How to Get a Campsite When All the Parks Are Booked

Camping is gaining in popularity, which means even more people are enjoying the great outdoors. If you’re having a hard time booking a campsite, these tips might make the difference.

Blame Gen X and the Millennials. KOA’s 2019 North American Camping Report shows that camping is becoming increasingly popular among young people like us. This means more pressure on parks, as eager campers make their way into the outdoors. And don’t expect this to change anytime soon. A third of these campers describe themselves as lifelong campers.

Then COVID-19 hit. The pandemic served to amplify demand for campsites. Adventurers with thwarted international travel plans recalibrated to domestic trips. Soon their sights were set on their backyards. Outdoor retailers’ store shelves were picked clean of tents, stoves, and dehydrated meals. Long story short: a lot of people want to sleep on the ground.

Campsites are harder to find than ever. Parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone are sold-out in minutes (sometimes seconds). That said, don’t write off camping as impossible. Through Campnab I’ve seen for myself how many campsites open up at the last minute. Additionally, there are many ways to increase your chances of scoring a campsite. Some take planning. Others demand persistence. Yet others require a bit of luck.

Here’s what I suggest for finding a campsite—even when all the parks seem sold-out:

Make your camping plans early

If you’re serious about going camping, you’ll need to do your homework—and you’ll need to do it early. When I say “early”, I mean you should be researching parks when other people are planning for Christmas. Does this sound a little over-the-top? It probably is… but, if you want to secure good campsites for the summer, it’s necessary (and still doesn’t guarantee you a spot).

Know where and when you want to camp before the New Year rings in. That way, you’ll know what to book, the moment parks open their websites to take reservations. Some campgrounds start accepting online reservations early in the year. Others have a 4-, 5-, or 7-month rolling-window between arrival dates and when they start to accept reservations. So, check the park’s page to see when they start accepting online campsite reservation requests.

Go further afield

Most people want to camp reasonably close to home (the aforementioned survey found that over half of the respondents preferred to camp within 100 miles of home). I get it. Who wants to drive for hours for a short weekend trip?

If you’re willing to push on a few extra miles, though, options tend to open up. I’m a big fan of camping in B.C.’s interior. Yes—it’s a drive from where we live. That said, I’ve rolled into Sowchea Bay in the middle of summer and pitched a tent next to the beach—without a reservation.

We scored this amazing spot, mid-week at Sowchea Bay__
Photo: Eric Karjaluoto

Try going mid-week

I’m fudging a bit with my last example. Truth be told, we arrived at Sowchea on a Wednesday. If we had shown up on Saturday, I doubt we’d have found a spot. Thing is: Weekends aren’t what they used to be—especially with so many of us working from home.

So, ask your employer if you can shift your days off to the middle of the week. If you get a thumbs-up from boss, your odds of finding a plum campsite just increased (significantly).

Camp during the shoulder-season

Everyone wants to go camping when it’s warm and sunny. Once the kids head back to school, though, camping isn’t on most people’s minds. So, if you’re willing to buck the trend, you can go camping when everyone else is stuck inside.

Spring camping tends to be a bit hit-and-miss, especially in colder regions. There might be snow, rain, and/or mosquitos. Sometimes you get lucky, though. Autumn camping can be wonderful: fewer bugs, more temperate weather, and beautiful fall colors. (Just pack accordingly for the cool nights.) And then there’s winter camping, but that’s more for hardcore adventurers.

Winter camping in the Mammoth Hot Springs Campground
Photo: Neal Herbert

Choose less popular campgrounds (or non-campgrounds)

I can’t even count how many folks have complained to me about not getting a spot at Yosemite. Millions of people visit Yosemite each year, and millions more have it on their wishlist. While I understand the desire to see such an epic place, it requires added planning, effort, and luck.

So, expand your options. Do your research and find some areas that aren’t as well known. Consider camping on public lands, at a private campground / RV park, or check out Campertunity for something other. Camping can be an adventure. Sometimes it won’t work out as you had planned—but that’s part of the fun. ;-)

Are you committed to spending time in a specific national/state park? You might consider staying at a private campground somewhere in the vicinity. That way, you can drive into your park of choice for the day and take in the sights—even if you can’t camp right in that park.

Scan parks for canceled reservations

Given that campers are forced to reserve campsites so many months in advance, there’s a lot of time for plans to change. Maybe they reserved more spots than they needed. Or they get called out of town for work at the last minute. Could be that they just decide that they’d rather spend the weekend at home. Whatever the case, I’d bet that hundreds-of-thousands of campsite reservations get canceled every year.

If you want to book a last-minute campsite at a sold-out campground, check the park’s website. As cancellations are made, the park will re-release them on their website. So, check their site frequently and keep refreshing it, to see if new availabilities become available. You might be surprised by how well this works.

Not willing to put in that effort? You can also use a tool like Campnab to get notified with an alert when a campsite becomes available in a park you wish to camp in. Want even better odds? Sign up for a Campnab membership and you can scan multiple parks, arrival dates, and durations for availabilities. Doing so dramatically improves your odds of finding a spot. Pro-tip: Act fast when you receive an alert, so someone else doesn’t beat you to it.

Hellroaring Creek camp views in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness
Photo: Jacob W. Frank

Consider camping in the backcountry

A lot of folks like to maintain some comforts of home (like electricity, showers, and laundry services) when they go camping. If you’re willing to forgo some of these amenities, you can open up some new camping possibilities. Are you up for camping in the backcountry? If so, you’ll get away from most car/RV campers—and potentially be exposed to some of the most epic vistas you’ll ever see.

Don’t get too excited, though. First off, you typically can’t just head into the backcountry and put your tent wherever you choose. You’ll need to check the regulations in the area you’re interested in—and potentially acquire a backcountry permit. Also, there are plenty of folks who prefer camping in the backcountry. So, these permits are in high demand at some parks.

Leave the rig behind and go old school

Not all campsites are RV equipped. As such, if you’re traveling with a 40-foot diesel pusher, you immediately write off some options. (I get it… you want the comforts of home. But, you don’t need them all the time, do you?) Could be that if you open your search up to tent pads you’ll find some openings.

So, pick up a spare tent and put it in your truck. Toss some of your essential camping gear (that means no bread maker) into some bins, and take in a bit lighter of a camping experience. Sure, you’ll miss out on the comforts of an RV. That said, sometimes your options are a tent spot or no spot. It’s your call.

Milky Way over Jumbo Rocks Campground
Photo: Hannah Schwalbe

Wing it

I don’t remember my parents making reservations back in the ’70s and ’80s. That was part of the fun of camping. We’d just hit the road in the old Chevy Van, and see where it took us. Admittedly, this is simply not a viable option in the era of online reservations. That said, if you’re willing to fly by the seat of your pants, there are a few options.

Some parks do have a limited number of first-come, first-served (FCFS) or walk-up campsites. (It’s wise to check in advance if your intended park offers these.) You might also consider calling the park station to get the inside scoop on when their FCFS sites tend to open up, and how to increase your chances at nabbing one.

FCFS campsites typically open up around mid-morning as campers vacate their spots and move along. Show up early in the day, walk around, and politely check who’s on their way out. Who knows? You might just find yourself a spot, the old-fashioned way.

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Pictured at the top of this post is Sheep Pass Campground at Joshua Tree National Park. It comes courtesy of the NPS.

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