Info for Happy Camping

There is no doubt about it, camping is one of the cheapest ways there is to travel. That is true particularly if you camp in a tent, but staying in a camper or recreational vehicle can also be economical when you take advantage of various deals.

For camping in the United States, a book called "Free and Low-cost Campgrounds" lists nearly 12,000 places where camp sites are available for $12 a night or less. In some cases the $12 price applies only to campers with an America the Beautiful senior pass. This pass, which costs just $10 for lifetime membership, offers half-price at nearly all the campgrounds operated by the National Parks Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is offered to visitors 62 years old or more.

Camping in the winter is an especially good bargain at long-term visitor areas operated by the Bureau of Land Management in the California desert and along the Colorado River. Visitors can stay for the whole winter from October 1 to May 31 for just $180. That's a price that is hard to beat anywhere.

To buy a senior pass, check the Website https://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html. To order a copy of the guide to low-cost campgrounds check www.cottagepub.com. While most states are listed in the guide, Alaska and Hawaii are not included.

I haven't had much experience of camping myself, though I do remember spending a couple of days camping sans tents in the Negev Desert in Israel. It was very peaceful until an F-15 flew overhead and woke everyone up. We got up before dawn the next morning to climb Masada and see the sunrise.