Camping is my preferred lodging although I will get a room if the weather is especially bad.
Camping is my preferred lodging although I will get a room if the weather is
especially bad.
Not only is it fun to camp, it is also much less expensive than other lodging. Tent camping rarely costs more than $20 per night whereas rooms usually start at around $50 and go up from there. In areas with seasonal rates, the starting rate for a room may be well over $100. The cost savings from camping really start to add up when the trip duration is measured in weeks.
Most state/provincial park and private campgrounds have well-maintained bath houses with showers. By comparison, camping facilities at many national park campgrounds are often more primitive, sometimes even lacking running water.
It's always a good idea to inspect the showers shortly after setting up camp to prevent surprises when it comes time to use them later. They could be coin-operated and require specific coins or tokens, or have no hot water, or even be completely inoperative. Such things are good to know in advance.
Another advantage of camping is the friendly and interesting neighbors usually encountered. Campers are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet anywhere. It's not at all unusual for my camping neighbors to walk over and introduce themselves while I'm still unpacking, and then offer to share their food, beer, or a seat around the campfire. Such hospitality is common among campers and seems to be the rule rather than the exception.