Why Campgrounds Sell Out So Fast
Popular campgrounds at national parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion often sell out within seconds of reservations opening. Here's why:
- •Limited supply, massive demand: Iconic campgrounds have finite sites but millions of potential visitors
- •6-month booking windows: People plan far ahead and book speculatively
- •Bot traffic: Some use automated scripts to grab sites instantly
- •Peak season compression: Most visits happen in a 3-4 month window
Using Cancellation Alerts (The #1 Strategy)
Manually refreshing Recreation.gov is tedious and ineffective. Cancellation alert services automatically monitor availability and notify you instantly when a site opens up.
How Outdoorithm Alerts Work
- 1Select your target campground(s) and dates
- 2Our system checks availability every 2 minutes
- 3When a cancellation occurs, you get an instant SMS, email, or push notification
- 4Click the link to book directly on Recreation.gov (you complete the booking yourself)
Free Cancellation Alerts
Get notified instantly when campsites open up
100% free — We monitor 167,000+ campsites across 20+ reservation systems. You book directly on Recreation.gov or the park's official site.
Understanding Booking Windows
Every campground has a specific "booking window" — the number of days in advance that reservations open. Knowing this is crucial for planning.
| System | Booking Window |
|---|---|
| Recreation.gov (most sites) | 6 months in advance |
| Yosemite (peak season) | 5 months on the 15th of the month |
| California State Parks | 6 months rolling |
| Some state parks | 3-4 months in advance |
Best Times to Check for Cancellations
Cancellations don't happen randomly — they follow predictable patterns:
When cancellation fees typically kick in. People who booked speculatively will cancel to avoid the fee.
Weekend plans change. Many people cancel Monday 8-10am after reconsidering their trip.
Last-minute cancellations due to weather, illness, or schedule changes.
When storms are predicted, many fair-weather campers bail. Great opportunity for hardy campers!
Be Ready to Book Instantly
When you get a cancellation alert, you have minutes, not hours to act. Popular sites get re-booked almost immediately. Here's how to be ready:
- ✓Create your Recreation.gov account ahead of time and stay logged in
- ✓Save your payment method so checkout takes seconds, not minutes
- ✓Enable SMS alerts — they're faster than email
- ✓Keep your phone charged and nearby during peak cancellation times
- ✓Know the campground layout so you can quickly select an available site
Maximize Your Chances with Flexibility
The more flexible you are, the better your odds. Consider these strategies:
Monitor a range of dates instead of just one weekend. Weekday arrivals (especially Tuesday/Wednesday) have more availability.
Set alerts for several campgrounds in the same area. There are often hidden gems near the famous ones that are just as beautiful.
September and May often have perfect weather with far less competition than peak summer months.
Tips for Specific Popular Parks
Yosemite National Park
- • Reservations open on the 15th of each month at 7am PT, 5 months in advance
- • Camp 4 (walk-in only) is first-come, first-served — arrive by 6am
- • Consider Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, or Hodgdon Meadow for better availability
Yellowstone National Park
- • Reservations open 6 months in advance for most campgrounds
- • Mammoth Hot Springs is first-come, first-served year-round
- • Grant Village and Canyon often have more availability than others
Big Sur (California)
- • Pfeiffer Big Sur and Julia Pfeiffer Burns book up fast
- • ReserveCalifornia opens 6 months in advance at 8am PT
- • Consider Kirk Creek or Plaskett Creek (Recreation.gov) as alternatives