CA Campground reservations

I should clarify that it is the state and federal parks I was making reservations in, with minimal problems. I found no need to go private, at $80/night!

I'm also wondering when and where. Maybe summer dates after schools are out? I didn't have any problem at all booking a couple of weeks ago online for Pismo Beach Oceano CG for a weekend in mid-late May.

In what area/city are looking? Some parks have sites that limit the length of the RV.

Like others have replied.... we stay at the private RV Parks on or near the coast and rarely have a problem getting in as long as it's not near a holiday week/weekend.

Sure they are more expensive but you do get extra amenities as well as cleaner facilities and usually a more refined crowd.

Our favorites are Chula Vista RV Resort near San Diego
Malibu RV Park in Malibu
Flying Flags in Buellton we drive over to Jalama State Beach for the day
Lawson Landing near Dillion Beach/ Bodega Bay

You must be trying to book state or federal sites. What we've found is that private parks in the area usually have sites up until almost the day of. Especially midweek. Often for essentially the same money, you can get FHU's. Also, depending on the area, public parks slightly inland will often have sites. California has failed to use our tax dollars to provide a commensurate increase in camping facilities related to the increase in populace. We have only used a public facility once in the last decade. And using the required online booking was primitive compared to what private facilities usually provide.

Gosh, I made a lot of online reservations on the CA coast last year. Can you be more specific about the problems?

Tips: Plan to go in winter, on a weekday.

Now that you have missed the couple of seconds for making the reservations, do you see through Reserve America that the entire campground is reserved? Sometimes spaces are still available but just not the popular ones.

On Reserve America, I like to view the available camp sites that show the windows of availability.

Our trick nowadays is to stay away from the campgrounds that quickly fill up for the big holidays.

Curious. What campgrounds are you looking at and for what dates?

Welcome to the wonderful world of trying to camp in California, on the coast or just about any where else.

Maybe someone can chime in with the name, but a few weeks a go there was a thread about an app where you can sign up and it will procure you a campsite the instant it's cancelled. It was tailored for state and federal campgrounds.

My point is there's software algorithms that will surely circumvent anything your wife can do to grab a site ... she'll never be fast enough to outrun the software.

I wish now I had downloaded the app ... I kind need it myself.