How many make park reservations vs find as you go.

[Txsurfer]

First I'm a bit of a planner but would like take a little more relaxed approach going forward. Just curious how many here have all there parks planed/paid for in advance of a trip vs those who just roll till you need to stop and hunt for a place. I would imagine the later would be difficult in certain region during peak season. I guess you could always hit wal-mart as a back-up.

[doc_brown]

When I started rving 13 years ago I always made reservations for the first 4 years. Since then I rarely make reservations. I like the flexibility.

[2gypsies1]

If you're still working and pressed for time then definitely make reservations.

We were full-timers and retired so we were never on a schedule. We didn't make reservations even for our 40' motorhome and for many national and state parks - even along the Oregon coast in all seasons.

Many parks have campgrounds that don't even accept reservations such as Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Bryce, etc. and also some state parks - even in Oregon. We also enjoy national forest campgrounds. Of those that do reservations, there are always 'no shows'. If it's a major tourist destination such as Yellowstone, we'd stay nearby the previous night and drive into the park early morning when folks are leaving and when the 'no show' sites become available.

Honestly, we've never been turned away because there was no room at the inn. I understand that some folks think they can't travel this way but you can. It just takes a different way to approach the situation. You'd never pull in a 4pm in a national or state park and expect to get a site. The same goes for pulling in on a Friday. If you can be flexible it's easily done.

[MarkTwain]

Bumpyroad wrote:

djgarcia wrote:


The major problem in making reservations in Oregon is that usually the weekends are reserved through out the year. So you might get a reservation during the week but then have to move or leave on the weekends:(

I would think that would be a good reason to make reservations for the weekend ahead of time.
bumpy

I agree, my friend lives in Oregon and tells me that if you don't get a reservations right away at the begining of the year, that it becomes almost impossible to get weekends throughout the year.

[scrubjaysnest]

Since we never know when we will arrive we rarely make reservations. OTOH, one CG we like is reservation only no drop ins. That we made reservations for near the end of season.

[Bumpyroad]

djgarcia wrote:


The major problem in making reservations in Oregon is that usually the weekends are reserved through out the year. So you might get a reservation during the week but then have to move or leave on the weekends:(

I would think that would be a good reason to make reservations for the weekend ahead of time.
bumpy

[catkins]

We usually make reservations in advance. It is very dependent upon the region of the country and the time of year.

When school is out for summer vacation,better have reservations. Along the Oregon coast, reservations for sure. we are finding as we plan a trip back east, reservations are a must in many area we plan to visit. Some parks and getting booked for summer already. As the driver, I NEED to know where I am going to park our 36' beast. There are many Walmarts that do NOT allow overnighting due to local ordinances.

Off season, we are more adventuresome. Summertime, reservations and then for "hot spots" of travel destinations, reservations. Good luck!

[BB_TX]

Reservations well in advance if going to a specific place. For a travel overnighter I MAY wait and call a couple hours out to where we plan to stop and make a reservation. Last thing I want to do after a long day of driving is to start looking for a site at the last minute and finding every thing nearby already full. We don't do parking lots.

[MarkTwain]

downtheroad wrote:
OR and WA coast. We have our favorite sites. All state parks are in prime locations and very popular, especially in the summer.

Summer, we reserve.

The major problem in making reservations in Oregon is that usually the weekends are reserved through out the year. So you might get a reservation during the week but then have to move or leave on the weekends:(

[pennysmom09]

We always call ahead in case we have to find another place.

[Alabama_Jim]

We make reservations. We like to know where we will be and that there is a spot for us.

[NCWriter]

We do make reservations in advance for our RV trips because

A) trip planning is part of the fun;

B) Some campgrounds/RV Parks have especially nice scenery, convenient locations for fun activities, historic significance, and good reviews. Sometimes (not always) those are inside national or state parks so are inexpensive, too. Such sites tend to get booked up very early;

C) There are a lot more campers now than there were few years ago competing for the same number of sites. It makes road trips more relaxing to set out in the morning with a confirmation already in hand down the road.

However, when we start driving back home point A to point B, we just decide each day how far we'll feel like going before stopping. Still, we usually call ahead by mid-afternoon to book a site.

[Devocamper]

find as we go on travel days reservation's for longer stays and peak season stays

[MarkTwain]

Reservations--
"You have everything to gain and nothing to loose". Reservations are not ball and chains cementing your RV trip. Reservations create a plan to deviate from at any time. Just be sure and check the cancellation policy of each RV Park.

[DutchmenSport]

There are very few places East of the Mississippi River where you can still just drive in without a reservation during peak Summer months. During the cold months, you can still camp at any number of state parks just by driving in. But the water in the campgorund may be turned off too.

I do not remember the last time (if ever) we just drove in. We have called ahead a few hours to KOA or GoodSam campgrounds when traveling sometimes to see if they had space available for an overnight. But the main destination always has reservations months in advance.

[Bumpyroad]

I never traveled without making reservations, especially critical in popular areas/parks. I have never had a problem cancelling/changing reservations. I get what I want, pull thru, FHU or not, etc.
bumpy