Planning Your Trip

[Capt Jim]

We retired this year and bought our new Solitude with plans of long term travel especially in the West. We've had other RV's and done a lot of weekend type travel, but here are the questions I am trying to ask.

How much advance planning do you do with regards to campground reservations?
Do you have trouble finding space when and where you want it?
Does time of year make a significant difference?

I understand that this can vary widely depending on your situation. Families travel more in Summer when school is out which puts pressure on popular destinations. Some folks like to Winter in the warmer south which again limits space.

We, and I am sure others, would really be interested in your experiences.

 

[Paul & Deb]

Jim, I think a lot has to do with how fussy YOU are. When we worked and traveled we always made specific reservations and stuck to them. Once we retired we relaxed significantly. We only make reservation now for holidays or "destination" camping (i.e. camping in Yosemite, etc.).

We just finished a 3 1/2 month, 33 state, 11,800 mile trip and we got into a pattern of making reservations maybe a day or 2 in advance if at all.

Weekends and Holidays do generally require more attention, especially in the summer when school is out.

Back to "fussy" ... if you want to go to XYZ campground in a certain area, I suggest reservations. If you want to visit a certain area but don't care what campground you are in, don't be so worried.

The beauty of traveling after retirement is relaxing in the whole process.

Enjoy and Camp On!

 

[Capt Jim]

Hi, Paul,

Thanks for the insight. No, I'm not too fussy. My thoughts have been that it would be in line with your recent experience. I don't have to be in "The" place and I don't have a schedule. I'm interested in how others have approached it, however.

Happy trails.

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hey Jim,

Paul's "relaxed" plan will probably work for most of the continent for most of the year . . . the exceptions being Canada in the summer (short season so everyone is out camping when they can) or Florida in the winter (where all the Canadians go when they can't camp in Canada )
Seriously though, if you want to get into a Florida State Park for more than a couple of days in January or February, you are going to need reservations made many months before (as in 11 months before, for the most popular parks).

Rob

 

[LCBoyer]

Florida doesn't have many first come campsites, but if you are traveling you stay a night or two in most, unless they are reserved. COE has a few nice campgrounds and usually have openings. The further south in the winter, the harder it is to find campsites. Way to many Yankees slip down to avoid shoveling snow

 

[arhayes]

We've been on the road for 18 months now, and rarely make reservations more than a day in advance. We are very relaxed as we often see something and decide to detour, or find an area with more we want to do so we extend our stay. Exceptions areextended stay wintering locations (Florida, STexas, and Arizona), major camping Holidays, and "destination" type areas (DC, Branson, Orlando, etc). We always have a reservation before we stop, but it is often made that day from on the road.


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