vacation, and the kids really loved it.  Whether it be tent camping, cabin camping.

Before buying the PUP, I did take two cross country trips (one for each child), and spent close to if not over $2500 each trip (motel rooms, meals, entry fees).

Since buying my PUP, I can budget $300 for a two week stay at a State Park, which includes $160 in CG fees, $15.00 for propane (if needed), $50 groceries and $50 for a tank of gas (this might fluctuate), and the rest for misc. events, maybe thrift/antique store visits.  Oh and one 'out to dinner'.

After assessing this info, I could easily justify my annual dues in my membership campground system.  $500-$600 for the full year.  And, I was averaging about 50 nights or more per year.

My youngest daughter recently moved to Ft. Bragg, NC, and there were no nearby membership campgrounds, so I did purchase an annual Passport America membership for $49, and the nightly fees were $12.50.  This worked out great - the sites were 3 blocks from where my daughter worked 3-11am, so she could swing by and pick me up and we'd have the day together.  Cost effective too.

As to whether other folks will utilize camping as an affordable vacation, I cannot predict.  Back in my working days, I can remember my co-workers spending about $5,000 for air fare, motels, meals etc. for their week's vacation.  Not me!

I don't want to be a slave to debt, want to have a few dollars so I can do my get-aways, relax, regroup and keep living!