Holiday weekend camping

My experience has been, if you want a holiday weekend, you better book months ahead -- depending on where you want to stay. DS got a travel trailer. We were planning on camping with them this summer. We didn't have our reservations made yet -- I tried to get in where they are staying Mother's Day weekend, and also Memorial Day - no dice. So hopefully I'll have better luck going in to the fall. Color me disappointed, but that's life.

In Florida State parks the reservation window is 11 months out and if you want to guarantee a spot you book 11 months out. Each state has different rules and the Federal owned CG's vary some. My favorite Fed owned recreation site has a 7 month reservation window.

We made reservations about a month ago for Texas state parks and it was hard to find a park with a site open with water and electricity. Parks close to IH 35 and east were mostly full. Parks out west had openings.

Not all weekends book as fast or as much as the big three holiday weekends. We try and stay away during that time. But I do realize that many weekenders love the packed parks and the ambience that goes with it.

For really popular parks in prime tourist season, many people book as soon as reservations open, some a year in advance, to make sure they get what they want. Even if they have to pay a cancellation fee later, they know they have a site waiting.

To guarantee a site at a park you want in popular areas, especially during prime season, you better book months in advance.

Supply and demand. And demand is high.

In 1980 after trying to get to a campground less than 100 miles from home and it took 7 hours on the Friday before Memorial Day we made the decision that we would never go camping for a 3 day holiday weekend. Now we arrive the weekend before and stay until Tuesday after the holiday. No traffic problems.

One resort for July 4th we have to book a year in advance.

the bear II wrote:
In 1980 after trying to get to a campground less than 100 miles from home and it took 7 hours on the Friday before Memorial Day we made the decision that we would never go camping for a 3 day holiday weekend. Now we arrive the weekend before and stay until Tuesday after the holiday. No traffic problems.

One resort for July 4th we have to book a year in advance.

X2 - we never camp on holidays. I go camping to relax and get away from it all. I've seen CG's on holidays and it's a madhouse. Not to mention those weekends are usually a lot more expensive.

Many people, probably few of whom are on this site, camp 3 weekends a year; Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, due to the long weekends. I've fortunately reached the point where I can have a long weekend anytime, and so avoid the "big 3". Even better will be when I'm able to go exclusively during the week and leave the weekends to those who have no other choice. :)

We do not plan on "camping" on holiday week ends. If we are traveling during one of the big camping week ends we have to plan ahead where we will stay. Usually can lay up in fair grounds and other places that are not "destination" type places.

I have reservations pretty much every weekend we're planning to camp this year which is out to Thanksgiving weekend. The big three weekends will fill up within a few days if not hours of the reservation window opening. We take our two week summer vacation starting 1 July but I'll start planning in October and making reservations as soon as the camp grounds will allow. Unless your camping Monday thru Thursday you have to plan a head or hope a camp ground set aside a few walk up only sites.