Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > CAMPING, TRAVEL and TRIP PLANNING > Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-13-2017, 11:50 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Make reservations now or Wing-it??

Hello all,

We're newly retired and planning to take our new rig through southern states for the winter. Usually we like to take our travels as much day-to-day as possible without reserving future stays too much ahead of time, ... wondering how feasible that is with RV'ing, especially if we want to stay in a lot of nice state parks which I suspect have most sites are already heavily reserved??? Appreciate any advice.

Rgds/- Steve
TitanCruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 09-13-2017, 11:57 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Cypressloser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Alberta - East of the Rockies, West of the Rest
Posts: 831
When we were still in a 30' 5th wheel we didn't book ahead unless it was over long weekends or there was a major event in the area but now with a 43' trailer we need to know exactly what we're up against. Unfortunately some parks are just not accessible anymore for us.
__________________
2018 Ram 5500 with 2021 Arctic Fox 1140
Cypressloser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 11:59 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
77Travco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 1,793
Hit the state parks during the week and boondock on the weekends if you must.
77Travco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 12:11 PM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cypressloser View Post
When we were still in a 30' 5th wheel we didn't book ahead unless it was over long weekends or there was a major event in the area but now with a 43' trailer we need to know exactly what we're up against. Unfortunately some parks are just not accessible anymore for us.
Ya I can imagine its a lot tougher to wing-it with a big rig like that. Our TT is only 27' so hoping its a little easier to find places to stay.

Thx/- Steve
TitanCruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 12:14 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Sbrownstein's Avatar
 
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,799
I think everyone without reservations should consider the effects of hurricane Irma. There will be no RV parks in the Keys this winter. All of those transients are going to be looking to stay on the mainland. Presumably any damage in south Florida should be repaired by then.

Wait at your own risk.
__________________
Scott Brownstein
Palm Island, Florida
2015 Georgetown 335DS
Sbrownstein is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 12:28 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by 77Travco View Post
Hit the state parks during the week and boondock on the weekends if you must.
Sounds fun. Are there normally lots of decent, safe places to boondock?
TitanCruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 02:48 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
johnhicks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wandering below the Gnat Line
Posts: 1,995
You need to make reservations unless your idea of camping is Walmart. Seriously. We didn't need to make them far in advance just last year but this year is different.

We generally don't stay at state parks because they're rather expensive and in the winter booked up a year earlier. Corps of Engineers parks have worked out well for us especially with the half-price old-farts discount.
__________________
-jbh-
johnhicks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 02:57 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Podivin's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Posts: 3,542
If 'southern states' includes Florida, then most of the state parks book out a year in advance (which is as far out as they are allowed to book).
Exceptions for some of the parks in the middle of the state where it's a bit less touristy.

This excludes damages caused to parks from Irma that will make some site unavailable for some length of time as yet to be determined. And for all of the full timers whose sites were damage or destroyed by Irma who are now looking for a place to park.
__________________
2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V
Podivin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 03:08 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
A32Deuce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,565
Figure all the,places that fill up from Nov. to April will be looking toward the center of the state or another. In Between destinations you met be able to not need reservations during the week. I am not even sure about southern Texas. A lot of snowbirds there. Claen up in both states may make CGs unavailable. I would start calling now.
A32Deuce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 03:49 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Busskipper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Grasonville, MD -- Golden, CO
Posts: 6,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanCruiser View Post
Hello all,

We're newly retired and planning to take our new rig through southern states for the winter. Usually we like to take our travels as much day-to-day as possible without reserving future stays too much ahead of time, ... wondering how feasible that is with RV'ing, especially if we want to stay in a lot of nice state parks which I suspect have most sites are already heavily reserved??? Appreciate any advice.

Rgds/- Steve
Those who do - Do ..

Those who don't - Don't ..

Simple and True - But in your Case the operative word is WINTER so for the most part you will be good (Grand Canyon, might be an exception - in the park) You will learn what works for you and get into your routine.

When we first started we were on a Schedule - . Not Fun . - now we get a rough plan and just wing it - usually calling about 2-3 hours before we arrive to be sure we can get in - worst comes to worst - Wal*Mart will be fine (30 years without an issue) - then we see if we can get in or change plans.

Where do you want to go this first winter ?

We have done - Colorado - Utah - Nevada - California - Arizona - Texas and New Mexico in the South West during the Winter - Loved it. We did all this in the last two coaches - 37' and 42+ ' so really not that hard.

So I say go for it and adjust as you go/learn.

Best of Luck,
__________________
Busskipper
Location - Grasonville, Maryland - and/or - Superior, Colorado
2005 Travel Supreme 42DS04 - GX470 Toad
Busskipper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 09:14 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Isaac-1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,848
It would help a lot if you were to define "southern states"
__________________
2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 400 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
Isaac-1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2017, 06:12 PM   #12
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Isaac-1 View Post
It would help a lot if you were to define "southern states"
Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, SoCal.
TitanCruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2017, 06:19 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
jacwjames's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,494
We use to go to FL to visit my parents and my wifes family. Early on it was easier to wing it now not so much. Too many people competing for limited spots. Also, a number of communities have implemented no parking rules for Walmart and similar stores. This compounds the problem and makes it difficult to wing it.
__________________
Jim J
2002 Monaco Windsor 38 PKD Cummins ISC 350 8.3L
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/5.7 Hemi
jacwjames is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2017, 06:21 PM   #14
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Busskipper View Post
Those who do - Do ..

Those who don't - Don't ..

Simple and True - But in your Case the operative word is WINTER so for the most part you will be good (Grand Canyon, might be an exception - in the park) You will learn what works for you and get into your routine.

When we first started we were on a Schedule - . Not Fun . - now we get a rough plan and just wing it - usually calling about 2-3 hours before we arrive to be sure we can get in - worst comes to worst - Wal*Mart will be fine (30 years without an issue) - then we see if we can get in or change plans.

Where do you want to go this first winter ?

We have done - Colorado - Utah - Nevada - California - Arizona - Texas and New Mexico in the South West during the Winter - Loved it. We did all this in the last two coaches - 37' and 42+ ' so really not that hard.

So I say go for it and adjust as you go/learn.

Best of Luck,
Winging it certainly fits with our typical approach but we've never had any problems booking a couple of days in advance. Scary thing is this doesn't seem to be quite so feasible with nicer camping parks, esp state and national parks. But its great to hear about the success you've had!

We're thinking of spending most of our time in the SW, ... Arizona, SoCal region, but may drive there via TX, NM and Louisiana since we'll be coming from the Northeast.
TitanCruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How far out do you make reservations? RMD3819 Full-Timers 14 06-13-2017 05:04 PM
Do not make reservations at Willow Oaks Oaks, Hesperis, CA. jonthebap Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 17 10-18-2015 01:42 PM
Do not make reservations at woodland lakes rv park near Houston, Tx JohnBoyToo Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 7 10-06-2015 07:45 AM
How far ahead to make reservations CMcGGray Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 25 04-15-2014 05:50 PM
Do you make reservations ahead for your trip? csrrsr MH-General Discussions & Problems 35 03-24-2013 10:33 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.