Reservations at federal parks

[Mayor30]

While making reservations at Army Corps of Engineer and Forest Service sites,I came across a few things. One is that the COE parks will only take credit cards from now on. Since credit card companies charge for each use, the government is making less money than if they were paid by check or cash.One of the parks I looked at would only take advanced reservations. So if you showed up at the campground and there were open sites,you could not use one. More loss of revenue. Another rule at many of these parks is no early check in. So even if the site is open,you cannot use the site even if you wanted to pay for early arrival.Most commercial parks allow for early arrival or late departure if you pay extra.On our upcoming trip to Texas from Pa, I wanted to make 2 reservations at one federal park in Arkansas. One for an over night going down and one coming back. At that park I could only make 1 reservation per call. So I called back the same day and made the 2nd reservation. Makes no sense but that's the way it is.At that same campground,with the Senior Pass,I pay $7.50 a night with water and electric hookup.That's the cheapest I found anywhere. In Arizona at one Forest Service campground with no hookups,we paid $12 a night and $18 at another with electric only. Not sure how they figure out what to charge. It varies from state to state.

[Cliff_Michele]

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
Priority for federal park reservation system is that they are unable to solve the problem of insiders who block the choicest campsites for their friends.

I was booking a good campsite in the Village at Yosemite NP seconds after it's opening for the next calendar cycle. And lo and behold, by a stroke of incredible miracle, it's all already booked solid.

This toasts my taco. They should leave at least 20% for first come first served to give the rest of us a chance because bots have locked us out of the parks.

[toedtoes]

Veebyes wrote:
For the traveller who is full or partime winging it not know when or where they will be somewhere COEs are increasingly difficult to use. The do it yourself reservation demand is a pain when you happen to show up on a Sunnday, no reservation, knowing full well that there are plenty of sites, & get told to go away, make a reservation online, & come back.

When you decide to stop for a night and look online for a local COE, why not just make the reservation then? In these cases, you are able to make the reservation right before you arrive.

[Veebyes]

For the traveller who is full or partime winging it not know when or where they will be somewhere COEs are increasingly difficult to use. The do it yourself reservation demand is a pain when you happen to show up on a Sunnday, no reservation, knowing full well that there are plenty of sites, & get told to go away, make a reservation online, & come back.

Had it happen at a COE west of Atlanta. Staff member told us flat that there was nothing he could do. In the midst of this the supervisor who was in the office left, & the staff member 'bent the rules' & did the reservation for us & we were on our way to a site.

We really like the COEs & give them preference over a SP but if it is going to be such a hassle the SP or something else will come first when there is a choice for a day or two.

[toedtoes]

garmp wrote:
Y Sam, I would guess in your case it's the early 2 weekers booking sites before they actually plan to use them and then either letting them sit empty or cancelling later the dates they don't actually want. Got to find a way to end this practice.
JMHO

National Parks are now requiring a 15 day delay on changing reservations. That should help prevent at least some of this.

[afidel]

agesilaus wrote:
5 PM? really? I've seen 2 PM which is a PITA but not 5

Yes, some COE campgrounds have a 4pm checkout time. It works great for us as frequent weekenders as it means we can get up and do something at the park rather than just fix breakfast and pack up.

[garmp]

Y Sam, I would guess in your case it's the early 2 weekers booking sites before they actually plan to use them and then either letting them sit empty or cancelling later the dates they don't actually want. Got to find a way to end this practice.
JMHO

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Priority for federal park reservation system is that they are unable to solve the problem of insiders who block the choicest campsites for their friends.

I was booking a good campsite in the Village at Yosemite NP seconds after it's opening for the next calendar cycle. And lo and behold, by a stroke of incredible miracle, it's all already booked solid.

[bucky]

With the number of public servants stealing cash being prosecuted it's no wonder they want a credit card.

[Mayor30]

agesilaus wrote:
5 PM? really? I've seen 2 PM which is a PITA but not 5

Yes,5pm at Canyon Lake in Texas and 7 Points, Raystown,Pa

[agesilaus]

5 PM? really? I've seen 2 PM which is a PITA but not 5

[toedtoes]

Mayor30 wrote:
I was talking about if you drive 400 miles and pull into a COE campground. Check in time is 5pm. Because the weather was good,there were no accidents,you arrive at 4pm instead of 5. I have read several instances where they not only won't let you occupy your site, they won't let you pull over and wait. You must exit the campground and wait some where else.I agree if you want to arrive at 9am versus 5pm to make a reservation. This is for people that move from park to park towards their destination. It is not always possible to time your arrival perfectly.

So you just go park at the day use area for an hour. Or make a shopping or dining stop. Or fill up your tank.

One or two hours isn't really a major problem.

And as a camper, I'd get a bit annoyed if someone parked in fron of my campsite and just sat there for an hour waiting to move into another site.

[Grit_dog]

Why is the concept of CC only for camping reservations even a discussion point?
How else would you make an online or phone reservation? Promise to send them $46.57 exact change? Lol.
CC would be easier at campgrounds that still only accept cash/check in the little envelope.
Last summer wife didn’t bring the checkbook. Hell, we only write about 5 checks a year.
Had to drive into town for change to pay the bill, lol. Needed boat gas anyway but not the point.
Although I understand it’s not possible everywhere or feasible. If no cell service, it’s hard to have a CC machine.

[johnhicks]

I routinely arrive at COE parks "too early."

The few times sites were still occupied I was offered parking in the lot by the boat ramps; if the occupants had already checked out I've always been permitted to go to the sites. At some parks of course there's no room to pull over and wait.

[Mayor30]

Mayor30 wrote:
Another rule at many of these parks is no early check in. So even if the site is open,you cannot use the site even if you wanted to pay for early arrival.Most commercial parks allow for early arrival or late departure if you pay extra.

If you want to arrive early, you simply make the reservation starting the night before. Even with campgrounds that have a "must occupy the site the first night", they don't cancel your reservation until checkout time the next day. So, if you want to arrive early on Monday, you book for Sunday night - as long as you arrive before check out time on Monday, they consider you to have " occupied" the site for Sunday night. There are few exceptions to this.

I was talking about if you drive 400 miles and pull into a COE campground. Check in time is 5pm. Because the weather was good,there were no accidents,you arrive at 4pm instead of 5. I have read several instances where they not only won't let you occupy your site, they won't let you pull over and wait. You must exit the campground and wait some where else.I agree if you want to arrive at 9am versus 5pm to make a reservation. This is for people that move from park to park towards their destination. It is not always possible to time your arrival perfectly.

[Community Alumni]

"One is that the COE parks will only take credit cards from now on."

That may be true for Recreation.gov and some camps and yes there is more self pay kiosks being put up but cash at the first come first serve site can be used as well as checks.

JimR