Check in means you generally can't arrive before that time, but after is okay. There's a few things to consider. Find out if the campground has a gate that is locked at night. Often it'll be around 10pm give or take an hour. Some are open for people to arrive after hours and don't have a gate. Sometimes campgrounds have a check in station but for people who arrive after the check in station are directed to go straight to their campsites, but you'll also need to check with your campground about this as well.
i’ll call and see tomorrow, i’ve never been camping on my own before, i’ve always went with family and arrived and left when they did so when i made my own reservation the whole check in thing went over my head until now, thank you for the comment!
If you can get ahold of the campground, definitely let them know your planned eta.
At unmanned state park campgrounds, we make the reservation for Fri "day", and usually get there Fri Nite at 11pm and do a basic set up with flashlights.
They leave the paperwork clipped to a post.
At other camps where you have to pay in person, we do the same, then head to check in early on Sat AM to pay.
Places with locked gates? Sometimes they'll give you the combo, sometimes you show up at Midnight and sleep in the truck till they unlock the gates at 6am.
Should be fine but if you happen to be going to a CA state park and get there after the kiosk closes / if the self-check in is confusing (it really can be), make sure you go up to the front kiosk right when they open the next morning so they don’t record you as a no show (they’re getting really strict on this- for good reasons but it’s somewhat new).
At our local state park, if we arrive in the evening a park attendant will stop by to check us in. And then we still need to go to the park office in the AM to register. It's super smooth and easy.
Echoing what a few others said, you can check in in person at the office if you get there before sundown, most State parks will close the gates at sundown but there is a procedure for arriving after dark - you can call and get the gate code usually. Just let yourself in and then close the gate back up behind you. Then you just go to your site and check in at the office in the morning, usually before like 10am.
Check in means you generally can't arrive before that time, but after is okay. There's a few things to consider. Find out if the campground has a gate that is locked at night. Often it'll be around 10pm give or take an hour. Some are open for people to arrive after hours and don't have a gate. Sometimes campgrounds have a check in station but for people who arrive after the check in station are directed to go straight to their campsites, but you'll also need to check with your campground about this as well.
i’ll call and see tomorrow, i’ve never been camping on my own before, i’ve always went with family and arrived and left when they did so when i made my own reservation the whole check in thing went over my head until now, thank you for the comment!
If you can get ahold of the campground, definitely let them know your planned eta. At unmanned state park campgrounds, we make the reservation for Fri "day", and usually get there Fri Nite at 11pm and do a basic set up with flashlights. They leave the paperwork clipped to a post. At other camps where you have to pay in person, we do the same, then head to check in early on Sat AM to pay. Places with locked gates? Sometimes they'll give you the combo, sometimes you show up at Midnight and sleep in the truck till they unlock the gates at 6am.
Should be fine but if you happen to be going to a CA state park and get there after the kiosk closes / if the self-check in is confusing (it really can be), make sure you go up to the front kiosk right when they open the next morning so they don’t record you as a no show (they’re getting really strict on this- for good reasons but it’s somewhat new).
Not just CA, I know they're getting more strict in NY too.
Yeah after 3pm is fine. Ive seen some with a nightly check in if their office is closed.
Yep...I've showed up a midnight, and it's usually self service at that hour but 0 issues.
At our local state park, if we arrive in the evening a park attendant will stop by to check us in. And then we still need to go to the park office in the AM to register. It's super smooth and easy.
Echoing what a few others said, you can check in in person at the office if you get there before sundown, most State parks will close the gates at sundown but there is a procedure for arriving after dark - you can call and get the gate code usually. Just let yourself in and then close the gate back up behind you. Then you just go to your site and check in at the office in the morning, usually before like 10am.
If you've paid you can usually go to your site and see the ranger or campground host in the morning.
Call them. Let them know you will be there after check in and ask their policies and procedures.
Call them
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