Walk-up to COE campground for Memorial Day?

Question

Does anyone have experience or advice rolling into a COE campground and actually getting a site on a weekend like Memorial Day? Risky proposition?

I'm looking to camp at Lake Red Rock (IA) as my first choice, with a back-up plan of Rathbun Lake (IA - about 1 hour to the south) this Memorial Day weekend. There are multiple COE campgrounds at both lakes, but NO reservations are available at either location for that weekend. However, there seem to be a vast amount of walk-up sites available (maybe 20%-30% or more). I'm coming from KC, so it's quite the drive to make if I show up and nothing is available.

rgar974417 · Answer

Don't know about that campground but some years ago we did get a site at a COE Campground in West Virginia on Memorial Day Weekend. My advice would be to leave as early as possible and get there early. It also depends on what size rig you have. Back then we had a pop up that could fit in almost any site.If you have a larger rig they may have sites but you won't fit. I wouldn't expect you show up late Friday night and get a site. But perhaps a call to the campground it'self may be helpful.

bonefish · Answer

Never! Our COE fill up fast online here in TX. I will not take the chance on a walk up. The the nearest COE is 176 miles from us and all the other state parks will be book too in that area. I would not like having to drive back home.

Sharon

sandia_man · Answer

They are jammed up for the popular weekends like the state parks, if you could get there a couple of days earlier you might be lucky enough to snag one of the first come first serve sites.  Although we normally stay away from those public parks during busy holiday weekends, we have done the above a few times over the last dozen years coming in on Wednesday and enjoying the quiet before the storm.

kep5niner · Answer

Good responses, and appreciate the input. What surprised me most was 1) how quickly all of the available sites booked up, and 2) the vast quantity of walk-up sites. According to the COE web site for those particular lakes, walk-up sites are available the "majority" of the time.

That's too bad, because we are meticulous planners (have every other weekend booked through October) but a change in plans caused us to come late to the party when looking at either of the above two locations.

kep5niner · Answer

Crisis averted...found SP camping at Rathbun Lake, made reservations.  Thanks for everyone's input!

Forum Discussion

Walk-up to COE campground for Memorial Day?

About Campground 101

Related Content

Happy Memorial Day

Memorial weekend trip

Grateful Memories

Travel trailer memories....

Memory foam topper