When travelling, do you book RV parks ahead of time; or wing it?

[mcfarmall]

I always make reservations. In Michigan if you want to stay at most of the parks along one of the Great Lakes you better be on the phone and the computer at 0759 six months to the day prior to your desired date or you'll be out of luck. Your only other option is to check several times a day each day and hope somebody cancels. Last year I got lucky and scored the last remaining site at Muskegon SP over Labor Day weekend just a few days before my arrival date.

[Bearles]

We always book ahead many parks in Ontario have limited larger sites and never want to get stuck without. We plan out trip to allow for the possibility of sight seeing some days depending where we are driving, other days its drive.

[DKRITTER]

I have traveled for a living most of my adult life and for decades now made reservations so when we bought the TT I just kept doing the same.

We went to Kingfish Oklahoma last fall for a sporting dog event and thankfully we had a reservation as we were checking in the nice lady turned away 3 folks.

BTW Kingfisher is 84 miles past the middle of nowhere.

[Jagiven]

We do both on longer trips. If we have a reason to be somewhere on a known date, or a key spot we want to stay at we book in advance if possible. Otherwise the days in between we just go with the flow. Around home, in the peak camping season we almost have to book, as you will not get a site unless you roll in on Tuesday or Wednesday.

[RoyBraddy]

We always book our favorite places to stay. We probably stay longer at these places anyway... Otherwise we usually wing it.

We like to do the 300-400 miles a day routine and always be somewhere just after 4PM to settle down for a meal and the night.

No reason to ever be in hurry

Roy Ken

[Big Sky]

On longer trips we usually always book ahead and with little regret. You do have to make your timed scheduled arrivals, however we have also missed out on places. We wanted to stay on a State Park beach one year in Santa Cruz as part of our loop to Sequoia and Yosemite. We couldn't get a guaranteed site so we booked a spot down at the KOA and then commuted to the beach. Well there were probably 40 spots open on the beach, but the "reserveable" sites were sold out. It can also be fun to play it by ear and be spontaneous. However if we are traveling 1,000 of miles, I prefer to have most of it guaranteed. I do not want to spend my time finding a place once I get there.

Have Fun!!

[Bassdogs]

Almost never on the actual roadtrip as we overnite at Wally W. Pretty much always at our long term destination location to get site preference and insure availability. Always consider season and location. Don't expect to show up at D World around Spring break and get a site. On the otherhand, during the low season we have never been shut out if we plan well and don't show up on a Friday nite or Sat. Get there on a Monday and you'll have a pretty good chance of getting a site.

Most of this will depend on your knowledge of an area and demand during the time you'll be there. First time on a new location you would be best to do a reservation.

[Jamarynn1]

I would love to be able to wing it, but He-Who-Drives-The-Tow-Vehicle wants reservations "set in concrete". I have to respect his comfort level. And if the driver's happy, everybody's happy. I can see his point; we're big and it is nice to know for sure a space is waiting for us at the end of the day.

[Larry G.]

Reservations 99% of the time...especially if our destination stay is for over a week which it normally is.

Nice to be able to pick out a site that you like, maybe for just the view, and have it waiting for you....like these;







But...what ever works for you.

[Allamuchy Joe]

Originally Posted by Heady

I have never did this, but would love to. My vote would be to wing it, no stress of "I have to go 500 miles today or else". Never know if you will hit traffic, not feel like driving, site see along the way, etc.

Yeah, but the stress could soon become, "I'm tired, all the local places are booked -- I didn't know the local homecoming college game was in town -- and I have to find a place tonight". What we do is schedule the important places (especially on the weekends) and leave extra time for traveling. If it seems like we are going to arrive early, we usually give a call and see if the site is available (usually are on weeknights). If not, we find a place along the route, stop for a good night's sleep and head out early the next day.

[Salsa03]

I always book ahead... don't like to be stuck without a place to park for the night...especially with young kids!

[Gunnar]

Normally we will reserve the night before. Sometimes we do wing it though. During the peak season we will call ahead.

[slabat]

I like to book in advance, as soon as I can. When we plan something especially a vacation, I like to make our reservations in advance so I know I have a place to stay. It seems like the best places are always booked up faster than the others, we have two young girls that like to swim and play miniature golf etc.....If they are not happy we are not happy

[CruizinKim]

The former Travel Agent in me still likes to plan everything, which includes our destinations and routes and that includes booking CG's in advance.

[Diesel Donnie]

We rarely make reservations- On more than one occasion we have stopped at a site that simply demanded we stay even though we had traveled just a few miles that day- On other occasions we have encountered road closures due to weather or accidents- As retired fulltimers we have no agenda to fulfill and rarely exceed 250 miles per day- Normally reservation are required 3 days out at Coast to Coast resorts- The Coast to Coast resorts are generally destination parks as opposed to overnite stays- JMHO- DD