Community Forums

GTHill · 11-17-2021, 08:14 AM

I'm adding a poll but if you don't mind, if you use an app or non-campground specific website, can you be specific as to what app or site you use?

Thank you very much!

GT

Ldubs · 11-17-2021, 08:43 AM

I use ReserveCalifornia, and Recreation.gov a lot. For private sites, I use their website booking tool. I have seen at least one private RV park that didn't have an online booking tool. But, that is not very common in my experience.

Unicorn Driver · 11-17-2021, 08:51 AM

Most of our trips are to Stare Parks so we use their website. One place we uses requires phone bookings and it's a pain.

C.B. · 11-17-2021, 09:22 AM

I prefer to contact the campground directly.

C.B.

dizcom · 11-17-2021, 09:30 AM

Any means that is available to me when it's convenient for me. I use apps & websites that let me search for sites near where I want to go first, followed by campground websites that allow me to make reservations directly. Calling is an absolute last resort that I can recall only using once in the last several years. I refuse to use the campground web forms that you fill out and then they get back to you with a reservation. If I don't know right now that I've got a reservation, I move to the next spot. I like to plan trips up front, all at once, if possible, and usually at times that no one is answering the campground phones.

**Spdracr39** · 11-17-2021, 10:01 AM

Depends on the campground.

RV trip wizard allows you to look up campgrounds, get reviews, and links to the booking website all in one step so I generally go there first.

GTHill · 11-17-2021, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spdracr39

Depends on the campground.

RV trip wizard allows you to look up campgrounds, get reviews, and links to the booking website all in one step so I generally go there first.

I looked at their service and it looks really great.

It is helpful to know that they link the user to the campground's website.

Thanks!

GT

Donskiman · 11-17-2021, 01:09 PM

We primarily use RV Parky. It has links to the campground or RV park websites where we do the actual reservations. Outside of sites like recreation.gov or reserveamerica.com which apply almost exclusively to government operated campgrounds, there are no nationwide reservation systems that are used by any significant percentage of RV parks. While we prefer to reserve online and prefer to only use places that can instantly let us know availability, that isn't always possible. We prefer to call the places that only use web forms because our experience has been many of them don't respond promptly.

RV Parky is free and has its limitations, but it works well for our needs.

dvspl · 11-17-2021, 01:22 PM

We generally use RV Trip Wizard to plan our trips and find places where we want to stay. Then we follow the link to the campground to do the actual booking. Most do the booking online but some are phone only. We prefer to book online but will make a phone call if necessary. We also call sometimes to ask questions or to decide which of several available sites might suit us best.

F239141 · 11-17-2021, 01:29 PM

I will always call and talk to a human.
I have reserved online but then call and confirm all the details with a person.

Dutch Star Don · 11-17-2021, 02:31 PM

Some campsites can only be booked online like the National Parks. Some parks we know what sites we want or if it's difficult to get through to the campground, we book online . We like using KOA's, but calling them typically gets you the centralized booking. So calling them doesn't help with specific site choices, as they don't know the campground.

However, when we can, we like to talk to a human. I like them to know specifically what size we are, slide size and that we're towing. I also ask for a north/south facing site if available, for satellite TV.

So..........it just depends on the campground as to how we book.

scenic route · 11-17-2021, 03:52 PM

Kudos to those that can do all that planning...I'm envious because we both are missing the 'planning gene'. So, I checked the 'Call the Campground Box', which we do when we know when/where we would like to stop in a couple of hours. In the past, this method has suited us well.

With all that's going on these days, I suspect we will have to adjust some of our 'wandering ways' when we get back out there...hopefully soon.

chindog · 11-17-2021, 03:59 PM

I prefer to use the campground website first. In the case of KOA's, all my info such as rig length, slideouts, etc., is in my profile, so it makes it easy. If there is no option for online booking, I contact the campground by phone as a last resort.