Crowded National Parks brings major confusion

Have you heard about our crowded National Parks and the confusion changing policies have brought over not just getting in, but reservations, too? It's also the same at many State Parks as more and more adopt reservation-only camping policies.

This week on Episode #348 of the RV Podcast, we dig into that issue and much more. And not just here on the blog and our audio version of the Podcast but also with our new video podcast released simultaneously on our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel.

You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about.

See the Video Version of our Crowded National Parks Podcast!

We've been doing this podcast for six years now - this is the 348th episode - and almost since the first one people have been asking us to also do a video version on YouTube. I know, it took us a long time! But click below if you want to see the video. Content is exactly the same as the audio podcast you listen to on your favorite player, except we also add images and you see Jennifer and me reporting and answering your questions.

Click the player below to watch! But keep scrolling for the full text, links and info on everything we covered, especially regarding the crowded national parks and confusion in our state parks!

What's causing our crowded national parks?

You can blame it on four things:

* At the most popular National Parks, you are now required to make a timed RESERVATION just to enter during precise times. For how long this new rule will be in effect, the National Parks Service hasn't said.* In addition, they are now charging you a fee for that, in addition to the normal park entry fees. It's only $2. For now. And you have to buy it online, ahead of time.* These rules prohibit entry to those who just show up unless it's before 6 am or after 6 PM.* The continuing RV boom has seen RV sales, travel, campground reservations and visits to National Parks simply explode. The demand and pressure on public lands is overwhelming, even spreading to many boondocking areas and even state parks

Not all National Parks require timed entry reservations

Now it’s not every national park that has these rules and the timed reservation policy is not every day. It varies park by park.

But that is causing some major confusion!

These rules are not consistently applied.

Stories of crowded National Parks are all over the Internet!

Talk about a crowded National Park! Check out this National Park Service webcam shot of the Memorial Day traffic jam trying to get into the park's South Entrance

CBS TV in Denver had a story on their website with their reporter standing out front of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado showing huge traffic jams and all sorts of confusion about the timed entry.

Many people didn’t even know that was in effect. They interviewed one visitor who, with his wife and kids, drove three hours to get there only to be turned away!

It isn’t just there in Colorado that had problems. Twitter has been full of photos showing long lines at Gr...