I am not an early bird, so I don’t usually get the worm. Though I’m learning to change my ways when it comes to making camping reservations for the busy summer months. In past years, I have not always been lucky when trying to score camp sites at the more popular campgrounds in California. I usually decide to make my summer plans in May, at which point 95% of the campgrounds are already full.
This year, I vow things will be different. I did a little research and it turns out that the reservation sales dates for state campgrounds in California start 7 months ahead of your camping date. So I’m already a bit late to the reservation party. But there are still plenty of open spots for the busy summer months.
The reservation rules and sales dates for National Parks in California vary by park. For Yosemite, you can start making campground reservations up to 5 months in advance, on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. According to the website, if you call even a few minutes too late to reserve for the busy summer months, you will be bitterly disappointed. That puts a lot of pressure on those of you in charge of planning the family vacations.
If you didn’t read this cautionary post in time to score your family a prime camping spot for the summer, then there are options. Sorry, you don’t get to book the resort villa…yet.
- Be flexible with your dates: look for midweek openings.
- Look for bigger campgrounds, and those that have less “amenities”.
- Try the first-come, first-serve campgrounds, or private campgrounds.
- Plan ahead for fall weekends. California’s weather is at it’s best in the fall anyway, especially near the coast.
So now go ahead and dust off the 300 pounds of camping gear, and look here this week for some more posts about our favorite campgrounds.
0 Responses to “Family Travel Tip: Make Camping Reservations Early”