It’s 26 degrees outside, and I’m planning some family camping trips. The boys are going with Scouts to a snow camp at the end of the month, but the trips I’m planning are for May and July. Think I’m nuts? Not really. The National Parks reservation system takes reservations up to six months in advance. We’re planning a family vacation to Yosemite in July. Family as in extended family. Because rates in the park run $200 or more for a small room, we’ve opted for tent camping. We found out the hard way that tent spaces for the more popular parks sell out within hours of being offered. Hours. The whole summer fills up. Can you imagine how many people are trying to get in on the phone line or the internet site if Yosemite fills up in less than a day? It’s why planning is key. The parks reservation service is being revamped and moved to a new site, due to open up February 7th. It’ll obviously be a frenzy to get the spaces. Wish me luck! 
We love to go to the State and National Parks. They’re so beautiful, and each one is so different. We especially love when my father (who lives with us) goes along. Sure, we enjoy his company. But we also enjoy his Golden Age Passport admission. For $10/year, he and anyone accompanying him in his vehicle get free admission to most National Parks (a few, such as Yosemite, have use fees that give 50% off instead). The savings from the first admission are usually enough to cover the pass for the whole year.
The other grandparents have a very nice RV, and travel a little more cushy. They’ll be giving us a little adult time in May when the kids “camp” with them. I’m not sure an RV that costs half as much as my house counts exactly as “camping”, but I’m not arguing. KOA Kampgrounds has a yearly Buy One Night, Get a Second Night Free event in May. This year, it’s Friday, May 11th and Saturday, May 12th. This deal won’t be up on their website until February 1st, so that gives you plenty of time to plan in advance. KOA is “camping lite”. They have hot showers, full hookups, cleared tent spots, bathrooms, pools and rec rooms. Many of them even have wireless Internet hookup. It’s a great way to travel if you don’t want to rough it — or if you have four rambunctious grandchildren with you.
My boys are working on their Camping badges, so we’ll be doing a lot of it this summer. The key to doing it without breaking the bank is planning, planning, planning. Make your plans early and get those reservations nailed down!
Link to National Parks Reservation Service New Website
Link to National Parks Passes
Link to KOA Kampgrounds
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