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Powertour's avatar
Powertour
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2020

How Often Do you Get Skunked on FCFS Camp Spots?

Hate the fact there are so many First-Come/First-Serve camping spots at the National Parks & Forest Service campgrounds. I really prefer camping in National Parks & Forest Service campgrounds (especially if wanting forest/mountain camping) but the lack of reserveable spots is a major impediment to doing so for us. We to go RVing for relaxation purposes, therefore heading out for a weekend trip without having reservations in hand is anti-relaxing / stressful.

Seeing a lot of YouTube reviewers saying they rarely get skunked when it comes to being able to find a FCFS site in any given campground. That seems a little rosy-er than what I would think would be the case.

What's you guys' experience with this stuff nowadays?
  • Seattle_Steve's avatar
    Seattle_Steve
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2020
    Darn. I was hoping this post was literally about being skunked. Now that would be interesting!

    However, being retired, I never arrive at a public (government) campsite between Friday and Sunday. In fact, when I arrive earlier in the week I try to be out by the weekend to avoid the crowds and make room for the weekend warriors. I've never had a problem finding a spot mid-week because, even if the official camp spots are full, there's no problem finding dispersed camping here in the West.
  • hotjag1's avatar
    hotjag1
    Explorer II
    Jul 28, 2020
    We have never gotten skunked, but we have pulled into FS campgrounds and gotten the last or 2nd to the last site available. We usually arrive just before check-out on Sunday through Thursday and find available sites. I wouldn't try that on a week-end.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jul 28, 2020
    Never been skunked, but I guess it depends on where you go and when. I try to arrive on a Tuesday morning. The only time I've ever come even close was on the WA coast at South Beach camp.

    I don't like reservations either.

    agesilaus wrote:
    Skunked??
    Never gone fishing?
  • mleekamp's avatar
    mleekamp
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2020
    Powertour, I'm with ya. We used to just "go" and had no issues...state parks, Nat. forests, etc, as you mention. But I stress w/o a reservation. Regardless, we always had a reservation for Memorial / Labor wknds.

    Recently, we had a reservation at a campground on Rend Lake in southern IL. Beautiful lake, and we were staying 9 days and wanted a FU site ... so we reserved. Apparently, the check out time at that park is 4pm, and it's common that folks stay until 4pm. Yes, I know that's the rule...but we arrived at 1pm thinking we would get in (Sunday reservation). Nope. Between 3:50pm and 4:30pm, the place was nuts with people leaving. Never seen that before in 23+ years of camping as an "adult".
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jul 28, 2020
    I don’t like to reserve since they straightjacket my schedule. Also hate reserved but empty campsites wasted with others turned away.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Jul 28, 2020
    I wish there were no reservations. But then, I rarely stay in a park as I prefer to boondock.
  • Powertour's avatar
    Powertour
    Explorer II
    Jul 28, 2020
    agesilaus wrote:
    Skunked??


    Get to a place & there's no available spots.

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