OK, What's the trick to reserving on Reserve America?

[mchero]

Reserve America is just about the only was to grab a site these days sort of walking up praying for an available site.

I have herd from more than one person that the trick is to be on te site at EXACTLY 8:00AM & be redy to search & select your site. I hae herd from others that it's midnight!

Whats the real deal on reserving a site on Reserve America?

[time2roll]

If I post the tricks then how will I get a site? 😉

[titanhick]

hey guys - kinda sad to see all the trouble must go thought to reserve through reserve america. On the other hand, I can easily understand, they're the most beautiful and a whole less expensive than private campgrounds around.

I suspect the nearby private campgrounds to be aware of that, and boost prices because people have NO CHOICE!

I KNOW how to give myself good odds on reserveamerica.com and I can most probably help you. MAIL ME: tcm@distromtl.com

...or reply in here, I believe I will be warned of replies, but emails would just be better.

Meanwhile, have fun and good luck, fellow campers!!!

[2gypsies1]

noplace2 wrote:

Big Katuna wrote:


That's another thing that RA does that gripes me is they will stick a pop up in a 40' site.

OH dear god, the horror!!!!!

That's not Reserve America's fault. I believe when you make reservations, you can put in what size your RV is. I'm sure many folks with small RVs put in a 40' just to get the added space. How does RA know if you're telling the truth or not?

Florida may be different than many other states but with our 40' motorhome we rarely made reservations unless we really needed to be in a place at a certain time - like visiting relatives. We don't like to be that structured. We honestly have never been turned away because there were no sites available. We arrive early morning when folks are leaving. We've stayed in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon and the state parks down the Oregon coast without reservations. We utilized forest service and COE campgrounds. We don't need hookups so perhaps that makes it easier for us.

Also, we found many campgrounds do not reserve all the sites. Some are left open for drive-ins. There are even campgrounds in the major national parks that don't accept reservations. It's not everyone's way of travel but it worked very well for us.

[NYCgrrl]

Well, according to RA the recommended browser to use on their site is IE and the slowness problem I'm having is related to that. Been using Firefox successfully there for many many years but maybe it's a problem that website is having with the current FF upgrade. Dunno. Opened Chrome and all was well which is good since I don't have to use the dreaded IE.

Will "rev my Chrome engines" for the 29th of July when the window opens for reservations beginning June 29, 2016. Don't want to be in the middle of a 4-5 site group (nice people who sit at a communal area they set up, make ice runs and unbidden offer to get some for us, play great music w/ the exception of Grand Funk Railroad and don't get their panties in a wad when I scream out "Noooo.....NOT that!?!" and have well behaved kiddos of various ages. Mostly of the adult male variety) that comes in regularly so I'm moving to the outer edge of the loop and clearing the field for them. Already told 'em I'd be moving and they immediately were concerned they were making too much noise. Like I said nice people and no they do not. Good to see a large group of people enjoying themselves:cool:.

[GMandJM]

I've seen complaints because people with larger RVs try (sometimes unsuccessfully) to squeeze into a site, but, you're right there are just as many small ones taking up sites that would fit a rock-star bus.

At least when you reserve a site via R/A, you pretty much know what you're getting.

Here in VA state park campgrounds don't take site-specific reservations. You don't get to pick (or be assigned) your site until you arrive and by then all the 40'+, FHU sites may be taken by tenters and you're left to park on the least-level site next to the dump station.

Anyway, end of rant. Let's go back to trashing...emmm....I mean DISCUSSING.... R/A again. 😉

[noplace2]

Big Katuna wrote:


That's another thing that RA does that gripes me is they will stick a pop up in a 40' site.

OH dear god, the horror!!!!!

[Big_Katuna]

Both. Many state parks have few if any spaces for 38' and up. Esp older parks. Exceptions are parks that are newer or have been redone.
Silver River in Ocala is a beautiful park and has many huge sites and pull throughs.

Anastasia and Blue Springs state parks have just a few sites for 35 and up.

I have a 38' DP.

That's another thing that RA does that gripes me is they will stick a pop up in a 40' site.

They don't try to steer you to not using the shorter sites.

[GMandJM]

Is that 40' and up or $40 and up? 🙂

[Big_Katuna]

Anastasia didn't have anything over 20'.
As mentioned Alexander is no hookups not even water and few spots over 25.
Of course there are private parks starting at 40 and up.

[GMandJM]

Alafia = nice but sort of "out a ways" and not much to do there (great for horses mountain bikes)
Anastasia = nice but most sites are in the 25' - 30' range (only 1 40'-er)
Big Lagoon = nice, if you can want to be in the panhandle (too far north for snowbirds)
Alexander Springs (Federal) = dry camping only

Even sites at St Lucie are available for weekends in the summer. Jan and Feb it's REALLY difficult to get a site.

[tkcas01]

FL in July? No thanks! Snowbirds are long gone. California northern coast for me! Highs in the mid-60s.

:C

[NYCgrrl]

2gypsies wrote:

Big Katuna wrote:
...... and you cant get a weekly site because the working folks grab all the weeknds.

In Florida, all the state parks use RA and we don't have many COE or Fed parks. A few county parks.

I just tried the Reserve America site. I plugged in August 17 for 7 nights in Florida. 113 places came up - some private and many state parks including Alafia River, Alexander Spring, Anastasia, Big Lagoon, etc. - too many to list. They also have sites that aren't reservable.

Did the same thing this afternoon since so many were talking about FL sites. Didn't know what areas people wanted for the state but got similar results for close to Thanksgiving week. Some sites had the date open, others are not ready for that time frame yet.

I will say that it seems the entire site is doing or needs to do maintenance work this weekend since it's rather slow. Tried calling them but I was directed to call back Monday when the call center is open.

[2gypsies1]

Big Katuna wrote:
...... and you cant get a weekly site because the working folks grab all the weeknds.

In Florida, all the state parks use RA and we don't have many COE or Fed parks. A few county parks.

I just tried the Reserve America site. I plugged in August 17 for 7 nights in Florida. 113 places came up - some private and many state parks including Alafia River, Alexander Spring, Anastasia, Big Lagoon, etc. - too many to list. They also have sites that aren't reservable.

[noplace2]

RGar974417 wrote:
Here's a trick: don't try to book weekends.We typically go in on a Sunday and leave on a Wednesday or Thursday.I just reserved the site we wanted in a popular state park for the middle of August less than a month away by doing this. Even the most popular sites will have vacant spaces as long as you don't go on a weekend.

Please stop spreading this nonsense! It's liable to catch on!