Hardcore winter campers who want to grab a prime cabin at an Iowa State Park this weekend will be able to do so using a new reservation system. For the first time, cabins –and soon– campsites will be saved for those who reserve them in advance. Kevin Szcodronski is chief of the D-N-R’s state parks bureau.
Szcodronski says people will be able to better plan their trips and know if they drive to one of our state parks, they’ll have a place to stay. For the past 70-some years, the campsites have all been available on a first-come, first-served basis. He says people have complained for decades about not being able to get in to some state parks when they’re packed.
Szcodronski says on busy weekends, there’s somewhat of a risk or you’d have to leave very early to assure you have a site when you arrive. Now, with the reservation system, he says you’ll be able to plan ahead and reserve a site much like people do with hotels or restaurants. He says the state will begin offering cabin reservations tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan 3) and will roll out campsite reservations on February 13th.
Szcodronski says some people say they’ve just “given up” on Iowa State Parks because they knew they could never get there soon enough to get a site. He says half of all sites will -not- be reservable and will remain first-come, first-served for people who want to just show up. Campers will be able to reserve cabins up to a year in advance while campsites will be available for reservations up to three months in advance. For more information, surf to “www.reserveiaparks.com” or call 877-IAPARKS.