Hey Campers, Your Laptop Works Here

Experienced campers who like to ‘get away from it all’ may have to try a little harder. A surprising number of campgrounds are being asked to supply internet, cable and even wi-fi access-and they’re responding.

Mar-Lynn Park in Streetsboro, Ohio has for years prided itself on its reputation as a family campground. Now, in between ice-cream eating contests and horseshoes, campers can check their e-mail via wireless connections provided by the campground. Wi-fi card rentals are also available. Just a few miles away, at Woodside Lake Park, owner Pam Danner said they’ve offered a phone hook-up accommodation for campers who wish to log onto the world wide web. Danner said while she hasn’t added wireless connectivity yet, she won’t rule it out.

Similarly, Dave Chalmers, owner of Friendship Acres Park in Randolph, says “We are modem-friendly. (Lots of ) Campers bring their laptops to keep in touch with family and friends,” he said. And why not? Campsites have long competed for vacation budgets alongside hotels and resorts. Today, the family that vacations together is also likely to websurf together. And for many workers, being electronically out-of-touch, even on vacation, isn’t an option. “We realize people have to check their e-mail,” Chalmers said.

Even Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has offered an internet service package since 2003. And more recently, KOA has been offering campers hi-speed wireless connectivity at NUMBER of their KOA locations. The service is free to current customers of its internet service program, “KOA Konnect,” and KOA also offers pre-paid HOTSPOTZZ internet access cards for 1, 12, and 24-hour access times at many of its 460 KOA locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.