< Previous With the world at a standstill, travel is no different. Taking a plane trip is nearly next to impossible. The cruise industry is still closed. Train rides and bus rides, if even available, are long and not social distance friendly. Tours are all but cancelled for the season. What’s left? The Great American LOCAL Road Trip! With cabin fever rising this summer during the COVID pandemic, people are seeking ways to go somewhere. They’re eager to get outside, drive somewhere, and enjoy some time away. Camping and RVing has always been popular. It’s more so now than ever before. Consider this: you can sleep in your own bed. You don’t have to be around other people. You can bring your own food. You can set your own schedule. You can sit under the tall trees and the stars. You can take walks and hikes, sit around your own campfire, and read in peace. Fuel prices are at their lowest in decades. You don’t have to schlep luggage. You don’t have to wait in line at the airport, train station or bus terminal. A blog on www.PACamping.com, the Keystone state’s campground organization, notes, “The views are AMAZING. You control your own schedule and can stop anytime that you want, and the trip can be far more relaxing.” Camping and RVing is social distancing at its best! It’s controllable, affordable and safe. At the Back to Camping Summit last month, sponsored by the national campground search engine Campground Views, CEO Mark Koep expressed positivity regarding this summer for the camping industry. He noted, “Over 519 registered attendees participated in this event, with at least 220 participating parks and agencies.” The event was designed to prepare those in the RV industry to get back to camping after being closed down for several months due to COVID. The president and CEO of KOA (Kampgrounds of America), Toby O’Rourke, was the event’s keynote speaker. She presented compelling statistics explaining why camping is king this summer. She later told Woodall’s Campground Management, “People are valuing the outdoors more than ever right now. Thirty percent of those surveyed said camping is going to be their first trip when they’re able to get out there,” she said. “One-third of people who have never camped before say they’re considering it now. You can camp close to home, and it’s an affordable vacation option.” Major news publications and networks are taking notice as well. Articles about this option have appeared in a plethora of local, regional and national publications, as well as major RV publications, blogs and websites. RVIA and ARVC are two of the major organizations nationwide that provide support, education and advocacy for the RV and camping industry. Their recent surveys show that the desire to go camping is at an all-time high. BY PAT JENNETTE Camping is still king, particularly in the COVID world Getting ready for camping Do we tent or RV? Or perhaps experience a cabin or a yurt? It’s a personal choice. There are the weekend warriors who haul out their gear once or twice a year, pack it into the car, and take off for a local campground or state park. On the other end of the spectrum are RVers. They range from weekend warriors and vacation travelers to seasonal guests and full-time RVers who live and work in their tiny homes on wheels. Whatever you choose, take the time to prepare before you go. It is more important this year than ever before. If you’re tenting, check all your gear. Does anything need repaired or updated? Make sure nothing has deteriorated while in storage. Clean out the flashlights and install new batteries. Make a checklist of what to bring. There are multiple resources online to find tent camping lists and preparation. Try REI, Wiki, and the KOA, for starters. After making your list, check it twice. Are you an RVer? If you already own a rig, but haven’t used it since last year, this is the time to check everything inside and out. Do the appliances, electrical, battery-operated items function properly? Are the tires in good shape? Do they need checked and filled? RV tires need to be replaced every three to five years, not only because of use, but because they disintegrate over time. If the RV has been stored, either on your property or in storage, it’s possible that the tires may have “puddled.” If you have slide-outs, make sure they work smoothly. Make sure the water and sewage tanks are working at their optimum performance. Considering renting or buying an RV? We’ve provided a list at the end of this story of area RV dealers that either offer rentals or RVs for purchase. There are resources galore online to learn about RVing, and many focus on beginners. It’s important to do some homework and read some resources before taking the step of being an RV renter or owner. Cabins, glamping tents and yurts are becoming more popular and trending in the industry. If you like the idea of being inside rather than in a tent, but don’t feel confident driving an RV, this is another option. You still need to be prepared. Not all properties provide all the indoor amenities, and most likely less this year than before. That means you should bring your own bedding, towels and other personal accoutrements. Whether you’re new to camping or a veteran camper, the mantra is, “Be prepared.” There’s nothing like getting out into the woods and finding out you forgot something. While many campgrounds offer a store for those things you may have forgotten, they are operating on a heightened awareness 30 • Allegheny West Magazine • Summer 2020level and their products may be limited. The more you are prepared, the better your own experience will be. Unless your campground is near stores, which is not always the case, you will be left to your own creativity and devices. So, make a list! Before getting on the road, fill your gas tanks, have plenty of food to avoid stopping in stores along the way, and bring your masks and hand sanitizer! RV parks and campgrounds are under state regulations, too, and have COVID rules in place. They will enforce them if you are a guest on their property. Choosing your camping experience For a purely outdoor “in the woods” experience, choose a campsite at a state or national park. For a park with more amenities, consider a private campground. This year will be very unusual at such properties due to COVID. Pools, spas, playgrounds and public spaces are, for the most part, closed. Activities and events that many campgrounds built their summer season around are either being curtailed or adjusted with very distinct social distancing guidelines. Depending upon the amenities and facilities, campgrounds vary widely in price. If you’re not the “tenting” type, some campgrounds offer cabins or yurts. This pares down the items you need to bring but also costs more. Visit campground websites to see what fits your needs. It’s a good idea (and fun!) to peruse and see each campground’s layout, amenities and vibe. We’ve provided a list of those here, adjacent to the article. Confirm before you go At the height of the pandemic in the spring, many RVers found themselves with nowhere to stay. Many states closed their parks and campgrounds, while private campgrounds were directed to be closed to travelers. National parks also shut down their campgrounds. This is exactly what happened to us. Our plans were to spend six weeks in Texas. We soon found ourselves with very few places to stay because states were closing parks. By mid-May, many states were loosening their stay-at-home orders. RV parks and campgrounds were starting to open. It’s still a fluid situation. Some camping organizations stepped up to the plate and created real-time updates for each state, showing what is opened and closed. They include Campendium and RV Life. Be sure to check that the place you are planning to visit or stay at is, indeed, open. It’s more imperative than ever to make reservations during these uncertain times. That not only assures you have a place to stay at your destination or along the way, but it also helps the campground owners, too. They’re taking inordinate steps to make sure their properties are clean, safe, and secure in light of the situation. CHECK YOUR LIST, CHECK YOUR HEALTH, CHECK THE WEATHER, CHECK EVERYTHING! BE PREPARED! That’s the key advice this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that Americans stay home and avoid nonessential travel. Americans should heed all official warnings and refer to the latest updates from the CDC and U.S. Department of State to help decrease the spread of COVID-19. Let’s stay camping and let’s stay safe! Download our app at awmagazine.com for a list of area RV rental resources. Bear Ridge Campground, Templeton, www.bearridgecampground.com Bear Run Campground, Portersville, www.bearruncampground.com Benner’s Meadow Run Camping and Cabins, Farmington, www.bennersmeadowrun.com Buttercup Woodlands Campground, Butler/Evans City, www.buttercup.org Donegal Campground, Donegal, www.donegalcampground.com Fox Den Acres Campground, New Stanton, www.foxdenacres.com Friendship Village Campground, Bedford, www.fvofb.com Gaslight Campground, Emlenton, www.gaslightcamping.com Hart’s Content Campground, Beaver County, www.hartscontentcampground.com Hickory Hollow Campground, Somerset, www.hickoryhollowcampground.com Indian Brave Campground, Harmony, www.indianbravecampground.net L&M Campground, Penn Run, www.lmcampground.com Lake Arthur Family Campground, Slippery Rock, www.lakearthurfamilycampground.net Madison/Pittsburgh KOA, Ruffs Dale, www.pittsburghkoa.com Mercer / Grove City KOA, Mercer County, www.koa.campgrounds/mercer/ Miller’s Campground, New Alexandria, www.millcamp.com Mountain Pines, Champion, www.mountainpinescamping.com Mountain Top Campground, Tarentum, www.mountaintopcampground.com Nautical Mile Campground and Marina, Templeton, 724-525-2988 Peaceful Valley Campground, West Sunbury, www.peacefulvalleycamp.com Pine Cove Beach Club and RV Park, Charleroi, www.pinecovebeachclub.com Pioneer Park, Somerset, www.pioneerparkcampground.com Roaring Run Resort, Champion, PA, www.roaringrunresort.com Rose Point Cabins and Camping, New Castle, www.rosepointpark.com RV Village Camping Resort, Mercer, www.rvvillages.com Scarlett Knob Campground, Ohiopyle, www.scarlettknobcampground.com Silver Canoe Campground, Rural Valley, www.silvercanoecampground.com Smith Grove Campground, Butler County, www.smithgrovecampground.com Uniontown KOA, Uniontown, www.koa.com/campgrounds/uniontown/ Washington/Pittsburgh South KOA, Washington, www.koa.com/campgrounds/washington-pittsburgh/ Wheel-in Campground, Shelocta, www.wheelincampground.net Woodland Campsites, Somerset, www.woodlandcampsites.com Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest, Harrisville, www.PittsburghJellystone.com Pennsylvania State Park Camping: www.dcnr.pa.gov: Raccoon Creek State Park, Moraine State Park, Laurel Hill State Park, Cook Forest State Park, Clear Creek State Park, Keystone State Park, Kooser State Park, Laurel Ridge State Park, Ohiopyle State Park, Oil Creek State Park, Pymatuning State Park, Ryerson Station State Park Where to camp this summer Camping opened in PA on May 1! 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