Reservations 6 months out

[Lindy Lee]

Remember the days when you see what the weather forecast was for the weekend and then make reservations. Not anymore. Need to call 6 months in advance and hope that nobody makes plans for something that you need to attend.

[chasineyes]

Going through our camping reservations currently!@ Kind of depressing to have to book Labor day while the snow is still on the ground!

Honestly this was one of the MAJOR factors in us getting a camper instead of a tent. If I'm booking my 3 day weekend 6-7 months away, I don't want to worry about the weather as much.

[glenn57]

my wife and i are good friends of the campground we are at and there phone starts ringing off the hook new years day. think its more if you want a better spot or first shot, before someone else calls before the campgrounds get full is why real early reservations are required. we are on a seasonal lot so no worry here.

[SkunkedAgain]

Really? That's crazy talk. If you want to camp at the most popular camp grounds at the most popular times, then you probably do need to reserve out that far. However, this state is filled with campgrounds that don't get a ton of pressure and don't need 6 month reservations. I still get a BWCA permit the week of my trip. I just look to see what is open. Usually I end up on a route that I never would have considered before and end up having a great time.

[zamboni]

Bought our state park pass for $25 2 years ago at Flandrau in New Ulm, and one year later never used it. CG was always booked, every weekend that summer. Minneopa in Mankato rarely had any openings, either. To me, that turned out to be a waste of $25.

[Redlantern]

Skunked, I've gone that route for my solo trips a time or two. I agree, makes you try a place you might not normally try. Some of my best trips.

[heat checker]

I remember as a kid, we would take off on Friday night with no reservations, head up to the Willmar or Alex area, and always find a spot to camp. I loved it, always a different spot on a different lake. What more could a kid ask for? Those days are gone, we gave up on doing the "pulling it around the state" thing 5 yrs ago as it's too hard to get in. We now do the seasonal thing and get alot more use of the camper, boat, and summer in general. Have made some good friends at the campground and enjoy being there, but also miss the exploration of a new campground and lake that I experienced as a kid.

[chasineyes]

A general question for those that have seasonals...do you tend to make a big family trip once a year, like to Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier etc..? Or is it once it's parked, its parked.

[Powerstroke]

6 months, that would be nice. Some of these sites are booked as soon as people go home since you can do them 1 year in advance.

If your $25 purchase was a waste because you couldn't get into one campground than I feel bad. There are so many great state parks to see and try out. I've been to so many because they were the only ones with open sites and they turned out to be great. There are other great parks that I have little desire to camp at because they are so busy that I don't want that kind of experience.

I'd be happy to recommend a few parks if people are interested. It just depends on what you like. I think there are a few places for every kind of camper.

[pushbutton]

A general question for those that have seasonals...do you tend to make a big family trip once a year, like to Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier etc..? Or is it once it's parked, its parked.

most of us have gotten spoiled and and it stays put. outside of the first and last day, you pretty much go up and open the door and your "camping". not the true outdoor experience with ac, heat, ridge, stove, and cable tv, but you never have a rainout, bugs are never bad, and can comfortably use 7 months out of the year.

[zamboni]

If your $25 purchase was a waste because you couldn't get into one campground than I feel bad. There are so many great state parks to see and try out. I've been to so many because they were the only ones with open sites and they turned out to be great. There are other great parks that I have little desire to camp at because they are so busy that I don't want that kind of experience.

With my location, 20 miles north of the Iowa/MN border, the options around here are somewhat limited. The really great state parks are a long drive away from here. The ones around here are usually booked like the OP said- 6 months ahead of time. One place I go now and love it is the KOA in Jackson, and then spend time down at Okoboji. I get a great discount at the KOA and it is very reasonable to go that route

[SkunkedAgain]

most of us have gotten spoiled and and it stays put. outside of the first and last day, you pretty much go up and open the door and your "camping". not the true outdoor experience with ac, heat, ridge, stove, and cable tv, but you never have a rainout, bugs are never bad, and can comfortably use 7 months out of the year.

I call that city living with a different view. The only relation to camping is that you are somewhere that they named a campground!

[CoorsCaptain]

10 to 15yrs ago I was king of the last spot. We would jump in the camper friday and decide on the way, where we were going. Always found a spot or the last spot. Things have changed alot. We call ahaed now to make sure we get a spot.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I have the best luck before school is out, and again in the fall once school starts. To hot in the summer for me anyway.

[bikeoutback]

Everytime I've gone to a state park (non-holiday weekends) I've had no trouble getting a spot. In fact most times there were plenty of open spots. This was all north of the cities though. One was within an hour though cause we didn't want to go far that weekend.

[echotrail]

It seems like I can't make a reservation FOR ANYTHING more than 2 days in advance without a direct conflict let alone 6 months.

[pureinsanity]

I book reservations in about a month or so for 4th of july at state parks. its nice to get in on odd days too. instead of just showing up for the weekend and the holiday

[reinhard1]

it is always better to plan ahead as far as state parks and popular campsite areas. state parks have reserved sites and also open sites that are first come first get. of course they are often not the "best" sites, but a place to hang your hat. realy pushing it on holliday weekend though. try taking some weekdays off if possible and you will have no problem getting a site. good luck.