Campgrounds Open - or - Closed

[TheProfessor]

"At a news conference Tuesday, Sununu acknowledged that keeping campgrounds open is a major concern for local communities, whose residents fear it will encourage more out-of-staters to visit New Hampshire."


LINK

[Slickcraft]

Most RV campgrounds have a percentage of "seasonal" sites which are rented for the year and have semi-permanent RVs that sit there year round. We often take walks at Gunstock and I would guess that 25% to 30% of the total RV sites are such seasonal sites. When you add in all of the tenting sites then maybe the seasonal sites are about 10% to 15% of the total camp sites.

I could see treating these seasonal sites different than the rest of the day or week use sites. They are sort of like a downscale version of having a seasonal condo.

I am not advocating one way or the other, just making an observation.

[BrunoSR]

We have a seasonal site and are hoping to open on the May 15th. We are planning on it as our home is under going some construction work which starts right after that. We'd really like to get out from under foot of the workers. If campgrounds keep common areas and bath houses closed, we should be fine. Seasonal site folks don't use them.

Now we are also hoping marinas do the same thing. Hoping to get the boat in the water this weekend. But if we don't have a slip, no point to launch the boat. I have winter storage with the same folks that rent me a slip so hopefully they have figured this out.

By the way, we live, work and play in New Hampshire.

[AB_Monterey]

The latest is that private campground may be able to open because they are able to restrict out of staters from coming. State owned camps will not be open because they cannot restrict out of staters legally because of the interstate commerce clause.

[searay]

Seasonal renters should be allowed to use their camps. Hopefully the governor will lift stay at home orders by 5/18. It will be a difficult summer for many businesses if they don't eventually open the state. How do you suppose they will survive? We need to keep CDC guidelines in place and if a campground can do that then they should be allowed to open.

[fatlazyless]

www.recreation.gov

As I recall, the White Mountain National Forest has about 23 different campgrounds spread across its mountain forest that cost something like twenty dollars/night for a camp site. Because it is federal property, under the direction of the US Forest Service, Dept of Agriculture, it does not have the NH-9% rental tax similar to state-NH or private-NH campgrounds.

It's decision to open or close is probably its own US Forest Service decision made separate from the NH government decision and it's a little difficult to determine, but it appears that all Forest Service campgrounds are closed for now, till further notice.

[fatlazyless]

The 23 different US Forest Service campgrounds in the White Mountain National Forest are all seasonal and typically do not open until May 22.

Unlike the State of NH and private campgrounds, you do not get hit with the NH-9% rental tax when staying at a $20 or $25/night campground in the WMNF.

There are no utility hook-ups like water, sewer, or electricity in any of these Forest Service campgrounds so you can become one with nature. .....

[rsmlp]

Given that the NE is a C-19 hot spot (with the notable exception of NH/VT) AND given that most visitors come from the aforementioned hot spots it seems imprudent to open campgrounds and literally invite Covid into the state. I DO realize this is a controversial position but it buggers belief that NH will not see a spike this summer in cases.

[ApS]

My usual stopover in MA shows <5.

Five or less is very low (For Massachusetts).

https://boston-cbslocal-com.cdn.ampp...ssachusetts%2F

[SailinAway]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

There are no utility hook-ups like water, sewer, or electricity in any of these Forest Service campgrounds so you can become one with nature.

And that's exactly the problem: lack of sanitation at WMNF campgrounds. They basically have third-world hygiene. Most have dry toilets with no running water in them. At the best of times you take your life in your hands when you go in them. By August they stink to high heaven a hundred feet around. There's no way for campground staff to safely clean those toilets without running water, which also puts staff at risk. Many hosts are low-income elderly people. Without running water, campers are also unshowered. A campground could have 200 unclean people, many of them from Massachusetts, using a couple of toilets.

Those campgrounds should remain closed. If lodging remains closed, the White Mountain campgrounds will be overflowing with people even worse than usual.

[SailinAway]

Originally Posted by rsmlp

Given that the NE is a C-19 hot spot (with the notable exception of NH/VT) AND given that most visitors come from the aforementioned hot spots it seems imprudent to open campgrounds and literally invite Covid into the state. I DO realize this is a controversial position but it buggers belief that NH will not see a spike this summer in cases.

I don't think it's a controversial position. If the beaches were closed for that very reason, then campgrounds should be closed. One problem with tourists is that they stop at New Hampshire grocery stores on their way up 93. Most Market Baskets are along 93, including Tilton. They HAVE to stop for groceries, since restaurants are closed.

[searay]

Well finally the governor and his comrades have made a decision that makes sense to open campgrounds to seasonal campers. Marinas should jump on this and allow their members to use their clubs. I still don't understand the golf courses but at least there is hope for NH residents and members. Let's hope that we get to 5/31 and all of these restrictions are lifted and we all abide by CDC guidelines.