As a former resident of this beautiful state, we thought we would try staying at a couple of the state parks in the South Puget Sound region, close to where we used to live. We usually prefer state and county parks over RV resorts, but I might be changing my mind for this state.
Knowing that they have a very limited number of sites that would accommodate our large rig, we reserved early for a time when we felt we would most likely be here. The park system limits you to 10 day stays in a 30 day period, most of the other states we've stayed in are 14 day limits. We actually reserved Dash Point State Park for 2 different 10 day stays, one in June, one in July, and then found out last week that the Verizon cell / data signal is horrible at that park, even with boosters. So, we're thinking of cancelling the second reservation and staying somewhere else, but as I was looking at the new 2014 cancellation policy I realized it's a very heavy penalty for cancelling. Not just a cancellation fee, which doesn't bother me, but a % of the camp fees based on how long you've held the reservation and it gets progressively more punitive, up to 50% of your campground fees.
So, not only does Washington state have some of the most expensive state park camping rates we've seen in the Western US, they have a punitive cancellation structure and they charge extra to make a reservation if you are out of state resident. Overall we're just finding that the WA state parks are getting more run down and more expensive. Now that we've stayed in a few more state parks across the west, I think WA state parks are hitting the bottom of the list of favorite parks to stay in. Too bad, really, we love this state in the summer, love visiting friends, etc. but next year we'll be looking for different places to stay.
Barbaraok said
10:54 AM Jun 30, 2014
I can understand the penalty fees as there are way to many people who book up all of the weekends and then decide whether to go or not depending upon the weather.
We gave up on state parks years ago because of the reservation problems and the fact that they are now as expensive as private RV Parks.
Barb
Dave Buck said
11:08 AM Jun 30, 2014
I agree with Barb. State parks are getting as expensive as private parks and I lot of them charge extra if not a resident or they charge an entrance fee. Also many of them are not kept up very well.
WestWardHo said
11:28 AM Jun 30, 2014
Gosh, we've not seen any of those experiences that any of you have mentioned in the state parks we've been in but that's really sad!
Back to the Arizona State and Regional Parks!
Sherry
DebbieM said
12:00 PM Jun 30, 2014
We are in Dash Point State Park right now. (I just PMd you Ruth). Steve is getting 3 bars of 4G Verizon right now, without a booster. We are quite surprised as this is a heavily treed campground. We are in site B36. So far the signal has not fluctuated either.
We are paying almost $40 a night for full hookups. Agreed, this is high. Highest we've ever paid for a state park. But we still prefer state parks. This park is much more private and lush. We don't like parking lot style campgrounds. We'd rather have a natural setting vs resort amenities. I can't remember the exact breakdown, but I remember they charge a higher rate for the weekend nights.
BiggarView said
12:27 PM Jun 30, 2014
Speaking strictly as an interested bystander, while the previous posters may agree that the state parks may have gotten rundown, lets not forget that a really bad recession has also occured over the past 5 years and the funds may not have been there to do the upkeep. I know this to be true in IL as they closed a number of them and I can only guess that to be true elsewhere as well. It's also possible that RV park operators have successfully lobbied for funding cuts just so they could draw those customers to their parks. Mike, pass the tin foil All I'm saying is we as users need to press our elected officials to increase funding or the end result will be park closures nationwide. They are a national treasure and should not be despoiled by negligent tax payers or RV park lobbyist or any other means of turning them into decrepitude.
FWIW, Brian
NWescapee said
02:16 PM Jun 30, 2014
Every state seems to be different and honestly, if the price is close to the same as an RV park but it's a more natural setting, we'll generally choose the state park. Usually I check out the fine print so I understand if there's a use fee for non-residents, cancellation fees, change fees, campfire fees, weekend night rate hikes, etc. Seems like WA state has applied all of the above fees and in a more punitive manner than most of the other states we've been in since we hit the road FT, we've camped in state parks in 9 states over the past year and this by far has been our most expensive average camping fee, even higher than California.
I'm willing to pay the use fees as a user of the park, I don't even mind when the weekend fees are a bit higher, understanding it's a supply and demand economic decision. I just object to very onerous penalties, plus a cancellation fee, willing to pay a small penalty understanding that the park system has to bear the credit card fees for cancellations, etc.
As a former resident of this beautiful state, we thought we would try staying at a couple of the state parks in the South Puget Sound region, close to where we used to live. We usually prefer state and county parks over RV resorts, but I might be changing my mind for this state.
Knowing that they have a very limited number of sites that would accommodate our large rig, we reserved early for a time when we felt we would most likely be here. The park system limits you to 10 day stays in a 30 day period, most of the other states we've stayed in are 14 day limits. We actually reserved Dash Point State Park for 2 different 10 day stays, one in June, one in July, and then found out last week that the Verizon cell / data signal is horrible at that park, even with boosters. So, we're thinking of cancelling the second reservation and staying somewhere else, but as I was looking at the new 2014 cancellation policy I realized it's a very heavy penalty for cancelling. Not just a cancellation fee, which doesn't bother me, but a % of the camp fees based on how long you've held the reservation and it gets progressively more punitive, up to 50% of your campground fees.
So, not only does Washington state have some of the most expensive state park camping rates we've seen in the Western US, they have a punitive cancellation structure and they charge extra to make a reservation if you are out of state resident. Overall we're just finding that the WA state parks are getting more run down and more expensive. Now that we've stayed in a few more state parks across the west, I think WA state parks are hitting the bottom of the list of favorite parks to stay in.
Too bad, really, we love this state in the summer, love visiting friends, etc. but next year we'll be looking for different places to stay.
We gave up on state parks years ago because of the reservation problems and the fact that they are now as expensive as private RV Parks.
Barb
Back to the Arizona State and Regional Parks!
Sherry
We are in Dash Point State Park right now. (I just PMd you Ruth). Steve is getting 3 bars of 4G Verizon right now, without a booster. We are quite surprised as this is a heavily treed campground. We are in site B36. So far the signal has not fluctuated either.
We are paying almost $40 a night for full hookups. Agreed, this is high. Highest we've ever paid for a state park. But we still prefer state parks. This park is much more private and lush. We don't like parking lot style campgrounds. We'd rather have a natural setting vs resort amenities. I can't remember the exact breakdown, but I remember they charge a higher rate for the weekend nights.
Speaking strictly as an interested bystander, while the previous posters may agree that the state parks may have gotten rundown, lets not forget that a really bad recession has also occured over the past 5 years and the funds may not have been there to do the upkeep. I know this to be true in IL as they closed a number of them and I can only guess that to be true elsewhere as well. It's also possible that RV park operators have successfully lobbied for funding cuts just so they could draw those customers to their parks. Mike, pass the tin foil
All I'm saying is we as users need to press our elected officials to increase funding or the end result will be park closures nationwide. They are a national treasure and should not be despoiled by negligent tax payers or RV park lobbyist or any other means of turning them into decrepitude.
FWIW, Brian
I'm willing to pay the use fees as a user of the park, I don't even mind when the weekend fees are a bit higher, understanding it's a supply and demand economic decision. I just object to very onerous penalties, plus a cancellation fee, willing to pay a small penalty understanding that the park system has to bear the credit card fees for cancellations, etc.