Do you request a special campsite for a single nite ?

[northcamper]

Last year we were planning a long trip across several states.  We had made reservations several months in advance - for both the final destination as well as single nite stays along the way.  We received a phone call a couple days before the trip from one of the campgrounds - I didn't talk to them - they had left a message - saying they wanted to change our reservation - moving us to a different site number.  At first I was kinda mad because our origional reservation had us at the edge of the campground, right on the lake.  I just let it go because I didn't want to cause and trouble.
Anyway, when we finally arrived at this campground - at 11 pm in the darkness - we were escorted to rather barren pull-thru site by the campground owner.  We just pulled straight in and shut off the engine.  It was easy access and as level as can be.  It was near the bathrooms/showers as well.  The owner said he moved us to this site because he knew we were arriving late and just passing through.  He said my origional site was very uneven and didn't think I would want to deal with that.  I was very happy with his actions.  We came back to their campground on our return leg.
We normally try to get as remote as possible - like the back corner of the campground.  We can get our popup into tighter spots than someone with a larger hardside.  We like the peice and quiet.   As we do more and longer trips - or maybe shorter trips - we may need to rethink our ideas on the single night stops.  I sure liked the ease of the level, pull thru site.

So here is my question:  Do you request a different campsite if you are staying a single night than if you were going to stay several days?  What do you look for in a single night campsite ?

Jeff

[Geodude]

That was an astute campground owner.

We look for pull through mainly, and long enough to stay hooked up.  Then in the morning we just lift the stabs and tongue jack, unplug the water and electric and press "go."  We've been known to get up and out in mere minutes on those long road days.

We're doing several one-nighters this summer on our way west so this arrangement will be critical as we knock off four 10-hour days in a row.

[Ziva David]

We don't.  If it's reasonably quiet that's good enough.  The view doesn't matter since we won't be there long enough to enjoy it anyway.

This is why our site at Lake of the Ozarks for the rally last year was a total mystery to us as it was in the last loop in the park.  We had stayed there the year before but had arrived late and taken the first half-decent site in the first loop.  We never saw anything farther into the park than that first loop.

[EVEL Bug]

I usually try to get a pull thru if I'm overnighting it.We have not done any multi day trips since we had our DD, so I imagine that may change some of the en route stops (no more in after everyone's asleep and out before they are awake.)

[Unstable Tripod]

Reserving an overnight site in advance?  Nope.  It wouldn't work for me.  I never know where I'll end up at night.  I may decide to take an alternate route or stay longer here or push on farther there.  I'm kind of like a wind-blown feather: I land where ever I land.

[EVEL Bug]

When I drive cross counrty, I don't have anything reserved in advance.  What we will do is wait until we are about an hour away from wanting to stop, get out the Woodall's guide and figure out where we want to stop.  Then we will call and make a resie so we know there is a site waiting for us.

[kool00]

Last year on the trip to South Dakota Custer (1 week) and Yellowstone (1 week).   We did an overnight stay in Wisconsin, the first time we traveled that far.  I didn't book in advance but did call ahead to to make sure the camp site is never full for that particular day, since it may not be worth it to pay the reservation fee for only one-niter.  It worked out great for us.  On the way back from Yellowstone, we had to stay overnight at SD but the campsite is full, so we found a forest campsite in the Custer State Park.  During our stay we checked out all the potential sites for the return trip.  This really worked out well for us.  Yellowstone is well worth seeing, it is a memorable camping for us.

[busdriverwc75]

For our most recent trip, I indicated on my reservation that we were just looking for an easy in- easy out spot to stop for the night. I figured, 1. it would make it our arrival & departure easy for us and 2., why take up a nicer site for only 1 brief night when there might be a family there all wknd who would have more time to enjoy it & possibly make their stay more pleasant.

[canoeman]

 
I never reserve overnight sites, we never know where we will be.
some times its just easier to get a cheap hotel when you are en route to distant location where you will be spending more time.
that way you can get on the road at the crack of dawn, without unpacking everything, and setting up.
this is mostly when you are in a hurry to get to a really, cool destination.
it just makes life easier. and you can actually set up the hammock, with the extra time, by arriving early

[ride/hike]

We camp in NC & SC state & national parks and do not reserve a site. Camp on week days, so it is easier to find nice sites. Camp mostly on Blue Ridge Parkway NC during spring, summer, fall and Lake Wateree SC in the winter. 

[monakayk]

When we ddid 1 nighters when the kids were little camping at commercial CGs, we always requested sites near the bath-house. We always arrived no later than 6 PM. That gave the kids time to enjoy a swim in the pool/play in the playground while I cooked dinner. We always wanted a site close to the bath-house, even though we had a potty in our PUP, because it  made it so much easier for me to go with them for showers at night before bedtime. Then in the morning we could get out earlier in the morning with all our showers done.

If by chance we knew we would arrive after dark and very late, I would request a pull through. Those are certainly a lot easier to get into when it is dark and late

Now that it is just the DH and I camping/traveling together we do not do 1 nighters anymore. We opt to stay in a budget hotel and drive as late as possible.

Weekenders and most holiday weekends...we either boon-dock on BLM land or in Nat'l. Forest. In the NF we have to make reservations but we are there for the entire time.

[JD and Beastlet]

We prefer to have a site long enough to stay hooked up.  If we arrive late and plan to depart early we may not even deploy the stabs.

[Clarabelle]

When on the road, we don't usually reserve a site ahead of time, unless we know there might be problems finding a spot -- weekends, holidays, etc.  Then we'll call ahead, but usually only a day ahead as we don't keep that tight of a schedule.