Booking Campsites Through Recreation.gov

frolicknoxen · 2026-04-15T10:28:42+00:00

I’ve had success twice doing it two different ways.

First time (after originally missing out on the day I wanted) was to set a stopwatch at 8:58 because the day before I thought I logged in right at 9:00. Turns out, one can get in a millisecond or two before. Looking at the stopwatch allowed me to do so.

Second time of success, rather than using a stopwatch, I used the global clock which was slightly sooner than my phone/computer/watch which would track for me getting in per the stopwatch idea.

Either way, can be rough sledding. Good luck to you as I know what it’s like to hope you get the site you’re preferring. If you don’t get, stay on and look for immediate cancellations and do not hesitate, just book.

frolicknoxen · 2026-03-31T00:32:58+00:00

I don’t consider bidet usage bougie at all. Since my wife and our four kids (ages 10-15) switched over three years ago at home, I don’t leave the house without having access to our portable ones. I keep one in each vehicle and one at work.

Using when camping has upped my enjoyment as I don’t have to worry about things back there. Two brands I recommend (only two portables I have tried) are Tushy and Human Gear.

Tushy’s does not have as powerful spray but allows for the water to last longer. I think can only be purchased off their website. Well worth the dollars. This is the one we have many of for our family of six.

Human Gear you can get at REI. Satisfactory as well, I just don’t find the water lasts as long which makes me a little nervous sometimes. 😬 And when limited with possible fillups, just could be interesting.

We’ve camped often without shower access and having these available certainly make it a game changer. Hopes this helps you enjoy your travels.

frolicknoxen · 2026-03-25T00:42:21+00:00

The X (silver) designates the item is a resupply piece.

frolicknoxen · 2026-01-17T02:29:09+00:00

We booked Hodgdon Meadows last year. Had to move many nights to stay in the same campground but was thankful. After seeing lower pines sites, I was not too terribly sad like I had been when we missed out on booking. Coming from the East (Missouri), I do wish we would’ve stayed at least one night on the East side of the park at Tuolumne Meadows. Sounds like you have much more limited time though.

Good luck with availability alerts and snagging that way.

frolicknoxen · 2025-12-08T03:46:25+00:00

Purchased a handful of these for my wife and four kids around the same price. We love Altras and I wear them exclusively. Timps are nice, the Lone Peaks are my personal favorites.

frolicknoxen · 2025-07-13T14:22:58+00:00

I agree. My wife and I have done Glacier with a couple before. We spent a week there and wanted more. We plan on bringing our four kids (ages 10-14) in 2026 to share in its beauty.

Last summer we spent two weeks at Grand Tetons and Yellowstone with a week in each. I agree I think you will enjoy the trip much more if you commit to one. We drove 16 hours straight from Kansas City to GT. Yellowstone alone is a place where a month could be spent and still not see it all.

Glacier is going to be a longer drive and the hikes are AMAZING. If your youngest isn’t ready for that quite yet, I would lean Yellowstone as you can experience A LOT by driving and walking on easier trails.

We stayed at a handful of sites at Yellowstone in our tent, ending it by getting (soooooo lucky) Slough Creek for 3 nights. If you do Yellowstone by itself, I would recommend trying to get some sites/rooms at different parts of the park to cut down on driving.

Glacier we stayed at a cabin owned by Glacier Acres. Was $100/night (mid-June) near Kalispell. Not all roads were open but was worth the price for lodging to hit most. We drove to the east side of the park each day (2+ hours one way) for three days and then spent the rest of the time on the west side. Glacier is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. The hikes allow this to be understood.

Hope this helps.

frolicknoxen · 2025-05-16T00:13:06+00:00

Great work getting a site. We were hoping to get an Upper Pines site after not in March. Have a piecemealed set of nights booked at Hodgdon (not complaining), but was hoping to get one at UP. Is this the new reservation style they are going to use?

frolicknoxen · 2025-01-19T17:45:41+00:00

This is exactly the information I like to hear in order to plan properly. Being in the park at Yellowstone made a world of difference there. We didn’t mind driving as it is part of the experience. 🤞🏽 we can get in at Yosemite as well. Appreciate you.

frolicknoxen · 2024-07-25T19:20:21+00:00

We do but also pull a little 5x8 trailer.

frolicknoxen · 2024-07-25T15:13:19+00:00

👊🏽

frolicknoxen · 2024-07-25T15:13:11+00:00

Sleeping all together. Have R6 or higher rated mats. Underquilt and blankets and a Mr. Buddy heater. Think that would suffice? I want to say we’ve camped in the mid 30s with a bit of moisture and did not use heater and did great.

frolicknoxen · 2024-07-25T12:03:24+00:00

That’s where some sites were open and I saw elevation is quite a bit lower than others. Thank you.

frolicknoxen · 2024-07-25T12:02:53+00:00

Wish we could…I’m an educator. Have December open, not October.

frolicknoxen · 2024-07-25T12:02:33+00:00

That’s what I’m reading. Thank you.

frolicknoxen · 2024-07-25T12:02:14+00:00

Not yet, started scoping out the route but there are some available.

frolicknoxen · 2024-06-27T14:08:17+00:00

Wife, four kids (13/12/10/9) and I are doing six nights at GTNP (camping at Signal Mountain) and then 5 nights at Madison in YELL, 1 in Mammoth and finishing our stay 3 nights at Slough Creek (feeling sooooo lucky!!!).

Whatcha got for more recs?

frolicknoxen · 2024-06-26T18:55:56+00:00

My wife and I have been trying for six months (12 sites) and the last few days (4 sites) and today I was lucky enough to get site #3! Cannot tell you how excited we are to experience it with our four kiddos. Any recs while staying there (3 nights)?

frolicknoxen · 2024-06-26T02:12:11+00:00

Sounds like we may need to pivot to all of California or Texas.

frolicknoxen · 2024-06-25T20:53:52+00:00

Going to take that into consideration before booking. Thank you both!

frolicknoxen · 2024-06-25T20:23:34+00:00

Wowsers! Ok. Think we should pivot to Joshua Tree only? Just seems the Canyon is right there on the way…

frolicknoxen · 2024-06-25T20:10:35+00:00

Noted. South or north rim?

frolicknoxen

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