Camping reservations with Corp of Engineers parks

Don't know what to tell you folks who don't have this issue in your state but it is a fact in Arkansas and has been for at least three years. It affects thousands of campers going to Greers Ferry lake in Arkansas.

If you don't have the issue in your area then good for you but it is a MAJOR problem here. We live only 8 miles from the lake and usually camp there at least six or more times per summer with the grandkids. Since we moor the jet skis or boat in front of the campsite it is critical for us to get one of the waterfront sites. We OFTEN make spur of the moment decisions to go camping and it is really a big deal that the reservations system is so screwed up in this area.
This past weekend we decided to go (even though it turned out to cold to swim we still fished and rode around on our cruiser). We went online and saw that the campsite was not reserved. We drove down without the camper to confirm which spot we wanted. We got the camper and came back but the gate keeper would only let us pay for 3 nights because he was worried about the online reservations. Turned out we had to leave on Sunday because someone did in fact reserve the spot for that night. The gate keeper was as frustrated as we were that he couldn't accept our money right at the gate for beyond the 3 days. It should be noted that there is no internet in the park so you can't go online and reserve the 4th night. Granted we could have driven back to our house and got online to reserve the 4th night but my point is we should not have to go thru that hassle and what about all the folks who travel in from much further away?

Additionally it should be noted that we have not experienced this kind of issue with reservations at any other park we have visited ever! I know some of you will tell horror stories but we all know they are the exceptions not the rule. Campgrounds are generally very good with reservations and know exactly what they have booked. The idea that you would need 4 days to line out reservations is absolutely nuts in this day and age of computers and the internet!!!

I have written our two senators about this issue. Does anyone here have a CONSTRUCTIVE suggestion as to what else to do?

Each Corps park can set their own special requirements. The 4 day waiting period isn't a Corps wide change.

I have camped at a number of COE parks with reservations and never had that 4 day delay, HOWEVER I just tried to book at EastBank COE in Ga. and guess what, online reservations now has a 4 day delay earliest I can book is the 20th. Definitely a change.

I've never had an issue getting a reservation with a COE or any other Rec.gov reservation.

I just booked some time at an Army Corps of Engineers campground here in NC and I didn't have a 4 day wait period. I had a confirmation email within an hour. This is my first experience camping/reserving there. It seemed pretty straightforward.

Best thing you can do is take the three or four days allowed for a walk up and then go online and reserve the same or any other site for whatever time you need it.

I should also mention that the local gatekeepers are VERY FRUSTRATED with the system themselves. They are the ones that have to go tell campers they have to give up their sites!

The "first come or Walkup" sites are way back in the woods!

We had to leave after 3 days just this week and have had other people have to move when we had online reservations that the local gate keeper did not know about.

All the local personnel at State and private parks in Arkansas know exactly where they stand with reservations at any given time. Granted there are occasionally issues but they are the exception not the rule. We have also visited sites across much of the south and found that they all have similar. The ONLY places we have run into this issue is Corp of Engineer parks!

Moved from Forum Technical Support

Most parks have some sites that are 1st come, and you can stay 14 days on those sites..