First time camper at Oshkosh

[lstinthot]

We are planning a trip to Oshkosh this year. It will be our first time there. We are pulling a camper and need to have AC. We have a generator that can run it, does 24 hour generator sites fill up before opening day of the show? We plan on arriving Sunday 7/23. We wanted an electric/water site but could not believe we had to pay from today until the end of the show to reserve it. My guess is we will not get one of these sites if they sell out the week before the show and we do not show up till Sunday. Not sure I want to pay for a week we will not be there.

Thanks for any advice you could give a newbie

[CHICAGORANDY]

I'm not a camper, I'm one of the MANY nuts who booked a motel 50+ miles from Wittman for the week and will commute each day -lol

That said, the only way I know to secure a generator area camping site (your stated necessity) is to reserve it as soon as you can and pay the tithing.

The only other alternative I can offer is the website booking.com shows 3 or 4 motels in Green Bay with rooms available for a party of two for 7 days starting 7/23 for under/just about $500. I stayed at the Tower Motel ($444 for the week) a couple years ago and it was sufficient to my meager needs. Closer in translates to phenomenal high prices for a room.

[turtle]

Forget about the electric/water sites. The average person has a better chance of the Blue Angels personally inviting them and their family for an airplane ride, than to secure a serviced site. The EAA put them in so the rich folk with 50' motorhomes with his and hers matching golf carts don't have to be near the riffraff with their measly little 38' fifth wheels and no grey poupon.

Shouldn't be a problem getting a generator site on Sunday.

[FlyingRon]

Turtle is right. The hookups section require you to book in early. As for the rest of Scholler except in the Sloshkosh year, you just end up further away from the show the later you arrive. There's always room. The 24 hour generator area is the more remote area anyhow.

[robert l]

I thought the generator sites were first come first served and filled up quick. Of course, I have been wrong before, one time I think !
Last year we tent camped and I brought two deep cycle batteries, one for the 12 volt fan and one for my C-PAP.
Bob

[FlyingRon]

Years ago I think there was a patch of 24 hour generator spots closer in but when they started putting in the hookup area, the 24 hour area was shifted out towards the highway where there's less demand and more room.

[lstinthot]

Thanks for the replies. I guess the map might not be updated, it looks like the 24 hour generator stuff is near the hook up stuff. Maybe I am reading that wrong. I am ok with a little extra walk.

[1600vw]

When I went we stayed at what we call a quick-stop gas station. The parking lot was full of campers doing just what we were doing. We did not have showers in our camper but the quick-shop did. They had everything we needed. 15 miles or more before you get to OshKosh you will see campers EVERYWHERE. One can not describe it. Enjoy and I hope to go back someday. Next time it will be flying in. On my bucket list.

Tony

[FlyingRon]

Thanks for the replies. I guess the map might not be updated, it looks like the 24 hour generator stuff is near the hook up stuff. Maybe I am reading that wrong. I am ok with a little extra walk.

It starts from the most remote corner of the hookup area and runs west and south from there. It used to be smaller and up closer if I recall.

https://www.eaa.org/~/media/images/airventure/maps/av17_campschollermap.pdf

[mcdewey]

In the years that I've arrived early Sunday morning, the 24 hour generator area had lots of space, especially out by the south and west side. Also, note that Oshkosh is a destination for other folks besides airplane aficionados...it's a destination for the general RV public to hang out together, ride their trikes around, drink heavily, and take in a few airshows. It gets pretty crowded but their money helps subsidize our fun. :D I do my best to educate those I meet on the flight line and trolleys about aviation and try to avoid the attitude on one of the t-shirts I have, "Pilots...looking down on people since 1903." ;)

[rickatic]

We have used both the 24 hour generator sites and the electric/water sites in the past. Last year we reserved an e/w site on the Wednesday before the show opened and by Friday they were sold out. A check of available e/w sites this morning they show 502 still available...the newest section has no reservations yet...we bought a new toy hauler that holds enough water to last a week and has a 5500 watt generator so we will be camping elsewhere this year

[robert l]

We have used both the 24 hour generator sites and the electric/water sites in the past. Last year we reserved an e/w site on the Wednesday before the show opened and by Friday they were sold out. A check of available e/w sites this morning they show 502 still available...the newest section has no reservations yet...we bought a new toy hauler that holds enough water to last a week and has a 5500 watt generator so we will be camping elsewhere this year
rickatic, how do you check to see if E/W and 24 hr. generator sites are still available ?
Bob

[CHICAGORANDY]

robert1 - you log in here:

https://tix.extremetix.com/webtix/1693/memberlogin/

which takes you to detailed campsite maps for you to pick an area and specific campsite and also it shows you the total cost of the reservation from today's date.

[rickatic]

rickatic, how do you check to see if E/W and 24 hr. generator sites are still available ?
Bob


Just go to the Airventure 2017 lodging page and click on camping link...select purchase tickets...the choice of e/w sites or regular camping pops up...click on the e/w link and the maps of the four e/w sections pop up and when you hover over each section the number of sites for the section appear...click on the section to see which sites are still available...you need your member number to see this info...I just looked again and there are 500 still available...oops...Randy was quicker
























...

[Cary]

We are planning a trip to Oshkosh this year. It will be our first time there. We are pulling a camper and need to have AC. We have a generator that can run it, does 24 hour generator sites fill up before opening day of the show? We plan on arriving Sunday 7/23. We wanted an electric/water site but could not believe we had to pay from today until the end of the show to reserve it. My guess is we will not get one of these sites if they sell out the week before the show and we do not show up till Sunday. Not sure I want to pay for a week we will not be there.

Thanks for any advice you could give a newbie

Curious why you need AC? I'm admittedly somewhat of a wimp, but in the evenings I'm comfortable in my tent with my airplane, most nights, with just a fan running. Daytime is different, but I don't spend much time there in the daytime.

Cary

[robert l]

Thanks Rick and Randy, this is a feature I didn't know existed. Looks like quite a few in the E/W area but was only showing me one in regular camping for 7/11/17. It's possible I did something wrong, I have once before, I'll check back in later. And Cary, I carried a 12 volt fan and Deep Cycle battery last year and it worked well. But once, at least once, I'd like to do it up right, mini scooter and all.
Bob

[Cary]

Thanks Rick and Randy, this is a feature I didn't know existed. Looks like quite a few in the E/W area but was only showing me one in regular camping for 7/11/17. It's possible I did something wrong, I have once before, I'll check back in later. And Cary, I carried a 12 fan and Deep Cycle battery last year and it worked well. But once, at least once, I'd like to do it up right, mini scooter and all.
Bob

Well, you know that to do it up right, you have to fly in!:D

Cary

[rickatic]

...total of 492 e/w available as of right now...

[robert l]

Well, you know that to do it up right, you have to fly in!:D

Cary
That's our plan for next year, although we will have to bring "much less comfort" items. My friend has spent all his money on his Inst. and Comm. so this year Is out. We flew into SNF in 2015 and I swore I'd never have a tent I had to crawl into and out of again. Last year we drove from S.C. to AirVenture with as much comfort as we could pack into my truck! 9x13 tent, canopy, tables, chairs, coolers, gas stove, led lights, cots with self inflating mattress hand held Nav Com and Pandora on the Bose! I even bought two bicycles from Good Will. Had a great time then a storm demolished the canopy! But still, a great time !
Bob

[deftone]

We survive without AC and we are in a tent. We have one of those 13ftx13ft canopy shelter things that we put up to keep the tent in the shade, really helps keep things cool although we are rarely there during daylight hours anyway!

[rickatic]

...483 e/w sites available as of now...survive without a/c...not when I can easily have it...:cool:

[Cary]

That's our plan for next year, although we will have to bring "much less comfort" items. My friend has spent all his money on his Inst. and Comm. so this year Is out. We flew into SNF in 2015 and I swore I'd never have a tent I had to crawl into and out of again. Last year we drove from S.C. to AirVenture with as much comfort as we could pack into my truck! 9x3 tent, canopy, tables, chairs, coolers, gas stove, led lights, cots with self inflating mattress hand held Nav Com and Pandora on the Bose! I even bought two bicycles from Good Will. Had a great time then a storm demolished the canopy! But still, a great time !
Bob


We survive without AC and we are in a tent. We have one of those 13ftx13ft canopy shelter things that we put up to keep the tent in the shade, really helps keep things cool although we are rarely there during daylight hours anyway!

I am very definitely a "glamper", 4 person tent with vestibule, overhead fan, cots and mattresses, hot and cold water, toilet, stoves, tables, coffee makers, coolers, folding bicycle, rocking chair, hanging chair, etc., etc. It's a pain to unpack and repack, but for a week's stay, it's all worth it. The only additional requirement is a thick skin, because I do get a lot of ribbing. :)

Cary

[Juan Vargas]

I have read the Notam but does not seem to be clear if you can arrive on thursday the 20th and park the aircraft in the camping area. Does anybody know? Is it Friday the 21st the first day open for aircraft campers?

[Fred Stadler]

Juan,
The NOTAM only pertains to the period from 6 AM Friday, 7/21, through Noon on Monday, 7/31.

Quite a few aircraft do arrive in the General Aviation Camping area in the days before the NOTAM period (including planes flown by many volunteers). Note, however, that the NOTAM procedures are not in effect until 6 AM on July 21st, so you should use normal flight routes and communications with the OSH tower if you arrive before then. Feel free to rock your wings, but there will be no controllers at Fisk to watch. Also, OSH Ground Control will direct you on the taxiways. Volunteers who are doing final preparation of the camping areas will then direct you where to park after you are within the turf area.

[FlyingRon]

I always arrive before the NOTAM. The NOTAM only covers the air and the movement areas. We've got guys in Vintage NOW, just had a telecon with the chairmen last night.

[dougbush]

I am very definitely a "glamper", 4 person tent with vestibule, overhead fan, cots and mattresses, hot and cold water, toilet, stoves, tables, coffee makers, coolers, folding bicycle, rocking chair, hanging chair, etc., etc. It's a pain to unpack and repack, but for a week's stay, it's all worth it. The only additional requirement is a thick skin, because I do get a lot of ribbing. :)

Cary
They're just jealous!

[Juan Vargas]

Thanks for the comments on the arrival. Everything clear by now. I am flying with a friend, all the way from Colombia, South America, and as you can imagine We need to count on some flexibility.
Our long flight starts On Monday. We hope to meet some of you soon, and after such a trip, we will make sure somebody sees us when we rock our wings!! Ja ja.

[rickatic]

...looks like 378 e/w sites as of this morning...

[robert l]

I checked the E/W sites at 11:00 AM EST today and there were 296 available. Don't know how up to date this info is but it's a great asset.
Bob

[rickatic]

Last year at this time is when I booked my E/W site...there were only about 75 left and they were dropping in number fast...there are a lot more sites available this year, likely due to the large expansion of sites for this year...I am about to take delivery on a new Cyclone 4005 toy hauler that holds enough water and grey/black water storage and with a 5500 watt generator I will save the money and camp in the regular Scholler sites...hope to be onsite by Saturday morning...

[John Cox]

24 hour Generator area has been moved along Stits. No tents in 24 hour campsite, otherwise 6:30 to hard shutdown at 22:30 in other Camp Scholler areas. 132 new wet sites with sewer were added near Doolittle and Shaick.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[robert l]

Last year we drove to A/V and camped in Camp Scholler at $27.00 a day for a camp site. Next year we plan to fly in and camp with the plane. My question is; Do they charge the same price to camp with your aircraft?
Bob

[CivEngPE]

Last year we drove to A/V and camped in Camp Scholler at $27.00 a day for a camp site. Next year we plan to fly in and camp with the plane. My question is; Do they charge the same price to camp with your aircraft?
Bob
Yep!

[robert l]

Yep!

That's still a deal, considering where you are ! Just the best place possible for airplane nuts !
Bob