Reservations - 5 to 7 day minimum??

willald wrote:
Yep, seen reservation restrictions like that a time or two. Mostly at big resort type parks located in high $$ tourist areas (beaches, etc).

Never been a problem for us, though, as usually if we're staying at parks like that, we're reserving a stay at least that long if not longer, anyway.

As to traveling without reservations: To each their own, but we would NOT do that. I'm not using up a bunch of $$ on fuel and vacation time without knowing I'm going to have a good site when I get to my destination.

Many of the places we camp, without a reservation, you'll either get turned away and have to find somewhere else to stay, or you'll get put in the less desirable sites that nobody else wants. No thanks. I'll leave those sites and that uncertainty for those that don't plan (and call) ahead.

There is your problem!
Aside from a general direction, always subject to change,
we seldom have a destination.

My sister in law plots their entire trip, meal stops, things to see, overnight stops etc.

This would drive me nuts.
One time we sarted out for a weekend in northern Ontario, ended up in Banff, visited Mt Rushmore and Sturgis on the way home!