Most campgrounds in popular American National Parks are already booked for this summer, and some even well into next summer. The idea of just showing up and grabbing a spot without a reservation far in advance is rare.
Do you think it might be a good idea to limit stays in National Park campgrounds to 7 days instead of 14, as most parks specify today? It would allow far more people to camp in our parks than what is possible today.
So is this a good idea or bad idea? Please answer our poll. And if you feel strongly about this, please leave a comment.
Remember, if you are on a slow connection it may take a few moments for the poll to load, so stand by…
Share the wealth. I remember one Federal RV park where they would leave after 14 days, stay gone for 1 day, and return for another 14 days. Another trick to the system was to reserve 2 spots under different names, and just do the paperwork drill. Where there is a way to “cheat”, it will be found.
This applies to many things outside of camping/RVing. Try getting paid for a job you do for someone. At best it is a 50-50 chance if you don’t get paid going out the door. That is my policy now. Just a comment from a plumber.
No one was guaranteed a campsite when they decided to take up camping. People need to deal with the conditions as they are. If it scientifically shown that 1 week is all anyone needs to see or do what they came for, then maybe change it. A lot of the campers out there are a blight on nature anyway. Convince them to stay home.
You can see and enjoy everything in a NP in 7 days, with time to spare to relax and enjoy everything it has to offer. This will also allow you to find space in the next NP you want to visit.
We like to walk and get off the beaten track, it takes us to some of the most beautiful places that are less crowded. I would say that’s true at most National Parks however for us we have stayed at Yellowstone several times for the maximum 2 weeks and then moved to the Headwaters Campground in the Tetons National Park for an additional 2 weeks. We just plan on doing our hikes in each areas.
14 days in the same national park campground? Do you really think that is a big issue? Certainly it happens, but enough to influence campsite availability? I doubt it. People who are staying for an extended period are likely going to want more than 14 days and therefore are already staying in commercial parks.
Ive never had the need to stay 14days anywhere.but no matter when, its crowded. I thought we could retire and camp weekdays and leave fri sat and sun to familys.
Really doesn’t work because familys are there on my days too. They have no problem pulling kids out of school. And worst if all is spring break. All over the calendar. If needed, we can always go to a resort, usually more money but usually has plenty of space too. Family’s don’t like spending the money.
The only place I have stayed more than five days was Mesa Verde Campground. I asked if they had space available and they did. It was safer to leave my RV there and drive to other attractions and museums.
Donald, I believe the campground at Mesa Verde has never filled up. I was told that a few years ago by a ranger. Things may have changed recently.
The only National Park we have ever stayed at was Denali National Park at the Riley Creek Campground. All other lower 48 National Parks I prefer to stay outside the park at many more convenient RV Parks that are better equipped to handle our motorcoach and then use our car to drive in and tour the park. Been doing that for years and it has worked flawlessly for us.
Yes. Seven days is fine for campgrounds
It is dependent upon the park and the season. I can easily spend 14 days in Yellowstone. Yet, 14 days in Zion in July? No, thank you.
Pro: 7 day limit would allow more visitors to camp in high-volume parks. Traveling with young children? They are often done in less than a week. Smaller parks can be done in a week, while large parks with a variety of sites might take longer.
Con: visitors who traveled several days or incurred high expenses (fights, rental car, etc.) should have sufficient time to visit the park. Traveling with youth or teenagers who like the outdoors? They might need more time to explore the many trails.
I’m certain there are many other variables to be considered.
7 days would help. In addition only 50% of the sites should be reservable ahead of time. The other 50% should be for people who call the same day or day before and drop-ins.
A better reservation system is needed. We had to have 2 reservations at 2 different sites for a week stay. When we arrived we found out that our second site was available since the camper had canceled. We asked if we could just switch and go into that site for the full week. No, we could not. Against the rules of the reservation system!!!!! This site sat empty for the 4 days before we moved to it. Stupid system……………….
100% NO REFUND IF YOU CANCEL. OPEN UP THE SITE THRU THE PARK OFFICE.
I enjoy my 14 day stay in the National Parks, what I hate is having no non reserve-able sites available in my favorite parks. I was so hoping that after I retired I would be able to show up on a mid-day and get a site for a couple of weeks. I can still get a site, I just have to vacate for the week ends. Was looking to spend a couple of weeks up in the upper peninsula of Michigan in a couple of our favorite State Parks, all the week-ends are reserved. I don’t want to drive 6-8 hours for only 4-5 days of camping, I want to see the area at a leisurely pace.
Yes
Yes, the limit of 7 days is appropriate, especially from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Also, same day reservations should be made available, as well as walk in sites for those who weren’t able to reserve in advance. Camping should not create ulcers!
I personally think that reserving for two weeks is fine. I think if you are reserving less than a week then it should be first come first serve. That would stop people from blocking out great sites for just the weekend and then set empty the rest of the week.
I say yes, however I feel it should be shortened to a 10 day stay not 7.
It really doesn’t effect us because we’re too big for most of them. We stay at “near by” private campgrounds and can stay as long as they allow.
After reading all of the comments it seems to me that from a financial stand point the State and Federal campgrounds would be better off having a minimum stay of 7 days during the height of the camping season. Just saying
7 day max. All campgrounds
First, National Parks / sites in general need to correct the scam reservation system. Once that’s done, I see no problem in allowing a 14 day stay. During those 14 days, the campsite actually MUST be used (NO “parking” / or reservations to be “used” in the future). Upon check in, the camper MUST sign a “Camping Agreement” that CLEARLY explains the Terms of Use as well as the penalties for violating said Terms of Use. Then ENFORCE said terms.
I would charge more for Friday night, Saturday night, and nights before a Holiday. Or discounts for non-holiday Sunday through Thursday nights.
Up heave the whole national parks reservation system. Needs to be run by the National parks itself. It can be a contained system with strict data input like MH\TT registration and drivers license to stop consecutive park registration or different name registration for same party different weeks. If caught playing the system then fined appropriately. Same way with trash heavier fines and red lined to use any national park system. This should eliminate 95 percent of the issues. But you have to stop contracting such services as reservations.
longhot52@gmail.com
Here in New Zealand, the Motor Caravan Association restricts stays to 10 days per month in any of their member only campgrounds before they have to move on. This allows two weekends in one place and prevents people using them for permanent living. Seems to be working well.
reduce to 10 days
Not only should stays be limited to seven days, but the price should be raised fifty percent. That would reduce site hopping that shorter stays would encourage.
I voted 7 day limit. That’s plenty of time. Share the wealth.
When demand is greater than supply, reservations are the fair and reasonable solution.
I recently spent a week at a National Park Campsite and by 10am there was a line of vehicles at the checkin building looking for an unreserved site–tying up traffic and two employees.
HOWEVER, the current reservation system is flawed because the reservation company and the campground aren’t closely connected and have poor policies.
• If you have a reservation and don’t show by checkout time, you forfeit the reservation and the money. The site goes back online for same-day online reservations–but no walk ins at the campground!
• If you cancel at the last moment, rather than loosing all your money, you should only loose part IF the campground was able to rent the site to someone else.
• Sites are wasted because some campgrounds have a 3 day minimum during holiday weekends. I’ll be leaving a site empty on Sunday July 4th. They should have made me pay for 3 days but reserve only 2.
While I would love to stay 14-days in a NP, most are pretty far from our home.
If you have the time to spend and see the area for 14 days then do so. Most retired people have the time/money to enjoy life. If you’re one of those jerks booking more than one site at a time because you don’t know when you are going to take vacation, wait until you know for sure.
Anyone that camps has had to notice that some RV’s seem to be in the same state and federal campground all season long. These are not campground hosts. People have learned how to work the system and make state and federal campgrounds their own summer resort. Some sites are reserved and you never see a unit on it and some have a unit there and no one ever around. Yes, there is a problem.
The expense of getting there is just too large to stay only 7 days. I like to get more bang for my gas buck and enjoy staying 14 days. Yes, it does take planning well in advance but that seems to be the world we now live in.
Usually one or two days is enough to see most Park Attractions anyway.
Where are you talking about? 2 days to see Yellowstone, Tetons, Grand Canyon? If all you do is take the loop drive and never get out of your car. Some of us actually prefer to “experience” the place. Arrive one day. Tour the next then leave?
In addition to shortening the number of days for a stay, track the RVs by license plate. Some RVers have been known to skirt the rules by registering/reserving by using the husband’s name once, the wife’s name once and their pets’ name(s) after that.
I think the abuse by some who reserve a site but don’t show up should be stopped. When reserved it should be required to occupy that site with an RV and people not just parking an empty RV on the site in case you want to go camping. I have seen many times in a state park where someone reserves a spot every 14 days and come out once every 2 weeks and move their trailer over a couple of spots and go back home for another 2 weeks. If you’re not going to be occupying the RV then you shouldn’t be able to reserve the site.
Yeah – get in the RV, drive 1,500 miles to Yellowstone so all you can get is 7 days. Forget it.
How about with the BILLIONs and TRILLIONS the Feds are spending of OUR $$$$ – we demand they add Parks, campsites and places for Americans to go?
When was the last time the Feds built a new campground?
Handing out our money for all types of totally non productive purposes – it is OUR $$$. We should be demanding new locations, improvements, – we need a collective voice and we are without one that is effective. The industry is devoid of that.
Time for a large non profit that focuses on this.