Your opinions please

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

I had an interesting conversation with the owner of several campgrounds today. We talked about campsites, campstores, game rooms, pools, restaurants, fishing ponds, amusements and other amenities that his CGs may or may not have. He asked me to ask you for your opinions about the following:

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
What would keep you coming back?
What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?

Note: He has access to this forum so here's your chance to voice your opinion and have it seen. Since I'm not saying which CGs he owns, or where they are, feel free to mention CG names in your examples.

Go for it

[chasd60]

I had an interesting conversation with the owner of several campgrounds today. We talked about campsites, campstores, game rooms, pools, restaurants, fishing ponds, amusements and other amenities that his CGs may or may not have. He asked me to ask you for your opinions about the following:
 
 What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
 What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
 How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
 What would keep you coming back?
 What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?
 
 Note: He has access to this forum so here's your chance to voice your opinion and have it seen. Since I'm not saying which CGs he owns, or where they are, feel free to mention CG names in your examples.
 
 Go for it

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
 Off- Small open sites such as sites with no brush or tree coverage.
 Off- Nasty bathrooms.
 On- Large sites with a tree line to buffer the noise, I don't expect people to be absolutely quiet so a site with trees and or brush between them will deaden the noise and supply a little shade.
 On- Pool even if you are on a lake or pond......clean pool.
 On-On-On Activities for families such as tye dyeing t-shirts and a scavenger hunt
 On- Enforced speed limits
 
  What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
 I want most of the things listed above but I also understand it is hard to fill a CG with trees and brush in a season.
 I expect to be treated with courtesy and respect.
 If I or anyone breaks any rules I expect the management to talk to them without belittling them.
 
  How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
 Probably 1-2 weeks at a time. If it was close I have no qualms with staying  longer and commuting to work from the CG (done it before for 3 weeks and still returned)
 
  What would keep you coming back? All of the good above.
 
  What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?
 Depends on what is offered. I paid $60+ for a site a Ft Wilderness. I paid $67 per night for a site here in Maine that had a sheltered picnic table, shelving, hot and cold water at a sink, 4-burner electric stovetop and behind the shelter it had a door to your own personal toilet and shower. This CG had activities all day long with camp counselors and I didn't feel overcharged although I can't afford to go back to that site every weekend.
 If it is a CG that is on a major travel route and only wants 1-2 night campers, the price had better be low.
 
 I am not big on the game rooms or amusement unless it is guided activities. A few machines and a pool table are good but those CG's that have only that to offer are lacking a lot.
 A lot of CG's that have those activities alone, allow kids to run rampant (so  do the parents).
 
 I have been to several CG's that separate the seasonal's from the regular campers by a good distance, I think that is the right thing to do as well.
 
 Any specific questions, email me.

[Gone-Camping]

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
Off:
Small Campsites
Open Campsites (no tree's)
Close Campsites (awning to awning rv parks =
Un-level Sites
Picnic tables that are rotted & falling apart
Dirty sites
Difficult to follow road network
Golf Carts!
Powered kids scooters
 
On:
Big roomy sites
Lot's of shade, something (brush/tree's) to seperate next site
Lighted hook-up area
Sites that are cleaned-up/raked prior to next visitor
Clean restroom facilities
 
What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
* Decent campground map
* Rules that are actually enforced (particularly quiet hours)
* Electric power that is properly regulated
* WiFi access would be nice?!?!
* Level site, easy access when backing in a trailer, some privacy from next door site
* Security rounds an hour or two after quiet hours to ensure it's quiet
* Special packets for after hours arrival including maps, directions, etc...
* Pool or beach access for swimming
 
How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
Up to a week right now. You get my boss to give me 2 weeks off, maybe I'll stay longer!!!
 
What would keep you coming back?
* Affordable prices
* Comfortable campsites
* Desired amenities
* Good service
* Friendly atmosphere
* Tree's (lots of them)
 
 
What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?
* Loaded question really, depends on the area. Nominally I'd say around $25 per night with FHU site...
* Extra charges for more than a couple of kids really suck!! (keep prices based on a 'Family unit' instead per extra kid...
 
Addendum...
I generally refrain from staying at private campgrounds because they generally don't meet the above criteria. I do return regularly to one, I like the place so much that I offered to design & host their website for them (for a price - www.oceanwavescampground.com) it's run by the nicest people you'll ever meet, and meet's nearly ALL of the above posted sentiments...

[Acts 2:38 girl]

Good question! Here goes:
 
What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
 
OFF: dirty bathrooms, quiet hours that are not strictly enforced, peoples radios on loud (even during daytimes)
ON: clean campground, smiling people, nice campstore, good lighting around bathrooms at night, clean pool, a pavilion AWAY from campsites, theme weekends with things for the kids to do!
 
What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
 
relatively quiet, clean, safe for the kids
 
 
How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
 
As long as I could!
 
 
What would keep you coming back?
 
Even if things were bad at the campground, if I felt like they really cared about my business and wanted me there, then I would go back and try it again.
 
What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?
 
Not more than $40.00, and if all the children that are with me are mine, charge me a family rate, not per extra child rate.  Remember - those are future campers and your business!  

[angelsmom10]

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
off:  nasty bathrooms, small sites, paying extra to use a/c, unfriendly hosts/workers .... I know this is sometimes hard to control, but putting a limit on # of people (which most do) and spot checking (ie OH SP's limit 8 per site, but every year we see sometimes as many as 10-15+ people per site..
 
on: large-shaded sites

What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
large wooded sites, that you can actually open a PU and awning without being very close to neighbors

How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
1 week - longer if we can afford it


What would keep you coming back?
 
friendly/nice people working there, recreation area, ie... lake, pool

What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?
 
$25-30 would be great

[4Galvs]

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
On - Large site w/ some trees at least.  A fire ring of some kind.  Grass/gravel instead of dirt.  Hiking trails - lake.

Off - Dirty bathrooms! Bathrooms not well maintained during the visit.  Cigarette butts! (I must have picked up over 100 over last weekend)

What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
Playground and some kind of activiies for the kids.  Campstore.  A pool would be a bonus.  Horseshoe pit.

How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
A week if I could.

What would keep you coming back?
Friendly hosts.  

What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?
I'll pay $50 for two nights.

[tlhdoc]

Boy this is a good set of questions.  I hope our answers help.

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?

On:Large sites with brush and trees between sites, fire ring with grill, utilities in good working order, level, clean sites and bathrooms, bathrooms that have individual rooms for showers (Like the RJ Ranch has).

Off:Small close sites, dirt=mud when it rains (and it always does), rules not enforced (especially quiet time)

What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?

Peace and quiet, rules enforced, fires allowed

How long would you stay at your favorite CG?

One to two weeks

What would keep you coming back?

A nice quiet campground with affordable prices

What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?

$40 to $60

[Wild Wild Qwest]

What turns you:

On - Cleanliness of the campground, Grounds, Bathhouses, etc..

Off - Rusted Travel Trailers lined up as soon as you enter the CG. Unenforced quiet hours and allowing obnoxious campers to do whatever they want.

What do you want / expect when you visit a campground? Nice sized, divided sites, Pool, Hiking or Biking Trails, Clean Bathhouses, Some activities

How long would you stay at your favorite CG? 1-2 weeks (If we were retired, a month, or so)

What would keep you coming back? Consistent upkeep, periodic off peak discounts, friendly staff, etc.

What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay? $50

[Popupper]

Looks like your campground owner/friend is getting some valuable info here. I wish they all could see this. I also wish the dealers and manufacturers would / could visit this site.

Turn ons -
friendly reception
well layed out sites with buffers in between
good picnic tables and fire rings
clean sites
hiking trails
dog areas
Something to do on the premises
Regularly cleaned and stocked bathrooms!!
I really like it when the owner / mgr stops by to say hi.

Turn offs-
mean CG owners and employees!
icky bathrooms
camping between motorhomes
dirty campsites (cans and trash in fire rings, cigarette butts everywhere, little pieces of litter through out the site).
wobblie picnic tables
constantly barking dogs
muddy roads
unstocked campstores

I think a fair price is $50 - $65 for 2 nights depending on amenities and location. We also spend that much in the store on most trips.  I remember quality and tend to forget price.

[dee106]

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
i agree with all the above, but two things not mention is the dump station! would like to see more then one dump hole , with a clean hose for rinsing, and it graded properly !
 
pvt shower stalls and dressing area with a door no curtains, and a bench and shelf to hold things and place to dry your feet!
 
What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
large site with room for my awning, level site, visable w/c/e/s station, when your pulling in the dark you want to find everything to hook up in one spot and have reflective paint or something to mark it!
as far as the campground i agree with above, would like to see 24hour security driving around, also if the campground uses radio's to have a cb channel and a FM radio channel available in case an emergency where we can reach someone.
How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
we have stayed up to three weeks in a favorite campground,
What would keep you coming back?
clean campground, pleasant staff, quiet , plus all that was said above, and discount coupons for a % off our next visit, or after 3 visits a free night,after 6 visits free weekend!
news letters letting us know of special weekend offers, or activwtes.
What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?
w/e 25-35
w/e/s 30-40
w/e/s/c/ 32-40
four persons per site over that add 2.00

[Camping Coxes]

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
ON - Well maintained sites that are spacious and somewhat level
Clean, well-stocked bathrooms.
Shower stalls with doors, not curtains, that are clean and have a clean bench and hooks for your stuff and a separate dressing area from the shower area.  A lip separating the shower from the dressing area so water stays out of the dressing area.  
A check-in staff that is friendly and informative.
Somewhere to swim.
Fire rings that are in good shape.
Paved roads to keep the dust down as cars go by and allows kids to ride bikes safely.
OFF - Dirty fire rings that look like they have a years' worth of ashes in them.
Sites that are so close you can't open your awning without hitting the next camper.
Dirty bathrooms with moldy shower curtains or ripped up shower curtains.
Charging an additional fee to use the dump station -- I refuse to do it and will water your bushes with my gray water. Charging a fee for bringing my family (i.e., two people included in fee, each additional is charged extra).  I think six people in a site would be a good allowance without additional charges.
Charging extra for use of your facilities; i.e. the pool, beach access, etc.
 
What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
It's been said over and over -- friendly staff; bathroom and shower facilities that are clean; peace and quiet; w/e hook-ups are nice; a camp store with reasonable prices.
 
How long would you stay at your favorite CG?  Depends.  Vacations are usually a week, but we take many weekend trips throughout the year and have been known to go back to favorite CGs (Woods Valley Kampground in Valley Center, CA, for example) over and over, and bring friends along!
 
What would keep you coming back?  The above turn-ons being consistently met, something nearby that's worthwhile to see or do in our free time. and an appreciation for return business.  I get E-mail updates from Woods Valley from time to time when they have a special event coming up.  When I call to make a reservation, they always recognize our name and say, "Oh, you've been here before, right?"  Makes you feel like you're welcome.
 
What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay? Around $50

[byrdr1]

What turns you on or off about the campgrounds that you visit?
 
On: I like a larger than most site, I do like pull thrus, I like cable because if it rains my kids can be a hand full, and not just 10 channels. I love clean bathhouses with room to move around in the shower changing area of the stall. and try to make the water not go out into the changing area so your clothes,towel get all wet.
OFF: Dirty. old worn out bathhouses. I can take an old bathhouse as long as it is CLEAN... Clean...
Old crankey host or desk clerks who act like they did you a favor by letting you in the campground. I am here because I thought it was a nice place to stay and relax. I know the rules and I follow them..
Dusty dirt path for camp ground roads.. no gravel in the campsite, unlevel campsites. half way hookups. the water is on the ground to hook it up and turn it on .
I do no like the campsite "includes 2 guest and one camping piece". I have a family and I am not retired. I have 3 kids and one is 20 going to college full time. Yes she is an adult but she is still my kid who I support.. The other two are 14 and 9. Iwould like to be able to afford to stay with them on a trip and not add $3-6.oo per night per extra over 2!
 
What do you want / expect when you visit a campground?
I want a nice sized campsite with nice hookups and cable, 30a, water, sewer.
 

I want the site to be a level as possible with some grass and a nice gravel pad to park on. I want to be able to open my slide without moving back and forth to get it just right so I can open it.
I expect to be treated like a guest not a pest. I can camp anywhere I please. I chose your camground because of your website and pictures and what you had going on for the kids. So make sure your website is UP to DATE with yearly fresh pictures and activities for the family and the kids. I like themed weekends. I have a trip in October to a campground in VA. I like the way they do things for the kids and families. It is a Halloween themed weekend. They went all out last year and if they just do the same thing as last year they will get my business more in the coming years. But I see them improving on this.
 
How long would you stay at your favorite CG?
 
I can stay two trips for a week at a time. the rest are weekends with a few 3-4 day ones. I have 24 days off a year plus 6 holidays.
I have stayed 4-5 nights around Easter and Thanksgiving at the Myrtle Beach campgrounds. These are the longest other than my week long vacations.
 

What would keep you coming back?
 
Treat me with respect, I will you. Things for my kids to do that are organized.
CLEAN bathhouses, nice and clean camground. roomy sites that are not on top of each other. full hookups with cable. or a clear site of the horizan so I can set up dish....All of the above.
Plus dog friendly....Plus location, location, location..
 
What do you feel is a fair price to charge for 2-night stay?
 
$25-35.oo per night for what I asked for. maybe more if more is provided. but I dont want to pay $35 a night then add, $4 per person extra over two. and not be able to set up a pup tent for the kids if they want to sleep out..
 
I can tell you all the places I stay and why?
I use one state park campground that I have camped at for the last 4 years. the rest are all private..
randy

[4campinfoxes]

Turn Offs: parking lot type campgrounds, sites too close together with no trees, nasty bathrooms, boring or non-existent playground for my kids,

Turn Ons: clean, well-spaced sites, preferably with trees as buffers - I don't really want to see everything my neighbor does, clean bathrooms, fun playground, pool, nice camp store for if we've forgotten something, camp road my kids can bike around

Expectations: a site that has enough room to navigate into it, fairly level - or at least not does not exceed my BAL leveler capabilities, fire ring, good map, quiet hours posted and enforced

How long do I stay: depends on what is available in & around a campground.  Most times it's a weekend or long weekend but usually there is at least one week-long trip.  Most recent trip was Kamp Dels in Waterville, MN - they have horses to ride, ponies, a fun water playground & pool, canoes/paddleboats to rent, mini-golf, and important to us is a nearby biking trail.  That's at least a long weekend if not more.  Previous trip was Kettle Moraine State Forest South in WI - hiking & biking trails were excellent, sites were great & I wish we could've stayed longer than the weekend.

Keeps me coming back: Things to do nearby - our family likes to bicycle, so if there are trails nearby that increases the probability of returning.  Things to do - pool, trails etc.  Clean sites & bathrooms.  Friendly owners/workers.  Quiet, comfortable sites.

What do I expect to pay : that depends on what is offered, pool, sites, etc.  Also depends on if it has electric & water.  I DON"T expect to have to pay extra because I have my kids along!  That's one of my pet peeves (although I've had to do that on occasion).  Camping is for families & payments should be based on cost per site, I can accept a reasonable limit - say 6 or 8 to a site, but we just have 4 of us.  With pools, electric & water I expect $25/night or so, without pool/state/national areas $12-18/night.


Sharon

[Gone-Camping]

Attention Campground owner... Please note the above posts from Pop-up owners that are stating they want a sewer hook-up! Too many times campgrounds 'steer' the Pop-up's away from site's with full hook-up's. But making trips to dump gray water or the cassette potty can be a pain. Having a sewer hook-up even in a Pop-up is becoming more and more a requirement. Just FYI....

[Martorious]

Ok, All of the above suggestions are good (clean bathrooms, large wooded sites, friendly knowledgable staff), and I agree with most if not all of them, but I would like to emphasize a few things that I like to see in a cg that have not been mentioned so far.  
 
As a former voluteer fire-fighter and current 911 dispatcher, I like to see clear markings to each site (i.e. signs posted at each intersection clearly saying 'sites 1-100 this way, 101-200 that way), and numbers visibly posted on each site.  While it makes it easy for you to find your site, more importantly it speeds response for emergency crews, which is more time critical.  Seconds saved in finding a patient can mean life or death.  Also on that line, in the reception packet there should be information that lists a 24 hour contact and street address of the campground (never assume that the local fire department/dispatcher knows where you are just by campground name) and location of any onsite management/ranger residences as well as marked locations of all payphones (not everyone carries cell phones, and if so, they may or may not get reception in the cg).  Do they close the front gate at quiet time?  Is it locked?  If so, who has keys and how do you contact them in an emergency?  All of this information should be in the check-in packet, as well as on file with the local authorities.  I also like the idea of a cg CB channel or frs channel or both.  Are they monitored 24 hrs?  probably not reasonable to expect it to be monitored 24 hrs a day, but even during daylight hours it would be a big bonus.
 
Do I sound paranoid?  Maybe, but I've seen enough instances where, through no fault of their own, emergency crews wasted precious time looking for a scene because of inaccurate information and poorly marked streets and addresses.  I don't want my family to be the victim of a great address hunt.  And I feel that the CG should be proactive in getting the proper information to their campers, that gets my vote of confidence.