Oregon Travel News: Camping Back Online, Gas Prices Up
Published 04/14/2010
(Salem, Oregon) – While gas prices still seem to be slowly edging up, there's great news for those wanting to make online reservations for camping at state parks.
Oregon's state park campsite reservations system was back onloine April 14 after a two-week hiatus to upgrade its reservation software. Both online reservations (www.oregonstateparks.org) and call center services (1-800-452-5687) resumed at 8 a.m. April 14.
Reservations Northwest (RNW) is again accepting campsite reservations for those arriving May 1 or later. However, throughout the rest of April, camping in Oregon’s state parks is still first come, first served.
The two-week shutdown allowed Oregon Park and Recreation Department (OPRD) contractor Reserve America to upgrade OPRD's aging reservation system. The company, which is part of ActiveNetwork, provides reservation software and online reservations for 35 of Oregon's most popular state parks.
"This was a major upgrade with huge amounts of data transferred," said RNW call center manager Marilyn Borgelt.
She testing of the new system went well.
"If customers have questions or concerns about reservation information presented on the website, they may e-mail OPRD.Reservation@state.or.us or call 1-888-953-7677.”
Campers can book online anytime through www.oregonstateparks.org, or by calling 1-800-452-5687 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oregon’s AAA office said the state’s average for regular unleaded is closing in on $3 a gallon.
“Retail gas prices are up for the week, but have actually eased a bit the past couple days after crude oil prices came down from last week’s 18-month highs,” said Marie Dodds, a spokesperson for the AAA.
The national average for regular unleaded has increased this week by three cents, edging to $2.86, while Oregon’s average jumps six cents to $2.96.
Many gas stations along the Oregon coast are higher than the Portland area, already slightly over $3 a gallon, according to OregonTravelDaily’s partner site, Oregon Coast Beach Connection.
Last week, crude oil prices surged above $87 a barrel, the highest level since October 2008. But crude prices have declined over the past several trading sessions because of concerns about oversupply and whether prices above $85 could be supported given the shaky employment situation in the U.S. |
