Worst for whom?
- Our first camping trip was in 1967. I was in middle school. My parents rented a popup; we were going to the World's Fair with experienced friends. First night out my dad started experiencing a kidney colic. We got as far as Niagra Falls, Canada on the third day when Daddy had to go to the hospital. We kids had a great time, but Mom had total responsibility for two children under 13 for a week, in a different country, alone. Another time I had dental work and we left for the Great Smoky Mountains the next day. My tooth abscessed and it turned cold and rained all weekend. I was miserable, especially when the tent started leaking. That was over 40 years ago. I still love camping and hubby and I hope to camp our way across the US after we retire.
- —Guest Mary E.
Mountain Catastrophies
- We had went camping during what the news called warm weather. Of course, it was cold and stormy. We do not trust news anymore.
- —Guest Caitlyn Hert
Spoiled camping trip
- We were looking forward to some peaceful camping one weekend, and had found just the right spot and got settled in, when my husband noticed about 3 tents being set up by some cub scouts. He went over to talk to the troop leader who told him this was their yearly camping trip to this campground. The Troop leader told him that they didn't expect very many kids to show up. We didn't think anything more about it, then slowly the scouts starting piling in! They filled up the entire area, even butting up within 12 inches of our tent, leaving zero space around our site! They took over everything, including the peace and quiet! The troop leader came over and spoke to my husband and said, laughing, well what do you know about that, this never happens. He seemed very pleased to see such a turnout and oblivious to our situation. We laugh about it now, but at the time, those screaming little cubs changed the whole weekend! Oh well, what can you do?
- —Guest Caroline
Dangerous Camp Neighbors...
- One week with my family in a state park campground, heard shouting, then screaming call 911. When the cops got there the 20 yr old son had punched the mom and stabbed the dad and took off running. Not much sleep for 2 days until they caught him.
- —Guest Guest
Bad RV
- This was our 3rd and last RV. Back in 2001 we bought a new Gulfstream 34' class A $90k w/1100 miles on it (travel from mfg to CT). Bought at Longview in W.L CT. The thing was falling apart and numerous things did not operate. Brought back to longview 12 times and it was like going to Walmart and having them fix it, no clue. Long story short, MFG gave us back $7500 for repairs I did and other repairs done by other RV dealers along our trips. Nothing more fun than the levelers and slide out failing open and down. Engine V-10 Ford died in rain on highway. Improperly installed air cleaner assembly was full of water and flooded engine and cracked heads at 1800 miles(?) Tried getting the tires balanced at $25 each ($150 at my cost), mfg said Ford, Ford said mfg, finally got compensated.We gave up traveling to camp, ditched the RV and bought a park model on a site we purchased here in CT.
- —Guest Craig
Weather or Not, can you trust?
- I am a woman who camps alone in the middle of North Western PA. After driving 4 hours with my iguana, I tried setting up my tent in drenching rain, pole broke, had to go into town to rent a room from a person who I was told was very nice. I thought he was being kind when he took me on my first ATV ride in the forest, kept asking if I wanted to go into his hot tub even after I told him I did not have my bathing suit with me. Then we toured the forest in his 4 wheel drive truck. He kept telling me NOT to tell his wife. I thought he was joking. Later on I find out he was a wife beater. So it was the weather and me trusting a stranger that ruined my camping trip.
- —Guest whistand
Bad Neighbors
- Where: Buena Vista, CO When: Summer 2008 Who: The idiots in the motorhome who left two barking great danes in their rig and spent the afternoon at the clubhouse. They just couldn't understand why we were upset with them. I love animals, but don't use our site as their toilet when you are walking them.
- —Guest melinda riley sumrall
Bad Experience
- We had some bad happinings, but not enough to totally ruin the whole camping trip. Coons can and will get into coolers that have food in it that''s left outside. So it's not only people that steal food. We have had a coon that looked sickly come right at us, and it scared us to death. We didn't sit out at night the whole camping trip. I think all alcohol should be banned in campgrounds and parks, as it's the root of excessive loudness and rudeness to other campers. Children should be watched more by parents, as they are sometimes worse than drunks. I think campgrounds and parks should put some space between campers with children and campers that want peace and quiet. Maybe one section for families and another section farther away for older campers. You also have to watch out for squirrels too. They love parmesan cheese and will steal it.Weather can be the pits sometimes, so always be prepared for alternate cooking, if you cook outside mostly.
- —Guest Mary F
Where To Start?
- I've been camping for more than 40 years. I can remember Hurricane Celia in 1970 tearing thru Garner State Park nocking down 98% of the tents and flooding the river. We were one of the only tents still up due to Dads double and triple staking the tents and all of us kids in the tent (there were 8 of us). We made it thru the night only to have to move, because the river was flooding. Another time while camping with buddies at a local lake, we were under 16 and were dropped off. The weather turned so fast after dark, it tore our tent away. We had to stay all night in a stinking glorified outhouse. Lets see, My family camps for about a week every year along the Frio River. Two years ago it rained 5 of the 7 days consistently, Sometimes you just have to drink a little more and enjoy it. Being experienced campers helps. Prepare for it! Be cognizant of where you place your tent, Trench around it to keep the rain from getting under it. If bad weather is coming, prepare and use extra stakes.
- —RockwoodOutdoors
Being Unprepared.
- Interesting note that the last problem was being unprepared. Camping people are usually prepared.
- —Guest Rick Ta and are not caught unawaresllent
What has ruined one of my camping trips
- I have had a camping trip ruined by what I like to call the weekend wannabes. They are the ones who want to try camping for the first time as a group of 8 to 10 teens or early 20s. Since it is their first time, they are not aware of common courtesy and are loud. They are always up to all hours of the night with a roaring fire that is burning anything along with the firewood causing a horrible smell. The wannabees also leave food out on the tables bringing all kinds of animals into the area. I have had this happen quite a few times in my camping life of over 35 years. If you are not familar with camping, then read up on camping etiquette.
- —Guest Jim Decker
overcrowding-noise
- I am very disappointed that many campgrounds do not enforce the maximum occupation rule. The worst example happened at California State's Bliss campground. The maximum occupancy rule is 6, however one campsite had over twenty tents meandering down the hillside with at least 50 occupants. Their night time revelry of drugs and alcohol was abominable, During the day time, the kids would ride a noisy gas motor scooter around the campgound. For the peace and safety of others, the camp managers need to enforce the maximum occupancy rule.
- —Guest Ray Anderson
Worst camping trip
- I went camping with my family and in-laws on a Memorial day weekend that went very very wrong. To make a long story short, my brother in law stole beer and firewood from the neighbor's campsite and then when he was caught proceeded to call his mother every name in the book. My husband couldn't stand hearing his mother degraded, so they had a knock down drag out fight, which ended in my brother-in-law and his cousin leaving the campsite. Meanwhile, my sisters-in-law are bawling, and all the other campers are staring at us. We couldn't find the cousin, but he turned up safe and sound two days later. My brother-in-law came home with us and everything seemed to have ended well until he robbed my husband of $10,000 worth of climbing gear in an attempt to get revenge for their fight. That was a camping trip we will never forget!
- —Guest Susan
Good Times Gone Bad
- If you camp often you will at sometime have problems with nature and if you plan well you can solve most of these before they ruin your stay. It is sad but you can not plan for people who are inconsiderate of others nor park attendants who are idiots and do not know how to deal with people. My family has not been to a corps park in several years because of bad attendants .
- —Guest Ricky
Manager/campground
- We camped at a campground that was on a small island in Pennsylvania. The manager looked like he just walked out of prison, tatoo's on knucles and arms, black leather vest over dirty white t-shirt. My brother and his girl friend came up to spend the day with us and although there were no campers anywhere around us, and none due in, he told them they would have to park across the road from the campground on the side of the road. They left. You couldn't sit outside your camper because of the rabbit's, they were ALL over the place, Came up to the camper and messed on ground, just a very nasty place. Needless to say we packed up and went home.
- —Guest Sqdancer51