Seeking Refuge from Heat Waves at Campsites... Weekday 'Urban Camping' Gains Popularity

As scorching heat waves reaching 37°C to 38°C (99°F to 100°F) continue day after day, campsites in the Daegu area are gaining popularity as urban summer resorts.

At Apsan Campsite, family campers are flocking to the site to the extent that weekday reservation competition rates reach 4 to 5 to 1, and citizens seeking to escape the intense heat continue to visit the auto camping ground along the Geumho River as well.

Among a total of 49 campsites operating in the region, including 10 public and 39 private facilities, the number of users has surged starting from July due to the earlier-than-usual heat wave.

Citizens are bringing forward their summer vacations by visiting campsites where temperatures are slightly lower than in the city center and where they can escape the heat amidst nature.

A campsite located in Apsan, Daegu.

Located at the foot of a mountain, this campsite is known as a place where you can stay relatively cool even amid scorching heat waves, with temperatures about 1°C to 2°C (2°F to 4°F) lower during mid-day and about 2°C (4°F) lower at night compared to the downtown area.

Although it is a campsite with 55 sites, it is hard to find a vacant spot not only on weekends but also on weekdays.

Equipped with a family wading pool, it is especially popular among family campers with children in the lower grades of elementary school or younger, and visitors can stay for up to 3 nights and 4 days for an admission fee of around 20,000 won per day.

An official at the campsite said, "Nowadays, the reservation competition rate is as fierce as 4 to 5 to 1, and as the heat wave continues, inquiries for use have also increased significantly."

Campsites located along rivers rather than mountains are also enjoying unexpected popularity.

Campers have been flocking lately to an auto camping ground that opened in 2019 along the Geumho River in Daegu.

Despite the "fatal" drawback of having few trees and thus hardly any shade to find, campers' footsteps continue one by one after the sun sets.

A campsite official said, "Nowadays it is peak season, so the weekend usage fee reaches 35,000 won per day, but there are still many reservation inquiries."

According to Daegu City, a total of 49 campsites are operating across the region, consisting of 10 public campsites and 39 private campsites.

There are a total of 617 sites where tents can be pitched, and some campsites are also equipped with caravans and glamping facilities in addition to camping.

A city official said, "We usually say that August and September are the camping season, but this year campers seem to be flocking from July due to the early heat wave," adding, "It is a precious opportunity to talk with family in nature, so it seems likely to attract a lot of attention for the time being."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.