I was expecting to drive semi-randomly and start calling campgrounds for availability sometime in the afternoon.Now I just saw a post about Oregon being entirely booked for august.I asm sure the best spots are taken by regulars that know where and when to call but will I be able to find minimal 30amp service from anywhere within 1-2 hours of driving?The plan is to leave Montreal in late June and drive a long stretch the first night/morning with maybe a 4-6 hour stop in a wallmart.Then we are going to be driving 2-4 hours per day moving towards Moab, Yellowstone and California in no particular order or preference. Definitely aiming for the west and south.

Oregon state parks fill up fast in the summer months. I am sure that with an App like RVparky etc you would be able to find a private park that has a site. BUT you may not be exactly where you would prefer. Such as on the beach, or near a state park. Some state parks hold a few sites open so that if a site has a problem, those people can be moved to that site. If they are still open late, they can give them out as needed. Summer travelers always have problem on Fri and Sat nights. That is when reservations are usually needed. Sun, Mon, Tues not so much.

Be careful around holidays, fourth of July etc. Be aware of oil/gas booms; for instance the RV parks in West and South Texas are totally filled with oil workers living permnantly. This probably applies to the Dakotas and the Bakken shale boom too. I have found if you call a week or so ahead, some of the parks will actually be honest with you about when they will or will not be full. We've been RVing for 17 years and I have found I have to do more reserving in advance now days.

ReadyToGo wrote:Summer travelers always have problem on Fri and Sat nights. That is when reservations are usually needed. Sun, Mon, Tues not so much.I don't think I want to call ahead and lock myself into a date and place but I can certainly try to aim for National parks during the early week and do other things on weekends.Thanks for the tip

We do it all the time , have traveled from Maine to Alaska many times Maine to California ,Maine to many different parts of Canada ,never booked more than a couple of hours in advance

We do it all the time. DW uses an old Woodalls campground directory to call campgrounds while I'm driving. The only difficulty we experienced is with State or Federal campgrounds on busy holiday weekends. That gets quickly resolved by calling private campgrounds. We've always been able to get into at least a water/electric site.

Is it possible to call campgrounds as we go? | Good Sam Community

ReadyToGo
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Oregon state parks fill up fast in the summer months. I am sure that with an App like RVparky etc you would be able to find a private park that has a site. BUT you may not be exactly where you would prefer. Such as on the beach, or near a state park.
Some state parks hold a few sites open so that if a site has a problem, those people can be moved to that site. If they are still open late, they can give them out as needed.
Summer travelers always have problem on Fri and Sat nights. That is when reservations are usually needed. Sun, Mon, Tues not so much.
5thwheeleroldma
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Be careful around holidays, fourth of July etc. Be aware of oil/gas booms; for instance the RV parks in West and South Texas are totally filled with oil workers living permnantly. This probably applies to the Dakotas and the Bakken shale boom too. I have found if you call a week or so ahead, some of the parks will actually be honest with you about when they will or will not be full. We've been RVing for 17 years and I have found I have to do more reserving in advance now days.
Fastfwd75
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
ReadyToGo wrote:
Summer travelers always have problem on Fri and Sat nights. That is when reservations are usually needed. Sun, Mon, Tues not so much.

I don't think I want to call ahead and lock myself into a date and place but I can certainly try to aim for National parks during the early week and do other things on weekends.

Thanks for the tip
tank42
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
We do it all the time , have traveled from Maine to Alaska many times Maine to California ,Maine to many different parts of Canada ,never booked more than a couple of hours in advance
RVnRobin
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
We do it all the time. DW uses an old Woodalls campground directory to call campgrounds while I'm driving. The only difficulty we experienced is with State or Federal campgrounds on busy holiday weekends. That gets quickly resolved by calling private campgrounds. We've always been able to get into at least a water/electric site.
pitch
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2014
The only reservations that we make are for our destination. We never have not been able to find a place for the night. Sometimes they are less than desirable,but for just an overnite stay it is ok.
Burwoods
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Will be following this post, as Dh and I want to travel by the seat of our pants so to speak also.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
I'm wayyy too obsessed to travel by the seat of my pants during the summer months:B. In addition to the good info above keep in mind that this year the 4th of July falls on a Friday; means that many campgrounds will start filling up on the preceding Wednesday or Thursday. I'd count on not getting an electric avail. site in Oregon state or Fed sites based on what I'm seeing at reserveamerica.com right now. However there are some sites avail. currently. Can't attest to their desirability though.
Fizz
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Most if not all campgrounds have spots for overnights.
Get there early or call ahead and reserve, you will always have a spot.
You start having problems in mid Summer when you're looking for long stays specially weekends.
Nutinelse2do
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Little off subject, but... Moab in July, August? Way too hot!

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