Am I missing something?

[jeepster04]

Ive been trying to make reservations for several months at a campground I like going to. Its a national park, so they do the whole release dates each day at 10am, and Ive yet to be able to get a site. Whats going on here? I have 3 sites that I keep trying to get when the dates are released, I clock add to cart RIGHT AT 10AM... It always says someone beat me to it. This has happened at least 10 times now. I know someone isnt beating me to it EVERY SINGLE TIME.

So whats going on?

 

[Anthony Hitchings]

folks are using "Bots" to make their reservations.

Are "bots" stealing your campsite? Answer: Yes!

By Mike Gast If you’ve tried to book a camping reservation online at popular locations in the past five years, you’ve likely been stymied by a camping

www.rvtravel.com

 

[theseus]

You might want to try something like:

Wandering Labs :: Reserve - wanderingLabs.com - Campsite reservation and cancellation notifications

wanderinglabs.com

I have used it to get sites at campgrounds I like. Basically it will tell you if there is an opening/cancellation and then you go and reserve. You don't need the premium membership, but if you get it then they will text you when an open occurs.

 

[neighbormike]

Welcome to the club!

 

[jeepster04]

You might want to try something like:

Wandering Labs :: Reserve - wanderingLabs.com - Campsite reservation and cancellation notifications

wanderinglabs.com

I have used it to get sites at campgrounds I like. Basically it will tell you if there is an opening/cancellation and then you go and reserve. You don't need the premium membership, but if you get it then they will text you when an open occurs.

There isnt time to be notified, its gone before its available.

Ive not been able to find any sort of bot that will let me make reservations.

 

[Lonewolf55]

People make reservations for 7-14 days using the first day as the one that opens up at 10am. The reservation system will let you reserve into the the "Future" dates that aren't opened yet. Then the person will cancel the earlier days for a small cancellation fee and have the site they want. "Cheating" ? Maybe, but it works for those that do it. I prefer to dry camp in free places.

 

[kitphantom]

Which NP? Some do fill as soon as the window opens. We've been shut out the few times we've tried in the last several years, for example, for Zion, basically since Utah did the big ad campaign for the "big 5" national parks.
I have never tried one of the notification systems or what-have-you to make reservations for us. I'm on-line just before the window opens, usually 6 months in advance, and have a list of sites we can use for that campground. With each popup and now our small TT, we've sized ourselves out of some sites in some CGs. It gets interesting in some places, where there may be a 2 (or 3, for holidays) day weekend requirement, such as some USFS CGs in CO.
Popular times of year and weekends are usually the most difficult to snag. I did the reservations for Labor Day week yesterday. Since the friends who will join us after the holiday told us it's a popular CG for those escaping the heat in Phoenix, I expected to have to work down my list of sites thought we'd like. However, it wasn't an issue, but we can go on Friday, since my husband has it off.
For Fourth of July week, I'm actually going a couple of days before my husband. I'll admit one reason was to get in place before the weekend. Another was that we wanted to take the 4Runner as well as the truck, for trailhead access and parking, so I might as well go a bit early - it's also a test to see how well I can back the trailer solo.
If you can be flexible, chekcing on a regular basis may net you a cancellation, they do happen. We've been making reservations for most trips since some time in the '90s, as the SW got discovered as a destination; we would rather have reservations than spend vacation time trying to find a site. That wasn't fun for us even before things got even busier. We have canceled or changed reservations a few times over the years - last year was a case in point, when surgery caused changes to 2 different trips.

 

[MileHigh]

I was fortunate enough to book Fish Creek in Glacier National Park this past Sunday by logging into my recreation.gov account before 8:00AM (MST) and selecting my dates and desired campsite. It initially stated "not released" but I was able to add them to my account right at 8:00AM.

It is frustrating to get locked out by bots but I see this more often when trying to obtain concert tickets. I have been fortunate to get into Devils Garden campground in Arches and Watchman in Zion by checking the website often and jumping on spots when they open up.

What National Park were you trying to get into? I have used wanderinglabs.com but you need to be really quick when getting an availability notice.

There is a Facebook group I use to buy/sell/trade campsites in Colorado. Maybe there is something like that for the National Park you are looking for?

 

[Sjm9911]

People are definitely beating you to it. Just the way it is now.

 

[jeepster04]

People make reservations for 7-14 days using the first day as the one that opens up at 10am. The reservation system will let you reserve into the the "Future" dates that aren't opened yet. Then the person will cancel the earlier days for a small cancellation fee and have the site they want. "Cheating" ? Maybe, but it works for those that do it. I prefer to dry camp in free places.

So far, Ive had to book the full two weeks to get the date I want, I've always had to do that. There is no fee to change the dates if any of those one days fall within the original reservation dates. There is only a fee to completely move the dates or to cancel.

 

[jeepster04]

No idea whats going on, but I was just able to book two sites. Very strange that I was able to book them on a Saturday, figured that would be when all the millennials were sitting at home ready to click. Maybe the bots take the weekend off?

 

[kcsa75]

No idea whats going on, but I was just able to book two sites. Very strange that I was able to book them on a Saturday, figured that would be when all the millennials were sitting at home ready to click. Maybe the bots take the weekend off?

Sometimes it better to be lucky than good!

Three or four years ago I was goofing off at work and, just for grins, took at look at one of our favorite campgrounds in Colorado. This is a campground that is normally full within five minutes of the reservation window opening six months in advance.

Anyway, lo and behold, what we conisder the best site in the whole campground was available for a full week. Obviously, somebody had to cancel and I was lucky enough to look in the right place at the right time. The whole time we were there passers-by kept asking "how'd you get this spot?"

Below was our view.

 

[Jimbow]

“Win” Sold-Out Campground Reservations Using One Of These 4 Tools

THE CAMPGROUND IS FULLY BOOKED?! Don't cry. Simply use one of these tools as your very own cancellation concierge!

campaddict.com

Just a start in your research. Also, as noted before if someone books a two week stay that site isn't available again in the reservation system for two weeks.

Another tip you might not find a site open for you entire stay but many times later you can stich together a stay. We've done this after the reservations are first open. We might have to move a time or two during a week, but we usually need to dump anyways.

 

[Sjm9911]

I try to get delaware seashore state park every year. The reservations open at 7 am. By 701 every site is booked. So, I need to keep trying, and hust grab anything thats open. You get one shot a day, and if you are not quick, its gone. This isn't everywhere. But the spots that are popular and usally cheaper.

 

[theseus]

There isnt time to be notified, its gone before its available.

Ive not been able to find any sort of bot that will let me make reservations.

This is true especially this time of year with everyone making plans. You also won't find any bot that will make you reservations (unless you are a computer programmer and build one yourself ). However. I set the notification for the sites I would find acceptable and usually by early summer, the cancellations start and I grab the spot I want.

For example, I missed the window for the prime spots I want for Labor Day. No problem as I put them in to the site and when it tells me there is a cancellation sometime later, I will get one I want. Doesn't mean though that I won't have alternative plans for Labor Day if that doesn't pan out. It just won't be one of the "Wow!" sites.