Louisiana State Parks Reservation Fee

[DEW]

I am concerned about paying a $6 reservation fee for the first night staying at any Louisiana State Park when checking in as a drive up. As a visitor I move from park to park often. When I asked why there was a reservation fee when I was a drive up? I was told that LSP was a member of a national reservation system and it was a requirement to pay the fee regardless if the registration system was used or not. I use the National Park System and many State Parks Systems and I feel that this is a rip off fee as other systems do not charge this fee . I would like to find out how others think of this extra fee. Have some of the other National and State parks been charging this "extra fee"?

[magnusfide]

dahkota wrote:


Just an FYI, the people who work at each park are/were NOT the ones who created the software for camp site reservations, were not the ones who maintained the server hardware, don't maintain/fix the software, don't update the software/website, don't answer the reservation hotline, etc.

If you want to be able to go online, pick and choose campsites, find out the latest information,look for availability, all from the convenience of your home, you will need to pay.

No the software/system was already created and functioning well in many states. It was a basic format that never had any problems as long as the info was entered correctly - GIGO. Ergo maintenance was almost nil; and the state systems did this without additional fees. So no, we do not need "to pay". Basically someone sold a bureaucrat a scheme somewhere, the bureaucrat bought it without a close examination of actual costs and facts and now we have this mess. FWIW, and it's no secret, I don't support those commercial res systems. The state systems we've used over 40+ years worked just fine and they didn't require any extra personnel to run them.

[dahkota]

magnusfide wrote:

Cat Lady wrote:
When state employees were handling reservations, they were friendly, helpful, and there was no "reservation fee." Then the politicians got involved. They took away this job from the state employees and now pay an outside source to do the same thing for an additional fee...I believe it was $8 or $9. I have to wonder about their thinking. Course, our politicians don't have to use logic.

Double ditto. I feel it's a rip-off as well. The state employees still have to work at the park, still have to be paid and have benefits. So no savings to the state, added burden to the camper. The outside res source makes many more mistakes than the state employees do as well and charges you for the "privilege".

Just an FYI, the people who work at each park are/were NOT the ones who created the software for camp site reservations, were not the ones who maintained the server hardware, don't maintain/fix the software, don't update the software/website, don't answer the reservation hotline, etc.

If you want to be able to go online, pick and choose campsites, find out the latest information,look for availability, all from the convenience of your home, you will need to pay.

People seem to want instant results and convenience, but they don't want to pay for it. Most don't understand the work that goes on in the background to maintain a live website. The various governments, amid the cries of "too big!" "bloated!" "Overspending!" found places to cut salaries and overhead which, even for a state park reservation site, can run into the mid six figures.

It's kinda like going into McDonald's because it's fast and cheap and then complaining about what's in the burgers. No, wait, that is people who complain about the lack of amenities in state parks. It's more like going into a sit down restaurant and complaining about having to tip.

[musicman54]

its 10 bucks here in oregon

[wxtoad]

DEW wrote:
I was told that LSP was a member of a national reservation system and it was a requirement to pay the fee regardless if the registration system was used or not.

Some states do and some states do not, and both types use ReserveAmerica, which is the "national reservation system" to which I believe you are referring. So the states have the say in whether they impose a reservation fee for walk-ups. Virginia started this a few years ago, calling it a "registration fee" - there was no mention of it on their fees web page at the time nor did they have any signs posted in the office about it. We no longer patronize VA state parks.

And some states don't charge a reservation fee at all - I believe Florida is one. But they do impose hefty cancellation or change fees.

Ted H.

[VE3ESN]

wbwood wrote:
I just made reservations this morning through reserve America for a North Carolina state park. Camping fee is $22/night, but there is a $3 reservation fee. Total cost at check out was $50. We were charged the reservation fee for each night. I don't know if they charge it for walk ups as we never do that.

On the other hand, I made reservations on recreation.gov this morning for a COE campground in Georgia. Camping Fee was $24/night, but no reservation fee. Total cost for 2 nights was $48. In October we are going to Cades Cove in the GSMNP. I don't remember if there was a fee for there, but I want to say there wasn't.

Some locales charge more than others. I just look at it as a total cost. I do not care if they say camping is a certain price and the reservation fee for using the reservation service is a mother fee, but yet charge the same price if not using the service. Would make much more since for them just to make the camping fee $6 more all the way around and skip the reservation fee.

Regarding NC specifically, we were recently a "walk-up" at Stone Mountain State Park (a fabulous park, BTW), and were NOT charged a "walk-up" fee.

OTOH, I recall that in NY, we were charged $2.75 as a "walk-up" fee, but just for the first night.

So it would appear that different jurisdictions have different rules, even if they use the same reservation company (Reserve America in this case).

[morgj]

every park I've been to in LA has had free laundry and free wi-fi

[wbwood]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:

wbwood wrote:
Lousiianas fee page states that you pay the $6 fee even as a walk up. Otherwise, your prices are about the same as ours without the fee. $22 for w/e. we have a $3 reservation fee, but I don't think you pay it if you walk up. But your prices do drop for the same campsite from October - march by $4. Our rate stays the same all year long.

You also get charged to enter the parks whereas we don't. To me it looks like an ongoing story. State parks are starting to cost about the same as some private parks with more amenities. You can't consider a state park based on the value (cost) anymore. You basically have to assess it for its natural value.

Brian,
Well said. SD state parks require a user/entry pass for everyone, a $7 res. fee for non resident campers. 1night or 14, its still one fee of $7 to reserve.
We were very satisfied with our reservations and stay in St Bernard SP, La. for 3 weeks in feb. to mar. this year. The 14 day stay limit was easily overcome due to off season with a new reservation fee for another week. In the grand picture Of cost for value, it was peanuts.
Louisiana will see us back any time.
Max

Now see, that's where NC gets us. It's $3 per day. I reserved for 2 days for this upcoming weekend. Nightly rate is $22. I was charged $50 ($22x2 + $3x2). But, we have no entrance fees or passports.

[SDcampowneroper]

wbwood wrote:
Lousiianas fee page states that you pay the $6 fee even as a walk up. Otherwise, your prices are about the same as ours without the fee. $22 for w/e. we have a $3 reservation fee, but I don't think you pay it if you walk up. But your prices do drop for the same campsite from October - march by $4. Our rate stays the same all year long.

You also get charged to enter the parks whereas we don't. To me it looks like an ongoing story. State parks are starting to cost about the same as some private parks with more amenities. You can't consider a state park based on the value (cost) anymore. You basically have to assess it for its natural value.

Brian,
Well said. SD state parks require a user/entry pass for everyone, a $7 res. fee for non resident campers. 1night or 14, its still one fee of $7 to reserve.
We were very satisfied with our reservations and stay in St Bernard SP, La. for 3 weeks in feb. to mar. this year. The 14 day stay limit was easily overcome due to off season with a new reservation fee for another week. In the grand picture Of cost for value, it was peanuts.
Louisiana will see us back any time.
Max

[wbwood]

Lousiianas fee page states that you pay the $6 fee even as a walk up. Otherwise, your prices are about the same as ours without the fee. $22 for w/e. we have a $3 reservation fee, but I don't think you pay it if you walk up. But your prices do drop for the same campsite from October - march by $4. Our rate stays the same all year long.

You also get charged to enter the parks whereas we don't. To me it looks like an ongoing story. State parks are starting to cost about the same as some private parks with more amenities. You can't consider a state park based on the value (cost) anymore. You basically have to assess it for its natural value.

[wbwood]

sh410 wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

I haven't looked at Louisianas reservation system, but isn't there a cut-off date for reservations? We have found 2-3 days prior to the reservation. So if you drove in on the same day as you wanted to stay and there was no reservation for that site then there shouldn't be a problem with getting that site.

And the person after you wants the same site. How would the check in person know if they didn't put you into the system. There can be only one reservation system--wouldn't you agree?

There is a cut off time. NC uses the reserve America system and when you get it the park there is a list of available sites for walk ups. You pick a site and pay for it. The site is removed from the list. I just looked and can not make a reservation for tomorrow. It's for walk ups only after what is already been reserved. Te next reservation date is Tuesday. The staff have a printout of the reservations and they mark you off when you check in.

[sh410]

Any campground with a reservation system has to have all sites run thru the system. KOA, COE, NP, NFS, State Park etc, whether is a home grown system, paper, or a reservation company -- Reserve America etc. Each of these systems have a cost that is now being passed on to the people that use the campgrounds rather than the taxpayer or raising the cost of daily use of the site.

[bukhrn]

It's Not just La., many (or most States) use Reserve America, and it's they, not the state who charges the reservation fee, if that were the case, then Recreation.Gov, which is part of the same company would charge a reservation fee for COE cg's as they do NF & NP cg's.
Once a State, or the Fed's go with a contract to the reservation companies, all sites in a cg are run through the system.

[sh410]

2gypsies wrote:

I haven't looked at Louisianas reservation system, but isn't there a cut-off date for reservations? We have found 2-3 days prior to the reservation. So if you drove in on the same day as you wanted to stay and there was no reservation for that site then there shouldn't be a problem with getting that site.

And the person after you wants the same site. How would the check in person know if they didn't put you into the system. There can be only one reservation system--wouldn't you agree?

[2gypsies1]

sh410 wrote:

DEW wrote:
I understand State and Federal Parks charge reservation fee to the campers that use their reservation system. The post states that all campers are charged a reservation fee, not just the campers using the reservation system. There is nothing wrong with charging a reservation fee if you use the system. But charging a drive up camper is not a justified fee.

A drive up camper would need to be put into the system so that there would not be double booking for the same site. Therefore the fee for the drive up camper.

I haven't looked at Louisianas reservation system, but isn't there a cut-off date for reservations? We have found 2-3 days prior to the reservation. So if you drove in on the same day as you wanted to stay and there was no reservation for that site then there shouldn't be a problem with getting that site.