Making Campsite Reservations

[Ted]

I have yet to try primitive camping, so I am still tied to sites with hookups.  In trying to make reservations for Thanksgiving and the two days after, I was very surprised to see how few reservations with hookups were left.  Two questions:  For this time of the year in Texas or similar climates, how far in advance do you book reservations? and How do you usually make reservations?  I have been using ReserveAmerica but seems more often than not that the website is either very slow or of questionable accuracy?  How do you all make reservations?  Thus far I have been using state campgrounds and soon to try the national forests in East Texas.

[Billy Bob]

If at all possible DON'T make reservations when it is the off season. Many times you can monitor how many sites are available when using Reserve America. Then when you arrive ask to drive the campground and pick out your own site and report back to the office of which site you choose. We have done this and it works out MUCH better than when we have reservations. With reservations they know you are locked into their campground. Without reservations you don't have to camp there if you really don't like the sites available.

[AustinBoston]

If at all possible DON'T make reservations when it is the off season.

From what I understand, Thanksgiving is not the "off season" in most of Texas.  July and August are off season for camping in Texas because of the unbearable heat.

Many times you can monitor how many sites are available when using Reserve America. Then when you arrive ask to drive the campground and pick out your own site and report back to the office of which site you choose. We have done this and it works out MUCH better than when we have reservations. With reservations they know you are locked into their campground. Without reservations you don't have to camp there if you really don't like the sites available.

Good advice in the off season (whenever your local off-season is).

Austin

[GeneF]

Park popularity as well as in-season or out of season seems to make a big difference.

We generally travel in Sept and Oct and have only had a problem once pulling into a state campground without a reservation.

We are heading for Fl in March and did have a problem.  We wanted reservations at Ft. Desoto Park.  We called at 10 am on the first morning that we could make ressies, they were already booked except for a few popup sites.

We tried Myakkah (sp) park and were able to get reservations.  We just did that a couple of weeks ago.

We prefer to call the cg directly to make ressies but some parks will only allow you to reserve through reserveamerica.

Even our favorite park in NH can be a problem.  I called in March for a reservation in June.  I could only get a nonelectric site.  Of course that is prime trout fishing time.

We try to locate a campground map and if possible, request a particular site.

[jasbus]

The problem I run into with ReserveAmerica is, half the time, they show booked up, or nothing available, but if/when you get there, there are tons of empty sites.  This time of year, til around Easter, it's almost impossible to get any sites in florida.  They really need to regulate the snowbirds more, I mean, I know lots of people come here for the winter, but it really sucks that locals can't camp because of it.  We hear all the time that they changed the rules, you can only camp two weeks at a time in the parks, but all they do it prebook all the sites out, and leave us nothing, at least on the web, but if you go to the campground, they have sites.  Makes no sense to have a "Reserve"America, at least to me...
sorry for the rant. :yikes:

[AustinBoston]

The problem I run into with ReserveAmerica is, half the time, they show booked up, or nothing available, but if/when you get there, there are tons of empty sites.  This time of year, til around Easter, it's almost impossible to get any sites in florida.  They really need to regulate the snowbirds more, I mean, I know lots of people come here for the winter, but it really sucks that locals can't camp because of it.  We hear all the time that they changed the rules, you can only camp two weeks at a time in the parks, but all they do it prebook all the sites out, and leave us nothing, at least on the web, but if you go to the campground, they have sites.  Makes no sense to have a "Reserve"America, at least to me...

A lot of places will not allow all of their sites to be reserved.  At Minnesota State Parks, at least 30% of the sites are held for first-come, first-served and can not be reserved, so even if the campground is booked up someone who just drives up may get a site.  There are good reasons for doing this.

* People who are travelling without a plan are not locked out.
* People who came for a night but decided they want to stay the week can do so.
* People who are not able to schedule time off in advance get a chance.

One nice thing about camping in Minnesota is that Minnesota does not use ReserveAmerica.  

Austin

[jasbus]

One nice thing about camping in Minnesota is that Minnesota does not use ReserveAmerica.  

Austin

Lucky you.  Nobody I've ever met likes reserveamerica.  I personally, refused to use them, but now, even the park rangers have to use it if you just roll in, so I've just accepted the fact that I have to :mad:

[AustinBoston]

Lucky you.  Nobody I've ever met likes reserveamerica.  I personally, refused to use them, but now, even the park rangers have to use it if you just roll in, so I've just accepted the fact that I have to :mad:

I would not normally suggest that private industry learn from government, but there is no question that ReserveAmerica could learn from Minnesota's (still imperfect) campsite reservation system.

Austin

[Dog]

usualy I make reservations well in advance for the next summer,8-10 months prior,,I've booked for July a month ago,I like first pickins

[gypsy_soul]

Try calling the park directly. The state parks here in Florida will take reservations or you can use reseve america. And this is not the off season here....

[jasbus]

Try calling the park directly. The state parks here in Florida will take reservations or you can use reseve america. And this is not the off season here....

Sad part is, now the rangers just get online to reserve america, and do what you do at home.  At least the last two parks we went to...

[GeneF]

"The problem I run into with ReserveAmerica is, half the time, they show booked up, or nothing available, but if/when you get there, there are tons of empty sites."


Also, don't take the Campground Full sign at the entrance to a state or national park as being accurate.

Twice we have seen these signs but inquired anyways.  There were sites available.  Someone forgot to change the sign.

[AustinBoston]

Also, don't take the Campground Full sign at the entrance to a state or national park as being accurate.

Twice we have seen these signs but inquired anyways.  There were sites available.  Someone forgot to change the sign.

Or they wanted an easy shift.  :rolleyes:

Austin

[Ted]

Rant on!  I really appreciate this discussion.  Sometimes when I have used ReserveAmerica, I felt like I was voting in Florida!!  No offense to Floridians!  But like now, I wonder, is it possible, there are NO campsites available anywhere in East Texas over Thanksgiving?  According to ReserveAmerica, there is nothing.  I wish I were more able to just cruise and "hunt" for a spot.  Primitive camping is sounding better all the time!

[AustinBoston]

Rant on!  I really appreciate this discussion.  Sometimes when I have used ReserveAmerica, I felt like I was voting in Florida!!  No offense to Floridians!  But like now, I wonder, is it possible, there are NO campsites available anywhere in East Texas over Thanksgiving?  According to ReserveAmerica, there is nothing.  I wish I were more able to just cruise and "hunt" for a spot.  Primitive camping is sounding better all the time!

When the State Park sites are gone, there are two choices left - primitive and commercial.  I've seen some nice commercial campgrounds, but I've visited my share of big-rig parking lots, too.  :mad:

Austin