Reservations Needed???

[Anmacc2]

DW and I will be driving from South Florida to the west side of the lower peninsula of Michigan from middle of August to the middle of September. We generally move every day or two and don't like to tie ourselves to a schedule by making reservations. We are also not committed to state or national parks and don't much care how much a campsite costs. So, do you think we can manage without reservations given our flexibility? Thanks!

[GordonThree]

Mfan wrote:
During the week, no problem. Weekends, visit a casino?

X2 lots of nice casino campgrounds all along the coast.

[Mfan]

During the week, no problem. Weekends, visit a casino?

[Isaac-1]

They totallity path is a 15-20 mile wide ribbon that crosses from Oregon to South Carolina. Of course some degree of partial eclipse can be seen from anywhere in the continental US.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Edit - didn't read OP correctly

[2oldman]

Many eclipse maps online.

[sch911]

Anmacc2 wrote:

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

The only 'Reservation Required' area would be if you want to be somewhere under the total eclipse on Aug 21.

This wasn't even on my radar.... Thank you. Being ignorant of the event, I will most likely be in Michigan by then. Is that in the "Event Zone"?

That part of Michigan will be in the 70% to 80% occlusion zone....

[GordonThree]

Ralph Cramden wrote:
Go on the Michigan state park reservation site and just check for availability on the desired weekends to get a feel for it. However, my past experiences tell me Michigan state park campgrounds, especially the ones in south half of the mitten, are heavily used on weekends into the late fall.

X2 the website will likely show all the "good" sites reserved every weekend through the park closing date. This is from people gaming the reservation system.

[Ralph_Cramden]

Go on the Michigan state park reservation site and just check for availability on the desired weekends to get a feel for it. However, my past experiences tell me Michigan state park campgrounds, especially the ones in south half of the mitten, are heavily used on weekends into the late fall.

[GordonThree]

Trying to stay put for weekends may end up disappointing. The State will move you off your site if someone paid for it online. The real kick in the teeth is that person doesn't bother to show.

Rustic State and National Forest camping rarely needs reservations, and the parks are exceptionally beautiful.

[naturist]

If you can stand to stay put each weekend, not move either friday or saturday, you should be fine. Labor Day weekend, you pretty much must (a) make reservations, and (b) stay put from Friday to Monday simply because that weekend everybody goes camping, if they can find a spot. But most campers are weekend warriors, so moves Sunday through Thursday are generally no problem. Even popular campgrounds, with a few exceptions, have open spaces during the week.

[jarata1]

tough in the northeast to get a place now not sure in midwest

[Anmacc2]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

The only 'Reservation Required' area would be if you want to be somewhere under the total eclipse on Aug 21.

This wasn't even on my radar.... Thank you. Being ignorant of the event, I will most likely be in Michigan by then. Is that in the "Event Zone"?

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

As mentioned above Labor Day weekend is almost always reservations required anywhere in the country.

The only 'Reservation Required' area would be if you want to be somewhere under the total eclipse on Aug 21. Roughly about 100 miles either side of a line from Jefferson City, MO to Nashville, NT to Columbia, SC.

We have purposely delayed our return to Texas from Washington state until after the total eclipse. Federal campgrounds are totally booked, and private campgrounds are booked at outrageous rates.

It is a rare one-time event, and I don't blame RV park owners for getting the most money they can.

[drsteve]

Prior to Labor Day, the state parks are packed, but you still may be able to find a spot unreserved. Or not. I would call ahead at the least. After the kiddies go back to school, you won't have a problem.