CA state parks recently opened back up, so I hightailed it back to one of my favorites. Every site in this park is reservable, including the no-hookup ones (grr), so I checked the reservation board daily until day of arrival. I really don't want to reserve ahead of time because I'm a long rig, and if there are campers across the street I can't back into a site.I got all set up, paid cash for a couple nights (reservations must be 3 days out) then went online to reserve for another 12 days. Sure enough, someone had reserved my site, for ONE night. This is by no means a busy crowded park, there must be 40 other sites that are not reserved. Just my luck. Now the rangers come around warning me that I may have to move if the person insists on taking my site for a night. My reply was that I will bargain with them and gladly reimburse them for their payment, and a bit more for their understanding. I can't imagine anyone being so unreasonable as to insist I move for one night. It's not like this park is full.. unreserved spaces are everywhere, including right around me. I think I did my due diligence and just had a spat of bad luck. Many times one-night reservations don't even show up.I wish CA would consider that not every campsite has to be reservable. Leave some open for FCFS. At least that's how I would run it.

What do you do if someone moves into the campsite across the way while you're camping--can you pull out with them there? And, if so, how is it that you cannot back in with them there? (And, if not, isn't it slightly hypocritical to expect them to move temporarily so you can leave, but not expect that you need to move temporarily when someone who has a reservation for the site you're using shows up?)I can, at least to some extent, understand the desire to have some first-come, first-serve, nonreservable sites. However, given that they've done away with them, it really seems that the best way to ensure you don't have to move in the middle of your stay is to make a reservation--especially as that's really the main purpose of having a reservation, guaranteeing you a (particular) site.While there's no harm in asking the party who's reserved your site if they'd be willing to move, I don't think it's the least bit unreasonable for them to expect that they will get the specific site they reserved, even if there are plenty of other open sites. I know I sometimes have particular reasons for reserving a particular site (rather than just choosing one that fits more or less at random).

DrewE wrote:What do you do if someone moves into the campsite across the way while you're camping--can you pull out with them there? I don't think it's the least bit unreasonable for them to expect that they will get the specific site they reserved, even if there are plenty of other open sites).Pulling out is easy.. one move. Backing in, not so much. It's not that tight, it's perhaps my mediocre backing skills. I hardly think I'd be asking someone to move a trailer out for me. A truck, sure, I've had people offer to do that quite frequently.We'll see if they even show up, and if some extra cash helps solve this little problem. If this was a several day stay, I'd be moving no problem. But one night? I hope they get here soon so I can quit fretting about it.

I agree with DrewE. We have lots of spots that we favor in various state parks and try to get them when we reserve.For what it is worth: Before we book a site we almost always check to see if there is any problem backing into it with some one in the site opposite us. You can usually do this on Google earth, if the park can't tell youGuy

Guy Roan wrote: We have lots of spots that we favor in various state parks and try to get them when we reservuyFor one night?

I always liked seeing some FCFS sites at some of my favorite campgrounds. It didn't take long for people to find a work around the system, or worse yet, a city park operator, allowing huge discounts to first comers wanting to spend the entire Summer. So in this park, with 15 FCFS, they are filled till about Oct 1st.I enjoy the SPs, but things have changed there over the years, as camping popularity increased. Many SPs in my area have sites reserved from Thursday through Sunday night. In many cases no one comes Thursday, but show up Friday after lunch, and not stay Sunday night, but leave early Sunday evening.Likely won't get better anytime soon. Things change, over time, and not always for the best!2oldman...hope your stay works out for you! :)Jerry

Reservation blues - UPDATED | Good Sam Community

2oldman
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2021
MFL wrote:
2oldman...hope your stay works out for you! :)
Thanks. I'm just sitting here waiting for them. I give it 50/50 they won't even show up!!
MFL
Nomad II
Feb 20, 2021
I always liked seeing some FCFS sites at some of my favorite campgrounds. It didn't take long for people to find a work around the system, or worse yet, a city park operator, allowing huge discounts to first comers wanting to spend the entire Summer. So in this park, with 15 FCFS, they are filled till about Oct 1st.

I enjoy the SPs, but things have changed there over the years, as camping popularity increased. Many SPs in my area have sites reserved from Thursday through Sunday night. In many cases no one comes Thursday, but show up Friday after lunch, and not stay Sunday night, but leave early Sunday evening.

Likely won't get better anytime soon. Things change, over time, and not always for the best!

2oldman...hope your stay works out for you! :)

Jerry
2oldman
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2021
Guy Roan wrote:

We have lots of spots that we favor in various state parks and try to get them when we reservuy
For one night?
Guy_Roan
Explorer
Feb 20, 2021
I agree with DrewE.
We have lots of spots that we favor in various state parks and try to get them when we reserve.

For what it is worth: Before we book a site we almost always check to see if there is any problem backing into it with some one in the site opposite us.
You can usually do this on Google earth, if the park can't tell you

Guy
2oldman
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2021
DrewE wrote:
What do you do if someone moves into the campsite across the way while you're camping--can you pull out with them there?

I don't think it's the least bit unreasonable for them to expect that they will get the specific site they reserved, even if there are plenty of other open sites).
Pulling out is easy.. one move. Backing in, not so much. It's not that tight, it's perhaps my mediocre backing skills. I hardly think I'd be asking someone to move a trailer out for me. A truck, sure, I've had people offer to do that quite frequently.

We'll see if they even show up, and if some extra cash helps solve this little problem. If this was a several day stay, I'd be moving no problem. But one night? I hope they get here soon so I can quit fretting about it.
DrewE
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2021
What do you do if someone moves into the campsite across the way while you're camping--can you pull out with them there? And, if so, how is it that you cannot back in with them there? (And, if not, isn't it slightly hypocritical to expect them to move temporarily so you can leave, but not expect that you need to move temporarily when someone who has a reservation for the site you're using shows up?)

I can, at least to some extent, understand the desire to have some first-come, first-serve, nonreservable sites. However, given that they've done away with them, it really seems that the best way to ensure you don't have to move in the middle of your stay is to make a reservation--especially as that's really the main purpose of having a reservation, guaranteeing you a (particular) site.

While there's no harm in asking the party who's reserved your site if they'd be willing to move, I don't think it's the least bit unreasonable for them to expect that they will get the specific site they reserved, even if there are plenty of other open sites. I know I sometimes have particular reasons for reserving a particular site (rather than just choosing one that fits more or less at random).

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