So different now

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and comments. I appreciate it!

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Take a different approach. Near cities and attractions are where the 'weekend' crowd in prime season whelmes camps.
Adjust your plans to off prime visits in even the most desirable locations prime sites in desirable locations will be available at discounted rates on short notice.
Find new developing private camps where the 'word' hasnt gotten out yet, Might not be much for facilities, grass young, construction of amenity ongoing but it will be welcoming $ reasonable and spacious. 6 rigs in an 60 site section. Mgmt gave us 2 sites for our mc trailer and truck parking. Told him I d water the grass both sites.
We are in one like that now in Bandera, prime Tx hill country. have been using new camps for years in prime places and times.

We’ve been full-timers for 7 years, and discovered early on that we never pull into a campground without a reservation. Now, it may have been made from 3 hours away on the road, but it’s worked for us. Of course we have always made sure to pick a place to be for holidays and make those reservations well in advance. We had no issue booking anything last year, and have made travel plans into mid year from AZ to AL with no issue booking any days. YMMV

Some city county parks are great, Mason Texas has a good one and Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral is fantastic, right on the beach. We've stayed at others and have seen one bad one, Atlantic NE, avoid at all costs...heh.

Freecampsites.net We use this while traveling. We find some real gems, these are in small town parks or county parks. Some have one night free or a donation box others $10 - 15 a night none are on Interstates almost all on US marked roads. All we have stayed at have at least 30 amp some with water and occationaly full hookups.

We have been from S FL to central PA in the past year. Spent 2 weeks in Fl during spring break and bike week with no problem finding spots on either coast of FL. Lots of happy travels, no troubles.

Yes it is only weekends!! Last year we had no problem was out west and yes we boondock r very equipped for it. Solar panels mounted and generator and an extra 40 gallon water holder. It is in the eastern area. I'm glad alot of u haven't had a problem. Yes we hate having reservations. The beauty of this lifestyle is just going and stop along way.

valhalla360 wrote:

Reservations are a love/hate thing.

Mostly hate here. I make them rarely, only if it's an absolute must. It makes camping like a job.

IB853347201 wrote:
One word. "Reservations!"
Planning ahead relieves stress and frustration.

Reservations are a love/hate thing.

Around holidays for specific parks, sure.
For the next stop, 2 days from now, sure.

For 2 weeks from now, 4 travel days, it creates stress as you feel obliged to travel even if the weather or something else is not conducive to travel.

IB853347201 wrote:
One word. "Reservations!"
Planning ahead relieves stress and frustration.

We have not found that not to be the case, 2500 miles so far since mid-March and got turned down once when calling ahead an hour or so to get a spot. And that was because of the snowbird exodus from FL. We mix boondocking with private/public camps.

We are in southern AZ right now headed for Flagstaff for some boondocking with an overnight stop at an AZ state park, which had plenty of empty spots.