Campground availability on shorter notice

We are looking to book some time in mid October near mid to eastern TN and am having a devil of a time finding openings. As opposed to other posters we do prefer State, COE and even some municipal parks. Don't like spending out time in what looks like a RV sales lot, or as I say awning to slide.
I guess we're just too picky about the site we take. Don't need FHU, but need 30amp, level site.
Being older, we only travel a couple of hours a day, so we stay at a lot of places and like to spend some time there.

When people moan that they can't get a site I always feel that we are only getting half the story.

What they are not saying is that they want specific sites, usually FHUs, and high demand locations and dates. They are not flexible. Don't suggest dry camping.

We made reservations yesterday for this weekend. A huge holiday weekend in Canada

No FHU. No problem. No water view. No problem. No water at site. No problem. Far from bathrooms. No problem. No satellite access. No problem. Only 30amp power. No problem. Back in. No problem.

When you are adaptable there is seldom a problem.
.

We are 3 weeks into a 4 month trip. We have reservations for most of it.... especially for weekends.
In NC, we found the campgrounds to have open spots. In Virginia, the park was packed, but it was a weekend. In NY, during the week, you could set up your picnic table in the roadway.... less than 10% occupied.... then came Thursday.. place started filling. By Friday afternoon, not a single site out of 350 sites was available. Now in Maine. The park has several open sites ( it's a Monday). The owner told me that starting this coming weekend, they are pretty much booked solid for the rest of the summer. She said she is getting a few cancellations from people that would have traveled long distances, but for the most part, things are normal, or better than normal for them

I don't think it is the price of fuel either. We went all the way to Boston and back before fuel increased with no reservations and no problems. I don't know what it is but it is noticeable.

I to spent some time in NC and TN mountains last year, Pigeon Forge twice, Ashville NC, Hendersonville NC and never once had a reservation more than a couple of days in advance. Was also up through WV, PA, MD, VA then South Myrtle Beach twice, Gulf coast of FL twice, East coast of FL and back home. Always had nice spots (right on the beach at Myrtle twice)and never got turned away anywhere. I don't stay in State parks etc. Leaving in a couple of days for Bristol TN with no reservations so we will see how that goes. By the way if the price of fuel is holding you back you are in the wrong pass time.

valhalla360 wrote:

bgum wrote:
I had noticed that RV parks were not as busy as they have been in the recent past. As evidence of this we called a resort we have been going to for years and they had more than 6 sites available for October. This happens to be in an area where October is the high season. In the past we made reservations a year in advance due to high demand.

When was the recent time you were having difficulty getting reservations?

Yeah, peak times, it's always been difficult to get a site at a popular park but we spent 7 months wandering the south winter 20/21 and never had an issue getting a site.

Heading out next month from Michigan for Montana over 2 months and don't expect any significant issues.

Prior to the pandemic in the month of October reservations were necessary in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee and every point in between. The same was true in many of our national parks.
The fact that you don't expect any problems next month only supports my observations that people are camping less.

PButler96 wrote:

wildtoad wrote:

stickdog wrote:
Fuel prices.

And overall inflation causing many to curb their travel plans. More people may actually have found they need to back to work.

And if folks have looked at their 401K or other investments lately they probably are still cleaning out their drawers.

Airlines, hotel and general home remodeling contractor bookings indicate something different. People are spending their time and money elsewhere.

bgum wrote:
I had noticed that RV parks were not as busy as they have been in the recent past. As evidence of this we called a resort we have been going to for years and they had more than 6 sites available for October. This happens to be in an area where October is the high season. In the past we made reservations a year in advance due to high demand.

When was the recent time you were having difficulty getting reservations?

Yeah, peak times, it's always been difficult to get a site at a popular park but we spent 7 months wandering the south winter 20/21 and never had an issue getting a site.

Heading out next month from Michigan for Montana over 2 months and don't expect any significant issues.

bgum wrote:
I had noticed that RV parks were not as busy as they have been in the recent past. As evidence of this we called a resort we have been going to for years and they had more than 6 sites available for October. This happens to be in an area where October is the high season. In the past we made reservations a year in advance due to high demand.

Just recently rebooked for 23 a resort campground in upstate NY, I was surprised that they were holding their rates for 23 even after dumping $$$$ into the park, this is probably do to the uncertainty of the near future economy.

Mike

We are still making reservations to be on the safe side. I’d hate to take off from work, load everything up, drive all that way to wherever we’re going just to be told that they’re full,or that they can’t accommodate a rig our size.