Are you struggling to get a reservation for your favorite campground? Follow these tips for securing a camping reservation and enjoy a great stay at your preferred park.
Camping has become increasingly popular, making reserving a campsite a challenge. Many popular parks fill within a minute of the reservation window opening, leaving you scrambling for an alternative plan.
Over the years, I have planned numerous camping vacations involving stays along a path. I have secured a camp spot online without adjusting our itinerary too much. Remember the days of calling in for a reservation?
I am passing on my insights to help you avoid frustration and allow you to stay at your preferred park. These tips are primarily geared toward stays on public lands, such as state, national, or county parks or forests.
10 Tips for Getting a Camping Reservation
1 – Plan Ahead
Many state parks open their reservations months in advance, so planning your trip as early as possible is crucial. Check the reservation dates for your chosen state/park and mark them on your calendar.
If you decide to head out soon, watch for cancellations. In Illinois, reservations can be canceled up to three days in advance. I frequently find a cancellation on a Tuesday for a Friday arrival. I have always been able to find a spot this way, even for holiday weekends.
2 – Be Flexible with Dates
While setting your heart on a specific weekend is great, being flexible with your camping dates can increase your chances of landing a spot. If you’re open to mid-week camping or non-holiday times, you might find availability when weekends are fully booked.
3 – Get Familiar with the Reservation Platform
It is essential to understand how the reservation system works ahead of time. Make an account and log in ahead of time. Practice the reservation process by picking a site but stopping short of payment.
4 – Check Open Sites the Night Before
Most systems require you to select your specific site rather than assign you a spot. I like to check the campground map the night before to see which sites are available. This allows me to check site specifics such as length, shade, and slope. I then create a list of sites in a preferred order.
5 – Be Ready to Book
When reservation day arrives, be ready. Log onto the reservation site a few minutes early and have all your information at hand. Watch the site system clock and click that reserve button at the right second.
6 – Get Another Household Member on the Task
If vying for a top-rated park, get your partner or another adult you are camping with to try for a different spot simultaneously. I will list the sites I am going for and give my husband a list for him to try.
7 – Check for Group Sites
Check out group camping sites if you plan to camp with a larger group. These tend to be more available than individual sites close together and provide an excellent opportunity for a fun gathering.
8 – Get on a Waitlist
Not able to get a spot? Do not despair! Cancellations happen. Many campgrounds offer waitlists. Sign up for notifications and be ready to jump on a campsite opening.
Some campers book a longer stay to ensure they get their desired reservation, then cancel the part on the front end of their stay. I have found open spots by keeping an eye out for these. For example, Michigan states that once campsite reservations are made, they cannot be canceled or modified more than five months before arrival. So, I will check back at that five-month mark for openings.
Use an app like Campflare, which provides notifications of cancellations and shows availability for over 5,000 public campgrounds on one map.
9 – Consider Alternative Campgrounds
Sometimes, popular parks are just too hard to access. Explore alternative campgrounds, including county and municipal parks nearby. Lesser-known parks are often quieter and have more availability.
10 – Get Insider Info from FB Groups
Most states have camping groups on Facebook. These groups are great for current information and suggestions about parks. You might even learn of a new campground to check out.
Use these tips to plan your next camping trip. Remember, camping is all about the experience, so whether it’s your favorite park or a new spot you discover, each adventure creates a new set of memories.
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