Memorial Day weekend is also the unofficial start of the camping season.

Because of the price of gas, many area residents are staying closer to home and heading for local camp sites like Rib Mountain, for a much needed retreat.

Local Camper Robert Pope says, "It’s just a weekend to get together, and summer so gets busy and you don't see people and it’s just a really relaxing kind of a thing, you don't have to do anything accept be and that's good."

Pope says he chooses Rib Mountain, because sites are clean, the location has easy access, and he does not have to make reservations.

Rib Mountain only has 30 locations sites, so campers take note space is limited.