TRYING to book State Park in the Florida Keys

racedaymechanic wrote:
We got reservations at Long Key SP for Dec 1 to Dec 14 on RA there are still some left I think

You'll love it.

I worked in the travel business and the first two weeks of December are often less-booked and open. You can get great deals on Caribbean resorts and cruises those two weeks, for example. I guess many people stay home early and mid-December for holiday festivities leading up to Christmas and New Years.

We got reservations at Long Key SP for Dec 1 to Dec 14 on RA there are still some left I think

Bill & Kate wrote:
It really isn't that bad considering how nice the Florida State Parks are. 11 months ahead of time, you can tell from the RA website what days which sites will open up, and you can be ready at exactly 8:00 AM to click the reserve button and take your chance to be the one that wins the raffle that day. Most days you miss, but we have always been able to piece together a nice stay even during peak periods. We have also been fortunate at picking up odd days here and there as time gets closer and other people cancel.

I really like the RA website. It lets you sort possible sites by size, and usually by location in the campground, and usually has several photos of each site so you can get idea what you are in for.

For us, under $40 for a waterfront site in the Keys in February is worth a little planning and aggravation.

Times two !!!

Jack L

Big Katuna wrote:
Don't get me wrong; I detest RA. Fact of life with FL State Parks. The FSPs have site equipment length. Other states don't? Can't blame that on RA.

To clarify, yes you can drive up to a Florida State Park and book a site without using RA. And you can extend a stay at the office if they a space without RA.
But to my experience they cannot and will not reserve for a different park or book a future arrival for their park in person. You have to go thru RA.

As an aside, I knew the manager of Gamble Rogers SP. He said they went to dang near 100% occupancy after RA cut in.

You are correct, the only thing they can do at the park is book you a non reservable site unless the reserved site you are on is not reserved for the upcoming day, then they can extend your stay day by day only for days that site is not reserved. You cannot make future reservations on site at a FSP. It is strictly telephone or internet.

Don't get me wrong; I detest RA. Fact of life with FL State Parks. The FSPs have site equipment length. Other states don't? Can't blame that on RA.

To clarify, yes you can drive up to a Florida State Park and book a site without using RA. And you can extend a stay at the office if they a space without RA.
But to my experience they cannot and will not reserve for a different park or book a future arrival for their park in person. You have to go thru RA.

As an aside, I knew the manager of Gamble Rogers SP. He said they went to dang near 100% occupancy after RA cut in.

I have no issues with RA and love the convenience of picking my site ahead of time in addition to having specific site info and more and more a picture of the site as well.

It really isn't that bad considering how nice the Florida State Parks are. 11 months ahead of time, you can tell from the RA website what days which sites will open up, and you can be ready at exactly 8:00 AM to click the reserve button and take your chance to be the one that wins the raffle that day. Most days you miss, but we have always been able to piece together a nice stay even during peak periods. We have also been fortunate at picking up odd days here and there as time gets closer and other people cancel.

I really like the RA website. It lets you sort possible sites by size, and usually by location in the campground, and usually has several photos of each site so you can get idea what you are in for.

For us, under $40 for a waterfront site in the Keys in February is worth a little planning and aggravation.

Big Katuna wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

cheiftan23 wrote:
Just got back to Indiana and it is already time to start planning next Christmas vacation.
Watching sites disappear every morning on Reserve America.
Anyone else frustrated with how fast all the sites are reserved each day?
Seems impossible to get a site, but we'll keep trying!

Do yourself a favor and reserve them 'from' the state park. You can't call the park directly (because of the stupid reserve america issue now) but you can physically go there to reserve.

Not with Florida State Parks. All bookings go through RA. ....

Fruitland Park, FL State Park Talked to ranger in person "at park" and I could have reserved the site with him. And then could keep extending it if I desired. Only good if you are standing there in person. Otherwise phone calls have to go thru RA.

I refuse to stay anywhere where RA is involved. They don't know the CG's & they can't answer any questions about the CG. They are just an order taker. I used them twice and both times upon arrival I did not fit in the site and was SOL because the CG was filled.

CG's with direct phone numbers right to the CG are all I will consider staying at when and if I have to call ahead.

God love the rest of you, my heart goes out to all of you that have to make reservations way in advance and have to fight the dreaded RA phone calling like it was a contest! :B

The Bahia Honda sites are gone is less than 1 second. You just have to be lucky.

rockhillmanor wrote:

cheiftan23 wrote:
Just got back to Indiana and it is already time to start planning next Christmas vacation.
Watching sites disappear every morning on Reserve America.
Anyone else frustrated with how fast all the sites are reserved each day?
Seems impossible to get a site, but we'll keep trying!

Do yourself a favor and reserve them 'from' the state park. You can't call the park directly (because of the stupid reserve america issue now) but you can physically go there to reserve.

Not with Florida State Parks. All bookings go through RA. You can extend your stay at the office IF it isn't booked. You might have to change sites if someone else booked it thru RA. Office can't change RA bookings.