Campground Logic is there any thought into assigning sites?

[LaPlaya]

I need to rant a bit... if you dont mind.

Where is the logic in a campgrounds method of assigning sites... We are two adults in our early 60's no kids no pets. This campground is virtually empty, we have had 4 sites on each side of us empty for several days, until now... a young family of 6 just backed in beside us in a pop up trailer, 2 adults 4 kids somewhere under 10 years of age and a big german sheppard dog that barks at everything that moves.. a hundred empty sites in this campground and they are assigned right next to us... so much for our peace and quiet. Yes we could pack up and move, but we have been here a week now and are kind of settled in to our site. ok, rant over.

[rware]

It seems to me that in most campgrounds today site assignment is made by a computer. I am sure they have been programmed to make optimum use of the campground. They give you the minimum site that meets your needs. If you are 30 amp and they have a mix of 30 and 50 amp sites, you are getting a 30 amp site. If your rig is 35 foot long and they have spaces that will handle 35 or 45 foot rigs, you are getting a 35 foot space.

[TexasShadow]

sometimes the camp register people will just tell you to go pick a place yourself.
when that happens, the odds are good (or bad) that they'll park right next to you 'cause they're skeered of being alone.

[Merrykalia]

We are camp hosts at a Virginia State Park for 2 months out of every year and it never ceases to amaze me that a campground can have a single camper in it and when the next one arrives, they choose a site right beside of the only other camper.

Scared? Need someone close in case bears attack? UFOs?

Who knows?

It is not just once or twice, but dozens of times.

[Padlin]

I've been on the other side of the equation. Reserved a site at an unknown CG based on what looked good on the online CG map. Show up and setup on my site only to find most of the park is going to be empty and I picked the site between 4 other trailers. Made the mistake of not asking if I could look around and pick from unassigned sites like I should have and will do from now on.
Having a hybrid at the time once setup I'm staying put.

To those of you who were wondering why the jerk in the hybrid camped next to them instead of somewhere else 2 weeks ago, call me sidetracked, for the first time the back seat was full of grand kids. Also first time at a "Resort" CG.

From what I could tell, no one seemed to care much, no scowls or dirty looks.

[Crowe]

I would go to the office and ask the same question. You may learn something

Or maybe they will. Although I feel KCMODOE hit a lot of the reasons why people wind up on the sites they wind up on, if you ask management I think you owe them an explanation as to why you are asking. Just tell them it's quite a point of discussion on here where there are THOUSANDS of camping folks and a little understanding might go a long way. We've actually requested the moving a number of times when they plunked us right on top of someone else. Not so much for us, but for the person who was there first (unless, of course, the site is a "to die for" site for us).

On edit: If you've ever done assigned seating for things like weddings, company functions or political events you'll discover that it's not as easy as it seems and sometimes it just falls under the category of "tough snoogies".

[kcmoedoe]

There are many, many permutations that must be considered when assigning sites. People want to be close to/away from the restrooms/wifi repeater/dumpsters/office/playground/pool/dog park etc. People want pull thrus, to be next to their friends, 50 amp services, site with/without trees for shade and satellite and some want "their" site that they take every year. The park
may be empty on Wednesday and full Friday so people wanting to stay a week that come in on that Wednesday must have a site that they can stay in all week and still accommodate all those concerns all the guests arriving on Friday expect to be accommodated.
Then there is the possibility that the park has some sections out of service during the slower periods so they can do major maintenance. Maybe a sewer line needs to be redone or new water lines ran. Maybe they give a section a rest to let the grass recover from a busy weekend. There is much more to it than just looking out and saying "those people should be somewhere else".

[Old-Biscuit]

Friend of ours built a 50 site campground.

2 rows of back in and the rest pull thru.

Made the sites as wide & long as possible

Standing orders.........first ASK what they want. Back in or pull thru.
Then place them every other site until full.
Of season.....place then at one end...then other end.

In other words.......keep them spaced as much as possible

They are RVrs and understand 'space'

When we traveled......we always ASKED at check in.........place us as far from others as possible.

[Dog_Folks]

LaPlaya wrote:
I need to rant a bit... if you dont mind.

Where is the logic in a campgrounds method of assigning sites... We are two adults in our early 60's no kids no pets. This campground is virtually empty, we have had 4 sites on each side of us empty for several days, until now... a young family of 6 just backed in beside us in a pop up trailer, 2 adults 4 kids somewhere under 10 years of age and a big german sheppard dog that barks at everything that moves.. a hundred empty sites in this campground and they are assigned right next to us... so much for our peace and quiet. Yes we could pack up and move, but we have been here a week now and are kind of settled in to our site. ok, rant over.

If you find out anything let us know.

It has happened to me more than once.

[IDman]

I have been in your spot several times and went to the office to ask why? They all say the same thing...."we can move you if you would like". They NEVER move the last people in! It is kind of like being in a hotel with a loud party next door, or noisy crying babies. When you call the desk, they never quiet the offenders but offer to "move you". They do NOT think, care, or want to confront anyone!

[DiskDoctr]

Sorry for your poor experience. For us, the kids would be fine (not the barking dog).

Maybe you have the best area?

Makes one think about assigned sites...maybe an entry survey where the guests scale 1-5 the importance of privacy, kids, pets, social, etc, with the commitment to "take into consideration when we can" your preferences.

Just a thought.

Hopefully your first impressions will not be a lasting experience while you are there 🙂

[korbe]

When I read these types of posts, I try to get a visual of the layout of the park.
Are the spaces close together? Big sites? Is your awning within 10 feet of your neighbor's sewer connection?

Because some parks are not laid out for peace-an-quiet.

[TenOC]

I would go to the office and ask the same question. You may learn something.

[BB_TX]

Moving is a pain, and I probably would not unless they were really annoying. But I would go to the office and question why they did that. Maybe at least next time they would give more consideration to site assignments.

[ed6713]

LaPlaya wrote:
a young family of 6 just backed in beside us in a pop up trailer, 2 adults 4 kids somewhere under 10 years of age and a big german sheppard dog that barks at everything that moves

Ya gotta love it. 😉

You would hope the registration people would spread campers out just to give everyone some privacy. Guess not. It's possible that whoever assigns sites has never been camping.

We boondock mostly. Sometimes there are hundreds of square miles to camp on and someone feels the need to settle down maybe a hundred feet from us. Why??? I let the dog roam free under such circumstances. If she disturbs the new neighbors, I see that as their problem and not mine.

Oh well. There will be lots of time for peace and quiet when you're in the old age home. Enjoy the kids while you can.

[mockturtle]

It's one of the great mysteries of life---much like the previous thread about campers who move in right next door by choice when there are 100 empty sites. What I have done, in similar circumstances, is move.