Florida state parks reservation

[Papa smurf]

It was announced that Florida state parks will not be using reservamerica anymore to manage the reservations. Instead they gave the contract to US eDirect. That company already manage reservations for different parks in the US and Canada. Is anybody familiar with their reservation system and can give me feedback on the ease of use

Thanks

[The Boot]

When is the change over?

[Hans627]

I wonder why the change? I doubt it will help in trying to get reservations in FL but it would be nice if it did!

[hsgsports]

I just checked their website and they show Alabama state parks using their system and also list California state parks.

[Jim & Susan]

Here's some info. Just says Spring 2021. Hope they don't screw this up, we have reservations for later this year in the Panhandle.


https://outdoors.usedirect.com/us-ed...-park-service/

[Rich W]

I don't see anywhere to set up a new account. The site I went to is more of a sales platform for what they provide. I found a Land Between the Lakes Kentucky site for them where you can set up a new account but nothing for anywhere else. They've been around since 1999 it says.

Where's the link for Alabama and California?

[GandTSayor]

Thanks for sharing, very helpful to know.

[n2916s]

For the time being — go to the individual park website you are interested in, hit the “reserve” button and it will take you to the appropriate reservation system.

[Jim & Susan]

I just went to the Florida State Parks website and checked our reservations for November. The reservations are still there, but there's no indication that I could find of the company that I used to make them (It was Reserve America used several months ago).


The main FSP website has a little different look to it, so maybe its in a transition period. I used my Reserve America login to check the information, FWIW.



Jim

[2dabeach]

Its longtime overdue for the Florida State Parks to wake up and dump Reserve America. Strange things were happening with their reservations system. A campsite would be reserved for a two week period and you knew the day it would be available again for a new reservation. I would check on the site the morning it was to be available and I found that it was reserved for another two week period two days before the original reservation was to end. They had a 18 day period in which no changes were allowed to be made to a reservation so it had to be someone at Reserve America that had the ability to circumvent their policy. If you have ever been lucky enough to get a campsite at Bahia Honda State Park you may have noticed that the same rigs were able to get the same premium water sites along the bay over and over again. I understand that there was a camper at Bahia Honda that was running a service where you pay him a fee and he would get you a reservation for a campsite. The local park rangers and especially the volunteers had to know what was going on and no one said or did anything about it. This is the best news I've heard in months!

[Papa smurf]

This might also be of interest for those camping in Florida

https://content.govdelivery.com/acco...letins/2cdde98

[hsgsports]

Here's the link for Alabama
https://www.reservealapark.com/AlabamaWebHome/

Here's the link for California parks
http://reservecalifornia.com

[Jim & Susan]

Originally Posted by Papa smurf

This might also be of interest for those camping in Florida

https://content.govdelivery.com/acco...letins/2cdde98

So the way I'm reading this, there is now a $7.00 per day fee per campsite to pay for Utilities (on sites that have water and electric). We're only paying $16.00 per day (already paid in advance) to camp there in the fall. That represents a 43.75% increase in my daily camping fee. That they'll add on when we arrive in the fall?

Wish I could get a 43% raise in my retirement.

Jim

[n2916s]

I hate to see a fee increase as well but, as they noted, they haven’t raised camping fees since 2009.

Since then, most new RV’s have gone to 50 amp service (potentially 3x the daily consumption of 30 amp) and, for reasons I have never understood, a lot of folks light up their campsite like Times Square and leave them on 24/7.

At least they didn’t simply jack up the camping fees. The tent folks don’t consume much more than space. Hard to justify charging them more.

I just hope that the new reservation service is a mite more equitable — seems like some folks have figured out how to “game” the Reserve America system.

[Liuna561]

I agree with the need for change with Florida’s reservations

[David in Lex]

What will the reservation window be with the new system? Thanks!

[n2916s]

Supposedly, same reservation rules — 11 months out, one change…

[TurkeyRun]

Originally Posted by Papa smurf

It was announced that Florida state parks will not be using reservamerica anymore to manage the reservations. Instead they gave the contract to US eDirect. That company already manage reservations for different parks in the US and Canada. Is anybody familiar with their reservation system and can give me feedback on the ease of use

Thanks

Hallelujiah that Florida state parks are finally dumping recreation. Gov. Maybe now Florida residents will actually be able to get a reservation at their state parks. Currently, you have to book 11.5 months in advance at 8:00 a.m. sharp. And even then most sites are taken because the snowbirds book for the prior week and then cancel and extend their reservation. Like any family with kids can plan that far out. I don't know anything about this new service, but it can't be any worse. Maybe Florida taxpayers will finally be able to enjoy camping in their own state parks.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Liuna561

I agree with the need for change with Florida’s reservations

Why?
The problem is the St. Parks (some) are too popular.
Hello Topsail Hill? But an hour away is Falling Waters SP and it's 1/3 the rate and wide open.
Reserve America didn't cause that.

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Hope they don't screw this up, we have reservations for later this year in the Panhandle.

Me too.
I always print my reservations and bring the paper copy with me. I'm old fashioned.

[The Boot]

maybe they should have a 11 month booking window for fla residents and 6 months for non residents

also they should use the trailer plate number to book reservation that way they can make sure it only there for the 14 days