How far in advance should you book FamCamp spots (military ret snowbirds)

[Kro1957]

I checked out the Fam Camp at Mac Dill and they started booking 15 months out. Does anyone know if that is the norm with southern FamCamps? I got our name on stand by but would rather have firm place to land come next winter. Thanks James

[Tent Maker]

They all seem to have their own rules regarding reservations. I have read the reviews about McDill on the Military RV Park Review website and that seems to be a tough place to get into in the winter. So it doesn't surprise me that you have to make reservations that far out, but again they all seem to have their own rules. The website I mentioned usually states the reservation policy for each FamCamp. I hope this helps.

[jpharley]

Some of these southern military campgrounds are pretty cliquish too. The same people show up year after year and they are not happy if you take a space away from them. We ran into this at Patrick AFB. Even the campground hosts were not very nice.

[skypilot_1]

MWR LODGING PATRON ELIGIBILITY
All reservations are made on a first come, first serve basis without regard to rate or rank.
Reservations may be made up to 1 year in advance for Active Duty Members and 6 months
in advance for Retirees and DoD civilians. The sites reserve the right to cancel any reservation that
does not meet Navy Getaways stay policy.
Eligibility
 Armed Forces active duty members
 Armed Forces retirees retired from active duty and their family members
 Reserve Component members and their family members
 Retired Armed Forces and Reserve Component members and their family members
 U.S. DoD civilians (both APF and NAF)
 Honorably discharged veterans with 100% Service-connected disability
 Guests of the Armed Forces as determined by the Commanding Officer
 Medal of Honor Recipients
 Un-remarried surviving spouses of personnel who died while on active duty or while in retired
 Status, and un-remarried former spouses who were married to military members for at least
 20 years while the military member was on active duty to the Armed Forces
* ALL GUESTS MUST HAVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TO STAY AT ANY NAVY GETAWAYS
LOCATION:
VALID MILITARY ID CARD or CAC CARD, BE SPONSORED BY A MILITARY MEMBER STAYING
AT THE SAME NAVY GETAWAYS LOCATION (AT SITES’ DISCRETION), DoD CIVILIAN WITH A
VALID MILITARY ID CARD or CAC CARD STAYING AT THE SAME LOCATION.
__________________

[maxjr758]

Originally Posted by jpharley

Some of these southern military campgrounds are pretty cliquish too. The same people show up year after year and they are not happy if you take a space away from them. We ran into this at Patrick AFB. Even the campground hosts were not very nice.

Was this during the winter months? Wife and I stayed at Patrick (Manatee Cove) this past September, and they were very helpful ! The hosts even told us who to talk to about storing our 5th wheel in the (Lemon Lot) while we went on a 7 day cruise out of Ft Lauderdale. Cost me $10 ! Th Dr email was a 6 month waiting list to get into the storage lot. We were there a little over 2 weeks. They had several, 30 some, spaces they were about to open. Did they ever get them open ?

[jpharley]

Maxjr758, this was in early Spring with the snowbirds still there. One must go into overflow (electric only) and the full hook up sites rotate into overflow after a set amount of time. Just our opinion but long termers are not very excited about outsiders coming in and moving them out of their full hook up site. We were there for only a week and decided to stay in overflow the entire time. We are pretty easy to get along and pretty much keep to ourselves but we felt so unwelcome that we will not stay at this Famcamp again.

[skypilot_1]

Originally Posted by jpharley

Maxjr758, this was in early Spring with the snowbirds still there. One must go into overflow (electric only) and the full hook up sites rotate into overflow after a set amount of time. Just our opinion but long termers are not very excited about outsiders coming in and moving them out of their full hook up site. We were there for only a week and decided to stay in overflow the entire time. We are pretty easy to get along and pretty much keep to ourselves but we felt so unwelcome that we will not stay at this Famcamp again.

If you are referring to Manatee Cove @ Patrick AFB you won't be putting anyone out, as all sites are FHU now. They've had a price increase as well.

[maxjr758]

Do you know if the new sites/bathouse are open yet ?

[capecodbob]

McDill has over 200 seasonal sites that you put yourself on a list for. Have to tsake it for 6 months. They have over 50 short term sites that you call 2 weeks before you want to be there. These sites are for a 2 week stay and then you can reup UNLESS someone is waiting in overflow for a site or someone has booked a site over the phone. with a 2 week wait period. Call at 10 am , thats when the phones open . At that time they will tell you if they have an opening. If they don't thenyou have to call again the next day at 10. Keep doing this until you are the lucky caller. Should not take more then 3 days to get an opening. Have done this many times. When they have an opening they will tell you they will call you back and the do to take down all your info. You can show up eatlier and they will put you in overflow.

You can also just show up and they will put you in overflow and you will go onn that same rotation thing like the phone call.
Have done the rotation thing for the whole winter and when we move back to overflow am usually only there 4-5 days, get moved to partial for a day or two the back to full for 2 weeks and it statrts over.About mid March you may not have to move again as some snowbirds statr migrating north again.

McDill is a beautiful base with golf , big exchange and comm, beach , resturant and discounts to it. Haven't been sice the new office built.

U.S. Military Campgrounds and RV Parks - U.S. Military Recreation Facilities

[wayno347]

Originally Posted by jpharley

Maxjr758, this was in early Spring with the snowbirds still there. One must go into overflow (electric only) and the full hook up sites rotate into overflow after a set amount of time. Just our opinion but long termers are not very excited about outsiders coming in and moving them out of their full hook up site. We were there for only a week and decided to stay in overflow the entire time. We are pretty easy to get along and pretty much keep to ourselves but we felt so unwelcome that we will not stay at this Famcamp again.

Military branches should be made aware of the sometimes unfair practices at military FamCamps. Eradicate the "homesteaders" who most likely have "deals and understandings" with some FamCamp managers who allow homesteading to thrive.
Equality on a first come, first served basis!

[skypilot_1]

Originally Posted by wayno347

The military branches should be pressed to change the sometimes unfair practices at military FamCamps. Eradicate the "homesteaders" who most likely have "deals and understandings" with some FamCamp managers who allow homesteading to thrive.
Equality on a first come, first served basis!

From discussions with Famcamp mgrs regarding "homesteaders". Some say the year rounders pay the up keep costs, which judging from the looks of the parks is minimal. They're point is they are never full and they need the revenue homesteaders provide.
Up grading the park is not going to happen, so it is what it is. I don't like it either.
Which is the reason some famcamps are allowing civilians to use MWR facilities.

[Rhoge]

Each facility appears to have their own system/requirements/restrictions. Skypilot1 provided an overall statement...but it is not completely accurate. For example: Perigrine Pines FamCamp at the Air force Academy has 90 days active duty and 60 days retired. Williams FamCamp at Buckley AFB has 60 days active and 30 days retired. I suggest you check the military campground website at www.militarycampgrounds.us. I use that site frequently when we travel across the country.

[skypilot_1]

Those parks that have length of stay limits wouldn't have "homesteaders" now would they.....

[jpharley]

Parks with stay limits do have homesteaders. Have not stayed at a military campground that did not have some homesteaders.