Camp Scholler advice

Eric,

I suppose it all depends on what your definition of "decent spot" and "awful spot" might be.  But, first of all, the basics.  Even if you don't arrive until Monday or Tuesday, I can say with pretty good reliability that there will still be plenty of sites available.  To my knowledge, Camp Scholler has never completely filled up with no remaining sites.  I say that with the exception of SLOshKosh2010 and the onslaught of rain that left a lot of sites un-usuable.  Aside from that, I believe there have always been sites available regardless of arrival dates.

Now, as to "decent sites" as opposed to "awful sites", I'm sure there is no guarantee that you'll find an available site right up close and personal to the gate entries into AirVenture.  More than likely, you're gonna have a good little poke to the gates.  But, then again, you just might get lucky and find something opened up fairly nearby.  Not to worry though.  The shuttle transportation is really excellent, so that even the far away sites are still close by to the bus stop locations and they run every few minutes.

We didn't stay at Camp Scholler last year (I made a bad decision to try something different which I won't make again), but in 2009 we arrived at Camp Scholler on Sunday afternoon and had a very nice shaded spot quite near to the Fly-in Theater (27th. and Lindberg if you look on the map).  There were a few available sites nearby where we were located still on Monday and even in to early Tuesday.

Good luck and have a great AirVenture.  You're going to love returning after a 15-year time away.  Welcome home.

Russ

Eric,

I'll echo Russ' comments, if you mean a decent spot is a piece of grass to set up, then yes, you'll receive a decent spot. If you want one under the trees and close to the gate, nope, not one Monday or Tuesday. However, I've noticed that people up front start moving out Wed & Thursday so if you wait until later in the week, you might get a closer spot than 1st Ave (closest to the highway).

If you do end up near the highway, I recommend bringing a bike, especially if you are bringing kids. We've been camping on 11th or 12th street for the last couple of years and the bikes have been invaluable. There are plenty of places to chain up your bike near the gates. You can't take the bike onto the convention grounds. Last year was a little rough riding with all the mud but after a few days everything returned back to the hard backed dirt. Most mornings I was able to ride from 12th St. to KidVenture in abotu 15 mintues. Much quicker than if I had waited for the bus. Oh yeah, there is also bus service to the main gate, but the buses are always crowded.

Good luck, see you in Scholler.

Laura

Russ & Laura, thanks for the tips.  I'm not exactly sure what I mean by a decent spot right now.  I guess as long as we're not miserable, that's a decent spot.  :-)  

I suspect that we'll be among those who leave mid-week too.  This will be my girlfriend's first real exposure to GA and I suspect that we'll both reach our saturation point.  She's also being incredibly sweet in indulging me with this trip, so I'm going to try not to overdo it.  We make some side trips off site to break up the intensity of all airplanes-all the time, and probably play the whole trip by ear.

Anyway, I appreciate the advice, and we're looking forward to the trip!

You should be able to get a decent spot, no problem. Even out toward the highway, there is a pretty new shower house, so it's not a long walk wherever you are in the camp. The showers are also improved over what you saw that long ago. The busses circulate continuously, so the wait isn't too bad, although the ride can exceed 10 minutes depending on where you get on the route. The comment above on the bike is accurate.

As far as off-site, I think you miss the whole atmosphere. The outdoor movie theater is something new to you, and great fun in the evenings. It's a huge screen and great sound system. Bring a chair or blanket for the grass.

Not to think in stereotypes, but if your girlfriend likes shopping, there is an outlet mall on the west access road across from the field. I got a great Columbia winter coat for $80 that had been three times that, that I've been wearing for years.

The show prices are certainly higher now, and many criticize the event for being too commercial, but to the credit of EAA, at least they do make improvements every year. You're gonna get hooked all over again.

Far cheaper but no showers, there is a camp site right out side the gate by the ultralight barn.  Very close, short walk, I have camped there, but as I said there are no amenities.  Larry

There's usually plenty of great places to camp no matter what time you get up there.   I've found that even if you get up there Wednesday or Thursday nights there's plenty of spots that open up if campers just stay the first couple days.   I usually get up there the Friday before so that I can get my "usual" spot.   If you do happen to get a spot that's pretty far away from the airfield you can bring a bicycle to make short work of the distance...I think you can even rent bikes, but I'm not positive.

Best of luck !

Scott

Russ,

You mentioned camping near 27th & Lindberg. The map online doesn't have any scale to it. As a first time attendee, how far is it to the show from where you camp?

I see areas on the map for 24 hour generators. Are there areas for generators with quite hours?

Also would you advise arriving on Sunday or Monday?

Thanks,

Don

On the AirVenture website it states..... "Only one tent or camper and one vehicle per 20' x 30' site allowed."

For those of you that have been there before, does this mean I can park my 38' motor home and my towed Ranger pickup on the site?

If the sites are only 30' lone, where do they park the larger motor homes?

Thanks,

Don

Don,

From 27th. and Lindbergh to the main admission gate is roughly a 10-minute walk, depending one's pace.  A good fast walker may make it in 7 or 8 minutes though, I'd guess.  I'm attaching a .jpg file that is an aerial picture of the general area along the path to the main gate.  You can see 27th. and Lindbergh which you take north to Schaick Rd. (a one minute walk), turn right and head east on Schaick Rd. to Forest Home Ave. (approx. a 5-minute walk).  Turn left and head north on Forest Home Ave. til the first street past Howard Ave. (a 3-minute walk) then turn right and the main admission gate to AirVenture is right there.

Generators: The 24-hour generator area is a designated area where people can run their generators at any time without restriction.  Any area other than the 24-hour generator area does have limitations as to the hours generators can be run. So yes, there are "quiet hours" in all other areas.

I've got to think for a minute about which day is best to arrive.   For me, it's always been the very first day I could get there. LOL.  I've arrived on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays before AirVenture, mid-week, and final weekend.  For me, if I could possibly arrive on Sunday, I certainly wouldn't wait until Monday to show up, because I always want to be there ASAP, the earlier the better.  But, if I had to pick which day would probably be a little less busy, say Sunday afternoon or evening, or Monday morning, I'm guessing Monday morning might be a little less busy than say Sunday evening would be.  Just a guess though.  

Hope that helps.

Russ

Thanks Russ, If my schedule allows I'll plan on getting there early Sunday afternoon.

Thanks again,

Don

Well... it looks like my trip isn't going to happen after all.  I can't find a popup to rent to tow, and everything available to rent in the OSH area was becoming prohibitively expensive.  The dorms aren't going to be a good option for us, so I think I'm going to try to plan ahead better for next year, and maybe just buy my own trailer.

Is tent camping an option for you?

Frankly, I would suggest anyone arriving later than thur/fri before opening bring a bike, unless you really enjoy walking. I normally get a spot at the 50th street range (arrive wed. before), near the backstop hill. Last year I was way up by the south africa people, and my spot was still wet!

Most of the streets in the 50 range were already taken. I don't know if that was due to the rain, or because of the electric sites. Hopefully things will be much better this year!

Neither my girlfriend or I enjoy tent camping very much.  Even if I could talk her into it, we'd likely have to buy enough stuff that the cost will still be prohibitive.

Instead we've planned a trip to DC, Philadelphia, and Virginia Beach, staying 3 nights in a bed & breakfast near the beach.   I've already vowed to plan ahead better for OSH next year, possibly buying my own popup.  If that happens we may stay most of the week and volunteer most of the time.

I've missed the last couple, but before that had three great experiences going to people's homes.

Most of them gave me breakfast and sometimes ferried me to the gate!  OSH citizens are hospitable and pleasant.

I've had bus drivers take me home!

I was paying $50, so it would cost like a nice motel, but is very pleasant!

Get a few recommendations from the show people.

Wilson

I tent camp each year, and that B&B on the east coast sounds waaaaaay more expensive than camping gear. This camping is not at all "rough". The tent will be on grass, so the floor is not hard. Temps can be 50s to 90s, but most common is upper 70s-lower 80s. There is a great grocery store a mile away, where we shop after we set up camp, as well as on-field stores. I just haven't found tent camping uncomfortable there. I've camped in a tent in sub-zero, so I think I have experienced uncomfortable camping!

One other idea regarding the pop-up. What about picking one up along the route 100-150 miles from OSH? That way you won't have to tow it far, and will probably have at least two fewer days rental on it.

last year me and my buddies got there on Wednesday evening and found a nice spot kitty corner from the SOS bros. beer tent, excellent place to stay up late and meet the party crowd.

3 nights at the B&B is less than $500, and includes gourmet breakfast, free bicycle usage & other cool stuff.  The other nights on that trip we'll stay in 3 and 4 star hotels using credit card rewards points.  The total cost for the trip will be less than $1000 total.  The total cost for the trip to OSH was getting to be over $2000, and mostly fun only for me.  (GF later told me that she thought she'd spend most of her time sunbathing and relaxing back at the the camp.  Kinda defeats the point of a vacation together.)

I looked into renting a popup on the way, but couldn't find one that worked out logistically for us, and even the ones I could find to rent were more than we wanted to spend.

I understand that, as camping goes, camping at OSH is not really roughing it, but it's rougher than either of us would enjoy.  I might do it, but I wouldn't enjoy it, and she won't do it anyway, so that discussion ends there.

Next year I'll get ahead of the game and figure out the logistics and planning and budget ahead of time so that the trip makes sense.