2 Night Stay Requirement

[Fem5e5]

So I know a few states require a 2 night stay at the state parks. I’m running into this in New York. We are traveling across the state and this is really making planning hard since I much rather stay at a park than a private campground if possible. So my question is, what would happen if someone reserved and paid for 2 nights but only stayed 1? I would feel bad doing this because it takes away a spot from someone else, but really this is such a silly rule of theirs, if we pay and leave early would it be a big deal?

 

[WrkrBee]

Not a big deal. Better than people reserving sites for a week and never showing up. I let the rangers know when I leave and many times they refund the second night.

 

[GalsofEscape]

no, it would not be a big deal. i have seen state park sites with reserved tags on them sit empty the entire weekend as the people never showed.

 

[SteveP]

I often book an extra night just to allow for a late check out, instead of having to rush to be out by noon. If that's on a Sunday through Thursday night it's no problem at all because very few parks are fully booked on weeknights. And I consider the fee to be a donation to the park service.

 

[jmkay1]

Leaving early is not a big deal. I sometimes reserve a day early so I can set up first thing in the morning and not be limited to check in time. I just have to be careful in my case that I don't get marked as a no show.

 

[tombiasi]

They didn't really mean you had to stay two nights, they just wanted two nights pay.

 

[Fem5e5]

Ok thanks everyone for the info! I hadn’t thought about it also allowing extra time for check out the next day too. That’s a good point. An entire state being limited to only private campgrounds for single night stays would really be a bummer. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet but it certainly makes me feel better about the whole 2 day reservation thing.

 

[cindy_k]

I often book an extra night just to allow for a late check out, instead of having to rush to be out by noon. If that's on a Sunday through Thursday night it's no problem at all because very few parks are fully booked on weeknights. And I consider the fee to be a donation to the park service.

I need to start doing this. Its a great idea.

 

[firepit]

I have changed my thought process on this after seeing no sites available and 1/4 of the sites empty all weekend.
If you reserve 2 nights and only stay 1 night...So be it...You paid for them...You are at least showing up...So i wouldn't feel guilty at all.
My problem is people with money who can afford to book every weekend all season and only show up half the time
So the little guy who want's a every so often weekend and work doesn't allow him to book in advance can't get a spot while spots are empty all weekend.

 

[tombiasi]

I can't believe how many people can't get their ass out of camp by noon.

 

[firepit]

I can't believe how many people can't get their ass out of camp by noon.

Our checkout times are 2PM and you can show up anytime before that if the site is vacant already...I have gone out and my site is always empty by 11am.
I fully clean and organize my camper when packing up.
I even wipe down the canvas and if the cottonwood fuzzies are flying i will clean AC right before i leave.
I like to park it and forget about it and its ready to go pretty much for the next trip.

 

[tombiasi]

Our checkout times are 2PM and you can show up anytime before that if the site is vacant already...I have gone out and my site is always empty by 11am.
I fully clean and organize my camper when packing up.
I even wipe down the canvas and if the cottonwood fuzzies are flying i will clean AC right before i leave.
I like to park it and forget about it and its ready to go pretty much for the next trip.

I wasn't asking anyone to justify leaving late, just expressing my disbelief.

 

[firepit]

I wasn't asking anyone to justify leaving late, just expressing my disbelief.

LOL...I am always out by noon....But if checkout time is at 2pm its no different than paying for a spot and leaving a day early.
If you paid for it...Rules are the rules....If i pull in at noon somebody is still there and i have to wait til 2pm
then that's on me and i have no reason to complain.
I am the slowest packer and cleaner on earth and i am again out by noon.
My brother will pack up...hitch up and take a nap or go for a walk before leaving.
I don't make the rules...I have never had to wait because i got there early and nobody has ever been waiting on me.
Wasn't the topic about paying for multiple days and leaving early anyway?

 

[tombiasi]

Wasn't the topic about paying for multiple days and leaving early anyway?

Yes it was but I'm sure you saw how many wanted to pay an extra day just to leave late.

 

[firepit]

Yes it was but I'm sure you saw how many wanted to pay an extra day just to leave late.

It is what it is....Wish i could change the rules but i can't...as far as booking sites and not showing.. To me campgrounds are losing a boat load of money.
Say a person books a Thurs night through Sun...They could make a rule that if you no show the first night then your site is available.
Not only would your money go to the campground but the money they got for re booking your site to a drive up camper would be in their pockets as well.
I think the OP should not feel bad if he books 2 days and stays 1 due to minimum stay rules..At least he is showing up.
I cancelled a 3 day weekend for the first time ever and got no refund because i cancelled late due to a sinus infection.. But i called and told them to give my site to somebody who needs it.
Every state is different so i am speaking about Nebraska here.

 

[tombiasi]

It is what it is....Wish i could change the rules but i can't...as far as booking sites and not showing.. To me campgrounds are losing a boat load of money.
Say a person books a Thurs night through Sun...They could make a rule that if you no show the first night then your site is available.
Not only would your money go to the campground but the money they got for re booking your site to a drive up camper would be in their pockets as well.
I think the OP should not feel bad if he books 2 days and stays 1 due to minimum stay rules..At least he is showing up.
I cancelled a 3 day weekend for the first time ever and got no refund because i cancelled late due to a sinus infection.. But i called and told them to give my site to somebody who needs it.
Every state is different so i am speaking about Nebraska here.

Two day minimum is different. They don't care if you stay or not. I had to leave before my booked stay. I told the camp host my site was available and didn't expect a refund.

 

[firepit]

Two day minimum is different. They don't care if you stay or not. I had to leave before my booked stay. I told the camp host my site was available and didn't expect a refund.

So basically we are on the same page here?
OP....Book two nights and stay one....Rock on and enjoy your trip and
send us some pics or it never happened

 

[Fem5e5]

Leaving early is not a big deal. I sometimes reserve a day early so I can set up first thing in the morning and not be limited to check in time. I just have to be careful in my case that I don't get marked as a no show.

I was just wondering about this. What if I reserved 2 nights but didn’t show the first night allowing a morning check in the following day? Would I be counted as a no show or get in trouble doing it that way? We are wanting to get into a city early so we can spend the day there but leave out early the next day. It would make it a lot easier than hauling the pop up around with us all day waiting for check in.

 

[kcsa75]

I was just wondering about this. What if I reserved 2 nights but didn’t show the first night allowing a morning check in the following day? Would I be counted as a no show or get in trouble doing it that way? We are wanting to get into a city early so we can spend the day there but leave out early the next day. It would make it a lot easier than hauling the pop up around with us all day waiting for check in.

Check the campground rules, but I wouldn't think that should be a problem. Even if they have a no-show rule, if you arrive in the morning you could probably beat them to the punch. In other words you could be there before they realized you didn't arrive the night before.

If you're going to a private campground, a phone call ahead of time would good idea IMO.

 

[Ladiesman]

I was just wondering about this. What if I reserved 2 nights but didn’t show the first night allowing a morning check in the following day? Would I be counted as a no show or get in trouble doing it that way? We are wanting to get into a city early so we can spend the day there but leave out early the next day. It would make it a lot easier than hauling the pop up around with us all day waiting for check in.

I have done this at State Parks a few times and never had an issue. Last weekend we camped Friday through Sunday. On Friday I walked the campground and more than half the spots showed reserved for Friday through Sunday and most were empty until Saturday when the people rolled in Saturday. There were thunderstorms Friday night so most waited until Saturday. State got their money for both days they could care less if you show or not.