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 its 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
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
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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 Chena River SRS, Blueberry Lake SRS, Big Lake North SRS, K’esugi Ken, Finger Lake SRS, King Mountain SRS, Matanuska Glacier, Montana Creek SRS, and Porcupine Creek SRS. Reservation windows vary by 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
Why RVers Love Colorado’s State Parks
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
Why RVers Love 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
Why RVers Love 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. Most of these campsites can only be accessed by hiking or off-road vehicles. 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 book 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. Certain holidays require a minimum 2-night stay.
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 2-day vacancy before starting a new reservation.
Reservations: Indiana State Parks
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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. Walnut Woods State Park offers reservations year-round.
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 days 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’s a maximum stay of 14 days.
Reservations: Kentucky State Parks
Louisiana
Reservations for Louisiana state parks can be made up to 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’s 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 7 nights.
5 Mid-Atlantic State Parks Worthy of a Detour
Campers can stay a maximum of 14 nights during a 21-day period. They must vacate the campground for 7 nights before making another reservation.
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
Most parks allow you to make reservations up to 13 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 open at 7 a.m. Central Time every morning for bookings 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 within a 30-day period.
Reservations: Montana State Parks
Why Montana State Parks Are Great for RVers
Nebraska
Nebraska welcomes state park campground reservations 180 days before your arrival. Select cabins and lodging can be reserved up to 1 year in advance. Reservations for beach camping at Lake McConaughy can be made 30 days in advance. Reservations can be made online or over the phone at 402-471-1414.
Reservations: Nebraska State Parks
Nevada
Unlike most other states, currently Nevada’s state park campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. The state plans to roll out an online reservation system starting in the fall, so check if the park you’re looking to visit is taking reservations. More information will be available later in the year.
More Information: Nevada State Parks
New Hampshire
Reserve your campsite in New Hampshire up to 11 months in advance online or over the phone at 877-nhparks. Sites become available at 8 a.m. (Monday to Friday) and 9 a.m. (Saturday and Sunday) on the 11-month mark, with the exception of the Lodges at Coleman State Park, which are available 12 months in advance. 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 can be made online or over the phone at 800-456-2267.
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
Reservations can be made up to 95 days in advance, either online or over the phone at 800-807-4723, and open at 7 a.m. CST. Stays are limited to 14 nights within a 30-day period.
Reservations: North Dakota State Parks
Ohio
Reservations are a must-have in Ohio, where walk-in camping is not allowed, except at Jesse Owens State Park. However, you can make same-day reservations at most campgrounds. You can snag a reservation 6 months in advance online or by calling 866- 644-6727—reservations can be made 12 months in advance for cabins. 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 weekends.
Reservations: Ohio State Parks
Oklahoma
Oklahoma welcomes campers to reserve up to 11 months in advance using its online reservation system—there are no first-come, first-served campsites. 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. The maximum stay within any campground is 14 nights within a 17-night period.
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 can be made online or by calling 888-727-2757.
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 the state doesn’t 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 holidays. If you can find a spot after June 1, you can make single-night reservations. During the peak season (Thursday before Memorial Day Weekend in May through the Sunday of Labor Day weekend in September), there’s a 14-night maximum out of 21 days.
Reservations: Rhode Island State Parks
South Carolina
You’ll find nearly 40 state parks in South Carolina that have campgrounds for either tents or RVs. Reservations can be made up to 13 months in advance, and there’s a 2-night minimum (this can increase at some parks during certain periods). You can reserve online, via a reservation hotline, or by calling the park directly.
Reservations: South Carolina State Parks
Why RVers Love South Carolina State Parks
South Dakota
South Dakota welcomes campers to its parks and recreation areas. Reservations can be made in the relatively narrow window of 90 days out at 7 a.m. Central Time, except for the popular Custer State Park, which accepts reservations up to 1 year in advance. There are a handful of campgrounds that offer first-come, first-served sites.
Reservations: South Dakota State Parks
Tennessee
Many of Tennessee’s 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 at 8 a.m. local time, with popular campgrounds filling quickly. You can snag most campsites online or by calling 512-389-8900. Check the state park system’s website for specialty phone reservations, including ADA campsites, group sites, Devils River and Hueco Tanks state park reservations, and more.
Reservations: Texas State Parks
Why Texas State Parks Are Great for RVers
Utah
If a Utah state park is your destination, you’re able to book a campsite on a 4-month rolling basis. Reservations are available online or by calling 800-322-3770. At most parks, there’s a maximum stay of 14 days within any 30 days. Walk-ins are ok, subject to availability.
Reservations: Utah State Parks
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Vermont
Vermont state park camping is available via an online reservation system, a reservation phone hotline (888-409-7579), or 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 2024 will open at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on the first business day of July 2023). Walk-ins are permitted if space is available.
Reservations: Vermont State Parks
Virginia
Reservations can be made online or over the phone at 800-933-7275 up to 11 months in advance for Virginia’s state park campgrounds. Stays are limited to 14 nights in a 30-day period. Most Virginia state park campgrounds are open from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December, while there are a few campgrounds that have full-service camping year round.
Reservations: Virginia State Parks
Why RVers Love Virginia State Parks
Washington
Washington’s state’s park system offers reservations online or by calling 888-226-7688 up to 9 months in advance of the start date of your stay, beginning at 7 a.m. Pacific Time. In general, campsites are reservable for arrival dates between mid-May and mid-September. However, there are some campgrounds (or specific sites) that have extended seasons or offer year-round camping—do your research before finalizing your plans.
Reservations: Washington State Parks
West Virginia
Reservations open 1 year in advance on the first day of the month (for example, they open on June 1, 2023, for camping in all of June 2024). From May 1 through Labor Day, the maximum length of stay is 14 days. Walk-in campsites are possible but subject to availability.
Reservations: West Virginia State Parks
Wisconsin
Reservations are required at state parks in Wisconsin; no walk-in campsites are available. The reservation window opens 11 months in advance, and reservations can be made online or over the phone by calling 888-947-2757. Campers are restricted to a maximum stay of 14 days within a 21-day period, and holiday 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’re a Wyoming resident and 113 days in advance if you live out of state. From October 1 through April 30, year-round campgrounds are first come, first served.
Reservations: Wyoming State Parks
