Campgrounds Are Full, Can a Travel Agent Help Me?

If you’re booking an epic trip or cruise, you may think to check with a travel agent to help plan and book it. However, you might not think to consult a travel agent for help booking a camping adventure.

Do travel agents even do such a thing?

We take a closer look and see if you should consult a travel agent the next time you can’t find a campground with a vacancy.

Let’s get started!

Do Travel Agents Book Campsites? 

Not all travel agents will have the skills or knowledge to book campsites or an RV adventure. However, with the growing popularity of RVing, several agents are offering their services to help RVers plan epic trips across the country.

If you’re using a travel agent to book your RV trip, it’s essential to know that they have experience with RVing. You don’t have to RV for long to realize you can’t just drive on any road, so making sure your agent keeps this in mind is essential for a smooth trip.

Types of RV Travel Agent Services

When it comes to RV travel services, there are a couple of different types. Some travel agents will have you fill out a travel plan survey and create a specific travel itinerary. They’ll often come up with a list of activities, book your campsites, and plan your route.

Another type of service is a travel agent that arranges group trips. These caravans travel across the country to exciting destinations as a group. The agents plan the trip, and you sign up for the itinerary. This can be a great way to meet fellow RVers and do some exciting activities that you might not have done otherwise.

Keep in mind: It’s important to know the difference between campgrounds, RV resorts & RV parks.

Can a Travel Agent Help You When a Campground Is Full?

While travel agents can sometimes have an in with a hotel chain or resort, campsites aren’t really there yet.

Campgrounds managed by state and national parks aren’t likely to partner closely with travel agents, especially if the campground is often full.

Travel agents may be able to help if they partner with private campgrounds or resorts. However, these are typically less rustic and more modern.

If you’re looking for a traditional camping setting, you’ll need to plan months in advance, even if you’re using an agent to make your reservations.

Benefits of Hiring an RV Travel Agent

By hiring an RV travel agent, you gain the tremendous benefit of having everything planned for you. You won’t have to worry about making reservations to secure a campsite, and someone else will take care of all of the details of your trip.

This can create an almost stress-free RV trip for you and your fellow campers.

Keep in mind: We use RV Trip Wizard instead of a travel agent.

Disadvantages of RV Travel Agents

There are a couple of disadvantages that you should be aware of before using an RV travel agent. You’re going to pay significantly more than you would if you planned the trip yourself. You need to remember that the service agents are offering is their business.

The goal of a business is to make money. So for the business to continue, you’ll need to pay more than you would otherwise.

Another disadvantage is that travel agents can’t make campsites appear out of thin air. You may want to travel to a specific region of the country during one of the busiest times of the year.

It can be nearly impossible to find campsites during peak seasons, or you’ll need to book sites months in advance.

How to Get a Campsite Every Time

You should know a few things if you don’t want to pay a premium price to have someone else handle the details of your next trip. Let’s take a look!

Plan in Advance

More and more campgrounds are filling up, especially on weekends and holidays. This means that if you want to stay in a campground during your adventures, you’ll need to plan months in advance. Depending on where you want to camp, you may even need to plan a year or more in advance.

It’s important to remember that you’ll not only need to plan your campsites, but also any activities.

If not, you’ll likely end up spending most of your time at your site as all of the popular activities will probably sell out.

Learn How Reservation Systems Work

Be your own RV travel agent and familiarize yourself with how the reservation systems work for where you want to stay. Some campgrounds will book up within minutes of sites becoming available.

This could mean that if you haven’t created an account in advance or know the process for booking a site, you could miss out on your desired sites or travel dates. By the time you can figure out the process, the sites could be gone.

The more popular the location, the more familiar you’ll want to be with the process to avoid missing out.

First-Come, First-Served? Get There Super Early

Some campgrounds are abandoning a reservation system and replacing it with a first-come, first-served system. You’ll need to plan to get to these kinds of campgrounds early. These campgrounds typically have lines that form from campers hoping to snag a site.

Your best chance is being toward the front of the line. If you’re planning to stay at one of these sites, make sure you have a backup plan to landing in a sticky situation with nowhere to camp.

Know Busiest Times and Plan Accordingly

When making your plans, be aware of the busiest times for the location you’re planning to visit and plan accordingly. If you can travel to that destination in an off-peak season and still have a great experience, then do it. By visiting during peak season, you’ll find a packed campground and crowded spaces.

By traveling to the area in the off-season, you can avoid crowds. This is especially helpful if you don’t enjoy being around large crowds or appreciate more space between sites in a campground.

Should You Use an RV Travel Agent? 

Using an RV travel agent can be a great resource for your next RV adventure. By leaving the details of your journey to a professional, you can make some incredible memories you wouldn’t have made otherwise.

Have you ever used an RV travel agent for any of your adventures?

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