Anybody tried the new Recreation.gov website?

[mikestock]

Maybe there are some bugs that need to be worked out but, so far, it has been awkward for me to see available sites and available dates for a favorite campground. As a retiree, I am often open to a date range and site selection. Before, it seemed to be easy to see, at a glance, what is available and may even see that I could change sites during my stay.

Maybe it will get better and easier to use after some experience. Guess I, basically, hate change, especially when something ain't broke.

[wxtoad]

StarkNaked wrote:
For those of you that want to see a larger block of days on the "Check Availability" screen, click the "Expand Table" button. When you do, you will see a full 16 days on one screen.

That's true, but when you want to view the next set of dates ahead, it only steps forward in 5-day increments. Instead of a "Next 5 days" button, it ought to be a "Next 14 days" button.

Ted H.

[CharlesinGA]

bukhrn wrote:

Phil M wrote:
If it ain't broke don't fix it.

In my experience the biggest problem here is the ".gov" at the end. The government procedure with any equipment or systems is "Keep Fixing It Until it is Broken. Will not say what I did prior to retiring however was quite a few different positions.

X-2, I don't understand why when something actually works good, someone sees a need to make it better, especially when it doesn't come out that way.
The little bit I've pawed around in the new site, it sucks.

You gotta understand, MANY people griped about the old web site, not sure why, but the government decided to rebid the whole thing and the new site is a DIFFERENT VENDOR than previous and I am guessing they were not given anything to get started with. I can imagine starting up a whole site like this and fine tuning it can take a lot of hours and manpower to make it happen.

Its NOT someone in government "seeing a need to make it better".

The old site was quite good about giving you links to sites they didn't handle reservations or information for. They would usually have basic info about the site, and then say that further info and reservations could be found at XYZ web site, be it USDA Forest Service, COE or whatever. Remember, the vendor for the OLD REC...GOV is the same company that provides reservations systems for thirty some odd state park systems. I would liked to see improvements, but really didn't want to see this.

Charles

[bobsallyh]

Itsy RV, you said it all!

[StarkNaked]

For those of you that want to see a larger block of days on the "Check Availability" screen, click the "Expand Table" button. When you do, you will see a full 16 days on one screen.

[wxtoad]

Mikestock wrote:

"Other than the better maps I would like to hear what particular features you like better."

I like the fact that it is a lot "cleaner" looking than the old site and it's easier to toggle among the various tabs without waiting for an entire page to open as before, so it's quicker to pick out number of sites, fees and season.

However, I will admit that there doesn't seem to be as much general information about each location as there used to be - I miss that, since I'm trying to gather as much info about each spot as possible. In the case of US Forest Service locations, the Forest Service is still maintaining their own websites on each facility, so you can always Google that.

As I noted in my original post, their availability chart ought to be in two-week blocks as it used to be.

My ideal model for all federal facilities would be an interactive map similar to the US Forest Service Interactive Visitor Map, but including BLM, COE, NPS, BOR, FWS and any other federal locations as well. The BLM last year published their own version of a similar-style map. I contacted both BLM and USFS to suggest that they pool their efforts on a single map - no response. The COE has its own map. Wouldn't it be really slick to have all these various sources on one map?

The map I'd like to see should also include latitude/longitude on the border of the area showing to make finding places a little easier. Or even better, show the coordinates when the mouse pauses on a location. The map would have icons for all the locations; clicking on an icon would take you the website for that location. From there there should be a link to the reservation page for each spot.

Too bad web designers wouldn't reach out to users to try to learn what features would be most useful BEFORE they design the site.

Ted H.

[mikestock]

Maybe if we all started calling in to get their agents to help with reservations they would get the message. I, for one, have the time on my hands and the patients to do this.

[bukhrn]

Phil M wrote:
If it ain't broke don't fix it.

In my experience the biggest problem here is the ".gov" at the end. The government procedure with any equipment or systems is "Keep Fixing It Until it is Broken. Will not say what I did prior to retiring however was quite a few different positions.

X-2, I don't understand why when something actually works good, someone sees a need to make it better, especially when it doesn't come out that way.
The little bit I've pawed around in the new site, it sucks.

[Phil_M]

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

In my experience the biggest problem here is the ".gov" at the end. The government procedure with any equipment or systems is "Keep Fixing It Until it is Broken. Will not say what I did prior to retiring however was quite a few different positions.

[goducks10]

Looked up our two favorites CG's on Rec.gov. No CG maps. Are they still loading up the maps for each CG?
Site was fairly easy to use otherwise.

[mikestock]

Do you mean recreation.gov?

Yes. Thanks. I fixed it.

wxtoad wrote:
On Oct 1, The very first time I was re-directed from the old URL to the new site, I was not impressed. But as the data manager for the one of the top-rated camping apps, I spend a LOT of time on recreation.gov and have come to find it much easier and quicker to find the information I'm seeking. The campsite maps are now usable in that they match actual positions, not some stylized-map as before.

Some minor gripes:

When looking at the reservation table, it steps forward or backward in 5-day increments instead of 14 days as on the old site.

Thankfully they used re-directs so that using the former URL usually gets you to the new page. Not always, though, and you have to stop and do a search for the URL.

They're still missing maps and fee data on a number of locations, but hopefully that will be added in the near feature.

All in all, I'd rate it better than the old site.

Sounds like you spend a lot of time using this website. I hope it doesn't take a lot of time for occasional users, like me, to learn. I did notice that the maps were derived from overhead shots and show the actual campsite positions.

I sometime will want to spend several days in a campground but there is no single site available. With the old web page, it was easy to see where and when I could select to move. So far, I don't see a quick and easy way to see what's available. Also, like to be able to see two weeks at a time and advance to the next two weeks, when looking for an opening to plan for. As a retiree, with flexibility, this is usually the way I plan and it was easier on the old website. I do like the campsite pictures.

Other than the better maps I would like to hear what particular features you like better.

[wxtoad]

On Oct 1, The very first time I was re-directed from the old URL to the new site, I was not impressed. But as the data manager for the one of the top-rated camping apps, I spend a LOT of time on recreation.gov and have come to find it much easier and quicker to find the information I'm seeking. The campsite maps are now usable in that they match actual positions, not some stylized-map as before.

Some minor gripes:

When looking at the reservation table, it steps forward or backward in 5-day increments instead of 14 days as on the old site.

Thankfully they used re-directs so that using the former URL usually gets you to the new page. Not always, though, and you have to stop and do a search for the URL.

They're still missing maps and fee data on a number of locations, but hopefully that will be added in the near feature.

All in all, I'd rate it better than the old site.

Ted H.

[RobWNY]

All I can see on that site is the logo on a white background. Nothing to click on. Do you mean recreation.gov?

[nypatnva]

Don't like it. Too difficult to navigate. the old one was better. I too, hate change. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[ItsyRV]

I think the new layout has fallen victim to Web Designers showing what they can do versus what the end users needs from the website.