Oasisbob wrote:
I checked availability the night prior and found several sites already taken. I asked the reservations folks how this could be?
Because they don't understand how reservations work.
If you want a site starting July 28 - and go to book it - I might already have that site booked - because I booked the site for 14 days starting July 25.
All the reservation systems I've seen allow the end of my stay to be outside the available booking window.
At a really popular CG/ site - I always book a reservation starting on a Wed or Thur (actually we normally try to travel mid-week - and be set-up before the weekend).
Sometimes you have to book a site for two weeks starting Wednesday the week prior to your intended arrival, then after the booking gets to the period you actually want - adjust the booking to the dates you really want.
Oregon uses Reserve America - which is pretty easy to secure the campsite you want.
i.e. - if you really, really want to be in site #81 at Silver Falls SP - arriving on Friday, July 3, departing Monday, July 6 - make a reservation for 14 days on June 22 (You need to make this reservation on December 23 the year before your arrival if there is a 6 month booking window). After the booking window goes to cover through July 7 (approx. Jan 8), go back into the system and adjust your reservation to be only three nights - July 3-5.
(Oregon has a 9 month reservation window - to book for Jun 22, 2015 - you could have made the reservation on Sep 22, 2014)
Yes - it will cost you a reservation fee and a change fee. It will also tie up two weeks worth of campsite fees for about three weeks on your credit card.
But you get the site you want.
fill wrote:
I now live in Sandpoint, ID (Don’t know how to change my personal info on the left). All of the forest service campgrounds around here are closed until spring. They, and and their reservations, are closed for the winter. They won't open for several months
I can today book sites at Sam Owen, Priest River, Osprey, Outlet at Priest Lake, Pioneer Park - for the 4th of July weekend. One of the sites at Devil's Elbow that would fit my 36' TT is already booked for the nights of Jul 2, 3 & 4.
Normally with federal recreation areas - you can reserve starting six months before you want the reservation.
For July 4 at a popular CG - I would start trying to reserve in late December.
There of course is a risk of having to cancel the reservation and lose some money if you reserve that far out and have to change plans.
Note - Yosemite NP campgrounds, and some other locations like Katmai NP (Alaska) permits; Camp Misty Mount (Maryland) cabins and group site; Fort Hunt (Virginia) picnic area; and a few others - have special rules and reservation windows. Check their facility information on recreation.gov
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Learn the rules for the campgrounds you want to visit. Not knowing the rules is like sitting down to play poker, and you only know the rules for blackjack.
