Reserve America

[Bob_Vaughn]

There is a state campground near me and every time I try to make a reserve america reservation at this park RA says all the sites are booked for the day I want to go there but when I just drive there I find the park virtually empty. The Ranger told me they have trouble with RA doing this. When he tries to look up a site it tells him the same thing. Is there something wrong with the way RA reserves sites??

[2gypsies1]

Here's a link to that campground. It shows many sites with a 'R' (reserved) and some with a 'A' (available. Look under 'Date Range Availability'. Hope this helps.

http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/alafia-river-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=FL...

[GMandJM]

Ahh...Alafia. There's a possible reason for that. Is it okay if I send you a PM?

EDIT: Looking at Alafia on RA it shows good availability for the next couple months on both loops.

[Bob_Vaughn]

GMandJM wrote:
Okay...wait. A FL state park near Seffner?? Are we talking about Hillsborough River SP? If so, there is an explanation.

If it is Hillsborough, see the 4th post in this thread.

(And if you mean Silver River/Silver Spring, they are not currently taking reservations through R/A due to campground construction.)

No it was Alafia State park

[GMandJM]

Okay...wait. A FL state park near Seffner?? Are we talking about Hillsborough River SP? If so, there is an explanation.

If it is Hillsborough, see the 4th post in this thread.

(And if you mean Silver River/Silver Spring, they are not currently taking reservations through R/A due to campground construction.)

[NCWriter]

I discovered a little quirk a few years ago trying to book a government campground out west. All the sites were unavailable, apparently fully booked, I assumed, which didn't make sense to me since the date was off season, and way in advance.

Finally I learned they showed it that way after Labor Day because they did not bother with reservations, yet the campground was still open for whoever showed up to check in with the host, Which we and others did, selecting whichever site we preferred. The rangers had closed one section, but the other was up and running.

Not saying this is your scenario or that Florida does it that way, just that sometimes the system may be hard to decipher.

[2gypsies1]

All I can think of is that the reservation window isn't accurate or the sites are available for drive-ins, not reservations. When you look at the site list, do the little boxes have a 'R' (reserved) or an 'A' (available) in them and what color are some. The non-reservable sites are brown.

Probably best to call Reserve America and have them look at the site after you were assured by calling the campground that sites are indeed empty.

It's hard to believe that the campground would be empty all the time because folks can't get through with a reservation. Someone is getting into that campground - either reserving or just driving in.

What campground is it?

[NYCgrrl]

Bob Vaughn wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
Bob - FL. State Parks always have a few sites for walk-ups that are not listed on Reserve America, or they are listed as filled. I have been told this at numerous parks in FL. as I always see empty spots on holidays or in the summer months.

Call the park you are interested in and ask them. You may actually have to show up to rent the spot, I'm not sure, so ask that question too.

The park I was referring too I actually drove there and asked the ranger about spots held back from RA for drive ups and was told that they did not do that so I do not know what is true because I had heard it before...

Bob, why don't you just go to the website of the actual park or state you are referring to? Tends to be a wealth of factual information there with little suppositions. I will say I've been given contradictory information by rangers working at the same time at the same park to the same question. Thank goodness for smart phones.

[Bob_Vaughn]

2012Coleman wrote:
Bob - FL. State Parks always have a few sites for walk-ups that are not listed on Reserve America, or they are listed as filled. I have been told this at numerous parks in FL. as I always see empty spots on holidays or in the summer months.

Call the park you are interested in and ask them. You may actually have to show up to rent the spot, I'm not sure, so ask that question too.

The park I was referring too I actually drove there and asked the ranger about spots held back from RA for drive ups and was told that they did not do that so I do not know what is true because I had heard it before...

[GMandJM]

Johno02 wrote:
Campgrounds should be able to open site for walk-ins soon after a checkin-by time. Paying comfirmation for the entire reservation in advance would stop a lot of the abuse.

Every reservation we've ever made via RA is paid in full at the time of reservation. No way around it.

If a campground gave away my site because I wasn't there by check-in time (due to weather, car trouble, whatever), I would be pretty-darned upset about that. Words would be exchanged.

[bikendan]

RGar974417 wrote:
Don't just look at their website,call.I believe they have a different number for each state.I always call.

Ditto to this!

[RGar974417]

Don't just look at their website,call.I believe they have a different number for each state.I always call.

[2012Coleman]

Bob - FL. State Parks always have a few sites for walk-ups that are not listed on Reserve America, or they are listed as filled. I have been told this at numerous parks in FL. as I always see empty spots on holidays or in the summer months.

Call the park you are interested in and ask them. You may actually have to show up to rent the spot, I'm not sure, so ask that question too.

[NYCgrrl]

tatest wrote:
What is wrong is that the sites are reserved by people not actually using them. It is not unusual for someone to reserve (and pay for) a site for a two week window in order to have it for two or three nights at the end of that period. For the people doing this, the value of those nights is sufficient to justify the cost of a two week rental.

It may or may not be against the policy of a public park to tie up a facility but not use it, but separating the reservation system from park management makes it just that much more difficult to police, where policy considers it abuse of the reservations system. And for some parks, all they care about is whether or not the site is paid for, and so don't consider it abuse.

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me (reserving sites for a week and then only using 2 or 3 days)but I value my hard earned dollars too much I guess. I have been known to book several days and allow the first night to go by unused due to work or transport problems but that's it. On the bright side since I pre-registered I can enter the campground early in the morn before the office opens, settle in and present my paperwork later in the day.

Separating the reservation system from the parks happened in part because people were abusing the system and living at the park for the entire camping season. Saw that happening back in the 80's when I attended college near Taughannock Falls State Park outside of Ithaca, NY. Students, locals renovating homes and others just looking for less expensive housing, found a spot and NEVER moved until it got cold or the park closed for the season. This of course meant less of the public could use the campgrounds. And sometimes money exchanged hands under the table. RA and similar computer systems made for a more level playing field as well as allowing states to cut costs associated with payroll. It has it's problems but is inherently fairer and faster than past ways of making reservations as I see it.

[NYCgrrl]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
No the next month some times 2 months away....

Assuming you are speaking about the state of FL here is the reservation policy:

ffective July 1, 2015, visitors will be charged a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee for camping and cabin reservation fees at the time of reservation online or through the call center. To learn more: click here. Bring your family and friends for an overnight adventure at one of our state parks.

Florida's state park campsites and cabins fill quickly on weekends and holidays. Make your reservations early. If your favorite park is booked when you want to visit, consider staying at a neighboring state park or booking a mid-week stay.

Reservations for campgrounds and cabins may be made up to 11 months in advance.. Call ReserveAmerica (link is external) at (800) 326-3521 or TDD (888) 433-0287. Campsite prices vary from $16 to $42 a night depending on the park. Cabin prices vary from $30 to $160 a night.

For reservation details such as canceling or changing a reservation, discounts, length of stay and camping with pets visit Stay the Night.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/things-to-do/stay-the-night

It still goes to forethought but oftimes if you call your local campground direct they can tell you of a cancellation before RA's system knows of it. Or constantly check the RA system for the same info. GL.

[tatest]

What is wrong is that the sites are reserved by people not actually using them. It is not unusual for someone to reserve (and pay for) a site for a two week window in order to have it for two or three nights at the end of that period. For the people doing this, the value of those nights is sufficient to justify the cost of a two week rental.

It may or may not be against the policy of a public park to tie up a facility but not use it, but separating the reservation system from park management makes it just that much more difficult to police, where policy considers it abuse of the reservations system. And for some parks, all they care about is whether or not the site is paid for, and so don't consider it abuse.