Making reservations at state parks, especially when planning a trip that crosses multiple states, can be both complex and frustrating. Each state, and in some cases, individual parks, make their own rules for when and how they’ll take reservations for a night under the stars.
While we can’t completely streamline the process for you, we can give you the information you need to snag the right reservation at exactly the right time—here’s your guide to state park camping reservations.
Alabama
Alabama offers 2,600 campsites across 22 primitive and modern campsites. Reservations can be made up to 1 year in advance of your arrival date, and most require a 2-night minimum stay on weekends and a 3-night minimum stay on holidays. A maximum stay limit of 14 days applies to most campsites.
Reservations: Alabama State Parks
Alaska
The vast majority of Alaska State Park campgrounds are first-come, first-served, with a few exceptions.
Reservable campgrounds, which are primarily run by management companies, are Eagle River Campground, Chena River SRS, Blueberry Lake SRS, Big Lake North SRS, Big Lake South SRS, K’esugi Ken, Finger Lake SRS, King Mountain SRS, Matanuska Glacier, Matanuska Lakes SRA, Montana Creek SRS, Porcupine Creek SRS, and Rocky Lake SRS. Reservation windows vary by the campground.
For more information: Alaska State Park Campgrounds
Arizona
In the snowbird state of Arizona, reservations can be made up to 365 days in advance. There is a 2-night minimum stay during peak season weekends and a 14-day maximum stay limit.
Reservations: Arizona State Parks
Arkansas
Camping reservations at Arkansas’ state parks can be made online, over the phone, or at a park’s visitor center up to 1 year in advance. Weekend reservations require staying a minimum of 2 nights, and holiday weekends require 3 nights. At some very popular parks, weekend minimums are 3 nights, and holiday weekends are 4 nights.
Reservations: Arkansas State Parks
California
All of the California State Parks use the state’s ReserveCalifornia system, which lists more than 13,000 campsites. They utilize a rolling window reservation period, where campsite reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance from the current date.
The reservation window opens each day at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. Camping at popular parks often “sells out” as soon as the sites are released, so snagging a site may take some patience and tenacity.
Reservations: California State Parks
Colorado
Colorado’s State Park campsites are available by reservation only, though some offer walk-in sites during the offseason. Reservations are available 24/7 over the phone and online. Reservations can be made no more than 6 months from your arrival date, and the maximum stay is 14 days in any 28 day period.
Reservations: Colorado State Park
Connecticut
Connecticut uses Reserve America for campground reservations at all of its state parks. Reservations are accepted 11 months out from the reservation date, and there is a 2-night minimum stay. Reservations made within 72 hours of arrival may be made for one night.
Reservations: Connecticut State Parks
Delaware
Delaware offers five campgrounds in its state park system. Reservations can be made up to 1 year in advance of the arrival date, either online or by calling. All sites can be reserved.
Reservations: Delaware State Parks
Florida
In Florida, state park camping reservations can be made 11 months in advance over the phone or online at the Florida State Parks website. Any available campsites that are not reserved are offered to walk-in guests on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations: Florida State Parks
Georgia
Georgia State Parks allow for reservations up to 13 months in advance and require a 50 percent deposit for most reservations. Reservations can be made over the phone or online.
Reservations: Georgia State Parks
Hawaii
State park camping is available on five of the Hawaiian islands. Permits are required and reservation timelines vary by park. For more information, visit State of Hawaii Wiki Permits.
Reservations: State of Hawaii
Idaho
Reservations at Idaho’s State Park campgrounds can be made up to 9 months in advance either online or by calling.
Reservations: Idaho State Parks
Illinois
The state of Illinois utilizes the Explore More IL reservation system. Reservations can also be made by calling. You can snag a campsite up to 180 days in advance and reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance. You may reserve a campsite for a maximum of 14 nights within a 30 day period.
Reservations: Illinois State Parks
Indiana
Indiana’s reservation window varies by park, from 6 to 12 months in advance. Reservations are accepted online or over the phone. There’s a 2-night minimum on the weekends and a 3-night minimum on holiday weekends. The maximum stay is 14 nights, with a 2o-day vacancy before starting a new reservation.
Reservations: Indiana State Parks
Iowa
Reservations at Iowa state parks are available in a relatively narrow window of 3 months in advance. You may stay for up to 14 days and then need to vacate for 3 days before returning. There is a 2-night minimum weekend stay requirement from May 1 through October 31, with a 3-night stay required on holiday weekends. Between November 1 and March 31, all campsites are first-come, first-served, except Maquoketa Caves State Park, which accepts reservations in November and March.
Reservations: Iowa State Parks
Kansas
Kansas state park camping reservations open in mid-December for the entirety of the upcoming year. Reservations on busy summer holidays require a 3- or 4-night stay and the maximum stay is 14 with a 5-day window between reservations. Campsites are reservable from April 1 through October 31.
Reservations: Kansas State Parks
Kentucky
Kentucky takes campground reservations up to 12 months in advance. There is a maximum stay of 14 days.
Reservations: Kentucky State Parks
Louisiana
Reservations for Louisiana state parks can be made up 13 months in advance of your arrival date. Weekend reservations require a 2-night minimum stay. You can stay for an unlimited number of nights in the winter, but in all other seasons, you must leave for seven nights after a 14-night stay.
Reservations: Louisiana State Parks
Maine
Maine releases all of its state park campground reservations in early February for the upcoming season. Campgrounds are reservable through mid-September by phone, mail, or online. A 2-night minimum stay is required on the weekends, and during the summer, campers can stay at a single campground for up to 14 nights as a cumulative total. Reservations booked after July 1 are available for a 1-night stay. After the reservation season, any campgrounds that are still open are available first-come-first-served.
Reservations: Maine State Parks
Maryland
Maryland welcomes camping reservations up to 365 days before your arrival date. However, new reservations are only released Monday through Friday (so if you want to start your reservation on a Saturday, you’ll need to wait until the corresponding Monday to reserve). There is a 2-night minimum stay on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and holiday weekends require a 3-night stay. Saturday arrivals or departures are not permitted in the summer unless you are reserving more than seven nights.
Reservations: Maryland State Parks
Massachusetts
Reservations are required at Massachusetts state park campgrounds and can be made up to 4 months in advance. There is a 14-day stay limit between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Reservations: Massachusetts State Parks
Michigan
Michigan opens reservations for its state parks 6 months in advance and accepts reservations online, over the phone, and at most parks. The maximum stay is 15 nights.
Reservations: Michigan State Parks
Minnesota
Grab a reservation at Minnesota’s state parks 120 days before your arrival date by phone or online. The maximum stay allowed is 14 days.
Reservations: Minnesota State Parks
Mississippi
Mississippi’s state parks have one of the most generous reservation windows and can be booked 24 months in advance. The parks also welcome walk-ins when there is availability. The minimum stay from May 15 to August 15 is 2 nights on weekends and three nights for special events and holidays. There is a 2- or 3-night minimum stay on holidays for the rest of the year, depending on the season. The maximum stay is 10 days.
Reservations: Mississippi State Parks
Missouri
Missouri’s state park reservations are opened at 7 a.m. Central Time every morning for 12 months in advance. A 2-night minimum stay is required for weekend stays at most campgrounds, and those 2 nights must be on Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday.
Reservations: Missouri State Parks
Montana
Montana’s state park reservation season is from the third Friday of May through the third Sunday of September. Reservations can be made for camping within this time frame up to 6 months in advance. The maximum stay allowed is 14 days.
Reservations: Montana State Parks
Nebraska
Nebraska welcomes state park campground reservations 180 days before your arrival. Reservations can be made online or over the phone.
Reservations: Nebraska State Parks
Nevada
Unlike most other states, Nevada’s state park campgrounds are available first-come-first-served only.
More Information: Nevada State Parks
New Hampshire
Reserve your campsite in New Hampshire up to 11 months in advance online or over the phone. The maximum stay in any park is 14 nights.
Reservations: New Hampshire State Parks
New Jersey
You can reserve your stay at a New Jersey state park campground up to 11 months in advance. The minimum stay is 2 days, and the maximum stay is 14 days.
Reservations: New Jersey State Parks
New Mexico
You can reserve your state park campground in the Land of Enchantment up to 6 months in advance online or over the phone. Camping is allowed for a maximum of 14 days in a 20 day period. New Mexico state parks offer first-come-first-served camping sites in addition to those offered for reservations. Check with the park directly to confirm availability.
Reservations: New Mexico State Parks
New York
New York’s state park system allows reservations up to 9 months in advance of your stay. The maximum stay limit is 14 days, but you can stack together multiple reservations during the off-season. No walk-ins are allowed.
Reservations: New York State Parks
North Carolina
Camping reservations can be made for North Carolina’s state parks online, over the phone, or in person at most state parks. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance and there is a 2-night minimum stay on holiday weekends, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Note that several parks close their gates at night, so make sure you check before planning a late arrival.
Reservations: North Carolina State Parks
North Dakota
North Dakota opens reservations in mid-February each year for reservations, which can be made up to 95 days in advance, either online or over the phone.
Reservations: North Dakota State Parks
Ohio
Reservations are a must-have in Ohio, where walk-in camping is not allowed. You can snag a reservation 6 months in advance online or by calling. In Ohio State Parks, you can stay up to 14 days in a 30 day period. On a non-holiday weekend, the minimum stay is 2 nights, which bumps up to 3 nights on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend.
Reservations: Ohio State Parks
Oklahoma
Oklahoma welcomes campers to reserve up to 11 months in advance using its online reservation system. Its state parks allow for a maximum stay of 14 days.
Reservations: Oklahoma State Parks
Oregon
Campsite reservations are available in Oregon up to 6 months in advance of your arrival date. New sites are shown in the online reservation system at 6 a.m. Pacific Time daily. While most of Oregon’s state park campgrounds accept reservations, some are first-come, first-served only. Coastal campgrounds require a 2-night minimum stay.
Reservations: Oregon State Parks
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania offers a mix of primitive and full-and-partial hookup campsites in its state parks. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance of your arrival date on most campsites. There are a limited number of first-come, first-served sites, too. A 2-night stay is required on weekend reservations during the summer, and there is a 14-night stay maximum. For the rest of the year, the maximum stay is 21 days.
Reservations: Pennsylvania State Parks
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s reputation as a summer tourist hotspot makes its reservation system a bit more complicated than others. While they do not publish how far out you can make a reservation, if you reserve before June 1 of any given year, you’ll need to make a minimum of a 2-night reservation for the weekend or a 3-night reservation for the holidays. If you can find a spot after June 1, you can make single-night reservations. During the peak season of summer, there is a 14-night maximum out of 21 days in the Ocean State.
Reservations: Rhode Island State Parks
South Carolina
You’ll find 36 state parks in South Carolina that have campgrounds for either tenters or RVers. Reservations can be made up to 13 months in advance and there is a 2-night minimum. You can reserve online, via a reservation hotline, or by calling the park directly.
Reservations: South Carolina State Parks
South Dakota
South Dakota welcomes campers to 50 of its parks and recreation areas. Reservations can be made in the relatively narrow window of 90 days out, except for popular Custer State Park, which accepts reservations up to a year in advance. The summer reservation season usually begins in late February.
Reservations: South Dakota State Parks
Tennessee
Many of Tennessee’s 56 state parks offer camping, which can be reserved online or by contacting the park you’d like to stay at directly. Reservations open 1 year prior to the arrival date of your stay.
Reservations: Tennessee State Parks
Texas
Reservations at Texas State Parks can be made up to 5 months in advance, with popular campgrounds filling quickly. You can snag your campsite either online or by calling.
Reservations: Texas State Parks
Utah
If a Utah state park is your destination, you’re able to book a campsite 16 weeks in advance of your planned departure date from the campground. Reservations are available online or by calling. There is a maximum stay of 14 days within any 30 days, except for at popular Snow Canyon State Park in St. George, whose maximum stay is 5 days. Walk-ins are ok, subject to availability.
Reservations: Utah State Parks
Vermont
Vermont’s state park camping is available via an online reservation system, a reservation phone hotline, and by directly calling parks. Reservations can be made 11 months prior to your arrival date, with the entire month opening at 9 a.m Eastern Time on the first business day of the month (for example, reservations for June 2023 will open at 9 a.m Eastern Time on the first business day of July 2022). Walk-ins are permitted if space is available.
Reservations: Vermont State Parks
Virginia
Reservations can be made online up to 11 months in advance for Virginia’s 30 state park campgrounds. Reservations are not accepted over the phone, though there’s a hotline for issues and refund requests.
Reservations: Virginia State Parks
Washington
The Evergreen State’s park system offers reservations online or by calling up to 9 months in advance of the start date of your stay, beginning at 7 a.m. Pacific Time. They have a somewhat complicated system of which parks accept reservations and when, so it’s best to do your research before finalizing your plans.
Reservations: Washington State Parks
West Virginia
West Virginia offers more than 1,500 campsites in 27 state parks and forests. Reservations are known to go fast, so plan ahead if this state is in your plans. Reservations open 1 year in advance on the first day of the month (for example, they open on June 1, 2022, for camping in all of June 2023). From May 1 through Labor Day, the max stay is 14 days. Walk-in campsites are possible but subject to availability.
Reservations: State Parks West Virginia
Wisconsin
Reservations are required at state parks in Wisconsin; no walk-in campsites are available. The reservation window opens 11 months in advance. Same-day reservations are allowed. Campers are restricted to a maximum stay of 14 days within a 21 day period, and weekend reservations require a 3-night stay.
Reservations: Wisconsin State Parks
Wyoming
Wyoming’s reservation season runs from May 1 through September 30 each year, and reservations are managed through ReserveAmerica. You can make a reservation up to 120 days in advance if you are a Wyoming resident and 113 days in advance if you are not. From October 1 through April 30, year-round campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
Reservations: Wyoming State Parks
