Oshkosh camping
Posted by Commercial_Phrase867@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 23 comments

Hey guys! I won weekly tickets to Oshkosh this year! I’m really excited but there are two issues I’m facing:
-
I have the money to drive there and eat food the whole week but not enough for a hotel
-
I was planning on sleeping in my car and showering at a local planet fitness but before I resort to that:
I’d like to know if I need to reserve car camping in advance or if I do it after I get there. It’ll be me in a Corolla and I can bring a camping tent as well.
I’m looking on the EAA website and it says $39/week for a basic site and $95 for advanced but it doesn’t show an option to reserve it in advance.
If all else fails, I’ll sleep in a well-lit parking lot and park in my car but I’d rather camp. I’m just making sure I understand this EAA page correctly. Thanks!
n108bg@reddit
It's $35 a day, not a week. I've yet to run into a time when they tell people "no camping we are out of ground". They have a massive area for camping.
Be practiced and prepared for the following scenarios: -it is midnight, 100% humidity and 80 degrees outside. -its evening time and your EAA app goes off about weather. the sky to the west looks like God has put on Darude Sandstorm. -The ground around your campsite gets muddy.
I'm going to hit you with some general recommendations, some won't apply directly to you but might help someone else here.
Here are my recommendations from being there, camping, air venturing and existing in general: -dont be afraid to drive a bit for a good campsite. Look for stuff under trees and in relative high grounds, but also check out the Camp Scholler Map and position yourself near amenities like the showers and toilets that flush if possible. If you see mud, run! -The showers are communal. You will see old man ass. Be prepared. -Look up the event schedule, as a camper there's lots of after hour events, movies, etc. There is also a gift shop with previous years apparel and items so you can pretend you've gone for the last few years in just one visit. -Look up the event schedule, attending AirVenture, there are lots of seminars about building planes, flying planes, etc. the FAA also has a hypoxia simulator you can try out! -On that note, Wednesday and Saturday are the night airshow so be prepared for a massive traffic jam afterwards. -get a GOOD cooler. Something you don't have to constantly replenish with ice, or better, get a fridge you can run off your car battery and a solar panel. Fill it with bottled water and ice if applicable. Be prepared to repeat, you can get more ice easy. Store in shade NOT IN YOUR CAR. Your car is a solar oven. -pack stuff you can immerse in water, or in a way you can immerse in water. No one wants to go through the mental conundrum of "can I recover the waterlogged bacon, American cheese slices and sandwich meat from the cooler with week old water and eggs in it?" At the end of their camping experience. -There are local grocery stores. Don't be afraid to go if you need to, but do think ahead, it's sort of a hassle. The red barn also is a grocery store, prices are good but don't count on them having everything -If you are thinking budget, think warm weather portability. Sandwiches, cereal, fruit, etc. They have food on site, but I wouldn't call the prices competitive. If you don't care then go ham 💅 . Lots of folks go way above and beyond and will have whole camp kitchens going. -Get ready for a days hike. A CamelBak is a lifesaver out there, and occasionally you see a water buffalo trailer. Good shoes are a plus. At a minimum grab a backpack with a Gatorade or 2, some waters, and some ibuprofen/nonprescription regulated pain reliever of your choice, and sunscreen! -Drink! Water, drink water. Nothing fucks up your day like a dehydration headache. If you're doing a lot of walking, do a lot of drinking. If you get back to your car and still have waters in your bag, slap yourself and chug them! -there is a beer tent, it's not directly affiliated with the EAA. drink responsibly or not at all. - AC is love, AC is life. Figure out spots with AC early and return to them frequently. Air venture gets hot. -Buses! Get Acquainted with them, use them. sometimes they have AC, sometimes they can take you to places that have AC. Later half rings true for the trams, which are tractors towing cars with seats. At a minimum it can knock your step count down, which is good because if you don't get your steps in on your Fitbit you are probably in a wheelchair or dead. -If you can't find AC, find a fan. Battery fans are cheap and prolific, get one at your local Walmart or online vendor before the show. The bigger ones are also great for sleeping. -The EAA museum is included in your ticket. If you think you have seen everything go there. They also have AC. -As a general rule don't touch the planes. Or the people. Unless they say otherwise. Seriously though, most of the aircraft are someone's multi-year project, constant source of wallet depletion, or a current or former military asset, treat them as such. -Get a pair of rain boots. Mud is not fun. Walking through a lot of mud in tennis shoes is really not fun. Hopefully you don't have to use them. -be prepared for contingency plans with your tent. I have a cabin tent because I glamp, so I use these screw-in stakes because I would rather not have an NTSB report on my tent, but I would generally recommend them or something similar if you don't want to lay on your tent to prevent it from taking off. The ground gets muddy and the wind gets windy, don't count on the stock stakes to hold. I also bring a secondary tent because you don't want to go home early. -Vacuum bags with a hand pump. Get them. Not only are they good for individually packing and storing your wardrobes, it also doubles as a sump pump to remove water from your tent. Ask me how I know! -On the note of tent flooding, get off the ground. Air mattress, cot, etc. -A cheap-assed bike can make a world of difference at the start and end of the day. A used Walmart special mountain bike can turn the start of your day from waiting for a bus or walking to just going, and makes resupply runs to your car a lot easier. There's plenty of social security from people walking around so get a basic bitch bike lock to make sure no one walks off with your unsecured bike. -you are at the world's busiest airshow. You will hear planes, from as soon as someone will let them take off in the morning til as soon as they close the airspace at night. If you stop hearing planes midday something terrible has happened, check the news. But above all, don't count on quiet.
Most importantly, be social. The people at the campsite are enthusiastic and friendly from every encounter I've had, and it can make your life a lot better to be invited to the local bonfire/grill-out/breakfast/etc.
-Aces_High-@reddit
You mentioned ice is easy to come by, do you have any experience with the plane campsite? Want to load up on sandwich meat in a cooler for 2 nights basically.
n108bg@reddit
Unfortunately i don't have fly-in experience for Oshkosh, though I camp out of my plane once or twice a year. The weather crapped out on me in 23 and after that year i opted to drive in. I do know they have busses for the north and south 40 that will get you to the showgrounds and you can walk to the red one markets from there. There should be courtesy cars around to help you as well.
That being said, if you're just staying 2 nights (the minimum is 3 btw, they aren't going to handcuff your plane to the ground but they will charge you), i'd probably just get a decent cooler that can handle a 24 pack of water, freeze some bottles, and load the rest up with beverages of your choice, sandwich meat, and milk if you want cereal. Or just plan to eat on site, that winds up being an expensive sandwich once you buy and transport ice.
Out of curiosity, what are you flying in?
Tryns@reddit
This dude OshKosh's. Swing by my site for a beer sometime.
n108bg@reddit
Thanks for the heads up! I got a ThermaCELL for the occasion. See you at KOSH!
SelectAirline7459@reddit
When all the people get there, the mosquitoes have to spread out to get to everyone. So once it’s busy, you’ll only be assigned one or two mosquitoes.
SonexBuilder@reddit
That was an awesome explanation!
Commercial_Phrase867@reddit (OP)
Dude I appreciate this response so much! Money’s a little tight but I’ll try to grab the things you said like mud boots and an air mattress. My sscondary tent will likely end up just being my car.
Question - can I leave the airport in my car for food and expect to still have my space when I come back?
n108bg@reddit
On the campgrounds, yeah, just leave something to signify you're still there. Tent will work perfect for that.
geo38@reddit
It's $39/day not week. Three day minimum. You also have to be an EAA member ($40, I think). That's what "member price" means.
There will almost certainly be plenty of camping; there have been the past two years after adding huge areas south of the airport. But, these areas are FAR away. Bring a bike. and lock.
tomdarch@reddit
I haven't camped there yet, but when I brought it up at my EAA chapter meeting the response involved "Oh, yeah, last year the South Africans had a pool in addition to the bar at their compound..." So it very much does sound like "an experience."
Commercial_Phrase867@reddit (OP)
Thanks! I realized after I posted that it’s per day but that’s still miles cheaper than a hotel so that works.
flyingron@reddit
And you can get a space. All the hotels in the Oshkosh environs have been sold out since last year. You could commute in from Green Bay or the like but it isn't the same as being there.
You can go shower at Planet Fitness, but they have showers at the campground (getting better as time goes on). Of course, in years past I was known to go fly up to Brennard or Clintonville to shower :)
geo38@reddit
Enjoy!
geo38@reddit
yes, camping at Oshkosh is an experience. There are lots and lots of people. It can be a lot of fun.
Bring water, bring mosquito repellant - lots of it. Bring sunscreen.
No-Celebration8588@reddit
There’s shower houses throughout Camp Scholler and they’re usually pretty decent. Camping fills up early, but then ebbs & flows throughout the week. There is a tent only area, but it fills up so you may not be able to set up there. WARNING: Do not set your tent up in a ditch. I’ve seen it and those guys do great until the inevitable storm comes through. Believe it or not, a tent will float for a short while, then it becomes a submersible.
HangarLolo@reddit
We got a hotel. Highly recommend.
Mountain-Captain-396@reddit
You don't have to pre-register and they generally have space for everybody, its just that the later you get there the further away your camping spot is going to be.
Commercial_Phrase867@reddit (OP)
Sounds great! And I just pay when I get there? In a car? Again, just making sure I know what I’m doing before I drive 1,000 miles.
Thanks for the help.
geo38@reddit
Yes, approach the airport from the south using the 26/I-41ALT exit off of I41. There will be an "EAA Camping" sign to turn left (north) onto Poberenzy Rd which parallels the Interstate.
Follow signs to a right turn for camper checkin. You'll be marshalled to park. You can get out and wait in line at the booth to buy your tickets. Then you get to hunt for a camping spot. Hint, turn south.
Mountain-Captain-396@reddit
I'm not quite sure how it works by car as I've only flown in before, but I would imagine that would be the case. That is how it worked for airplane parking.
doorbell2021@reddit
There are showers on field for campers included in the price...but as noted, that is a daily, not weekly, charge.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hey guys! I won weekly tickets to Oshkosh this year! I’m really excited but there are two issues I’m facing:
I have the money to drive there and eat food the whole week but not enough for a hotel
I was planning on sleeping in my car and showering at a local planet fitness but before I resort to that:
I’d like to know if I need to reserve car camping in advance or if I do it after I get there. It’ll be me in a Corolla and I can bring a camping tent as well.
I’m looking on the EAA website and it says $39/week for a basic site and $95 for advanced but it doesn’t show an option to reserve it in advance.
If all else fails, I’ll sleep in a well-lit parking lot and park in my car but I’d rather camp. I’m just making sure I understand this EAA page correctly. Thanks!
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