I would like to see longer camping seasons at NFS campgrounds. Many NFS camps close in early September. Lot's of us in various types of RVs (we use a truck camper) are self contained and love to camp well into the winter and have no need for campground amenities. We know tent campers that still want to camp in late fall and early winter and only need vault toilets and a hand pump for water. Why must they close so early.

I should think that would vary more with the local climate than anything. I surmise you're in New England (somewhere west of N.H., as I recall), whereas I'm on the temperate west coast (Oregon). Weather hereabouts usually remains quite good until about mid-October, when the rainy season (?!) begins, and things get a lot colder.

Most of the NFcgs hereabouts close by mid-September, some even earlier. Few are open before Memorial Day weekend. Phooey. Open 'em around April 1st (no foolin'!) and keep 'em open until mid-October, iffen you please. I really like camping in the NFs right after Labor Day, when the hordes have gone and I'm likely to have even some of the most developed cgs all to myself.

Used to be that at some cgs, especially in the Mt. Hood and Willamette (it's Wil-LAM-ette, damn it!) NFs, would cease garbage collection and outhouse cleaning, might even shut off the piped water if any, but allowed campers in for no fee, provided they cleaned up after themselves and hauled out their own garbage. Nowadays gates have been installed, and they're locked on the scheduled closing day--too early.

Just came across this topic and see that it hasn't been addressed in a while and wanted to put in my 2 cents worth. We do most of our traveling in the off season and often have a hard time finding Forest Service campgrounds that are open. Back when we started camping in the national forests, this was not a problem, but more and more campgrounds are being gated. I think there are a lot of us out there who would like to be able to use the campgrounds for dry camping before and after the traditional summer camping seasons. As was said, just leave it open and we will take the responsibility for getting ourselves in and out and cleaning up after ourselves.
Would even be willing to pay fees for off season use.....

Living in Texas and camping mostly in the southwest (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas as well as Texas) I generally try to avoid the heat of the summer. Just when the temperature starts getting reasonable the NF campgrounds start closing. Some even in September (Still to hot for me). I would like to see some campgrounds remain open into the winter. I enjoy winter camping and don't mind collecting water from streams and then purifying it.
It sure would be great to have some campsites open for a longer season even if there was no water.

People started trashing the campgrounds, stealing everything, and vandalizing everything they could'nt steal. So the FS put up gates. Sad, but that's the world we live in.

I just joined this forum to voice my desire for having the FS Campgrounds kept open longer. I just returned from a fall cross country trip, Fla-Cal-Fla by motor home. This followed a spring cross country trip; same destination, different route. We are retired, do not care to fight the summer crowds, heat, bugs, etc. Spring blooms and fall foliage are what we want to experence.

On both trips almost all NFCGs were closed!! Those that were open were crowded because others in the area were locked up. Just because the crowds were back home for school is no reason to lock others of us out of OUR parks. The COE is equally guilty. All I want is a fairly level site. I always register and pay my fee. If I carry it in, I can carry it out (trash,etc). Many of us who want "Off Season" availability are self contained. What use are the facilities if they are closed 75% of the time?

You all have given me an idea for another "report" - Campgrounds open late or year round." To be published after we get home in the Camping with Suzi section of the website. Sound good?

As to my two cents - I've noticed more and more campgrounds say they close when concessionaire departs but you need to check with the Forest folks. Often the Forest will have the less developed campgrounds, sans hookups and piped water, open for hunters to use well beyond Labor Day. As self contained campers, we can always disperse camp in the national forest. - Suzi

A thought and an example. Here is a FS campground with pit toilets, water spigots and garbage collection. The FS locks the gate, winterizes the water system, cancels garbage and locks the doors to the pit toilets November 1st. Why not at least keep the gate open for 30 more days with a big sign indicating that everything is buttoned up. Allow us self contained units to use the table and fire pit for a little bit longer at the season end.

The FS personnel in our area are always driving around with not a lot to do (in the late fall). They could easily patrol our public improvements in the national forests.

I thought that most camp sites closed right before December. I would think that THAT would be a very reasonable time to close. September is a very odd time to close. You would think that Fall would the primary to camp. Throughout most of the country, the temperatures are pretty stable, not too cold and obviously not too warm.

For the most part, I think camp sites should determine when they close by looking at weather patterns. If bad weather is brewing, close the park earlier in the year. If good weather is to be expected, keep it open for those who are accustomed to all types of weather.