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Looking to go camping in America with the wife and 5 year old In next years Easter school holiday(April). Does anyone know if there is an equivalent of Eurocamp/canvas in France in the US? As we will be flying we won’t be able to take bedding, cooking implements. We had thought of a motor home but wife isn’t too keen.
You sleep in a Walmart caprparks overnight in a motorhome.
As for camping - I suspect this will alter state-by-state.
Going camp in Trump's right wing homophobic America? Even with your beard and kids as a disguise that ain't to go well!
KOA!
Dammit, that's James Brown in my head for the next six hours. 🙂
You can tell your wife you'd be better off in an RV, IMO.
Does anyone know if there is an equivalent of Eurocamp/canvas in France in the US?
There's KOA but I don't think they supply bedding. They are also mostly a bit dingy (with a few exceptions) and more like a French site without the ameneties.
Honestly though I'd buy my kit when I get there. Sleeping bags will cost you $10 each in Walmart, and a tent could be had for not much more. You could stay in State or National parks which is by far the best way to camp, and pay for your gear with the money you'd save against paying for a 'better' site. When you're done either ship it home or drop it off at a Goodwill.
State or National parks, particularly out West, are usually in forests with lakes, you get a big dirt area, a fire circle and a picnic table. Most are near amenities like towns with shops etc, it's a popular passtime so it's well supported.
We fly over there with camping gear, but we borrow mattresses, some sleeping bags and camp chairs. We bought a small decent (Marmot) 4p tent which we take with us (they are cheaper over there) and we use a tarp with two long poles for shade but it's not always needed. Plenty of places to buy camping stuff from REI at the top end to Walmart at the lower end.
Renting an RV on the other hand will cost you many thousands.
One more thing - watch where you go in April. Out West lots of places will still be cold - most of the headline places people want to go (Yosemite, Yellowstone etc) can still have snow and lots of it. We went to Yellowstone in September and we were (or at least my wife was) freezing, got snowed on.
Where were you thinking of camping in the states?
I'd be inclined to buy kit on landing and use that then leave it there.
REI also rents gear, but might be cheaper to buy depending on how long you are staying or how much kit you need.
Take the thousands you'd spend on an RV and spend it in REI instead. Best shop ever.
We flew for a driving/camping trip for our honeymoon. my carry-on: all my clothes, Her carry-on and checked luggage: all her clothes. My checked luggage: all the camping gear: 3 man tent, hammock, cooking and eating set, bedding.
Worked fine, presumably with your 5 year old you'll get another full whack of checked luggage? It'll be bulky, but if it's all in wheelie bags, you won't have to carry it far, just roll down to the car rental lot and pack it all in. Don't really need chairs as a lot of campsites (in our experience) had fire pits, benches and tables.
Edit: we did stock up on a few things in a camping store in Vegas, gas for the stove was top of the list! Got a cheapy cool box which we donated at the end of the trips.
And 2 week's worth of holiday booze (buying in Vegas, going to Utah) Worked out 2 weeks' worth of post drive beers, post hike/bike ride beers, bottles of wine for meals, rum for rum and coke in case we fancied that. cashier said "wow, you guys having a party!?" Didn't feel like telling her it was all for us, so we just laughed and said yes.
You can also buy another checked 23kg bag for not too much, which isn't a bad way to get your kit home - cheaper and easier than shipping it I think. So you could bring the kit home that you buy.
Yep you absolutely can take your gear with you or just buy stuff there if you are going for 2 weeks. We regularly take tent, pads, sleeping bags, cooking gear, foldable plates and cutlery and enough clothes. Most National Parks have at least one campground with laundry. We've bought pillows and cool boxes and left them at larger campsites.
As said your biggest issue will be the cold / snow and road closures if you are thinking of the big western sites. Alternatives with a 5 yr old are the Pacific coast around San Fran including the Monterey Aquarium, the Smokey Mountains area including Dollywood (lots of attractions for families in that area) or Florida beaches (camp on the keys and look for shells).
Edited to add, look at both national parks and state parks and national parks, and if you head west, blm. most sites are on nps or recreation.gov.