What is it with campgrounds nowadays?

GordonThree wrote:
I've seen this a few times... tiny federal CG in Badlands NP. When I arrived every single site with electric was reserved with a tiny paper slip, with the days date written on it for arrival. I spent two days there before giving up because of the heat. Only three of the ten reserved sites had shown up.

Another time, at a large state park, their computer claimed they had two sites available. Drove in to check it out, an entire loop was empty. I took the site for two days. When I left, the entire loop was still empty.

I blame online reservation and the huge advance windows allowed. It's my opinion you shouldn't be able to reserve more than 2-3 weeks out. This 6 month to 12 month advanced reservation is silly. In the dead of winter, folks with cabin fever are planning trips and making free reservations, and then as the weather turns nice, they change their plans. It costs almost nothing to cancel a reservation, so no biggie for them. Now if the penalty for cancelling a reservation was 100%, that might slow 'em down.

I've had several different families tell me similar stories to this:

Oh we always reserve 3 or 4 sites next to each other for every weekend, in case friends want to join us.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I'll be playing the game next year... I have a bunch of e-mail accounts, so creating extra reservations won't be a problem.

If I'm using my much deserved leave time and traveling any distance, I want a reserved spot at a National Park. Plans change and people cancel. It's why I keep checking to see if a better campground is available or if I can extend my stay from what was initially available. I've gotten in at NP's with only a few weeks notice by checking back regularly.

Campgrounds are worse than hotels because most have a 48 hour cancellation window which is why I roll the dice and call ahead same day when I'm not sure how far I'll get on that day's drive. A hotel I have until 6 PM to cancel. No intent to deceive.