The new year is just around the corner and, if you’re like us, you already know the prime places, you want for your 2018 campground reservations. If these places are Colorado State Park campgrounds you can start making reservations 6 months in advance. So, if you’re first weekend for camping is June 4, you can make your 2018 campground reservations as early as December 4. In Utah, their state park campgrounds allow you to start making reservations 4 months in advance.
Here’s how we plan out our camping for the upcoming year:
- Decide what places we liked last year and which ones we didn’t. Eliminate campgrounds that just weren’t worth the drive time, or places we just didn’t feel lived up to the hype.
- Make a list of which campgrounds we’d like to add to our list for the upcoming year. For instance, last year we added Pearl Lake State Park to our list. This year we’ve removed that park just because it’s quite a long drive, and will choose another campground, like Redstone, to replace it with.
- If these campgrounds have a reservation system, double check when we we can start making those reservations and set calendar alerts or write notes to remind us.
- Do some research. If we’re visiting a new campground we may take some time to look for reviews on sites like the Good Sam Club and The Dyrt.
- Check the reservation sites. Many of them include campsite photos and information on the length of RV that will fit in the site, whether shade is available, and what amenities they have.
- If the campgrounds you’re planning to visit don’t take reservations, have a back-up plan just in case. Call the local BLM office (if there is one) or Forest Service office and ask about dispersed camping in the area and what the rules and regulations are. Most will ask that you have a toilet system of some sort. Even your pop-up camper port-a-potti will count!