Gas Prices Effect Your Camping Plans?

[McCampers]

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

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!"

[cjpoppin]

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........

[popedwayout]

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.

[rjh8115]

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.

[SpeakEasy]

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

[ColemanCampingFamily]

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...

[griffsdad]

Nooo.

[cjpoppin]

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.......!!!

[MJohn]

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

[WolfPack]

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.

[dademt]

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.

[TheViking]

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.

[MotherNature]

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.

[wavery]

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.

[griffsmom]

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.