If you haven’t started thinking about 2024’s camping season, you better get going! 

Tammy and I jumped on the Racine Wi camping site on opening day, and still couldn’t reserve our preferred site. So, we took our second choice. It will still be an awesome campsite.

However, this should tell you just how difficult it may be to get a site if you don’t start looking ahead. In addition, the reservation policies have changed at Cliffside for 2024: 

Cancellations occurring 7 or more days after the date reservation was made will result in a 75%
refund of camping fees minus the $12.00 reservation fee.

  • Cancellations made within 7 days of date reservation was made will receive a full refund minus
    the $12.00 reservation fee.
  • No refunds will be issued due to poor weather conditions.
  • No shows will not be issued a refund.
  • Refunds will be credited to the credit/debit card on file. If a refund is unsuccessful park office
    staff will contact guests for updated card information. Refunds may take up to (10) ten business
    days to post.

I believe some of this, was enacted to stop people for making multiple reservations at different campgrounds. Then they cancel if their other campground becomes available. We heard people were doing this a lot in 2023. It makes things bad for people who were honestly looking for a site.

Of course, we have no plan on cancelling and would never book multiple sites. 

The days of just jumping in your tow vehicle and wandering with your trailer are pretty much over. Unless you are not very picky, or plan on boondocking. Not so many years ago, Tammy and I never reserved in advance and always found a campground on the way to our destination. I wouldn’t even chance that anymore.

That is not to say that we didn’t get some shoddy campgrounds when we would pot-luck it – we did! However, the good far outweighed any bad experiences. Let’s face it, even nice campgrounds can have something you don’t like. We once camped in Florida not far from Disney when the kids were young. All day and night we listened to the Peacocks screaming what sounded like “Hey You!”. It got old pretty fast BUT it was a wonderful, secluded campground that had their own small private lake. I would go back in a heartbeat if I could remember where it was. Although, it’s probably not secluded anymore.

And that my friends, is why you need to make reservations now. You don’t want to be looking and hoping later. Once you have made your reservations you can start planning your trip. While you plan, also think about what your trailer needs as far as maintenance before your trip. The winter is a good time to make a list. If you don’t know what kind of tools you should take, please click here.

The time to think about packing bearings, changing tires, inspecting brakes, checking suspension, is now.

Be Safe and get those reservations!