How to Make a Last Minute Camping Reservation This Summer
While there have always been people who enjoyed camping, the limited travel opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic kept people sleeping under the stars (or in tents) who would not have thought about it before. Even though we started introducing the vaccine a few months ago, only about 30% of the country’s population has been fully vaccinated, so it doesn’t look like everything is back to “normal”, including the way we travel.
This means that for the second summer in a row, camping will become a popular commodity. Yes, it is a good idea to reserve the campsite as soon as possible, but that does not mean that they can get one week you want to travel. In a recent New York Times article, Megan Michelson shares some tips for last-minute camping reservations. Here’s what you need to know.
Check out both public and private campgrounds
If reserve America and recreation.gov are your go to campsite reservation sites and you find nothing, don’t forget about private campgrounds like KOAs .
Apart from that, there are many other options for camping on private grounds – for example, websites that allow you to reserve a tent. (Don’t just wander in foreign land without permission and settle in for the night.) These include Hipcamp , Tentrr , Harvest Hosts , GlampingHub , Campspot, or Airbnb .
Find the campsite on a first come, first served basis.
Some campgrounds – including many in state parks and some national parks – set aside a certain number of campgrounds for casual visitors who need to reserve a place for the night. To find one, browse RVShare’s list of campsites nationwide in turn .
Consider roughing (specific parcels of) government land.
Another option is to explore government land controlled by the Bureau of Land Management or the US Forest Service, which is free and does not require reservations. Basically, you will sleep in the wilderness, without the comforts of even the most basic campgrounds, and you will need to do your homework on the do’s and don’ts on this particular land, including Leave No Trace principles and campfire rules. … Visit sites like Campendium and Freecampsites.net to find a campsite.