Virginia State parks new site specific policy

[johnvb]

Anyone here who camps at the VA state parks have an opinion on this?

One of the reasons we enjoy the state parks was the fact that the reservations were non-specific. We like camping 4 or 5 nights in a row, say from a Thursday to a Sunday or Monday. Showed up (with reservations) and picked a site. Then if there is a day or two with inclement weather, no biggie.

Now when I check the Reserve America website, the campground sites are tied up for the weekend, with holes before and after. Doesn't seem like an "improvement " to me. Now no different than the competition. The camp host are probably digging it, less work for them.

Epic fail, Virginia State Parks! :M (rant over)

[monkey44]

We're firm believers that all public campgrounds should be half reserve and half show up and get a site.

Problem will always be at least two groups: Families that have specific plans, vacation days, or family issues want to reserve (and often that gets abused) ... and families that want the freedom to stay longer or arrive at a 'convenient travel time' without a forced arrival and departure date ...

Unfortunately, many of the public CG's look at budget only, and say it costs less to allow a web service to reserve sites (altho' that's debatable) ...

We seems to have a movement towards subcontracting jobs that once were employment in the public agencies. I can't imagine it's less costly in the long run to contract it, but that's what's happening in a lot of venues. And it allows service performance to degrade (as in RA).

It means one segment of the camping public is often left out in the wind - those that want the freedom to arrive and get a site vs. those that want a site date in advance. We should always have both, but it looks like that may be a thing of the past coming at us.

[3oaks]

Guess I'm just too much of an old timer. 25 years ago, camping could be more spontaneous. Nice weekend, go for it! Now one has to plan their trips in the beginning of the season, just to catch a spot. Weather be dammed.

We used to like it that way too. But times have changed. There are a lot more retirees and families camping these days.

[GMandJM]

Has anyone asked if/confirmed that VSPs still have walk-up sites available?

It's sort of my understanding that there are now three methods of getting a site at VSPs:
Site-specific via R/A
Non-site-specific via R/A
Walk-up at the park office

I have nothing to back that up though. Just supposition on my part.

[bodyshop_bob]

Personally, I like site-specific because I don't have an open schedule. However, I've read many folks who don't like the site-specific for many reasons including yours. I think the best alternative for any state is to make every other site one that can be reserved. Give you folks with ample time to pull in and find one of your choosing. Gives me the ability to find a site that fits my rig and the knowledge it will be available when I show up. Best of both worlds.

[Bob806]

Funny you started this thread, as I'm totally frustrated with the Reserve America in regards to VSPs. I was looking into visiting Douthat this fall, for the first time ever, but the system employed by Reserve America is awful. It looks like the entire CG is full, when the folks at their campground office told me it's not the case at all. Makes things difficult for first time visitors to any park....I like being able to drive in and scope out the best of what's available when I get there. Like others have mentioned, that seems to be a thing of the past and it's no good.

[ljr]

I stop at Hungry Mother each Spring on the way north from snowbirding. They have FHU sites ranging from huge to tiny. Until last year I had to worry if something was going on that might fill all the sites that I'd fit.

[GMandJM]

Have used campsitephotos.

Great site. Thanks for mentioning it, JohnVB.

[toedtoes]

Two scenarios:

I can only camp from Friday to Sunday and all the nice sites are full by the time I arrive and I can only get the site next to the bathroom. Now with reserved sites, I can actually get a decent site for the weekend.

I can arrive before the crowds and have always been able to get a decent site. Now because people can reserve specific sites, I get stuck with the site next the bathrooms.

Let's face it - there is no way to please everybody.

[johnvb]

GMandJM wrote:
Thanks for the heads up on the subject. I see what you mean now.

One of my fave sites at Chippokes isn't reservable. (Kinda of wish it was.)

Looks like the reservable sites have photos now.

I was looking for a spot in a couple of weeks, did get one at Chippokes (and yes it was a site specific 🙂 )

Here is an excellent website with pics of VA campgrounds: Especially helpful when trying to book a site at North Bend COE park. As a few of those sites aren't so hot, and that's another place that fills up quickly:

http://www.campsitephotos.com/campground-directory/state/Virginia?sortby=

[Johndanielscpa]

Probably doesn't make this any easier, but I am planning a trip to Fort Stevens State Park (Astoria, Oregon) NEXT summer. To ensure I get a camp spot, I will need to be on my computer exactly 9 months ahead of the date I plan to stay to book my campsite to ensure I have a place to camp next year. The days of spontaneous camping on the west coast ended years ago (unless you want to boondock or stay overnight in rest areas.). Sounds like Virginia is headed the same direction.

[GMandJM]

Thanks for the heads up on the subject. I see what you mean now.

One of my fave sites at Chippokes isn't reservable. (Kinda of wish it was.)

Looks like the reservable sites have photos now.

[johnvb]

GMandJM wrote:
Which park(s) are you looking at?

I just looked at First Landing and it lists both site-specific and non-site-specific.

And there has always been those booked-up weekends with weekday "holes" this time of year. With kids back in school, some families just book weekends.

Chippokes Plantation and Douthat are a couple of my favorites, that are on the "list". And the specific sites are their premium RV ones. First Landing is right down the street, 10 minutes away. Might as well camp in the driveway instead. 🙂

Guess I'm just too much of an old timer. 25 years ago, camping could be more spontaneous. Nice weekend, go for it! Now one has to plan their trips in the beginning of the season, just to catch a spot. Weather be dammed.

[NorfolkCounty]

We are VASP junkies. The site specific reservation system is in Pilot Program mode. Like OP, I am not a fan of it but it appears that the "people" have spoken. We too show up on late on Thursday or early Friday and stay through Monday morning. It's nice to have a good selection. Apparently more people prefer guaranteeing the site that they desire. Hopefully when the pilot program ends, it will either go away, or remain a very small fraction of sites within the system.

http://www.virginiaoutdoors.com/article/more/4948

[RoyB]

Loft Mtn used to just have specific areas for reserved which was the favorite areas of course... Then they kinda of spit the camp ground right down the middle with one side reserved and the other side first come first serve...

We sometimes stay several days which always runs through at least one weekend and have run into problems where our favorite site is ok except on the weekend. So then you have to make the decision to take the favorite site for a few days and plan on moving to another area over the weekend... Not much fun...

Our favorite site is in the reserved side so I usually pick two sites together and reserve both of them. This particular site we love has an angled site next too it and if someone gets it then their parked trailer is right at our patio end... So I setup both sites which is not hard to do with all the stuff when have with us. The smaller angled site is where my gazbo tent goes...

Sometimes makes us really like the first come first serve places in the natl Forest areas between VA and WEST VA wooded high country state border line behind Harrisonburg VA. You're usually the only silly persons up there except for a few JEEPS running the trail roads once in awhile haha... Also see some horseback riding up and down the trails. First time I heard a horse whinny in the woods I commented to the wife and said "I think I just heard a horse whinny..." Sure enough here came a couple on horseback down the trail five minutes. They stopped and we shared some coffee...

Roy Ken

[GMandJM]

Which park(s) are you looking at?

I just looked at First Landing and it lists both site-specific and non-site-specific.

And there has always been those booked-up weekends with weekday "holes" this time of year. With kids back in school, some families just book weekends.