When we started camping 40+ years ago I'm not sure we ever made reservations and probably seldom did until much later. Now I've adopted the attitude that if any doubt at all, make reservations and be prepared to accept "losing" some money by cancelling. Being cheap this is hard but not as hard as showing up late afternoon at a favorite place and finding it booked. I've also adopted the attitude that " anything is possible" as far as campgrounds being booked. Places we never thought would fill now might. It's just all part of the new reality of the popularity of RVing. I just tried to reserve a national park site in March only to find our preferred loop is booked.

I'm still a no-reservation guy unless it's a weekend in a popular place. I find Sunday thru Thursday no problem, especially if you don't need hookups - and almost all new campers need hookups. Investing in solar, batteries, inverter and carrying water.. priceless.Nothing ruins a trip for me quite like maintaining a schedule to honor a reservation.

After our first trip in an RV when I made reservations for the whole trip, broke down and lost money, decided that was the last time I'd do that. We don't camp in summer as we are retired, so that helps. We are perfectly happy to dry camp, and that helps. And when we absolutely need to make reservations, we just call the day ahead or in the morning and so far we haven't had an issue.

We’re still the no reservation types and with a smart phone and being fully self contained, not going to change now. A campground that would be impossible to find the site on Friday is often empty on Monday. We usually travel and resupply on the weekends with the exception of long holiday weekends where we hunker down someplace.

We traveled this summer for the first time in 4 years and found we really needed reservations. We really needed them for any holiday. I only had to cancel 1 reservation. Like 2oldman we didn't like having to go, go to get to the next reservation. We will go back to traveling in the fall, winter or spring.

Given the loading & gas money wasted if campground is full we make reservations. Sadly 3 were cancelled this year. In Oregon it is really really hard to get into a state park without a reservation. We have families living in our Oregon state campgrounds as it is cheaper than rent. Things have sure changed

Reservations | Good Sam Community

Oasisbob
Explorer
Sep 19, 2018
Given the loading & gas money wasted if campground is full we make reservations. Sadly 3 were cancelled this year. In Oregon it is really really hard to get into a state park without a reservation. We have families living in our Oregon state campgrounds as it is cheaper than rent. Things have sure changed
missourijan
Explorer
Sep 19, 2018
We traveled this summer for the first time in 4 years and found we really needed reservations. We really needed them for any holiday. I only had to cancel 1 reservation. Like 2oldman we didn't like having to go, go to get to the next reservation. We will go back to traveling in the fall, winter or spring.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Sep 19, 2018
We’re still the no reservation types and with a smart phone and being fully self contained, not going to change now. A campground that would be impossible to find the site on Friday is often empty on Monday. We usually travel and resupply on the weekends with the exception of long holiday weekends where we hunker down someplace.
Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Sep 19, 2018
After our first trip in an RV when I made reservations for the whole trip, broke down and lost money, decided that was the last time I'd do that. We don't camp in summer as we are retired, so that helps. We are perfectly happy to dry camp, and that helps. And when we absolutely need to make reservations, we just call the day ahead or in the morning and so far we haven't had an issue.
2oldman
Explorer II
Sep 19, 2018
I'm still a no-reservation guy unless it's a weekend in a popular place. I find Sunday thru Thursday no problem, especially if you don't need hookups - and almost all new campers need hookups. Investing in solar, batteries, inverter and carrying water.. priceless.

Nothing ruins a trip for me quite like maintaining a schedule to honor a reservation.

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