Picking the right campground

[Burbs]

Hopefully the spring will show up soon here in New England so my wife and I can do our first camping trip together. Being our first motorcycle camping trip, I plan on being within a couple hours of home.....just in case!! :confused:

When we go camping we are going to want privacy and I'd like to avoid being close to other campers. In doing some research on recreation.gov, they have maps to show you the sites. Now my initial thoughts are that these sites on right on top of each other, but I'm not sure. I don't want to hear my neighbor snore or make "other" noises. How do I know if we'll have enough privacy? What should I look for?

My other fear is the issues with bears, and other critters. I plan on taking a basic camping class at REI where they'll teach me how to setup the campsite, where to cook, etc. I will admit that I'm a bit nervous about these critters paying a late night visit that includes them "popping" in my tent. I know I'm probably being a "Panicky Pete", but I thought I'd put it out there.

I appreciate any advice given.

Thanks,

Chris

[tkhattabaugh]

Andy once told Barney that 90% of the things we worry about only happen 10% of the time (maybe it was Floyd he told...). Don't worry - part of the fun is the learning experience. Each park is set up differently so there's really no way to tell if you're close to a neighbor until you get there. You could have woods between you and your neighbor or nothing at all. Just go, scope it out, enjoy the outdoors and have fun.

[Mellow]

Yeah, there's no guarantee... you can look at a site online all day long and it won't give you a good idea of what the campground is like 'til you get there.

I've been at almost full campgrounds yet it was very quiet after dark because everyone was mindful about everyone else... I've been at sparse campgrounds which seemed to give others the license to be as loud as they want to due to no one being around.

Most campgrounds have a host/ranger that you can call/contact if you feel people are too loud.. I doubt there's anything that can be done about snoring but I've never been that close to the site near me - earplugs are good to have on hand just in case.

As far as animals.... they want one thing - FOOD - they don't care about you... Don't leave food in your tent, bike or camp area and the animals will pass you by to get to the next site where someone left their food out.

Don't camp with Trailace - he'll put Doritos around your tent after you go to sleep to watch and see what shows up later.

[Trekker]

Yeah, it's always a crap shoot regarding site privacy. If the campground has been around a long time chances are there will be some growth and separation between designated sites. Some campgrounds are just plain open. Hard to tell without recon.


Never put your food in the tent, ever. Try not to store it in the bike panniers either. Store food in critter boxes supplied with the site or use the old fashion method of hanging a food bag from a tree limb way high off the ground.

[bigTom]

You see, it's like this.

If you find a really good camping experience, you come back here give it a glowing write up and we will all wish longingly that WE had done that one.

If you find a really bad camping experience, you come back here and give it a horrible write up. Then each of us will be thankful to you for 'taking one for the team' and that WE don't have to go through that mess.

Everybody wins!:)

Welcome to the site, BTW!

[Ironheadziggy76]

Chris I tend to like privacy myself, but sometimes you have to make do with what you can. If I find myself in these situations I will try to take advantage of what cover I can use or make. You can always park your bike in a place to block the entrance of your tent or use a picnic table if there is one there. I know a couple who if available will rent two spots that are side by side just for the extra distance from others. Sometimes it's worth the extra $8.00 - $20.00! :lol

I have been in near empty campgrounds where I though I was off in the far corner away from everyone, and as luck would have someone will camp right on top of me. :confused: Sometimes it can be a good thing as you can meet some nice, interesting people, other times not so much. :p

I'm like Mellow, the critters large and small are after your food, I doubt they would like me, I'm not really what you would call "lean"! :lol2 It is good to have a healthy fear or respect for the bears though. They may drag you out of the way trying to get to Rick's Doritos! :eek:

[SidecarMike]

I'm like Mellow, the critters large and small are after your food, I doubt they would like me, I'm not really what you would call "lean"! :lol2 It is good to have a healthy fear or respect for the bears though. They may drag you out of the way trying to get to Rick's Doritos! :eek:
Trouble is, most of the critters don't read those diet books, and remember, the best steaks are rare and generously marbled. P^

[Burbs]

I appreciate the advice guys. It's going to be a "trial by fire" kind of thing I suppose. We'll have our earplugs from riding, so we can always put those in.....especially if the wife starts yelling at me for taking her camping!!!

[SidecarMike]

Unfortunately, even a good campground this year can be a bad one next year. We have found National Parks to be the best at positioning sites for privacy and most private parks position sites to get the most spots in the smallest space. Even that isn't carved in stone. We've been to bad National Parks too.

[canyonman]

Do not store oreos in the vestible of your tent. skunks love em :rolleyes:

[SidecarMike]

Do not store oreos in the vestible of your tent. skunks love em :rolleyes:

Yup! We sure do. http://www.skunktails.com/

BTW, you are all invited to join us June 4-6, 2010

[Triker tom]

Check out www.meadowbrookme.com and you want site 35 or the cliff site. you will love it.

tom

[Big Red]

Check out www.meadowbrookme.com and you want site 35 or the cliff site. you will love it.

tom

the first phrase that popped out on the web site was "Lobsters cooked daily". It can't be too bad a place. D

[ImRubicon]

Yeah, there's no guarantee... you can look at a site online all day long and it won't give you a good idea of what the campground is like 'til you get there.

I've been at almost full campgrounds yet it was very quiet after dark because everyone was mindful about everyone else... I've been at sparse campgrounds which seemed to give others the license to be as loud as they want to due to no one being around.

Most campgrounds have a host/ranger that you can call/contact if you feel people are too loud.. I doubt there's anything that can be done about snoring but I've never been that close to the site near me - earplugs are good to have on hand just in case.

As far as animals.... they want one thing - FOOD - they don't care about you... Don't leave food in your tent, bike or camp area and the animals will pass you by to get to the next site where someone left their food out.

Don't camp with Trailace - he'll put Doritos around your tent after you go to sleep to watch and see what shows up later.

Snoreing at a campsite :eek: say it isnt so I cant beleive that as I have heard very few snore over me LOL

[DILLIGAF61]

Snoreing at a campsite :eek: say it isnt so I cant beleive that as I have heard very few snore over me LOL

I up for the challenge I can outsnore ANYONE lmao I'll just leave my cpap machine home

I can outdo a F-14 hitting the afterburners

[Motocentaur]

Burbs, I'm in your region and know some good campsites within a couple of hours of you.

One of my favorites is Woodford State Park in Southern VT. The sites are all secluded from each other and it is rarely crowded. . .

. . . and if it is crowded, there is a Green Mountain Nat'l Foresr campground right across the road. It has only primitive facilities, so it is truly never crowded (cheaper too).


Drop me a line if you ever want to try a trip sometime.

[RoyNC]

If this is going to be a new experience for you the best thing is to step into it and not jump headlong. What I mean by this is that don't go out of your way to pack every "possible" needed accessory. Campgrounds are a great place to start camping. Going off the beaten path takes more discipline and planning. If you are worried about critters don't bring a cooler full of food. There are plenty of restaurants out there and several campgrounds have snack bars or restaurants of some sort. If you do bring food keep it to a minimum. I put food like cookies and crackers in ziploc bags and usually hang everything from a tree away from the tent. Try using your first outing as a get to know sort of experience. Concentrate on having a decent sleeping bag and mattress or sleeping pad. A good nights sleep is worth a lot when you need to ride the next day.

Also, many campgrounds have small cabins. Every KOA has one. These are another great way to ease yourself into things. You need to bring your sleeping bag and toiletries similar to camping but you have the benefit of having solid walls between you and the things that scavenge at night.

Worse case scenario you have an encounter with a skunk or racoon. At least you will have a good story to tell.

Good luck.

[Timmer]

Here's my campsite view at the Upper Clearwater River Campground on the Olympic Peninsula. Moving water helps obscure sounds.

http://timmer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/GripTwister-Olympic-Tour-2009/C2C2AMB-157/652085086_q55sD-M.jpg


My principle in camping is to go with the flow. I've camped next to snorers, and I've camped along with nobody within 300 yards. I just love to camp.

[bigdoghd]

Dang I was just thinking, Id hate to be at some camp ground and have food in your side bag and hear some bear tearing a part your bike. That would really ruin my day!