Basic site selection question from a new camper.

[Dean in Ct.]

Good afternoon! I'm thinking for my second camping trip (ever)to visit Hammonasset St. Park up here in Ct. My question is , if I request a non electric site because they are cheaper and I don't need electricity, does that put me off with the little guys (which I want) or in the middle of a sea of huge rigs with generators always running? I would love your input!
Dean

[coop74]

more likely with the folks in Tents...

[GerryS]

Way he said. RVs usually are looking for full hookups...generators are expensive to run and generally used for boondocking or walmart parking lots.

One thing too, is check out the trees....don't stay in a site with dead branches overhead. Also, look for a site that sits at, or above te area around it. Nothing worse than a 2 inch deep river running through, and washing away our camp site. Note the tone of experience

What part of the country are you wanting to stay? We collectively have probably started near you and can make some suggestions...

[slowcowboy]

at koas I go with the tent guys not bad for 20 bucks a night beats a hotel room. national forest there are no juice hook ups anywhere so grab whats empty and try to get something right by the lake so you can fish all night or walk over from the teardrop and go float tubing fishing or shove out the jon boat from shore.

boondocking you just find a good leval spot and if there has been someone with a old campfire there before you use the ring of rocks and don't start a new campfire on bare ground.

lots of bettle killed trees out here but the forest service usually shuts the campgrounds down till they remove all the ones in danger of killing someone by falling over.

never did a walmart parking lot and not sure if i even would attempt it or a rest stop.

slow

[KCStudly]

FYI

Hammonasset State Beach Park, CT

[Dean in Ct.]

Thanks everyone for the info! I had a great time Saturday night on a very shaded spot nowhere near the beach, which was fine by me. There was a local high school on their senior trip but they were REMARKABLY well behaved. There must have been chaparones somewhere but I never saw where.
The one unexpected thing was that they do not allow "ground fires" meaning all fires have to be in a container, elevated off the ground. Is this a common rule? No big deal, but if I had known I could have planned better.
Also I think this is the second time I have said that I need more counter space so I think I will be designing a drop leg table to attach to the galley. I have the right size tabletop just need to figure an elegant way to hang it!
Thanks again.

[coop74]

you might try one of these...

http://www.slideshare.net/Aughonmosvori ... e-20642047

I have one and you can actually by a grill that allows you to cook on top. It runs a good while on a 5lb bottle (the small one that can be refilled)

Coop

[jstrubberg]

Two things I always look for...water(lack of) and shade(abundance of).

Since 90% of my camping goes on during warm weather, shade is the number one requirement. There is no comparison between a ninety degree day in full sun and a ninety degree day in full shade. I also find that the big boys don't like to snuggle up under the trees. Worried about their paint jobs, I guess.

The water is probably obvious. Don't camp near a drainage ditch.

[Corwin C]

The water is probably obvious. Don't camp near a drainage ditch.

I have to disagree here ... IMO running water or lakeside adds a wonderful ambiance to the experience.



Stagnant or stinky water, you are right, I would probably avoid. Small children may be a factor in this decision as well.