When Do Campground Reservations Open?

Recreation.gov reservations typically open 6 months in advance on a rolling basis at 7:00 AM Pacific Time (10:00 AM Eastern). For example, if you want to camp on July 15th, reservations would open on January 15th at 7:00 AM PT. Some high-demand campgrounds like those in Yosemite have special rules - use our calculator for exact dates.

ReserveCalifornia (California State Parks) reservations open 6 months in advance at 8:00 AM Pacific Time. The system uses a rolling window, so new dates become available daily. Popular parks like Big Sur, Lake Tahoe, and Point Reyes campgrounds often book within minutes of opening.

The 'sliding modification' strategy lets you book earlier than the official window. Here's how: Book the maximum nights allowed (usually 7-14) ending on your desired checkout date, then modify or trim your reservation later to keep only the nights you want. This can give you a 7-14 day head start on other campers. ReserveCalifornia explicitly allows this strategy with their 'sliding modification' feature.

Don't give up! Cancellations happen every day. Set up a free campsite availability alert and we'll notify you instantly via text or email when a site opens up. Our alert system monitors Recreation.gov, ReserveCalifornia, and state parks 24/7. Many campers successfully book sold-out campgrounds this way.

No, booking windows vary significantly by provider and sometimes by specific campground. Recreation.gov typically uses 6 months, ReserveCalifornia uses 6 months, while other states range from 3-12 months. Some parks also have resident priority windows where state residents can book earlier. Our calculator knows the rules for over 7,400 campgrounds across 6 booking systems.

Recreation.gov opens at 7:00 AM Pacific (10:00 AM Eastern). ReserveCalifornia opens at 8:00 AM Pacific. Michigan DNR opens at 8:00 AM Eastern. Other state systems vary. Our calculator shows the exact opening time for your specific campground and converts it to your local timezone.

When you book dates that extend beyond the current booking window on Recreation.gov, you can't modify or cancel that reservation for 18 days. This prevents people from constantly sliding their reservations forward. Our calculator accounts for this rule when showing you modification dates.

1) Be logged in and ready exactly when reservations open. 2) Have your payment info saved beforehand. 3) Use a fast internet connection. 4) Have backup campground choices ready. 5) Consider booking the maximum nights first, then trimming later. 6) Set up cancellation alerts as a backup plan. Popular sites sell out in seconds, so every moment counts.

A rolling window (most common) means new dates become available daily. For example, if it's January 15th and the window is 6 months, you can book through July 15th. Tomorrow you can book through July 16th. A fixed window opens all dates at once on a specific date, often for an entire season. Some high-demand areas like Half Dome permits use fixed lottery systems.

Yes, most public campground booking systems require full payment at the time of reservation. Recreation.gov, ReserveCalifornia, and most state systems charge the full amount plus any booking fees immediately. Refund policies vary by provider but typically offer full or partial refunds for cancellations made before a certain deadline.