Wow - Look like the folks at Baxter have made it easier to make opening day on weekend day.
The crowd was a lot smaller at the door last few years, fewer tents in the parking lot.
IMHO, no need to get there at the crack of dawn unless you like the tradition or want a very specific spot on a very specific weekend. I have gone later in the morning a couple of times and got my first choice with only a few campgrounds blocked out on very popular weekends. So it comes down to if you want a specific cabin at Kidney and Daicey on a popular long weekend then an early arrival may be a good idea, otherwise as long as you make it up there sometimes during the day, you have high likelihood or getting a prime spot. Last year I booked Bear Brook 3 group site for Labor Day weekend and when I left the other two sites were open and I believe they ended up going to the rolling reservations schedule.
The crowd was a lot smaller at the door last few years, fewer tents in the parking lot.
IMHO, no need to get there at the crack of dawn unless you like the tradition or want a very specific spot on a very specific weekend. I have gone later in the morning a couple of times and got my first choice with only a few campgrounds blocked out on very popular weekends. So it comes down to if you want a specific cabin at Kidney and Daicey on a popular long weekend then an early arrival may be a good idea, otherwise as long as you make it up there sometimes during the day, you have high likelihood or getting a prime spot. Last year I booked Bear Brook 3 group site for Labor Day weekend and when I left the other two sites were open and I believe they ended up going to the rolling reservations schedule.