I think we’d be more likely do the minivan camp mix trip (some campgrounds, some hotels / airbnb) if my Odyssey were newer. It only has 100,000 miles, but it’s a 2006 and has not been up in the mountains for a few years.
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Another option is “camping cabins” (campsite, structure with beds - bring your own sleeping bag; usually no bathroom).
Examples I know about:
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In Custer SD near Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse - $55/night (not a bad deal when just a campsite these days can be pricey).
https://gfp.sd.gov/camping-cabins/ -
KOA chan has camping cabins, usually pricier I think. Sometimes communal kitchen area.
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Steamboat state park in CO has yurts.
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Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins as camping cabins $90/night (and maybe discount off season?) - great view, but you have to carry your stuff downstairs from parking lot. Shared outhouse.
The trick is that often the reservations for this kind of thing fill up quickly. We never seem to be able to plan local things far ahead, since we concentrate on planning our distant travels.
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Glad to hear others have thought of this actual car camping idea and it’s not totally off the wall, LOL!
We have a Honda Pilot and while my hub is quite tall I think we could fit if the seats out down!
Colorado_mom - that picture of the RV on Trailridge Road makes me sweat just looking at it!
We have done cabin camping a number of times and I love it! So much easier than tent. The trick is (as you said) to find those affordable, not-yet-reserved spots. We usually book a year ahead for ours.
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My D and SIL rent a cabin for two weeks at a Boy Scout camp that has a Family Camping area. SIL has been going there since he was a Scout himself, and then spent summers running the waterfront while in college. The cabin has shower and toilet, fridge, and range. They have a nice outdoor area, not too close to other cabins, and can bring their dog along. The lake is nearby, with all kinds of boating available–rowboats, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, etc. The campground runs group activities in the evening. They know the families that rent during their two weeks, and the kids have become a pack that wander from one campsite to another. Families take turns hosting bonfires at night. It’s such a perfect combination of outdoors with some amenities. They do have a tent and tent camp at times, but the cabin is a great experience for their family.
They do reserve a year in advance each year, to hold the time and particular cabin they want.
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We have a Honda Pilot too, and when I moved my D22 back into the dorms, I took a Twin XL mattress home with me (she spent a summer session living in a frat house and didn’t need the mattress anymore). It laid flat with another 18 inches or so to spare. Pretty sure a full size mattress would fit in it. I say all the time that we could live in our Pilot. Maybe we’ll give car camping a go!
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We rented an RV about 20 years ago through some kind of company that rented individual owner’s RVs. Not the 1 800 etc you see on the road. It was fine, although there was a bit of challenge getting to the RV lot. interesting that this is considered a “new” idea.
I camped at the Grand Canyon in a tent with my son a few years ago. I met a couple who were sleeping in the Toyota minivan as the camp site. The wife said it was fine. I actually rented a car that was big enough that we could sleep in it if necessary. We then went on to Flagstaff where we, luckily, rented a KOA cabin for a night because it poured rain which turned into wet snow. Was nice to have heat and be able to move around rather than being stuck in our little tent.
Considered renting For me, having only a van would not be a good choice if in a possibly rainy area. Having to sit in the car’s seats to eat and chill out is not that appealing. Sleeping in such tight quarters would be tough and DH has some mobility issues that would make it tough.
At this point, renting seems to be the best option for us. Have to figure out the RV best suited to comfort and being able to drive places we want to go.
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Gift link, although you may have to register:
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I have toyed frequently with the idea of a Roadtrek. They are the size of full-size vans - we have a conversion van and have used it to camp, as it has an electric fold-down seat in the way back that becomes a double bed. But our current van has no other camping/living accoutrements. The Roadtreks (and others of their ilk) are fully kitted out.
Upside: maneuverability is the same as any consumer van. Everything is self-contained.
Downside: very expensive, and you have to take your house with you every place you go, which some dislike. Though turtles seem to have no complaints.
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I have read at least one article asking retirees about the purchases in retirement that they regretted the most. If I’m not mistaken, RVs are high on the list. We know one couple that uses theirs about four or five months a year, but they would rent out their place when they were away and this was part of their income.
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I can see this. We’ve been camping for at least 20 years and started in a tent. We borrowed a pop up a few times and rented an RV. We bought our first used travel trailer in 2017. My H is extremely handy which I think necessary for this lifestyle.
I see so many RV’s for sale that were obviously used only a handful of times. There are so many factors that must be considered, but I think people get caught up in the idea of it.
Friends of ours who camp once a year in a tent at a group camping trip we have every year ( about 20 minutes from their house) are talking about selling it all and going on the road. They are so wrapped up in the idea of buying a new shiny RV that they aren’t seeing the big picture.
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Although we loved our pop-up tent camper years with the kids (sold during the college years), we’ve not considered purchasing another RV. However, if we did… it would likely be one of the new-ish used ones that has depreciated. (The down side there of course is lack of initial warranty perks)
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RVs are high on the list no matter where one is in their employment trajectory. This applies to boats too, but it’s very common for people to say that the happiest days of an RV owner’s life are the day they buy it and the day they sell it. 
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We had some friends who were thinking of doing the whole RV in their retirement. They decided to do a test run, but they decided against it. The husband is over 6 ft tall and quite big (not fat, but a big muscular guy) and he said he felt way too confined in an RV…
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So smart to figure that out prior to a splurgy purchase!
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Very smart to try an extended rental before any large purchase, when possible.
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