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ontario parks reservation tips

The_Kroc
Explorer
Explorer
what 's the secret to getting an online reservation at a Ontario Prov Park? We're trying to get a site at The Pinery (Riverside electric site). I search this morning at 7:00 AM EST exactly 5 months out as required but all the sites were taken already. I can't believe all those sites along the river could be snapped up that quickly. What am I doing wrong? I'd appreciate any tips you could pass along to me.
12 REPLIES 12

shum02
Explorer
Explorer
hone eagle wrote:
Thats why when I fill out a survey from ontario parks
- what is the biggest problem ? reservations .
my suggestion , no refunds , you reserve it you pay for it.

cancel? tough.

stop all the shenanigans maybe


It's been suggested before....many, many times for at least a decade and I can guarantee you with 100% accuracy it will never happen.
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hone_eagle
Explorer
Explorer
Thats why when I fill out a survey from ontario parks
- what is the biggest problem ? reservations .
my suggestion , no refunds , you reserve it you pay for it.

cancel? tough.

stop all the shenanigans maybe
2005 Volvo 670 singled freedomline 12 speed
Newmar 34rsks 2008
Hensley trailersaver TSLB2H
directlink brake controller

-when overkill is cheaper-

The_Kroc
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks everyone for your feedback. Our family spent many
summers at the Pinery in the 70's, 80's & 90's from our home in Toledo Ohio. In 2000 we had to move further away and could not make the trip from Cincinnati. We love the Pinery, and have so many fond memories of the white sand, the oak savanna and listening for the crashing waves from our campsite at night. I do hope that my wife & I can visit one more time before we have call it quits.

I knew we shouldn't have told so many people how special this place is.

bdhoun
Explorer
Explorer
I usually start keeping track of available sites a week or so before I can make my reservation. Then start crossing them off on a daily basis. The night before, I start looking at the site pictures to narrow down my choice of sites to just a few. At 7:00:00 I hit the reserve button for the site I want. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. I haven't been able to get a site at Kilbear for 3 years now.
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shum02
Explorer
Explorer
When the kids where little and we had to book holidays way before we could book a site it was the only way to make sure you got something. Now with the kids grown and not coming we will just show up at a park and wing it ๐Ÿ™‚ Having a generator really helps as well since we'll take non-powered sites unless it's too hot. I won't cook inside a camper if it's too hot and you can't run the genny all night, and that is the case at all Provincial Parks unless there is NO one there.

Now with the Loonie low again you'll also be fighting with more U.S visitors as well.
2006 F350 Lariat FX4 CC 4x4 PSD
2007 KZ2505QSS-F Outdoorsman

almcc
Explorer
Explorer
We've pretty much given up on southern Ontario provincial parks for the summer season as getting a reservation isn't possible unless you go on the website at 12:01 am on the first day that reservations are open for the period you want and try to book. We may hit a park in the shoulder season when it's quieter and we can get in during the week.

We've seen the same at some National Parks as well, we couldn't get a preferred site at Riding Mountain because I waited till noon on the first day reservations were open.

JaxDad
Explorer III
Explorer III
That, or as is becoming the trend lately, people book huge blocks of days and then post ads online reselling them.

Scalping is not just for rock concerts anymore.

shum02
Explorer
Explorer
The Kroc wrote:
do they then cancel some of days? It seems like a stiff penalty to pay if they then cancel unwanted reserved days


They do it,i've done it. You want it you do it.
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2007 KZ2505QSS-F Outdoorsman

camp-n-family
Explorer
Explorer
It can be tough to get into the Pinery. People will book the maximum number of days and then cancel the days before, pay the penalties, just to get the week at the end that they want. Not fair, but it happens.
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Jack_Diane_Free
Explorer
Explorer
Reservations at the Pinery have been like that for years. Almost impossible.

The_Kroc
Explorer
Explorer
do they then cancel some of days? It seems like a stiff penalty to pay if they then cancel unwanted reserved days

CoMoCo
Explorer
Explorer
You did it right. But keep in mind that you can reserve a site for 21 days (I think) so people were booking reservations that started before your start day and finished after your start day.
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