Two night stay requirement

[breeves2245]

I'm getting frustrated with this two night weekend stay requirement.

I'm new to camping and it seems all the places I'm am deciding to try whether they are US Forestry, COE and especially State Parks, require a two night stay on the weekends. These are short trips and I do not want to stay two nights. Looks like the only way around it is to pay for two and leave after one night or take a vacation day on Friday and book Thursday night.

All these locations are at a lake, that is my primary reason for going is to fish new lakes but have no desire to stay until Sunday and get home with a half day to get ready for the work week.

[afidel]

allen8106 wrote:
Maybe you are confusing the two night advance booking for reservations for a mandatory two night stay? In Kansas state parks you can't reserve a spot the day before, you must reserve at least two days in advance but you can walk in and "take" a spot for one night.

Nope, all NY state parks require a 2 night reservation on weekends during the summer. Just paid $132 for 2 nights in NY state parks for a trip this summer, had to book 2 nights at each park due to the stupid rules. I tried to book commercial as there were some parks with reasonable rates listed on Lake Ontario but none would return my voicemails (called 5 parks, 0 returned calls) and for some reason nobody but KOA has online booking in that part of the state.

[campigloo]

We’re retired and very occasionally run into this rule. We very rarely reserve anything and can usually stay just one night. If we do hit a two night rule, the gobmit parks are so cheap we just pay it and still pay less than most commercial parks for just one night. Also, as we’re driving out, inform the management that we’re leaving so let someone else have it, like our friend that just wants a few hours to fish.

[Jebby14]

I like my eggs sunny side up

[scrubjaysnest]

Johno02 wrote:
Being new, apparently you have not seen t from the other side. That side that would like to spend more that two nights, up to a week or more, but cannot find a campsite because of people that reserve for part of the weekend a year in advance. Meanwhile, the rest of the week, the campsite sits empty, and unpaid for. And as there are more and more RVs and campers out there, there are fewer and fewer available campsites. Many of us are campaigning for minumum three day weekend reservations. We are retired, and cannot plan where we will be a year for now. But wherever it is, it will probably have to be a Walmart for the weekend, while campsites close by are empty, and unpaid for, because of one night reservations.

Now that I have said what others think but won't say, let's
see how many will tear into me for saying it.

X2

[allen8106]

Maybe you are confusing the two night advance booking for reservations for a mandatory two night stay? In Kansas state parks you can't reserve a spot the day before, you must reserve at least two days in advance but you can walk in and "take" a spot for one night.

[drsteve]

Addy15 wrote:

4x4van wrote:
Paying for that extra night (Fri), even if you don't come in Friday night, allows you to come in early on Saturday morning, giving you the entire day to camp/relax.

Have to be careful about doing that. At least here in Minnesota, if you leave your reserved State Park campsite unoccupied on the first night, your whole reservation will be cancelled and you won't get a refund. And if not common elsewhere, it probably will become more common.

In MI, call the campground and tell them you'll be delayed. As long as they hear from you, they leave your reservation alone.

[breeves2245]

I did find some today. Once I got away from state parks, COE campgrounds I have some local choices. They are private and inexpensive and do not require reservations. Staying at Holiday Island Campground in Arkansas right on Table Rock lake for $15. So I'm excited for my first adventure, it is only an hour drive.

[Jayco-noslide]

Are you sure if maybe that only pertains to reservations? If so, find a campground that typically does not fill and arrive late morning. I've never encountered a campground that won't rent for 1 night if you pull in and there's a space.

[DrewE]

Addy15 wrote:

4x4van wrote:
Paying for that extra night (Fri), even if you don't come in Friday night, allows you to come in early on Saturday morning, giving you the entire day to camp/relax.

Have to be careful about doing that. At least here in Minnesota, if you leave your reserved State Park campsite unoccupied on the first night, your whole reservation will be cancelled and you won't get a refund. And if not common elsewhere, it probably will become more common.

Usually (I think) the rules just say you have to occupy it before check-out time, which you'd do if you came early on Saturday. It's just a very, very, very late arrival on the first night.

I know I've posted it in this thread before, but I can only think of one campground I've stayed at where a walk-in/unreserved stay of one night was prohibited, and that is very much a special case in may ways (Denali Tek). The multi-night restriction is usually only on reservations, not on stays. Of course, if the campground is fully reserved and no sites are free, then you're out of luck; but if not, just showing up and registering for one night nearly always is permitted and often avoids a reservation fee to boot.

[doxiemom11]

We have never run into that except on holidays. We have been full-time for 7 years. Must be certain areas doing this.

[Flapper]

breeves2245 wrote:
I will have to adjust my plans I originally had in mind. I am not looking to camp, but fish. The plan was to drive to the campground after work Friday, fish the evening, wake up and fish the morning and then drive home. I have a new Capri Cowboy truck camper, so nothing to really put up or take down. Not too excited about laying around all day or hiking, biking, etc. So staying two days is not going to work for me. Oh well, I got plenty of vacation days, so I'll just take off Friday, and book my reservations for Thursday night. Less crowed that way too, so not all bad.

I'll be retired in three years, so this camper and the short trips are a test to see if I want to dive into this RV life. If so I will buy a larger truck camper and the 3/4 or 1 ton truck to match.

Most of the places you named are comparatively dirt cheap. So if you pay for two, but only stay for one, it will still be a cheap overnight getaway!

[Addy15]

4x4van wrote:
Paying for that extra night (Fri), even if you don't come in Friday night, allows you to come in early on Saturday morning, giving you the entire day to camp/relax.

Have to be careful about doing that. At least here in Minnesota, if you leave your reserved State Park campsite unoccupied on the first night, your whole reservation will be cancelled and you won't get a refund. And if not common elsewhere, it probably will become more common.

[Johno02]

2gypsies, send me a PM. Just got back from Natchez, MS. In the past, we have done Ft. Sumter, Hot springs, Cape Lookout, Branson, MO. Might go back to any of them.

[breeves2245]

I will have to adjust my plans I originally had in mind. I am not looking to camp, but fish. The plan was to drive to the campground after work Friday, fish the evening, wake up and fish the morning and then drive home. I have a new Capri Cowboy truck camper, so nothing to really put up or take down. Not too excited about laying around all day or hiking, biking, etc. So staying two days is not going to work for me. Oh well, I got plenty of vacation days, so I'll just take off Friday, and book my reservations for Thursday night. Less crowed that way too, so not all bad.

I'll be retired in three years, so this camper and the short trips are a test to see if I want to dive into this RV life. If so I will buy a larger truck camper and the 3/4 or 1 ton truck to match.