We've been camping for over fifty years. Never make reservations and have always found a site when we need it. We usually spend only a few days in each, visit the sights and move on ... state to state across the USA. We camp in the shoulder seasons, not summer, and for several months each trip depending on weather. We live in Florida at the moment, and our trips usually cross country, sometimes south, sometimes north.We are in a truck camper, and tow nothing.As a general statement, would those of you camping now or in the next couple months think we can continue this type camping, with no reservations and still find spots here and there as we have been in the past? We generally use NPS, State Parks, COE, but are not immune to use private for a night or two, but not resort type CGs, we are just two, all kids are adults and no longer accompany us.We know the virus has impacted camping, but are just looking for general "Fullness" of campgrounds, and the potential for one or two nights patched in as we travel.

We camped in southwest Colorado last year. We were surprised at how many RV's were on the road and in the parks. We made reservations in advance but it was at an RV Park. Normally we enjoy camping at National Forest Service campgrounds but those all close by September 30. They do have first-come-first-serve sites, however.This year we are camping in Gunnison and we made our reservations in January at another RV park.I think it depends on when you go. Before we retired we would try to find a first come site on a Sunday afternoon. That worked really well for us.This year many families bought or rented RV's for family vacations. Then again, many people like us I suppose, will travel in the fall. So not sure what the situations will be like.

Because you are in a truck camper, you are more apt to find what you are looking for. It's those of us that have larger TT's, 5th wheels and motorhomes that get squeezed out first. Some places, we just aren't allowed because of our length. Then, there's the fact that we always want hook-ups. Some might even cry for cable TV, internet, washers and dyers, and a bathhouse. Camping today is not what it was 50 years ago, that's for sure.

We just back to FL after a late May to last Friday camping loop all the way out to Idaho and back. When we stay at a private cg we do, make a reservation a few hours out from a cg. Just to keep us from showing up at a full cg. And for that 7000 mile cg to cg trip, stopping at about 37 places, we were turned down once and that was at a cg 30 miles from West Yellowstone. And in that case our second choice was open. We had no problems at any other places. We do make advanced, meaning several day, reservations at COE cg or SP. And the other exception is when we plan a mail stop, staying at some cg to get mail and packages. That we reserve a week or so ahead and check to see if packages are OK.We also saw no sign of the supposedly over filled cg that many people are claiming.We did not try to stay at any NP this time. RVTW was very useful this trip in finding CG and other places.

monkey44 wrote:We've been camping for over fifty years. Never make reservations and have always found a site when we need it. We usually spend only a few days in each, visit the sights and move on ... state to state across the USA. We camp in the shoulder seasons, not summer, and for several months each trip depending on weather. We live in Florida at the moment, and our trips usually cross country, sometimes south, sometimes north.We are in a truck camper, and tow nothing.As a general statement, would those of you camping now or in the next couple months think we can continue this type camping, with no reservations and still find spots here and there as we have been in the past? We generally use NPS, State Parks, COE, but are not immune to use private for a night or two, but not resort type CGs, we are just two, all kids are adults and no longer accompany us.We know the virus has impacted camping, but are just looking for general "Fullness" of campgrounds, and the potential for one or two nights patched in as we travel.The big issue to your question is where and when do you want to RV camp. Different states, areas have their high and low seasons based on weather and the number of RVers. i.e anywhere along the west coast in the summer time is highly populated and without reservations you will have problems finding RV parks. This idea is the same for every state. Personally,IMHO, making reservations ahead does not lock you into a set schedule, you can always call and change or cancel your reservations. Just be sure to check the cancellation policies for each RV park. You have everything to gain and nothing to loose by making reservations ahead and you avoid the possible frustrations and worry about finding an RV site every day.

You have everything to gain and nothing to loose by making reservations ahead and you avoid the possible frustrations and worry about finding an RV site every day.I don't agree with that, calling to change or cancel reservations is a PITA for all concerned. Unless it is a NP, SP or other high use area we didn't find reservations to be required or desirable. We had zero problems getting spots in COE parks unless it was the weekend when the locals swarm the parks. We even made a reservation online at our last COE park sitting in front of the check in booth window. Having a reliable hotspot makes all this much easier.We went thru FL, AL, GA, TN, AR, OK, NM, CO, UT, ID, WY, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS, and MS. And camped in every one except UT. Obviously certain states are verboten and to be avoided: NM, the left coast, all of New England and the Mid Atlantic states. We cut thru the corner of NM before the governor clamped down again.

Camping with no reservations | Good Sam Community

bikendan
Explorer
Aug 29, 2020
garmp wrote:
rvshrinker wrote:
Also if you don't have cell service, you can't make a reservation. We ended up in a WM this summer after calling a cg to make a reservation and leaving a VM.

OK> You got me. Maybe I'm slower today than normal, but lyou ended up in a WM? (Waste Management)? Please enlighten me.

WM- Wal-Mart
garmp
Explorer II
Aug 29, 2020
rvshrinker wrote:
Also if you don't have cell service, you can't make a reservation. We ended up in a WM this summer after calling a cg to make a reservation and leaving a VM.

OK> You got me. Maybe I'm slower today than normal, but lyou ended up in a WM? (Waste Management)? Please enlighten me.
monkey44
Nomad II
Aug 29, 2020
New England, no worries, we're heading to the central west states, UTAH, CO, Wy, Dakotas. Open air and lots of non-resort type CG. We like NF, NP, St Pk, COE, as first choice. Sometimes an off-beaten-track private ... which are usually quite different and interesting folks.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Aug 29, 2020
Good luck finding anything decent in a preferred area in New England without reservations

Two reasons we rarely visit those states.

First they contain the worst COVID hotspots and have insane governors.

Secondly: it is for the most part a solid city from Philly to Boston and we prefer scenic rural areas.

We did one trip mainly to see DC and the other historic US History areas for the kids and to complete their lower 48 states visited. But that was enough with the possible exception of NH, VT, and Maine possibly upstate NY and PA.

I was born in NJ and happily escaped.
mdcamping
Explorer
Aug 29, 2020
Trekkar wrote:
agesilaus wrote:
You have everything to gain and nothing to loose by making reservations ahead and you avoid the possible frustrations and worry about finding an RV site every day.

I don't agree with that, calling to change or cancel reservations is a PITA for all concerned. Unless it is a NP, SP or other high use area we didn't find reservations to be required or desirable. We had zero problems getting spots in COE parks unless it was the weekend when the locals swarm the parks. We even made a reservation online at our last COE park sitting in front of the check in booth window. Having a reliable hotspot makes all this much easier.

We went thru FL, AL, GA, TN, AR, OK, NM, CO, UT, ID, WY, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS, and MS. And camped in every one except UT. Obviously certain states are verboten and to be avoided: NM, the left coast, all of New England and the Mid Atlantic states. We cut thru the corner of NM before the governor clamped down again.

X2. Reservations are for sissies!;)

Good luck finding anything decent in a preferred area in New England without reservations ;)

Mike
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Aug 28, 2020
Weekdays should be fine. Weekends could be tougher depending on location. We weren't able to camp this weekend because as of Wednesday I couldn't find a reservable spot within 200 miles. Summer weekends in the PNW. Only first come first serve and with a Friday afternoon arrival I got nervous. Not saying you wouldn't find something, but it could be work. Course with a TC it's pretty easy to just pull over on some FS logging road. But that doesn't work for our size TT.

Also if you don't have cell service, you can't make a reservation. We ended up in a WM this summer after calling a cg to make a reservation and leaving a VM. We lost service after that so never got their call to call back and confirm one of their last spots. By the time we showed up they were full.
garmp
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2020
MarkTwain: :B US to!
agesilaus
Explorer III
Aug 26, 2020
COE cg are the same but as I noted above, if you have a hotspot you can make a reservation while sitting at the check in window, for that day too.
JAC1982
Explorer
Aug 26, 2020
Sjm9911 wrote:
Just as an example this is off the NY state campground site. "New York State Parks 2020

New York State Park campsites, cabins, cottages and yurts are currently open to existing and new reservations. Online reservations are encouraged. No walk-ins or same-day reservations will be permitted. "

So you can't get into a site without a resevation. Even if your not a sissy.

This doesn't apply to private places. But , as stated, depends on where you want to go.

They've done that at Colorado State Parks as well. Must have a reservation. There is now a Facebook group dedicated to "selling" your campsite if you can't make it. Thankfully most people just "sell" them for what they paid, but I could see it becoming like concert tickets with scalpers if things continue.
Sjm9911
Explorer
Aug 26, 2020
Just as an example this is off the NY state campground site. "New York State Parks 2020

New York State Park campsites, cabins, cottages and yurts are currently open to existing and new reservations. Online reservations are encouraged. No walk-ins or same-day reservations will be permitted. "

So you can't get into a site without a resevation. Even if your not a sissy.

This doesn't apply to private places. But , as stated, depends on where you want to go.

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