Unfair Reservation System?

bucky wrote:
Florida state parks and Recreation.Gov have the same policies for everyone. It's a serious PITA but if you don't book very early you can forget it.
One county park near St Petersburg FL gives preference to their residents and it is one of the most beautiful GCs in the country. They don't like dogs either, oh the shame of it. (we travel with one)

I think you are referring to Ft DeSoto - Yes, residents get preference, as it should be... same with Sarasota County.
Ft. DeSoto does indeed like dogs-- there is a camp loop specifically for campers traveling with dogs(79 sites) . There is a 2.5 acre fenced in/off leash dog play area as well as a dedicated beach for dogs !

doxiemom11 wrote:
Big Katuna , we have been noticing the same problem with the Corp of Engineer parks. The locals book the weekends from spring until it's too cold (depends where it is) and if you would like a week or two, there are no sites that can be booked! This is thru reservations.gov. Used to be reserveamerica, then they took over their own bookings and it's still happening ! Hate it and they need to do something about it. Sites are sitting empty M-F as people have found somewhere else for their week or two which includes weekends that they wanted.

Too bad I guess. The system works the same for you when trying to book two weeks as it does for the "locals" as you call them trying to book for two days.

Since most if not all public campgrounds were originally created for "locals" to provide recreation within a certain distance of populated areas less National parks, maybe you should lighten up a little. Most were not built for accommodating full timers, overnight travelers, or long term renters and Snowbirds. While you're on a site for an entire two weeks you could very well be taking up a weekend a local wanted because they work 50 hours a week and it's the only days off they get.

doxiemom11 wrote:
Big Katuna , we have been noticing the same problem with the Corp of Engineer parks. The locals book the weekends from spring until it's too cold (depends where it is) and if you would like a week or two, there are no sites that can be booked! This is thru reservations.gov. Used to be reserveamerica, then they took over their own bookings and it's still happening ! Hate it and they need to do something about it. Sites are sitting empty M-F as people have found somewhere else for their week or two which includes weekends that they wanted.

The problem I encountered a few years ago with COE campgrounds here in North Texas was with the hosts themselves. What they were doing is reserving spots for a bunch of other snowbirders/retirees weeks or months in advance. They had (and may still have) an underground organization of hosts that worked together on this scheme for most of the COE campgrounds here so that their snowbirding/retire friends had reservations at all the parks and could move from one to another when they'd used up their stay limit at each park. It make it almost impossible for anyone not in this consortium to make a reservation. I just stopped staying at COE campgrounds.

Some, maybe all, of the National Parks have Reseravable and non-Reseravable spots. I know Big Bend does. The Reseravable spots are available on Recreation.gov (or ReserveAmerica, forget which), and the non-Reseravable are for people who just show up. It sort of works and I've never had a problem finding a spot for the past 15 years when I just show up. The only downside is that the Reseravable spots MUST be reserved on-line and even the Ranger or Host can't provide you with one if it's open and you just show up.

Maybe parks should reserve a certain number of sites to first come first served. Or only alow people to stay so many days at each park per year giving other people access to the park.

Florida state parks and Recreation.Gov have the same policies for everyone. It's a serious PITA but if you don't book very early you can forget it.
One county park near St Petersburg FL gives preference to their residents and it is one of the most beautiful GCs in the country. They don't like dogs either, oh the shame of it. (we travel with one)

Big Katuna , we have been noticing the same problem with the Corp of Engineer parks. The locals book the weekends from spring until it's too cold (depends where it is) and if you would like a week or two, there are no sites that can be booked! This is thru reservations.gov. Used to be reserveamerica, then they took over their own bookings and it's still happening ! Hate it and they need to do something about it. Sites are sitting empty M-F as people have found somewhere else for their week or two which includes weekends that they wanted.

They are catering to their best, most profitable customers.
Nothing wrong with that.
This is free enterprise after all.

So.....if it ends up HURTING their total income, they will stop doing it. But I suspect that likely won't happen.

DutchmenSport:
Good point! We end up doing the same thing, but still hate making reservations at parks that we are new to and determining which site is best from a 2x3" pic.

Or if you can’t beat em join em.

Rent a month and go back and forth on weekends.

Clearly they are looking for long term tenants which give them a stable income stream. Tells me they want to be a mobile home park and less a campground. Ask them how about reserving some spaces for campers away from the long term.