Reservations Needed?

I struggle with this as well. We've been on the road full time for a year now and here's how I do it. If I'm going somewhere popular, then I break down and make the reservation. I really don't like to make reservations because plans are constantly changing and I often lose my deposit.

Someone mentioned that after Labor Day, they don't make reservations. That doesn't work in Florida. After Thanksgiving, reservations are usually required. So it really depends on the destination, not the calendar. If you are going to Fort Wilderness in Walt Disney World, reservations are required on virtually any day of the year except for weekdays in October or certain slow months.

A couple of years ago, I was staying at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine on Labor Day weekend and I happen to be at the front office when a big MH pulled up with Western plates. The guy came in confidently and asked the rangers if they had any spots open for a few days. Of course they were booked solid so the guy asked about other campgrounds in the area. The ranger gave him a list and tried to explain to the guy that he needed to call the other campgrounds before visiting them but the guy just shrugged him off explaining that they've always found something this way. I was floored to imagine this guy was so absolutely clueless about Florida camping in season near the beach.

One way around reservations is to get good at boondocking. I use Days End and Harvest Hosts to supplement the usual list of suitable boondocking locations found in Allstays. But when we travel out East, we don't have the same opportunities for long term boondocking as those out west. Currently, I'm camped in my brother's driveway near Bethlehem, PA.

In July, I'm heading to Bar Harbor, ME. Last month, I snagged the ONLY remaining spot at a particular campground and am very happy I made the reservation two months ahead of time. Even then, I had to modify my arrival by two days.

So there is no hard and fast rule here. Just analyze the destination, calendar, known events and importance of getting a guaranteed spot. Lot's of full timers sit in one spot year round or hardly move. For them, this is not a problem. But for full timers who move frequently and like to chase the sun, it can be a little stressful.

trikepilot wrote:
Can someone explain the Monday moves to me? If I find a park that lets me in on Monday but has every space rented for the weekend, won't I just have to move somewhere else on Friday to vacate the space? How can I just show up at a park and tell them I want to spend two weeks or a month without a reservation that will keep me from having to move every weekend?

I'm not a full-timer just yet so I ALWAYS make reservations if I want to have a parking space for my Thu-Sun weekends.

Thanks,

John

For those parks that have some drive-up sites, if you pull in on Monday or Tuesday you have the best luck in getting them. Locals will often bring the trailer out on Thursday afternoon to get a site, then bring the kids out late on Friday for the weekend.

We have found that there is also a greater selection of sites on Monday - the weekenders are gone so the little pop-ups are out of the sites that will handle a motorhome.

Plus, we love Sunday afternoons in a park after the weekenders have gone home - it becomes very peaceful and if there is only a dump to use, much easier to use on Monday rather than on a Sunday.

Barb

Can someone explain the Monday moves to me? If I find a park that lets me in on Monday but has every space rented for the weekend, won't I just have to move somewhere else on Friday to vacate the space? How can I just show up at a park and tell them I want to spend two weeks or a month without a reservation that will keep me from having to move every weekend?

I'm not a full-timer just yet so I ALWAYS make reservations if I want to have a parking space for my Thu-Sun weekends.

Thanks,

John

Barbara
Thanks again. A little thinking and I would have figured PPA as we used to use them all the time and my better half will have their info. Have never heard of ALLSTAYS so I will check out their web page.

Theo

PPA = Passport America, which has an app listing the participating parks offering 50% off of nightly stays.

Allstays is an app that lists all kinds of campgrounds, fuel locations, etc., on maps which makes it so easy to use going down the road. They have a web page: http://www.allstays.com, which lists all of the things you can do using their app.

Barb

David
Thanks for your response. Yes, go and set down wherever we want, that is what we have always liked to do. But, if most places are like the Black Hills then a reservation is almost a must to get a place in a State Park or for that matter on the local AFB.
The commercial parks are easier for the most part except during the summer season (like now). I must say that I have never seen a place that runs $300 a day!!!
I am glad to hear there are still folks out there who are going by the seat of their pants. It will ease my mind when the time comes to go.

Barbara
And Thank You for your response which I somehow missed last night. Question. What are the PPA and ALLSTAYS apps?

I can't stand making reservations. I'd rather just go and decide when i'm there. In fact making reservations too far ahead gives me anxiety. Having said that I'd like to know i'll have a place to park and out here in Souther CA in the summer you have to book ahead unless of course you want to head east to the desert then it's wide open! Heck even the $300/night (not exaggerating, $300 a night for a tiny piece of cement!) spots in Newport Beach are usually booked on the weekends during summer.

Thanks for all the input. We always liked the feeling of not having to be at a specific place at a specific time. More of a feeling of freedom to change plans without hassle I guess. It really sounds as if things have not changed as much as I was thinking. Good. We always tried to not travel on weekends and holidays so the reminder about staying put at those times is much appreciated, and moving on Mondays makes a lot of sense. Again Thank You all for the input. Hope to see you all on the road.

We never make reservations but don't go on holidays very often.

We always reserve well in advance and enjoy the feeling of knowing we have a site. Planning is fun and once decision is made we simply enjoy the journey without the pressure of wondering about space, or having to leave early to get there early... We once did the go by the seat of our pants route, and now realize the planning well ahead works great for us.