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Old 08-30-2016, 09:15 PM   #1
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What I learned today...

Unless you are very lucky (like my wife who actually was able to get a spot for us this weekend) one needs to make reservations at RV parks WAAAAAAAAY in advance for Labor Day weekend. Even the ones with crappy online ratings are booked solid.
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Old 08-30-2016, 09:34 PM   #2
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I learned that lesson when I was still a fetus

Glad you got in somewhere, I have a few spots booked 2 weeks out when most people are off the roads and out of my good camping spots
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Old 08-30-2016, 10:04 PM   #3
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Who ever thought it would be this hard to find a spot.
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Old 08-30-2016, 10:11 PM   #4
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Many, many RVs sold each year putting more on the road. I don't think RV parks are growing nearly as fast, if at all. Sure makes it difficult to find a good spot, sometimes even 3 or 4 months out. Guess I have to plan better, which is something I can do now that I'm retired.

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Old 08-30-2016, 10:30 PM   #5
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It's not bad when you're weekend camping. My wife and I plan our Fall and Spring trips a few months in advance and book where we want.

But when I travel cross country I don't like to be held to a schedule. I like to stop when I'm tired, stay while I'm enjoying a place and then move on. Having RV Parks, State Parks and even boondocking federal campgrounds filling up makes that kind of travel really risky. You especially have to think about where you'll be on Fri. and Sat. nights and holidays.
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Old 08-31-2016, 06:51 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Tunce the traveler View Post
Who ever thought it would be this hard to find a spot.
10,000+ new RV's are sold every day. How many new campsites are created?
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Old 08-31-2016, 06:57 AM   #7
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I wonder if that 10,000 RVs is broken down anywhere into regions in any way? For instance, are more being sold in the Western US or the Southern? Then how many are "retired" each year? Is it a wash? Who knows.

If I were looking to start an RV park, I would want to know where the most number of RVs were being sold..
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Old 08-31-2016, 07:25 AM   #8
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It would be interesting to know how many RV's are abandoned each year or how many RV's tags are not renewed each year.
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Old 08-31-2016, 07:47 AM   #9
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A rapidly increasing number of units on the road that dwarf the available sites on holiday weekends and popular seasonal locations is for sure a problem that dictates planning and early reservations. Another problem is the relative moderate cost of a campsite and the liberial refund policy that you only loose the first nite fee if you cancel has become another annoying problem. Last winter we found out that Texas State Parks are booked up every weekend 52 weeks a year. Lots of people and a favorable camping climate make it popular year around. With the help of a State Park manager we discovered the secret to take advantage of the numerous cancellations. Get on a good site during the week when there are openings and then be at the front door of the campground registration office before they open on the first morning after your last paid day. Texas parks cancel reservations of "no-shows" at 9am the following day. They actually hold the reservation for the first nite/day because you will pay for that day even if you don't show up. But if you didn't show up for a Friday nite reservation by closing they will cancel the rest of the reservation at 9am Sat morning. OK be there 1st in line and you will get that opening and at texas parks they don't reserve actual sites so you will be able to stay on that primo site that you occupied from earlier in the week.

Not saying that this is the same in other states or that it would help on holiday weekends, but in many locations there will be no shows. There seems to be a lot of people who make reservations well in advance with no real commitment of actually using them. Losing $30-$40 bucks is no big deal for these people I guess.

In general though, trying to find a last minute site on a holiday weekend is a fools errand.
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Old 08-31-2016, 07:53 AM   #10
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Out of he 4 trailers that are on my road (mine is 1 of the 4) mine is the only one I have seen moved/used this year. That 10,000 a day is hard to apply to actual useage without knowing how many are not used/registered every year. I don't think my street is much different than what I see here in southern nh and Maine. Meaning a majority of the trailers don't get used.
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Old 08-31-2016, 08:16 AM   #11
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We simply don't travel that weekend. Or most other "holiday" weekends for that matter. BTDT, and almost every time was a complete disaster. It's just no fun when a park is absolutely full (or more). So we use holiday weekends to hang out at home with other family and friends; most of them don't RV anyway, so it works out well for us.

I agree with others though, our hobby is growing rapidly. And like many other things that grow rapidly, the ancillary supply of goods and services are not keeping up. It's similar for RV dealer service departments as well, too much demand, not enough supply.

So, like many other things in our life, we make an effort to go camping when demand is relatively low. Last weekend we stayed in a park that had a few dozen spots, and there were probably less than a dozen guests. It was GREAT. Nice and peaceful.
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Old 08-31-2016, 09:58 AM   #12
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Why not just take out a mortgage on a piece of land near a state park?


No reservations needed.
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Old 08-31-2016, 11:36 AM   #13
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Why not just take out a mortgage on a piece of land near a state park?


No reservations needed.
I've thought of doing this, there are some 13-acre lots near one of the nicer parks not far from home, saw one backing a stream with lots of trees, though it was recently logged. Already has utilities at the road, so you could forseeably get a full hookup put in and put in a nice level trailer pad.

If I didn't have 2 kids in college and another getting there soon, I'd probably be looking more seriously. Alas, it will have to wait a few years!
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Old 08-31-2016, 12:33 PM   #14
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Every one is buying rv's and we have to suffer thru it. Not many new rv parks going in.
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Old 08-31-2016, 12:56 PM   #15
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That 12 acre spot is nice. However, those secluded spots will get broken into several times a year. In Georgia and Florida, you almost have to book a year in advance for good sites at popular state parks. Some of our Corp of Engineer campgrounds have actually done away with walk up spots and are now all reserve able 12 months in advance! Sucks.
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