Is it possible to call campgrounds as we go?

2gypsies wrote:


We full-timed for 16+ years and if we had to make reservations for all those days we wouldn't have lasted one month! We have stayed at all the major national parks, the Oregon coast - in summer (& other times) and many, many popular places. We honestly, have never been turned away - even though we have a 40' motorhome. If you're able to pull in on a Sunday through Wednesday early in the day, you'll get a spot. Those parks don't reserve every single site. We've volunteered at those parks so we're aware of this.

With all due respect we have seen the situation "tighten up" over the three years we've been full-timing. As you noted part of it is your own flexibility as to dates and also with respect to whether or not you want hookups. But if you do want hookups and you want prime sites in mid-summer you're hard pressed to get what you want without reservations. Last summer we were in Jasper NP and the family next to us wanted to extend their stay for a single day and were willing to move sites to do it and they were told no.

As I see it the problem at many parks isn't just living full-time in their RVs as has been discussed in other some threads, but also a lot of RVs parked for the season as "summer homes". I have a suspicion that in better economic times some of these RVs would be driving across country on vacations. These days I think a lot get used, instead, as weekend homes, a place in the woods to escape to. It's not just money that limits vacations; many families seem to have very constrained schedules that make multi-week vacations impractical.

The park we are currently staying at in suburban Maryland between DC and Baltimore is an example of what I am talking about. About a third of the sites appear to be occupied as seasonals. Close to half appear to be filled on a regular basis by local "weekenders" (in on Friday out on Sunday). The remainder are what are available for the traveler. No question you can stay here Sun-Wed without a reservation. But arriving on a Friday or Saturday would be very much hit and miss.

Every full-timer defines his own style. We are very much "destination" full-timers. We plan to go to specific places for the summer. This summer we will be in Nova Scotia and PEI for all of July and will primarily be staying in Canadian national parks. Because July includes both Canada Day and the 4th of July we have made reservations for the entire month. It might not be someone else's style but we like being able to stay where we want when we want.