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Old 08-04-2019, 09:25 AM   #41
Cthomson
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Originally Posted by FlyingAroundRV View Post
Fees:
Michigan "passport" fee - $9.00 per day for non residents
Convenience fee - $5.00
Towed vehicle fee - $7.00 per day
Booking fee - $10.00
Camping fee - $30.00 per night
Total $46.00 per day plus $15.00 in BS fees (convenience and booking)
Very expensive to camp in MI state parks now!

And that is for electric only sites, no water or sewage connections.
We pay $50/night to camp in Ontario Provincial Parks. That’s only electrical, nothing else: I consider it a lot cheaper than a hotel room and the view is better:
We travelled through MI last year and I remember seeing all of the charges but when I added them all up it was the same as we lay at home.
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Old 08-04-2019, 11:01 AM   #42
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We live in the age of the 'gouge' Next Chinese New Year in fact--- I think it's "Year of the Gouge" ? Seriously, the fees just about everywhere are so bad, that the lunch time talk of the younger workers at my 4000 person corp. '' Just not worth the cost, storage, upkeep, and FEES to own an RV anymore. Did you ever see FEES once instituted...go down?
Me,--semi retired, belong to a honest, and fair RV park in Nevada, about $400 a month to stay there. Only if I stay there. More sun than I should be in..LOL.
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Old 08-04-2019, 02:18 PM   #43
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As broke as Michigan is you are surprised by this?

The convenience fee BTW is what they charge you to re-coup the cost of processing a credit/debit card. A common practice usually associated when they "farm out" their booking to a third party.

Other than your complaints... how's your time at the parks been?

keeping it in perspective
No, not surprised. Louisiana is another "low tax" state ( only low tax for businesses) and their economy is a basket case. Drive through Lousiana and experience their "low tax" roads. They'll just about tear the suspension out of your vehicles.

We were in St Ignace and did enjoy Mackinac Island. Made the 8.2 around the island on our bikes too!

Currently in Sterling park south of Detroit. The park is nothing to write home about, for sure, but it's as close as we wanted to get, to south Detroit city. We went to the Greenfields Ford site today and going to the F150 factory tomorrow.

So yeah, we enjoy wherever we go, else we wouldn't be there.

You're correct about the fee for the third party website owners... Just don't mention it to my DW. I was told that the website was created by a Canadian firm and it really sucks. Every time the DW tried to make reservations, it ended up locking her out and she had to ring them up to sort it out.

IMO, the owners of the reservation web page should pay US to put up with it.
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Old 08-04-2019, 04:48 PM   #44
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I heard even the Walmarts were starting to charge in Michigan...

Years ago in Iowa they tried a day pass or annual sticker for any vehicle going in parks. People just quit going...they killed it after 2 years.

Just bought a TT this Spring. Don't do state parks, in a private resort that charges members $10/day. But if you add the annual fees my 20 nights cost another $20/day.

Plus I pay $250 for annual storage, pay $22 per stay for them to get it from storage and put on spot and put back. I could do it but this way I can drive my car to campground.

It hurts all over...
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Old 08-04-2019, 04:49 PM   #45
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Michigan State forest campgrounds are far less expensive than State parks and usually have bigger sites, but no facilities. Always located on a river or lake too. State recreation areas often have campsites too, less expensive than the State parks and many have hookups. Finally, many Michigan county and city parks include a campground, some are real gems, and usually pretty reasonable.
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Old 08-04-2019, 06:02 PM   #46
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This is a handy site for future planning. It list each sate and if they have a state park entrance fee or not.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/state-park...passes-3362306
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Old 08-04-2019, 06:27 PM   #47
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Reserve America is a parasite for sure,,
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Old 08-04-2019, 06:38 PM   #48
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Originally Posted by 440justin View Post
This is a handy site for future planning. It list each sate and if they have a state park entrance fee or not.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/state-park...passes-3362306
According to this link (I can't attest to the accuracy) there are only about 8 states that don't have an entrance/use fee for state park/state recreation facilities.
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Old 08-04-2019, 08:09 PM   #49
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This is a handy site for future planning. It list each sate and if they have a state park entrance fee or not.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/state-park...passes-3362306
And here is a link for the national parks that change entrance fees.

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/entrance-fee-prices.htm
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Old 08-05-2019, 01:49 AM   #50
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And here is a link for the national parks that change entrance fees.

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/entrance-fee-prices.htm
I bought the America the beautiful pass. Glad I did.
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Old 08-05-2019, 03:17 AM   #51
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I bought the America the beautiful pass. Glad I did.
As a "senior" I have a permanent national park pass. If you qualify, it is great value.
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Old 08-05-2019, 07:36 AM   #52
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Several things we've learned over the years:
  • Maintaining an RV in addition to the house is more work and more expensive than we initially estimated.
  • All travel is expensive.
  • Travel to popular spots will always be more crowded and cost more.
  • We spend about the same amount each week when we travel, regardless of how we travel.
RV Travel is more convenient with potty stops, naps, lunch, boondocking, etc available at any desired time - it's also more work with driving, cooking, setup/takedown, etc. and requires more fuel. Car Travel is easier with 2 potential drivers (the DW doesn't drive with the RV), more miles/day, faster speeds, no setup/takedown, less fuel - it's also more expensive with hotel rooms, eating out, etc. and less convenient.

The above lists are not intended to be comprehensive. I bet most members of the forum know exactly what I'm saying. In both cases, we budget about $1,200/week of travel REGARDLESS of travel type - we've found this to be order-of-magnitude true for us. So, for us, we plan travel based on the "fun-quotient"! We love our RV and will always take it when it makes sense. I wouldn't drive it to downtown New York or Los Angeles. But I also know that taking the RV to Michigan will be more expensive than boondocking in Nevada. So, once the type of travel has been decided, we look at the fun-quotient for routes, knowing the costs will be the costs. Spending an extra $10-20 a night for fees doesn't even hit our radar. If we can't afford the fees, we should be travelling elsewhere or using a different style. Just IMHO...
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Old 08-05-2019, 09:49 AM   #53
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X2, Brad!
If DW and I didn't have relatives in Texas - with Big yards!
Wintering down South is much less expensive...
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Old 08-05-2019, 10:08 AM   #54
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...About the same time The Indiana toll road, I-80/90, was leased to an Australian company and I won't comment on it's condition.
We mostly avoided I-90 (and all the toll parts) through IN and OH this year by traveling on US-20. Finally reconnected with I-90 in Cleveland. The back roads were extremely relaxing; very little traffic and quite scenic. The road was well maintained, too.
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Old 08-05-2019, 12:21 PM   #55
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it is amazing how a comment about camping in one state has turned this thread in something totally different than what started out as.


Maybe someone should start a new thread...just saying.
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Old 08-05-2019, 01:29 PM   #56
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New Thread are you KIDDING.

It has been very amusing to read all of the different opinions I read today, and I didn't have to pay anything for so much enjoyment. All of this and still enjoying traveling with my RV. Thanks again.
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Old 08-05-2019, 02:14 PM   #57
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If it weren't for the last several entertaining pages the thread would've only been this,
OP; Michigan state campgrounds have too many too expensive fees.....
Response; Go elsewhere!!!
DONE....
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Old 08-05-2019, 05:26 PM   #58
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If it weren't for the last several entertaining pages the thread would've only been this,
OP; Michigan state campgrounds have too many too expensive fees.....
Response; Go elsewhere!!!
DONE....
But....you know I have been looking in my library and was eyeballing "The Innocent Man" to read by John Grisham. This forum is by far more fun and entertaining!!
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Old 08-06-2019, 07:19 AM   #59
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I suppose it is all relative to what you are used to. I find that Michigan has many wonderful state parks. They are very popular and the most popular ones are very difficult to get into. The state is surrounded by the Great Lakes, making for many wonderful sweet water beaches with no sharks! Many inland lakes as well. I don't like convenience fees' either, but overall the cost of a park pass is not bad. If you are a state resident, cost is only $11 that you purchase when renewing your license plate. I check the box for all our of vehicles.

Below is copied from the MI DNR site: Cost / where to purchase (non-residents)
Where to purchase

Michigan state parks (annual non-resident pass, towed vehicle pass & daily pass)
Online at the DNR e-store (annual non-resident pass only) -

https://media.state.mi.us/MichiganeS...&productID=896

DNR customer service centers (annual non-resident pass and daily passes only | cash or checks only)

Cost
Annual non-resident: $33
Daily non-resident: $9
Towed (motor) vehicle: $7 at state parks (can only be purchased if towing vehicle has an annual non-resident pass, good for length of stay)
Commercial daily pass $17 at state parks (24k+ lbs and/or seating capacity of 16+)
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Old 08-06-2019, 07:36 AM   #60
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When I heave to start watching small fees it is time to sell the trailer and take up knitting.
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