Hi,

I'm going solo fulltime in February.. and I have a question about how the whole campground system works. I'll be traveling in a motorhome.. if I've set up my motorhome at a camp spot.. but later go play a round of golf.. and pack up all my stuff with me.. and take the motorhome to the golf course.. will others see what appears to be an open camp spot and feel free to try and take it?

I guess I'm asking.. is it usually first come first serve.. or do you get assigned a specific camp spot and so others wouldn't take mine? I guess I could leave some things behind just to mark my spot... but I just want to see what my options are.. and what other people usually do.

thanks!


-- Edited by CarMichael on Saturday 14th of November 2009 09:27:02 AM

In my travels I have seen the following things:

    1.  "site occupied" sign left on the site
    2.   some leave lawn chairs or hoses on the site
    3.   white bag, marked occupied left on power pole

I also let the office or ranger know I will be off the site for awwhile. 

Every commercial campground we have ever been in has been assigned spots, so there shouldn't be any problem with someone taking your spot if you leave for the day. In state and federal campgrounds, in the sections that are non reservable I guess you should put out something that indicates the site is occupied. We see a lot of people that leave chairs and their grill, which would indicate occupation. The idea of the cones is good.

Great.. thanks everyone.. just the info I was looking for!

I like the cone idea also. The state parks we have stayed in also have a post at the entry to your site which has a slip of paper on it stating when you will be leaving. Of course, that means a person has to read it. LOL We have also seen folks place chairs, grills etc. to show occupation. I don't think you will have any problems but the cones are a great idea. Thanks Roz

I have two signs printed CAMPSITE OCCUPIED - BE RIGHT BACK   and enclosed is plastic page holders with cardboard backing to keep them firm.     Our lawn chairs are too expensive to leave behind.  One time someone tossed my sister's lawn chair into the bushes and said they never saw it and took over their site.    So I thumbtack one sign and cheap dollar store table cloth to the picnic table, and thumbtack the other sign to the site post by the road with our hanging tag. 

We often camp at rustic national forest parks... first come first serve.   So the only determination is who's envelope made it first in the self-pay post.  Getting a ranger on a weekend to come 25-50 miles or more from a ranger station (even if there is someone there to answer the phone)   to settle a dispute is time consuming and leads to heated tempers in the meantime.  I have seen that happen more than once.   For example, we watched folks who left to put in their boat at the nearby launch with their pickup camper, and someone else moved into their site while they were gone for a whole 15 minutes.  We thought they may have been friends, so we didnt say anything.  When the original campers came back, fireworks ensued, and someone had to borrow our phone to call the rangers.

I also have two page-protected signs that say PARKED WITH MANAGEMENT PERMISSION  to stick in the front and side windows if we are boondocking in a store parkinglot or truck stop. 

We haven't ever left a RV site until last week we ran from Hurricane Ida and the site we are on we have it reserved until April 2010. We just let the Office know our plans. Worked find. GBY.....

I will say that there are some campgrounds that let you choose your own site and they have some way of designating that it is occupied. Often that is a sign that attaches to the electric box or a post. Many who take their RV also leave a sewer and water hose set up to make it obvious.

Last year, while camphosting in Oregon, a motorhome left a site to tour the area. Left a water hose, sewer hose, chair and something else. While I was busy in the park, a trailer moved in and when I came by, told me I needwed to remove the trash someone had left. I pointed out the reservastion card on the post, described the motorhome and the people, and "suggested" they move. The entire park was reservable, with a sign at the gate that said "Park Full". After a bit more conversation, I "strongly suggested" they move. Then I saw them cruising the park to find another site to hi-jack. Stopped them and finally got them to understand, full means full. They left in a huff, which was OK with me.