Anyone ever park for free at a fee based campground?

[Mangojo32]

I'm currently staying at a COE campground in CA (third time here this winter) and everytime I've seen people mainly in small class C or B's come in late and leave early. Obviously I don't know for sure if they have paid or not but it just makes me wonder. There is no host here just a park ranger that comes by usually around 9-10am and again in the afternoon 3 or so. Also the gate closes at 10 and reopens at 6.
I've also seen a woman and her kids who looked like they were living out of small U-Haul box truck come in after 9p and make use of the showers then leave.
I guess I'm curious about this because it's somewhat of a moral dilemma. It's something I've thought of trying, arriving late and leaving early at a campground without paying. I'm mean if I'm not taking advantage of any amenities just parking and sleeping and leaving.

 

[john*thomas]

I've slept in my car in the parking lot. I'm not sure that really counts though.

 

[abnorm]

Everybody has their own Moral Compass to guide them...........We Pay the IronRanger

 

[bullfrog !]

There are so many free camping opportunities why would you abuse or risk your privileges. We often use our Lifetime National Parks Pass to take showers and use the other park facilities for a few hours then head out of the park to free camping spots to sleep. As a ranger I often informed people of the park’s facilities and directed them to areas outside the park with free camping. As we often had people arriving late at night with boats. It was much safer to sleep in the boat in the parking lot than to launch the boat in the dark. I would simply advise they not set up camp outside the boat and launch at sunrise after it was light enough to do so safely. Rangers have discretion on how they deal with visitors. Always went out of my way to try to help those that needed it but strangely there were a lot of those people trying to hide from me! Lol!!!

 

[maki2]

Be your own moral compass, you were raised to know right behavior versus wrong behavior.

 

[jacqueg]

I don't see it as a dilemma at all. I pay.

IF the ranger is letting some folks stay for free, that's the ranger's business, not mine.

 

[Mangojo32]

There are so many free camping opportunities why would you abuse or risk your privileges. We often use our Lifetime National Parks Pass to take showers and use the other park facilities for a few hours then head out of the park to free camping spots to sleep. As a ranger I often informed people of the park’s facilities and directed them to areas outside the park with free camping. As we often had people arriving late at night with boats. It was much safer to sleep in the boat in the parking lot than to launch the boat in the dark. I would simply advise they not set up camp outside the boat and launch at sunrise after it was light enough to do so safely. Rangers have discretion on how they deal with visitors. Always went out of my way to try to help those that needed it but strangely there were a lot of those people trying to hide from me! Lol!!!

I don't know of any free camping opportunities that are anywhere close to where I need to be and that are also quiet.

 

[RoamerRV428]

for yourself, do as you feel you wanna do. Your choices, your actions

for others just let the rangers handle and do their own thing. agree with Jacqueg said above, leave ranger biz to rangers.

you might think some are not paying but ya don't really know so....they could have their own transactions with the rangers you are not privy too...quessing mostly, just do you at this point.

 

[WanderingRose]

No, I haven’t, and I agree to leave the policing to the rangers.

 

[bullfrog !]

It’s all about you! Lol!!! Get some ear plugs! There are almost always ways to find a place to sleep free you just have to be motivated!

 

[maki2]

You only partially understand what amenities are. The ability to there stay overnight is an amenity of the area. It is not just bathrooms, showers, trash, boat launches, picnic tables, shade structures, dumpsters, trash, trails, view points and beaches, all those are also amenities. There are many places such as COE, state and federal, county parks and other types of lands that have amenities of restrooms, picnic tables, fire rings and such which do not include the amenity of staying overnight. So the reality is that a place to stay overnight is also an amenity.

 

[Happy Camper]

Mango, here's a thought. Why not let people know your general area and ask for some good locations?

If you are asking if it's ok to stay at a paid place without paying, that is at the discretion of those that have a say.

You can see kids in a store. One pays for his candy.

Another might take a piece when no one's looking.

Along come another and gets one and walks out the door.

Who did something wrong? Maybe one of them had an understanding with the store owner. Mowed his lawn and was allowed one candy a day.

Other people are going to do what they feel comfortable with. Where and how they get that comfort is their business. And sometimes their problem as well.

 

[dustytrailhead]

…
I've also seen a woman and her kids who looked like they were living out of small U-Haul box truck come in after 9p and make use of the showers then leave.
…

Free showers? Im trying to remember if I’ve seen free showers in USFS campground. I think I have seen free showers in BLM campgrounds. I mean ones that aren’t broken. I don’t have a problem rolling into a campground for free or coin/token showers. I don’t care which, but I don’t mind paying for a shower. However, I prefer not to stay in campgrounds. So, if I don’t stay in the campground, I don’t want to pay for a camp site.
But, I think I understand your point. If you don’t pay for a camp site, then you’re not eligible to use the amenities, even if they’re paid ones. What is the USFS policy? I’ve never asked. I have a U.S. public lands pass. I assumed that I could use all the amenities during Day Use.

 

[Zerpersande]

Everybody has their own Moral Compass to guide them...........We Pay the IronRanger

I don’t know who the IronRanger is but he definitely isn’t on my payroll.

 

[abnorm]

^ Oh my......the pay station at most Public campgrounds in America is a pipe-in-the-ground........An IRON RANGER

 

[wayne49]

The alternative to the Iron Ranger is to call an 800 number and pay by credit/debit card with an added service fee that goes to a non governmental entity.

 

[Tony's Dream]

I just got back from a trip to the Florida Keys. I arrived at a camp site that was very over loaded, no place to set up camp or plug in, around 10:00 PM. The camp site was located on an military base, but there were no guards checking IDs.....apparently a military designated camping location. I looked for the place to sign in and pay, but I was unable to locate it. I asked someone who looked like he had been there awhile, and he said I had to register on the main post which was a couple of miles up the road. I drove to the building and there was no place for a night drop or directions on how to pay after hours. This was on a Saturday night and the place was closed until Monday, and I was only staying one night. Sorry, I wasn't extending my stay....so I went back to the camp site parked in a parking lot. In the morning I took a shower, then I packed up and left.

 

[bullfrog !]

To my knowledge you can use all the amenities the government provides with the day pass. There are concessions run by private companies that do charge. Just ask till you get an answer you like as many seasonal workers are in charge but don’t have any idea! Lol!!! National Park Service rangers are told to do what is best for the visitors in most cases as long as it causes no problems within the park. If you have difficulty obtaining a place to camp or park ask a ranger but if none can be found do what is safest and find a place to park and rest. If in a campground be prepared to pay if you are asked to. Most NPS people are there to make your visit enjoyable, they usually only hassle people because of an existing problem within the park or people creating problems. Simple courtesy goes a long way.

 

[RoamerRV428]

So the reality is that a place to stay overnight is also an amenity.

it actually isn't. An amenity is 'an add on feature' to the desired building or location. So one is 'using the site or location' and that could be pay or free or ?, but an amenity is anything added extra when one pays or stays at the sight. So your campsite or location of stay is not an amenity. Just sayin'

 

[jacqueg]

Free showers? Im trying to remember if I’ve seen free showers in USFS campground. I think I have seen free showers in BLM campgrounds. I mean ones that aren’t broken. I don’t have a problem rolling into a campground for free or coin/token showers. I don’t care which, but I don’t mind paying for a shower. However, I prefer not to stay in campgrounds. So, if I don’t stay in the campground, I don’t want to pay for a camp site.
But, I think I understand your point. If you don’t pay for a camp site, then you’re not eligible to use the amenities, even if they’re paid ones. What is the USFS policy? I’ve never asked. I have a U.S. public lands pass. I assumed that I could use all the amenities during Day Use.

It depends on the campground. During the summer, I frequently shower at a Forest Service Camground. It charges a shower fee, and you don’t have to be a camper there to use the shower. There are other FS campgrounds with showers where you must be a camper. In Washington, if you have a Discover pass, you can take a coin-op shower at almost every state campground without camping there. The best way to find out? Call the campground, and ask!