I am taking a last minute road trip with my boys for the latter half of spring break. I was going to try and camp tomorrow night at Palo Duro but all the reservations are taken.
Has anyone had success with just showing up and state parks and getting something that is not listed on the website?
I will call the park in the morning and see what they say but I am open to suggestions for camping around the area also.

There are the "glamping" tents which are inside the park, but booked through another company, but it looks like they're booked.

https://www.paloduroglamping.com/cabins-tents

I've stayed in the those tents twice because all the campsites through the state park reservation system were taken. Both times, maybe 50% of the campsites were actually occupied, so I'm not sure who is booking all the campsites without using them.

There are also lodging options just outside the park, but I haven't tried those.

Primitive sites at Buffalo National wildlife refuge since it is just you and your boys. Close enough to Palo Duro to do all the daytime activities available

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/buffalo-lake/visit-us/activities/camping

Caprock Canyons has more primitive sites, see if they have anything.

If you're willing to hike a while, I believe you can do primitive camping almost anywhere along the Rails to Trails system. There are outhouses at each end of Clarity Tunnel, which is 5 miles from the nearest access point

Camping cabins just outside CCSP

https://www.shepherdfamilycabinrentals.com/

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Buffalo Lake is certainly an alternative. Gate to gate from BLNWR to PDCSP is easily 30 minutes if not more. But BL is seldom used, I'd say you have a 99.9% chance of finding an open site. No water, no electricity, outhouses.

Caution: Automatic gate at BLNWR, and if you get there too late, you're not getting in to the Refuge. If you get there on time, you might not get in, their timing is not the best. I'd take a couple of 2x6 boards to cross the one-way spikes.

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There are also lodging options just outside the park, but I haven't tried those.

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Definitely luxury cabins, very nice. Also likely booked

https://dovesrestcabins.com/

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maybe 50% of the campsites were actually occupied, so I'm not sure who is booking all the campsites without using them.

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The State does not penalize you for booking and not showing up. That needs to change. That being said, it seems that PD restricts the number of campers, I don't know why.

If you make it, hit up sad monkey mercantile right outside the park. Good beer/food and place to generally hang out.

Many thanks. We might do Caprock. I have family in Quitaque and Canyon so I am familiar with the area. Our finale destination is Mt. Rushmore so this is just a quick stop. We can always do a hotel but wanted to make it a more memorable trip. Thanks Canyon for the info about Buffalo Lake, I was looking here a a pretty viable option but the timing might not work with the gate situation.
As to the State Park reservation system I am becoming increasing frustrated with lack of availability for shorter notice trips.

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Thanks Canyon for the info about Buffalo Lake, I was looking here a a pretty viable option but the timing might not work with the gate situation.

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BLNWR is totally unmanned. But the automatic gate is only on entry. Exit gate has those one-way spikes. So you can get out whenever you want, but only get in before 6pm if they are still on winter hours, which they usually are until April.

You must be a real road warrior if you're going to Mount Rushmore and back. Whew.

If you are doing one night stays, and primitive camping, look at western Oklahoma. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Quartz Mountain State Park. Or if you are cutting through the Oklahoma Panhandle, Black Mesa. Rita Blanca National Grasslands has a few primitive camping areas in Texas. Or even Lake Meredith north of Amarillo.

Yeah it sucks. It's why we've pretty much given up on taking our RV to any Texas state parks. We instead look for private campgrounds nearby.

People use scripts to book those weekends when they become available and then never show up.

Unfortunately, TPWD is not efficiently ran. They are forgoing significant revenue that could help develop more parks and amenities.

I say pull in and find yourself a spot, prop up your hood for engine trouble, and enjoy your stay.

Pretty soon there will be AI bot wrappers that auto reserve popular sites as it detects there is one available and then offers them back up to the highest bidder, then arranges the transfer (release then reservation in rapid sequence), taking the price premium as profit.

Mas89 said:

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They could charge a bigger fee for every reservation and then reduce to today's fee when you check in.
No check in and the nonrefundable fee is still paid.

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I like this idea.

My neighbors are guilty of this. They have reserved a prime RV spot at Garner for the first week of June for years. They haven't been in probably 4 out of the last 5 years, however, they still book it just in case.

The 5 month out limit does not help with the cancelations. Popular parks are booked 5 months out and then plenty of folks have plans change in that 5 months. I am just getting back to state parks and camping and having issues. I booked Palo Duro in February for my June trip. Tried to get Caprock in April at the same time but it was fully so going to Copper Breaks instead. But all of my reservations have had to be paid upfront when book and if I dont show without cancelation no refund. How are folks not paying for the stay at booking?

I just got back after spending 3 days there. I'm surprised the camp sites are full because it looked like only 25% if even that were occupied. That sucks if people make reservations like that and then no-show.

ShouldastayedataTm said:

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The 5 month out limit does not help with the cancelations. Popular parks are booked 5 months out and then plenty of folks have plans change in that 5 months. I am just getting back to state parks and camping and having issues. I booked Palo Duro in February for my June trip. Tried to get Caprock in April at the same time but it was fully so going to Copper Breaks instead. But all of my reservations have had to be paid upfront when book and if I dont show without cancelation no refund. How are folks not paying for the stay at booking?

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They're still paying for it at booking but since the nightly rates are so low in comparison to normal commercial RV parks people are more willing to cancel plans and not worry about losing the money they already spent on the reservation.

Camping sites used to be so easy to get. It is crazy now.

Not sure if it's too late or what kind of campsite you need, but we have usually had good luck finding an open spot at the equestrian camp at Caprock Canyons when everything else was full.

We camped at Palo Duro last week and lucked into an open spot just two days before our arrival. So last-minute openings do happen.

You might also check TheDyrt.com or HipCamp and check out non-state parks.

I like the raised prices and partial refund for checking in idea, but there are times that would hose us. We had to skip a night at Lost Maples over the weekend due to high winds and ended up paying for a hotel instead.

Good luck!

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I like the raised prices and partial refund for checking in idea, but there are times that would hose us

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I would hate for well meaning people to get caught for an innocent mistake. But repeat offenders need a butt kicking.

Mas89 said:

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They could charge a bigger fee for every reservation and then reduce to today's fee when you check in.
No check in and the nonrefundable fee is still paid.

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Agree. Charge $250 "deposit", and if you show, you get the $250 back, and pay for spot. If you "no show", the state keeps the deposit AND the daily fee (unless severe weather at site).

Require a $10 yearly "membership" to reserve spots. If that membership (or other memberships with same address) cancel more than once per year, either require even larger deposits, or deny privileges to book spots….

(Maybe allow one "free" cancellation per 3 years, any extra, you pay/penalize, as above…

No show or cancelling inside 5 days or something.

Things do happen and people can't make it.
What they really need to do is make the reservation system script proof. I'm 95% positive those people have scripts that book certain spots the moment they hit that 6 month window automatically.

Been driving so missed getting back on this. We ended up at Lake Meredith in a nice spot overlooking the lake. Perfect weather. Bathrooms were bolted, maybe something to do with Congress and the budget?
We made it to Rushmore this evening and are planning on staying at Palo Duro on the way back.

SpiderD02 said:

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Been driving so missed getting back on this. We ended up at Lake Meredith in a nice spot overlooking the lake. Perfect weather. Bathrooms were bolted, maybe something to do with Congress and the budget?
We made it to Rushmore this evening and are planning on staying at Palo Duro on the way back.

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Dont miss Custer state park. Great camping and the drive between there and Mt Rushmore is amazing