Is this the same at all COE's now?

[RV Vagabond]

I pulled into a Corps of Engineers campground and the lady at the registration kiosk said that she could not register me for a campsite because campsites all have to be reserved online at recreation.gov. She let me go in and pick a site I liked, which would hopefully be available, so I did, but after backing into the site, I found that my cellphone signal was so weak, I could not pull up the website. I went back to the kiosk, but still she said she could not do it herself. However, at the kiosk, I got a good enough cell signal to make the reservation. Then she gave me a window card, which apparently is all she was good for. So I am wondering if this now the deal all over the country for government owned campgrounds.

[High Road Travelers]

It may be. I have run into the same scenario at a couple COE campgrounds. The attendant could not even help with changing sites, I had to do it on-line or over the phone with the main office. Currently I am at a national park campground and it is on-line registration only. There is no one in the park to assist with anything and it is reservation only - there is a camp host but they don't have anything to do with registration.
Thanks,

[appsol]

This is the result of everyone who wants less government, and lower taxes and fees, except when it affects them. Two posters from Texas... hmmm.

[RV Vagabond]

Originally Posted by appsol

This is the result of everyone who wants less government, and lower taxes and fees, except when it affects them. Two posters from Texas... hmmm.

Point is either way they have an employee in the front gate kiosk sitting there all day, apparently doing not much more than twiddling their thumbs.

[appsol]

Point is that person is most like NOT an employee, but a volunteer host trading their time for free or reduced camping fees.

[Psneeld]

Might be better than some campgrounds I have been at where the employees are so bad and obnoxious, struggling with website reservation systems, no matter how frustrating sometimes, don't seem quite as bad (so far).

I wouldn't base this only on my experience, but when I hear it from other campers and most recently from the campground manager's mouth I feel comfortable it's not just my opinion.

[Marine359]

It’s not the campground host’s responsibility to override the system for the camper’s convenience. It is what it is, and campers need to stop whining about it and get with the program. IMO, the new way is a better way to handle COE reservations. We found out about the switch to Reservations.gov the same way. Got to a COE, and had to go online and the wait for reservations system to refresh. Took about 20 minutes. Not the fault of campground host. Now our SOP when traveling on the fly and decide to use COE, we sign into recreation.gov at a rest stop somewhere before we get to the COE. They never are full except weekends and holidays.

[Jkjavelin]

I don't know when this change started, but I'm betting that this is the result from the Pandamnit: Less direct contact with other humans. And will probably stay this way, sadly.
JK

[OldBaldFat]

The change occurred in 2020 when the COE and other federal campgrounds began to reopen after COVID. Enforcement was lax initially but has been getting more consistent.

And there was a bit of infrastructure costs to ensure all COE campgrounds were updated to have live data links to the net, so they can be updated during the day for last minute reservations.

Unfortunately, some of the folks who work as contract gate attendants, or volunteers have difficulty with modern computer systems.

At one time in the late 2010's - all gate attendants were required to obtain private bonding, because they handled US government funds - cash - taken at gates.

The COE and other agencies have been directed to move to a cashless system.

[Rockwood27]

I've stayed at a particularly nice and small COE CG in SW FL for many years. We always had to make online reservations. There was no drive up service. The kiosk people and others working the grounds were host campers.

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[jaydee325]

After using the system a couple times now, I prefer it.

[MKwilli]

We stay a lot at COEs being Full/Most Timers, and this is now the norm.

[Jack Klompus]

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

I pulled into a Corps of Engineers campground and the lady at the registration kiosk said that she could not register me for a campsite because campsites all have to be reserved online at recreation.gov. She let me go in and pick a site I liked, which would hopefully be available, so I did, but after backing into the site, I found that my cellphone signal was so weak, I could not pull up the website. I went back to the kiosk, but still she said she could not do it herself. However, at the kiosk, I got a good enough cell signal to make the reservation. Then she gave me a window card, which apparently is all she was good for. So I am wondering if this now the deal all over the country for government owned campgrounds.

I don't intend to sound mean (really!), but where have you been the last couple years?

Required reservations is becoming quite normal. Of course, there are no absolutes, and some places set aside a combination of FF and RA sites, but there are an increasing number of "Reservations required at all sites" for COE, NP, USFS, and SP camping spots.

So, to answer your question, no, not ALL government campgrounds require reservations, but it is very common. Gotta go with the flow.

[GrumpyVet]

Amen. She doesn't make the rules.

Originally Posted by appsol

Point is that person is most like NOT an employee, but a volunteer host trading their time for free or reduced camping fees.