Reserve America

I hope everyone realizes they pay a reservation fee at every non-free park they use. Most private parks bury the fee along with the rest of their fixed overhead in their daily rates of course, but you're still paying it, even if you don't make an advance reservation. And most have higher cancellation fees than the RA public parks.

I understand the reservation system cost money to operate. I also understand the reservation centers are cheaper to operate via a private company vs. using state employees.
The overall idea is that the states can use their limited funds to actually operate the parks vs. running reservation centers.
States are not in the reservation business vs. a private company that is dedicated to making reservations.
In the end it is designed to be a win win for the taxpayers.
The alternative is no reservations. Roll the dice and hope there is a site available when you get there

Reserve America has been a very convent resource for us. On stop shop for most state parks. Makes planning a vacation much easier. The fee does vary from state to state. Looking thru my past from last year and future reservation the fees have been or are -

Virginia $5
Ohio $8
Wisconsin $9.65
Kanas $3
Illinois $5
Florida $0
Maryland $13.68
New York $9

Did a drive up no reservation once in Virginia. Still paid the fee. If some states are absorbing the cost, adding it into the nightly rental or what ever I don't know. My no fee Florida reservation was this past November over Thanksgiving for a P/W site on the beach for $24 a night while Maryland was in July after the 4th Holiday no hook up site on the beach for $29 a night. Even with the fee still costs less than a play golf cart derby at a pack them in commercial CG.

I also use Receration.Gov for COE CGs, tours and such. There's a line item for a fee but haven't paid one yet. The tow sites look and feel very much the same.

The issue being that some would play the cancellation game-with the day before or after a major holiday.

All of you need to talk to people who play this game. They should triple the cancellation fees IMHO!

I have probably made 30+ reservations in the last three months with ReserveAmerica and not once have I been hit with a mandatory extra charge for Active America. If one pays attention to what one is clicking on, it is easy to avoid it.

As for the service fee, it varies by state, local and federal department, if booking public campgrounds.

winnehonda wrote:
Reserve America! What a joke and ripoff. All reservations now charge $6.70 and subject us to an almost mandatory extra charge of Active America or something like that. This used to be a free service! Thoughts? How can this charge be avoided?

I liked it better when CG's were first come first served. The only way to get around it is camping during the week. All the sites are booked on the week ends. I use Reserve America to see what is available during the week for local camping in SP's then show up and stay usually 2 -3 days. When traveling out of state most NF CG's still have some first come first served sites along with Reserve America sites. Although less and less as years go by. Some SP's keep a few site off of Reserve America for people that travel or breakdown. I think if you are still working RA works well, for retired folks that were used to getting a site on Thursday or Friday and checking out Monday not so much.

Corky12 wrote:
Unfortunately a few people making reservations every weekend of the season as soon as the window opened then cancelling a few days beforehand make the cancellation fees necessary. Once again "It's all about me."

X2

We've volunteered in parks and you'd be surprised at all the last minute cancellations that are made. It's expensive and it's inconvenient for the parks.

Think of the people who really wanted a spot in that park who were unable to get it because of those holding on to their reservations until the last minute.

Some folks make multiple reservations and don't show. That's not fair to anyone.

No, camping is not free or cheap. If $6.70 a big issue you need to stop camping.

we use state campgrounds and prices range from low of $18.00 to $45.00 per day

In spite of what some candidates think, nothing is ever free. RA works well for me in Florida.

I hate RA. Last year I drove into the Everglades National Park & there were plenty of open spots but they said I could not have one unless I went through RA. I had no internet access there & tried calling, but they said all were reserved. The park rangers agreed RA was a disservice to campers & they wished they could do the reservations.