Thor Forums

[TurnerFam]

...we've staying in a LOT of places, a lot of DIFFERENT places, and in a lot of different seasons and situations... I can say we've seen it all....but,

I'll have to challenge the idea that we just 'simply' need more campgrounds... that may be a shortsided thought, as it depends on what you mean by 'more' campgrounds.

RV parks and Campgrounds WANT to be full, just like airlines and hotels, every flight, every day, every night - that's their business. That's the business side of it.

State and National/Regional/local parks, on the other hand, aren't as 'business' oriented, but more regimented in government rules and processes. Whether they are full or not probably doesn't come into play, but only that they do their job, and then close at the end of the season, until it starts again the next year.

Some parks are very, very, very, very, very, very popular, for the same reasons that YOU want to camp there, everyone else does too. It makes sense that it is crowded, packed, full, and otherwise hard to find a site to reserve, at least when YOU want to be there. Everyone else wants to be there on the weekend, too. It's just normal. There are only so many spots.

We've been there, and done that, on many occasions, when the timing was needed, or when the location was required, but mostly we've always tried to stay off the beaten path, at more 'mom and pop' campgrounds and rv parks, or even city/local RV parks that most don't even know about, aren't advertised, and are mostly only there for the 'locals'... most governmental entities don't have the same 'business' requirements for profit, only a set budget to spend on the campground, and therefore the number of campers is not really relevant, more for just keeping the 'park' functioning.


I would suggest that rather than looking at camping or rving as a 'destination' project, to everyone's favorite FULL campground, be open to travel and to areas that might not be as 'popular' - there are SO MANY places that we've run across, sometimes even accidentally, that it boggles the mind that more folks aren't there, too. Beautiful places with great local rv parks and campgrounds - some full hookups, 50amp, and some with none - just a drycamping in the woods experience, but still a welcomed change from the 'norm'.

If you like camping in the same place all the time, you'll always struggle with this issue you bring up - but if you plan on seeing places outside your normal area, you might find that there are plenty of rv parks and campgrounds waiting for your enjoyment.

I also find that many regional and state campgrounds use the fairly typical same reservation systems - they aren't well designed to 'help' you find a vacant site, but more for just the reservation itself. If you find that your favorite campground is 'full', meaning that it is not allowing your dates to be available, then use only a single NIGHt, rather than the whole set of days - this might show an available site, for at least the first night. You might also find another site for the next night - though you'll have to move - but it still works, if you want it to.
Also, many campgrounds provide 'walk up' NON-RESERVABLE sites that are always open, if no one has yet arrived for them. You may not be able to stay there more than a single night, but you can always use that to start your trip, then check with the office for any cancellations.
We have stayed at a certain COE(corp of engineers) park many times - sometimes any site we want is available, and sometimes almost none are - we've used the 'walk up' site as a starting point, and found that overnight a cancellation has occurred. Since their reservations system does not provide data for any cancelled sites, only the LOCAL office can give it to you. If you are already there, you have a big head start on anyone else getting it.
The worst thing that can happen is you have to leave the park, oh well.