Hi all,In the final stages of our decision to purchase a class C rv for this year.We seldom plan trips in advance for various reasons. Was wondering what the consensus/experience is on the chance of getting last-minute campsites inside the larger national parks like Glacier, Yellowstone, Tetons, Zion, etc. etc for a 24 foot Class C with toad. It seems from some quick reading that some places do not allow all sites to be reserved in advance, but I am no expert. Our time frame for this year would be in August (could be as late as the last 2 weeks).We have never camped in any of these places so have no experience to work from.We used hotels inside of Tetons and Yellowstone parks last year and were always able to get a room last-minute. Not sure if we can expect the same for campsites. Thanks

In my experience, and that was mid to late September, the people in the campsites that want to move to a better site get first dibs in the very early morning. The owner of a first come first serve site is approached and asked if they are leaving. If they say yes, run to the ticket booth and grab the site, put your paper on it, and you win. Campsite gates usually open at 7, but the insider trading is done by then. Getting into the overflow can help secure a camp site in the morning before the gate opens. Once the gate opens, you have to find the open site first, then park and get to the ticket booth and get your paper on it. It's tricky business.

It all depends on when and where. Holiday weekends - doubtful. You'd have to be lucky and score a cancellation as it happened. Not impossible, but you'll spend a good part of your day on the phone.Sunday - Thursday, possible but once again it depends on where. I get a sense from the people in California that you need to reserve months in advance at any of the popular coastal parks.I don't believe there's a blanket policy of holding sites open for walk-ups. I know some private parks that will do this, and they're almost always full on weekends.

I can give you an example of what I've seen, in Rocky Mountain National Park. On more than one occasion, in Moraine Park (the most desired CG), I've seen empty sites for the entire time that I was there. The sign at the entrance said that the CG was full, and there were reservation tags on the sites mentioned. No one showed up, and the reservation dates were exactly the same as mine. Pity, really. The sites went unused and someone, such as yourself, would have benefited. My suggestion would be to actually call where you want to stay and simply ask them what their policy is for no shows -- how long do they hold them until they become available to first come/first served.

Often times you can find a state park nearby that you can book online. For example we wanted to stay near Rushmore the other year. We checked out Custer State Park and they have a campground set up for same day only reservations. I got online at 7 AM and booked our site for that evening. Once you are in I think you can stay for up to two weeks.

My approach would be to set up a plan of specific dates and start checking often online now. People do cancel, and maybe you can get a night or longer. Sometimes once you are "in" and are physically there, the rangers on site are forthcoming about inventory they control close in.Then scout the back-up possibilities, fanning out for 10-30 miles or so, for commercial campgrounds, state parks, Army COE, etc. Some take res, some are first-come.Do you have an app like AllStays? It's very handy for finding things in a specific vicinity.I've found that late August is still prime time. Families are thinning out for back-to-school, but there are still many Europeans in rentals, and of course others without kids.

How likely to get last-minute spots in national parks

NCWriter
Explorer
Jul 05, 2017
Veebyes wrote:
For the Tetons Gros Morne is an easy one. They have a few sites with power but the vast majority are dry....

I think you meant to write Gros Ventre...?
1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Jul 05, 2017
You won't be able to pick your date, but if you are flexable and can pull up and head out at a moments notice, I believe you can get on the reservation sites and check for openings weekly I think you can get in.

for future trips if you have a date in mind, I always get it reserved early morning on the first day it becomes reservable, that way you get your date.

some parks are full for the year in the first month of the year, but there is always a plan "B", i MYSELF LIKE PLAN "A"

for instance we like to hike up to Mount LeConte Lodge in the Smokies every couple years, when we get the date figgured out I have 4 people on the phone on the exact second it opens, sometimes it takes a couple of hours of all 4 of us calling to get through, but so far we have always got out date.
Newbiecampers
Explorer
Jul 05, 2017
Snowman9000 wrote:
It definitely helps if you can dry camp for a day or two at a time.

For sure. Glad the unit we like has a larger supply of water than some others in it's length/class (50 gallons). If we do this (a great used unit we were interested in just sold while we were out of town....grrrr), I will definitely add a second coach battery, switch to led's if needed, etc..

I tend to like the more "out of the way" places anyway, which don't have the some/all of the hookups.
Newbiecampers
Explorer
Jul 05, 2017
Thanks for the continued responses. Just got back from a brief trip out of town.

BizmarksMom wrote:
At some nat. parks, the boondocking outside of the park boundary is better than the official campgrounds.

I can see that in some cases. Definitely intriguing to me, and eliminates the problem of no campground spaces (depending on where you are).
Snowman9000
Explorer
Jun 29, 2017
It definitely helps if you can dry camp for a day or two at a time.
BizmarksMom
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017
At some nat. parks, the boondocking outside of the park boundary is better than the official campgrounds. That's definitely true at Joshua Tree. I camped in a dry lake bed overnight, then drove into the park to do the campsite shuffle described on page 1. But after looking around at how stuffed those campgrounds are, decided to stay in the nice, roomy dry lake bed.

For 2 weeks during the superbloom in the CA desert, I made 1 reservation for 2 nights at Furnace Creek in Death Valley. After a week out, I wanted free access to that gorgeous pool and the best shower room I've seen. Then I was back out boondocking again. It was great.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2017
For the Tetons Gros Morne is an easy one. They have a few sites with power but the vast majority are dry. Stayed there over a July 4th weekend a few years back. It was full only for the July 3rd night. Very surprised. I had made reservations early for the 2nd through 5th, thinking there would be big demand. I was very wrong, even with my relatively large 5er.
Cali-MinnieWinn
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017
Somebody mentioned Lassen as being uncrowded. It is smaller, but the campgrounds are often sold out all summer. Tried to get in for a week in June but was too late in making reservations. Beautiful park, though, once you get in! My advice would be to make reservations where you can and keep checking for cancellations at your first choice park. Check daily. This is how I usually get into Yosemite, when I have missed the on sale date.
lizzie
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017
Excellent advice here. I will add that we rarely make reservations and have camped for years, usually for months at the time. The key is flexibility. All we really need is a safe spot big enough for the camper to park while we get some shut-eye. The next morning we will tackle finding something better (if possible). With NP's in both the US and Canada the longest we have ever had to wait for a spot was two days (Denali). As another poster said, folks are coming and going all the time. Another hint; be very nice to the Ranger(s). Let them know how much you appreciate their service. lizzie
rexlion
Explorer
Jun 27, 2017
Getting into Tetons should be easy enough without reservations. I've gotten into a Yosemite first-come CG by showing up in late morning (not Fri or Sat). I also managed to reserve 2 nights in Yosemite Valley (one at a time, different sites) just a week or two before leaving (it was July). So just keep checking the reservation sites for open spots due to cancellations, and look at first-come CGs and boondock sites nearby the parks for places where you can't get a reservation.