Trying to plan a trip to Louisiana this early spring and most parks, State & COE now seem to require a 2 night minimum on weekends. Not a major deal as we generally hunker down on weekends any way, but when on a time schedule and just need a night over and some stretching time it becomes a real pain. Tried to book a Sat & Sunday night and was told the 2 night min referred to Fri & Sat. If you take Sat, you also take Fri, and vice versa. I can't stay Fri, just want Sat & Sun. Response was "Sorry".Things are a changing.

Not really new policy. We have encountered that for more than ten years in some locations. Doesn't affect us too much as we are arrive on Sunday and leave on Friday campers unless we are on a longer trip.

I've never seen it in a COE park but then we usually cannot get a spot on a weekend anyway.

Obviously most people are Monday-Friday workers. So a 2 day Friday/Saturday rule is not a bad idea from a park financial standpoint. And not uncommon. A site rented for Sunday only could easily end up sitting empty on Saturday.

Two nights on weekends isn’t new.

If it's a great spot I'll just book it anyways. NY got 2 extra days fees out of me because I left home Saturday morning and needed to stay somewhere both Saturday and Sunday and there were 2 great parks along my route. It was still cheaper than staying at a commercial park and the sites were better.

2 nights required | Good Sam Community

QCMan
Nomad III
Jan 31, 2021
Not really new policy. We have encountered that for more than ten years in some locations. Doesn't affect us too much as we are arrive on Sunday and leave on Friday campers unless we are on a longer trip.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 31, 2021
I've never seen it in a COE park but then we usually cannot get a spot on a weekend anyway.
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 01, 2021
Obviously most people are Monday-Friday workers. So a 2 day Friday/Saturday rule is not a bad idea from a park financial standpoint. And not uncommon. A site rented for Sunday only could easily end up sitting empty on Saturday.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2021
Two nights on weekends isn’t new.
afidel
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2021
If it's a great spot I'll just book it anyways. NY got 2 extra days fees out of me because I left home Saturday morning and needed to stay somewhere both Saturday and Sunday and there were 2 great parks along my route. It was still cheaper than staying at a commercial park and the sites were better.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2021
Most parks do require a 2 night minimum on weekends and have for quite some time, at least any that we have been at. The county park where we are in the summer requires 2 nights for every reservation.
rlw999
Explorer
Feb 01, 2021
On local weekend trips, I usually book Fri+Sat nights, but don't arrive until Saturday morning. I'd rather get there at 9am Sat in the daylight than 9pm Friday in the dark.
GDS-3950BH
Explorer
Feb 01, 2021
It's been that way with weekend minimums at most if not all fed and state campgrounds for years from what we have experienced, and typically a 3 night minimum on holiday weekends. Nothing new here.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2021
Came across a KOA on the east coast that wanted 4 nights minimum, non holiday. I only want 3 nights! I found a different campground that doesn't do things like that!
valhalla360
Navigator
Feb 01, 2021
garmp wrote:
when on a time schedule and just need a night over and some stretching time it becomes a real pain.

If you are just crashing for the night, that's not really the target market for busy public parks.

With public parks, it's not just about maximizing profits but maximizing access for the public. A site used only on Saturday likely won't get used the rest of the weekend.

Less busy parks are usually a little more open but as a govt entity, they may follow the letter of the law unlike a private park which can make an exception to the rule.