Is there anyone out there that is trying to get a campsite and they are all full? I have been trying to get a campsite at Yosemite for the past 4 years and have been unsuccessful. I do the thing of being on the site at 7am and click "book this site" and when I do it comes all sites full! The same thing happens when I try to get any site at Tahoe.

I was lucky enough to reserve a site in late May, 2010.:) But not lucky enough to use it. :M The site was long enough, but after trying for over an half hour to back the MH in to the space, I had to give it up. :( Narrow road and too many trees.Luckily, I was able to get into my Thousand Trails park on 120 just outside the Parks entrance. I don't even try anymore.

Just too many people in California. :) Seriously though, friends of ours told us that in order to have even a ghost of a chance of getting a campsite in Yosemite Valley, you have to go on the site at 12:01 AM, not 7 AM. I think a friend of theirs got sites for them when he got his own, and that apparently was his technique.

sounds like you're trying for campsites in high season.that's why we refuse to camp in California in the summer.we have no problems getting Yosemite sites for April-May, but you still need to start reserving when they are first available.like it was said, too many people wanting to camp in California, for the amount of campsites available, especially coastal campgrounds and Nat. Park sites.remember, you're competing with not only Californians, but out-of-staters and visitors from other countries.that's why we camp in the spring, fall and winter. since you can camp year-round in California, why do it when everyone else is.the weather is still great, especially in spring and fall. Tahoe is great, in the fall after the kids go back to school.of course, if you have kids, then you're stuck.

Not Yosemite or even Tahoe, but last year I wanted to go to Ludington State park in Michigan. This was the second year in a row that I tried. I asked a few people that had gone in the past and they told me all of their tricks. Nothing worked. I finally bought a friend a case of beer and he did it for me!

Check every day for cancellations. That's what happenned when we worked at Bridge Bay in Yellowstone - almost daily cancellations - just had to be lucky in your timing.

Trying to get a campsite | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

MTPockets1
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
bikendan wrote:
MTPockets1 wrote:
Last week reserved three nights at Yellowstone Fishing Bridge RV for 5th wheel June 12th. They had sites.

the OP is trying for Yosemite, not Yellowstone!
. Oops.... My eyes and brain were out of synch..... We've never had luck at Yosemite... Stay outside and take bus into park.
bikendan
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
MTPockets1 wrote:
Last week reserved three nights at Yellowstone Fishing Bridge RV for 5th wheel June 12th. They had sites.

the OP is trying for Yosemite, not Yellowstone!
Pogoil
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
Campsites in Yosemite are some of the most sought after in the country.

Pogoil.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Mar 17, 2014
Sometimes it's the amenities that you put in. For example requesting a pull thru site in a park that has all back in sites. It will come up every time saying there is nothing available. Try changing your amenities, total length, reduce the length of your stay by a day or two.
MTPockets1
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
Last week reserved three nights at Yellowstone Fishing Bridge RV for 5th wheel June 12th. They had sites.
Greyghost
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
You may want to look at Junction CG or Ellery Lake CG just beyond Tioga Pass. We camped at Junction for 10 years and never needed a reservation. Of course that has probably changed by now. You can camp and fish there and drive into the valley or down the hill to Lee Vining.
monkey44
Nomad II
Mar 17, 2014
The trouble is: The campgrounds are probably not full, but the overlap dates often say "not available" or "Full" if you have dates in a row that are not equal to the dates available.

That's the problem with computer sign-ups, it can't tell you that if you come a day later or a day earlier you can have a site. It only processes exactly what you input to it.

I personally believe if we did at least 50% First Come sites, and an enforceable limit on days, we'd have a much better chance of camping anywhere. The reservation system only works for specific functions - and it leaves out the folks that want to stop-over without making reservation as well. It's a no-win situation for many campers. And is abused enough that is should be eliminated.

We were in Everglades, for example, in the W/E area -- about thirty sites, ALL RESERVED ... but, we stayed in non-HU part. THEN, five sites of the thirty were empty at 7PM in the evening -- the ranger would not allow us to stay in one -- the same five were still empty in the morning, and still empty the next night and morning ... and we departed without ever getting a HU site even tho there were HU sites empty EVERY night we camped.
dahkota
Explorer
Mar 17, 2014
bobjogone wrote:
Check every day for cancellations. That's what happenned when we worked at Bridge Bay in Yellowstone - almost daily cancellations - just had to be lucky in your timing.

This is your best bet. It is how I usually snag beachfront sites on short notice. Weekends are rare but available, and one can find Sunday thru Wednesday often (people booking the week so they can have a weekend). I check almost every morning when I'm planning.
bobjogone
Explorer
Mar 16, 2014
Check every day for cancellations. That's what happenned when we worked at Bridge Bay in Yellowstone - almost daily cancellations - just had to be lucky in your timing.
michigansandzil
Explorer
Mar 16, 2014
Not Yosemite or even Tahoe, but last year I wanted to go to Ludington State park in Michigan. This was the second year in a row that I tried. I asked a few people that had gone in the past and they told me all of their tricks. Nothing worked.

I finally bought a friend a case of beer and he did it for me!