
National parks are some of the most sought-after destinations for outdoor travelers and anyone interested in U.S. nature and history. Many parks have seen higher attendance in the past few years. Some national parks now require timed-entry reservations or other permits to visit. This also means campgrounds in national parks are in higher demand than ever.
This article will detail how to book a campgrounds in national parks, using recreation.gov.. It’s the official site for booking national park campgrounds. We’ll share tips and tricks for booking. We’ll also help you understand the process, and give suggestions for what to do if you can’t find a campground.
Understanding How To Use Recreation.gov for Booking Campgrounds in National Parks
Recreation.gov is the platform that manages bookings for federal campground reservations. You can also book wilderness permits, Christmas tree permits, and various other activities on public lands here. If you do a lot of camping or outdoor exploring, it’s a good idea to have a recreation.gov account.
Step-by-Step Booking Guide
1. Begin by creating an account: Go to Sign Up/Log In at the upper right. Enter your name, email, and phone number to create an account.
2. Search for your destination: Look for the campground or area where you want to stay and click on that destination.
3. Find a campground: Depending on the park, you may get several campgrounds to choose from. Choose the campground where you want to make a reservation.
4. View campsite details: Click on Facility Information to find out about campground events, natural features around the campground, amenities, and nearby attractions. The Rules and Cancellations section has information on how long you can stay and any restrictions on canceling your reservation.
5. Filter for other specifics: Add the dates you want to visit at the top.

Click the Filters button to add any filters you want for RV camping, hookups, and other amenities.
6. Choose a campsite: Once you have filtered for campsites that fit your requirements, you’ll get a list of sites. Campsites that are reserved are marked with an R for Reserved, while available sites have an A. Choose the available site and dates where and when you want to camp, and click on the A.

When you hover your cursor over the letter A, a box will appear showing your site, and you have the option to view details. You can see a picture of the campsite, and get information on hookups, check-in and check-out times, the number of people allowed, and more.
7. Review your reservation: Double-check the dates and other important information before booking.
8. Book your site: When you know you want to book the site, click Add to Cart. You’ll need to put in information on your RV or camper, group size, and the number of vehicles at the site. You can also add any discounts from special passes here. Once you’ve completed that, click Proceed to Cart and enter your payment information.
9. Get confirmation: You should get a confirmation email with all of your details. Either print out your confirmation or screenshot it in case you’re out of cell range at the campsite and can’t pull up your email.
10. Modifications or cancellations: If you need to make any changes to your reservation, you can log into your account. Go to My Reservations, and you can see details of your reservation. You can also cancel or change your reservation and print passes or site confirmations. Finally, you can see past reservations here as well.
If you want to cancel your reservation, most recreation.gov sites will give a full refund, minus a $10 cancellation fee if you cancel more than two days before check-in. Canceling within two days means you’ll likely have to pay the first night’s fee, plus the $10 cancellation fee. If you cancel the same day or don’t show up, you’ll have to forfeit the first night’s fee and could be charged for up to two nights. These are general rules, and it’s best to check the rules and cancellations policy at your particular campground to be sure.
What to Know About Your RV Before Booking a Campground
You will need some basic information about your RV or trailer before you book a campground at a national park.
- RV Size & Length Restrictions: Most national park campgrounds have maximum limits on the size of RVs – usually between 25-35 feet. You’ll also want to see if there are any tunnels or bridges in the park with height restrictions.
- Hookups: Most national park campgrounds also don’t have hookups. Check to see if your campground has them, and if not, make sure you’re prepared to camp off-grid. You’ll want to have plenty of water and battery power to get you through.
- Slide-outs and space constraints: Depending on where you’re parked, you may not be able to use slide-outs. You’ll want to check how much space you have to park your RV.
If you’re renting an RV, you can check with your rental provider to get this information before you book a campsite.
Best Tips for Securing Reservations
If you’re trying to book a popular campground, get on as soon as the booking window opens up. You can find information on campground booking windows at recreation.gov by going to your campground of choice. Click on Seasons & Fees, and then select Booking Windows from the choices on the left.
If you’re having trouble finding open spots, you can continue to check back and see if anyone canceled theirs and grab it with some sheer good luck. Some parks also release canceled sites the day before, so that’s a good time to check back.
There are also third-party sites like Campflare, Campnab, or Campsite Tonight that will alert you when campsites at popular parks become available.
If your schedule is flexible, you can also try to book campgrounds at less-popular times of year. Shoulder seasons like spring and fall tend to have fewer campers than summers when kids are out of school. You could also look at less-popular national parks with fewer crowds.
Understanding First-Come, First-Served Campgrounds
Some national parks and other parks have first-come, first-served campgrounds. That simply means that the first person who arrives that day can claim an empty campsite at the campground. They can usually stay for between 7-14 days total.
Here’s how to do it:
- Arrive early in the morning – between 7-9 am is best to nab a site.
- Find a campsite that doesn’t have a tag on the numbered post. Sometimes these sites are also marked as “available” with a small paper.
- Park your RV or other vehicle at the site.
- Head to the pay station and pay for your site. Pay up front for all of the nights you plan to stay. Hang your receipt stub on your campsite post – there’s usually a clip attached to the post for this purpose. Many sites are still cash or check only, so be sure you have a way to pay for your site.
- Make sure to keep your campsite occupied for the time you have reserved. If you leave completely, rangers may consider the site abandoned and open it back up.
When to Try First-Come, First-Served Sites
First-Come, First-Served sites can be a great, lucky way to see a park you’d given up hope of visiting. But they come with some obvious risks. There’s always the possibility that you may not actually get a campsite at a FCFS site. If you’re too late, and it’s a popular campground and time of year, you may find that all the sites are taken. You’ll want to have a backup plan in case you can’t find a site.
Your chances of finding a FCFS campground go up quite a bit if you camp outside the traditionally busy summer season. After Labor Day, when most kids go back to school, or before Memorial Day, you may be much more likely to find a spot.
Alternatives When National Park Campgrounds Are Full
If the national park campground you want to visit is full and there are no FCFS sites, you can try a few alternatives.
National Forests & Public Land
If there’s a national forest near the park you want to visit, you can check out their developed campgrounds. Most national forests also have areas where you can boondock. This means you can set up camp anywhere in the area and camp off-grid, provided you follow a few rules.
RVshare has a database of Destination Dupes you can also check out – a lot of these locations are close to popular national parks or have a similar feel, but are much less crowded.
Private Campgrounds
Many popular national parks also have a small town or city just outside park boundaries with lots of private campgrounds. They’re a great option if you can’t find a spot or if you’d like more amenities than national parks generally offer. You can also check Harvest Hosts and Hipcamp for listings near the park you’re interested in. Hipcamp also has an alert program you can sign up for, so you’re notified if certain campsites at a popular park become available.
RVshare Getaways
RVshare has a white-glove booking system that can help you plan a national park trip, and stay at a premium campground nearby. It’s a great resource that will curate your getaway to a popular national park. You’ll get a fully equipped RV, all set up for you at a campground near the park – ready for you to arrive and experience the majesty of the park without any of the stress of setting up camp.
Visiting some of America’s amazing national parks is a great way to gain an appreciation for the natural beauty and the history of the country. With a little planning and creativity, you can find campgrounds in national parks that make a great home base for exploring the parks. Check out RVshare’s many options for RVs and trailers that you can rent to make your next national park trip a special one.