Reservations

[battleb]

I am curious as to how most people travel across country with respect to campgroung reservations. If you are traveling across country do you usually plan ahead and make reservations or trust to luck, stopping when you feel tired at the closest campground? Is there a particular time during the "season" when its best to try to guesstimate your daily mileage and make reservations? Do campgrounds that normally have a reservation fee waive the fee if you pull up with no reservation and there is space avaliable?

[SpeakEasy]

We've done it both ways. Sometimes the no-reservation way works out fine and we discover some very pleasant surprises. Other times this is a headache and a frustration. With reservations we always know what our daily destination is, and it helps with planning. There are no surprises, and we tend to make more progress - as in cover more miles - on those days. All in all, I think I prefer the reservation route when we're trying to make time and the no-reservation route when we're just looking for adventure.

-Speak

[chasd60]

All in all, I think I prefer the reservation route when we're trying to make time and the no-reservation route when we're just looking for adventure.
 
-Speak

I agree. I have gone on two tenting trips around the US and only made reservations at 3 campgrounds total.

[Kelly]

I make reservations.  When traveling with children, there is nothing worse than coming to the end of the day (and your rope) and not having a place to stay!  Some day when they get a little older and we go looking for adventure I may try that no reservations thing.  Not yet.