Full Time RVer

We try our best to say positive things about state parks in general. It’s a tough job in times of tight budgeting–the legislature stands ready with the ax, and park administrators are stuck trying to keep “body and soul together.” The sad part is that at times, the RVing camping public is the one that gets caught in the middle. Here’s another case of what may amount to some as something akin to double taxation.

Imagine you’re pulling into one of Colorado’s wonderful state parks. You’re in your motorcoach, and behind you on the tow bar is your faithful toad. You know you’ll be stuck paying that cussed $8.00 per day entry fee, but when the toll booth attendant says, “That’ll be $16,” you begin to feel your face flush. Sixteen dollars? Absolutely: Colorado charges an entry fee for your motorhome–and your toad.

If this isn’t frustrating enough for the motorcoaching fulltimer, imagine the flame-out that will come when he learns the guy who checked in just ahead of him–the one pulling the fifth wheel with his pickup truck, only had to pay $8 for his entry fee. Yeah, we’re all looking for equitable treatment, but it appears you aren’t going to necessarily find it in the Centenial State.

The examiner.com recently looked the situation over, and RV writer Keith Bennett called parks officials on the matter. The told Bennett that something was in the works to try and balance things out, but the bottom line was, it certainly wouldn’t happen this travel season.  Sadly, this isn’t a new problem. We wrote about this same issue back in 2007, and we too, interviewed state park officials who gave us an interesting scenario about how you might “get around” the problem–including backing your motorhome into your camp site with the toad hitched to it. To add insult to injury, back in 2007 this same motorhome and toad scenario would have only cost you $14. Ah, the woes of inflation.

With the economy still in bed with chills, don’t bet you’ll see much relief next year, either.