Recently I traveled out to Michigan from NJ. In Ohio we stopped for the night. The next morning I was getting stuff put away for the trip when a Class A pulled up, stopped and just sat there in the street. It just so happened a maintenance man was at my site working on a plumbing issue and he walked over to check on what was going on with the Class A. As it turned out, the girl at the desk allowed these people to check-in and gave them our site. The time was just after 9am. We were almost ready to roll so it wasn't a big deal, but what if we had decided to stay right up to the last minute to check-out. Then we were in Michigan and getting ready to leave the site. Once again it was just 9am. I car pulls up in front of my driveway and the guy yells out of the window, this is my site, when will you be out I have my RV up the road and I'm waiting. Once again we were almost ready to roll so it was no big deal but when did this stuff start ?

I would not think much of either situation. People arrive early and would like to get their site if it's available.

In both cases you would be fine to stay until checkout time. It's a bit nervy for folks to show up early like that. The people at the checkin desk should have told them that the site is not available.

Dont really think its any different than a motel room. The hospitality company is going to have a set check in and check out time, and you hope they give a couple hours in between to clean or check the accomidations before sending the next person over. The problem is that there are more and more folks trying to get those sites, and more and more show up early, check out late, and computer reservations likely more often than not allow people to select an exact site that they want. Obviously the person that checked in those folks early should have verified that the site was empty, but in areas with high density and especially on the Thurs-Mon day period the computers maximize the occupancy.At least it didnt seem to actually cause any problems.

Poor practice by check in person. Early check in is fine as long as that person is told the site is still occupied and may not be available until check out time.

I stay in a lot of membership parks that let you chose your site. Those already in the park display a check out date. Most times check out is by 12 noon. Some checking in(me included) might arrive mid morning. Then drive around looking for someone that is leaving that morning on a site that we like. If they are breaking camp, it is customary to politely state that I would like their site if no one has spoken for it. Some will ask days before to get that "prefect site" for a few days. Seems to work for all involved.

Why campgrounds have gates. | Good Sam Community

mbopp
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
We showed up at 4:00PM and the previous camper was still in our site.
rv2go
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2017
I stay in a lot of membership parks that let you chose your site. Those already in the park display a check out date. Most times check out is by 12 noon. Some checking in(me included) might arrive mid morning. Then drive around looking for someone that is leaving that morning on a site that we like. If they are breaking camp, it is customary to politely state that I would like their site if no one has spoken for it. Some will ask days before to get that "prefect site" for a few days. Seems to work for all involved.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jul 27, 2017
Poor practice by check in person. Early check in is fine as long as that person is told the site is still occupied and may not be available until check out time.
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
Dont really think its any different than a motel room. The hospitality company is going to have a set check in and check out time, and you hope they give a couple hours in between to clean or check the accomidations before sending the next person over.
The problem is that there are more and more folks trying to get those sites, and more and more show up early, check out late, and computer reservations likely more often than not allow people to select an exact site that they want.
Obviously the person that checked in those folks early should have verified that the site was empty, but in areas with high density and especially on the Thurs-Mon day period the computers maximize the occupancy.

At least it didnt seem to actually cause any problems.
wildtoad
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2017
In both cases you would be fine to stay until checkout time. It's a bit nervy for folks to show up early like that. The people at the checkin desk should have told them that the site is not available.
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 27, 2017
I would not think much of either situation. People arrive early and would like to get their site if it's available.

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