Traveling with No Reservations

[joindy]

We are experienced RV travelers but have always traveled with reservations at commercial, larger campgrounds. Now I am thinking of doing some casual traveling without specific plans for the trip, thus may want to take chances that will be able to find a space somewhere for the 20 ft travel trailer.

Our Flagstaff E Pro 19fd is only 20 feet long, no slides...so I would think if you pull into a campground that has no spaces available, they could...for a modest fee...let you find a parking area...no electric, water etc for a night. I would be happy to pay $10-20 for a parking space and use of the dump station the next morning. Is this likely to be available?

Related issue is I know of a very desirable town operated campground that does not accept reservations. So what if you pull in early afternoon and no space, would they likely let you park somewhere and get an available space the next day?

Any insights into this no reservation-no space tonight issues would be appreciated.

[spock123]

I usually call the campground I want to stay at for tonight at lunchtime or around 1 or 2 o’clock. We always have a campground for the night. We use rvparky or rvparksandcampgrounds but we never make reservations more than a day ahead. Unless we are staying at a very popular area. Oh by the way I have never seen a campground that will let you stay at a cheaper rate. All the campgrounds we stay at when they are full they stop taking reservations. The campgrounds we stay at we don’t use anything but water, electric and sewer. We never use campground bathrooms or laundry rooms or pools. We use our satellite and our WiFi but we are charged the same rate as everyone else

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by joindy

We are experienced RV travelers but have always traveled with reservations at commercial, larger campgrounds. Now I am thinking of doing some casual traveling without specific plans for the trip, thus may want to take chances that will be able to find a space somewhere for the 20 ft travel trailer.

Our Flagstaff E Pro 19fd is only 20 feet long, no slides...so I would think if you pull into a campground that has no spaces available, they could...for a modest fee...let you find a parking area...no electric, water etc for a night. I would be happy to pay $10-20 for a parking space and use of the dump station the next morning. Is this likely to be available?

Related issue is I know of a very desirable town operated campground that does not accept reservations. So what if you pull in early afternoon and no space, would they likely let you park somewhere and get an available space the next day?

Any insights into this no reservation-no space tonight issues would be appreciated.

Most campgrounds we deal with if there is no space..... down the road you go. No space no camp. No reduced fees.........

If you go to a resort / popular area beach etc. Summer months will be booked a year in advance with a possible waiting list.......... no reservations no camp off to Walmart you go.........

Rural area with several campgrounds, that are not as popular you would not have as much of a problem........ Near us there are first come first campgrounds that fill fast...... off season not as much of a problem.

If there is an overflow area you will probably pay close to full price.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by spock123

I usually call the campground I want to stay at for tonight at lunchtime or around 1 or 2 o’clock. We always have a campground for the night. We use rvparky or rvparksandcampgrounds but we never make reservations more than a day ahead. Unless we are staying at a very popular area. Oh by the way I have never seen a campground that will let you stay at a cheaper rate. All the campgrounds we stay at when they are full they stop taking reservations. The campgrounds we stay at we don’t use anything but water, electric and sewer. We never use campground bathrooms or laundry rooms or pools. We use our satellite and our WiFi but we are charged the same rate as everyone else

I spent a month on the road, late April and most of May doing exactly what you do. Decide how far I want to drive in a given day, use RV Parky to find something that looks good, then call them in the middle of the day. As a backup I have the Interstate Rest Stop app that gives me a list of mileposts for every rest stop along the Interstate system. County and State Parks, National Parks, Parking Lots, dispersed camping on public lands, often not far from main highways (at least out here in the West).

Never worry about a place to stay for the night. Only time I make reservations ahead of time is for a "destination" where I will be staying for a while. Then I make them far enough in advance I still don't have to worry.

Don't forget that not just Walmart Parking lots are options, there are more and more Casino's along out highway system with huge parking lots.

[Teetime]

I'd make reservations or have a Walmart or Pilot truck stop directory for emergency backup.

We once camped in Roswell NM, and during conversations with the owner they said that they usually hold back a few sites for campers that pull in late without reservations, but that is unusual.

[bikendan]

Never heard of any campground that let you just park, at a discounted price.

[JayArras]

Be aware that more and more Walmarts are pulling back from letting RVers use their parking lots overnight for whatever reason. Best to call the store just to be sure.

[Cypressloser]

I know a lot of campgrounds that have an unserviced overflow area. Some are at a reduced rate, some are not and they don't take reservations for overflow, unless you know the campground it can be a shot in the dark.

[Kimber45]

I like the idea of traveling with no set plans. Mid week you probably be ok. Weekends and Holidays? Special events or major attractions you may be stuck at a Walmart or truck stop once in a while.

[spock123]

If we are traveling and there is a holiday that comes along we try to find a campground and stay there until after the holiday. It’s only a few days longer and we usually need a break from the road

[lswartz]

You are close to my home area, Cromwell, Ligonier & Kimmel.

Indiana has some great state parks & the last time I was there, no reservations were needed. Just don’t arrive late in the day or on the 4th of July weekend.

[Life Without Whine]

want to stay connected with this thread for the future .... I know many county parks down here in FL do not take reservations (& that is why we won't use them) but would be great as a backup / primary stopping point in many cases

[TheWolfPaq82]

There's 3 SRA's (State Recreation Areas) within 20 miles of me. Weekends are booked from mid April thru mid October. Weekdays you'll find some reserved spots available for a day or so. There is no "overflow areas", "reduced cost areas" at any of the three. The parks that have "first come" areas, are usually booked by late wednesday, early thursday for weekends and holidays. Years ago, we could pull out after I got home from work on a Friday evening and have no problem finding a spot....those days are gone I'm afraid.

[Mowgli64]

Weekdays are usually ok to find openings. Weekends we try to book ahead by a few days at least. Most campgrounds I believe are licensed for x number of spots and cannot have more than that.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Mowgli64

Weekdays are usually ok to find openings. Weekends we try to book ahead by a few days at least. Most campgrounds I believe are licensed for x number of spots and cannot have more than that.

x2

I agree. Weekends are usually when we have reservations at a private campground and stock up on supplies and do laundry.

That said, we did travel for a time with no reservations with a 21 ft trailer and usually found a place to stay. However, there are a lot more rvs on the road and we've increasingly found that campgrounds fill quickly.

If you have a smart phone and apps like ParkAdvisor, RVParky and a gps that has rv parks listed (most of them do under 'lodging'), you can probably do what you want successfully.

[spock123]

We try to never travel on a Sunday and if it looks like campgrounds are going to be crowded on a weekend we will stay for three nights. Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night. I normally drive at least four hundred miles a day and sometimes more, so we can make up the time.

[Bluepill]

Note the "No Hookup" listing at the bottom of the page:

https://koa.com/campgrounds/san-anto...camping-sites/

Very smart of them to allow this. Hopefully more will follow.

[Reprise]

I'm a relative newbie to the 'lifestyle', but I pretty much do the same thing - RVParky (which even works in no cell service areas) or app of choice, as I'm deciding when / where to end my driving day.

I spent my adult life adhering to schedules & timelines, and am much happier when I'm not stressed out trying to make a destination by 'x' hour, especially if a deposit was required. I had that at the NP I was traveling to, and had to cover 450mi of Montana in a day...was a very long day, but I made it.

During my last trip, I found Cabela's to be a great place for 'last resort' camping, as they welcome overnight parking. Not a secret, though - you may find most of their spots taken up (especially with the inconsiderate ones who park in a spot and take up two more by putting out opposing slides - as if they were in a campground). SMH when I saw that.

[spock123]

Cabela’s has a really nice campground at there headquarters in Sidney NB. They don’t take reservations, first come first served. I put my slides out, I can’t use the camper if I don’t. If close be we always go by there. There is a big Walmart there too, I have seen campers parked there too. I was there one time that I seen campers come in and the place was full

[Reprise]

Originally Posted by spock123

Cabela’s has a really nice campground at there headquarters in Sidney NB. They don’t take reservations, first come first served. I put my slides out, I can’t use the camper if I don’t. If close be we always go by there. There is a big Walmart there too, I have seen campers parked there too. I was there one time that I seen campers come in and the place was full

Sorry...didn't mean to disparage everyone putting out a slide; I know sometimes it's impossible to access bed / bath, etc., without doing so. And that's why one stops in the first place.

The one I remember was a Keystone Cougar 5er, and he really did have opposing slides out. I don't know his floor plan, but I'll guess that he didn't need to put both sides out.

By contrast, there was also a Winnebago Class A in the same lot - *no* slides out. I parked right next to them; that's all that was left when I got there. At least I got a space...LOL

Yes, I'm judgmental - I dislike (deliberately) inconsiderate people. And he struck me as such.