Campground Availability in 2024

[colby]

Here in Ontario they made some changes to the length of stays in the Provincial Parks. You can only book 5 months ahead of your arrival date; however, in the past you could book 23 consecutive nights, so if you wanted a long weekend, you would plan 3 weeks before and then book the 23 days, then after a month when you can cancel, you would cancel all of the days except the ones that you wanted (with a fee; however, the 1 month mark is the least punitive). Now for the popular parks, that is restricted between July 1st and Labour Day where, depending on the park and it's historic popularity, you can book 7 or 14 consecutive days.

This has freed up dates; however, given the cancellation policy, it's always worth to check for a site that you want 4 months out (when others have started to cancel). Things are still crazy trying to get sites, but that's half the fun

[Speed25]

We booked for Acadia National Park (historically hard to get in) for late May, and had no trouble getting sites at any of the campgrounds. Just checked, and they're still available when we're going even though we booked on the day they bacame bookable.

[Mi_Tony]

Not really. Here in Michigan we have around 7 state parks that are closed for the season for renovations. The slime Pickens we had before just got a lot slimmer.

Luckily we’re booked for the summer in the parks we wanted. 4 state parks and 2 private. About 30 nights total.

[jetlag]

We arrived at Creekfire RV resort in Savannah yesterday and was surprised how busy it was for mid week, and a steady line of campers checking in around 3pm. Not sure if we are full, but a nice crowd nonetheless. We came through here in January, twice, en route to and from Florida, and booked these 12 days then.

[muckinfuss]

We stopped pulling and went seasonal a few years back. Monday was 'opening' for the season and that's when the trailers get opened up, covers taken off, de-winterized, lots cleaned up from winter debris etc. Each year there's a couple of open lots that get a trailer within the first couple of days. This 'resort' only does seasonal, very few families, mostly couples with one or two gray hairs, and it's on a very large lake. This year, by Wed. as I was leaving to return home, I counted 9 vacant sites just in the rows that I could see down as I drove past. Unusual given the past few seasons. On Monday, there were 5 sites on my row that were empty and 4 had trailers by Wed. and one was still empty. All four came from other lots in the park. We generally have seen 3% price increase each year; so not out of line. We'll be heading back with the dogs in a few days and I'll see if there's been any fill in by then.

[MK 2022]

Originally Posted by CayennePepper

I've heard recent news that:
1) 60% of American households are living paycheck to paycheck
2) 50% have less than $1000 in savings
3) Inflation is making most families spend well over $1200 more per month for necessities than they did before the pandemic.

Add it all together and the above unfortunate folks probably are not going to be camping in those empty spaces you are noticing.

If people cannot afford bread or gas, they need to re-evaluate their career choices. i understand that there are different levels of wealth, but if people choose to do poorly in life and the cost of bread and gas is their tipping point, stop blaming corporations, the presidents, or the boogieman. We like to tell people to pick themselves up by their bootstraps, but those same people want that to apply only to " those people". Ok off my soap box.

[muckinfuss]

Originally Posted by MK 2022

If people cannot afford bread or gas, they need to re-evaluate their career choices. i understand that there are different levels of wealth, but if people choose to do poorly in life and the cost of bread and gas is their tipping point, stop blaming corporations, the presidents, or the boogieman. We like to tell people to pick themselves up by their bootstraps, but those same people want that to apply only to " those people". Ok off my soap box.

Couldn't agree more. Even my grandfather born in 1890 knew that leaving the farm and getting into manufacturing was the only way to go for his generation...even with WW1 getting in the way a couple years after getting that first job. No college, his only experience when he left the farm as the only son....14 years behind a single horse plow and head pig butcherer... and all the fun that gets you plus just his gumption ... and he retired from BFG as the top dog in the rubber compounding R&D department. The moral of the story...jobs won't find you...you have to go where they are and make one yours. If that's not what you're willing to do you aren't allowed to complain.

[MK 2022]

Originally Posted by CayennePepper

I've heard recent news that:
1) 60% of American households are living paycheck to paycheck
2) 50% have less than $1000 in savings
3) Inflation is making most families spend well over $1200 more per month for necessities than they did before the pandemic.

Add it all together and the above unfortunate folks probably are not going to be camping in those empty spaces you are noticing.

Originally Posted by muckinfuss

Couldn't agree more. Even my grandfather born in 1890 knew that leaving the farm and getting into manufacturing was the only way to go for his generation...even with WW1 getting in the way a couple years after getting that first job. No college, his only experience when he left the farm as the only son....14 years behind a single horse plow and head pig butcherer... and all the fun that gets you plus just his gumption ... and he retired from BFG as the top dog in the rubber compounding R&D department. The moral of the story...jobs won't find you...you have to go where they are and make one yours. If that's not what you're willing to do you aren't allowed to complain.

Yeah I am just tired of all the people acting like this is all something new. I think people overextend themselves then need to point the finger at the other guy and not themselves. the IQ has really diminished in this country, and people are not ashamed to show it. Math and Science were the way, now it is some religious crap that is being pushed on us. We are going to be a 3rd world country because politicians think we need invisible sky lord and not Math and Science. I'm an engineer, I see all the imported people we have to bring in to fill jobs and they leave and go back to their home countries with all our secrets, because America needs to pray in school. OMG I am ranting in my happy place, I need to book something this weekend. Good day to you my friend and happy journeys.

[CayennePepper]

Originally Posted by MK 2022

Yeah I am just tired of all the people acting like this is all something new. I think people overextend themselves then need to point the finger at the other guy and not themselves. the IQ has really diminished in this country, and people are not ashamed to show it. Math and Science were the way, now it is some religious crap that is being pushed on us. We are going to be a 3rd world country because politicians think we need invisible sky lord and not Math and Science. I'm an engineer, I see all the imported people we have to bring in to fill jobs and they leave and go back to their home countries with all our secrets, because America needs to pray in school. OMG I am ranting in my happy place, I need to book something this weekend. Good day to you my friend and happy journeys.

I think you completely misunderstood my post. I'm probably just as much of a self-supporting "go-getter" as you. I have a chemistry degree and retired at 50 without a mortgage, own 8 cars and a 23' Jayfeather and am doing fine. I was only saying the people who don't have money falling out of their pockets are not going to be renting RV campsites, period. Thus more open space for the rest of us. Don't think many people choose to do poorly as you suggest. No idea why you come up mentioning corporations, the president or the boogieman? No need to get on a soap box but apparently something got your dander up.

[RPR]

Let’s all stop, take a deep breath and relax. Life is too short. This RV web site is here to help all RVers not a soap box.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by RPR

Let’s all stop, take a deep breath and relax. Life is too short. This RV web site is here to help all RVers not a soap box.

I agree 100%. And with that said, let's just close this one up.

Thread Closed