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Nittersing

(8,506 posts)
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 08:20 AM Jul 2025

Camping in the 60s

When I was 8 and 10 ('62 and '64) we "camped" from MA to CA and back. (Dad was a teacher) Camping was just coming into popularity and reservations were rarely needed at campgrounds. We had a setup almost identical to this photo. I *think* the trailer had two wheels and maybe another window or two (all had screens). The top of the trailer bed had a mattress where Mom and Dad would sleep and then we had a double decker bunk bed cot thing. Three kids would rotate. Top bunk. Bottom bunk and the ground with a blow up mattress. Underneath the trailer mattress was open storage and Mom had a pretty good portable kitchen set up. Lunch was always at a rest stop. Cold sandwiches with either carrots or celery and a hard boiled egg. Dinner was at a campsite, with a Coleman stove and lantern. The highway system was pretty new but even then, Dad would opt for more local side routes when available. On very rare occasions, we would stay at a motel/hotel, but they *had* to have a pool with a slide.

(Oh. And our towing vehicle was a VW bus.)

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Camping in the 60s (Original Post) Nittersing Jul 2025 OP
"Close that tent screen, you little scamp" - Scoutmaster BoRaGard Jul 2025 #1
Did that too snowybirdie Jul 2025 #2
Same here. We would go to the mountains of New Mexico or Colorado surfered Jul 2025 #3
We had an Avion trailer 61-75. VGNonly Jul 2025 #4

snowybirdie

(6,750 posts)
2. Did that too
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 09:17 AM
Jul 2025

Took all five kids and the dog across the USA in a small camper several times in the 70s. Amazing memories that we all can cherish.

surfered

(14,301 posts)
3. Same here. We would go to the mountains of New Mexico or Colorado
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 10:35 AM
Jul 2025

We started by sleeping in the back of the station wagon. Then to a tent. Then to a camper on the back of a pickup. Fun times.

After I left home, my parents would graduate to a self contained motor home, towing an International Scout to a campground, then backpacking up the mountain snd camp in a tent.

They loved it!

Thanks for the memory.

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