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    Reserve a Campsite at a National Park with Recreation.gov

    Recreation.gov is the official US federal campsite booking site. Learn how to search campgrounds, read site descriptions, and secure your reservation before spots fill up.

    4 min read 5 stepsApril 20, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Create a free account

    ~22s
    Go to recreation.gov and click "Sign In" in the top right corner, then "Create Account." Enter your name, email address, and create a password. Verify your email by clicking the link in the confirmation message. Having an account saves your personal information so future bookings go faster, and lets you view your reservation history and receive confirmation emails. You cannot complete a reservation without being logged in.
    2

    Search for a campground

    ~34s
    From the Recreation.gov homepage, use the search bar to type a park or location name — for example, "Yosemite" or "Smoky Mountains." Select "Camping" from the activity filter to narrow results to campgrounds. The search results show available campgrounds along with a small calendar indicating which dates have openings. Click on a campground name to see its full detail page, including photos, amenity descriptions, rules, and individual site listings.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Use the map view in Recreation.gov to see where campgrounds are located within or near a park — some campgrounds are conveniently close to major attractions while others require a longer drive on unpaved roads.

    3

    Read site descriptions carefully

    ~25s
    Each campground has multiple individual sites, and they vary significantly. The site description tells you the site type (tent only, RV with hookups, group site), maximum vehicle length allowed, whether the site has electrical hookups, whether water is available at the site or nearby, shade level, and whether it is ADA accessible for people with mobility needs. Click "View Details" on individual sites to see photos and read notes from previous campers in the reviews section.
    4

    Know the reservation window and book early

    ~40s
    Check the campground's detail page for its "Reservation Window" — the number of months in advance that reservations open. Many popular parks use a 6-month rolling window. If you want to camp at Yosemite Valley on July 15th, reservations open on January 15th at exactly 10:00 AM Eastern Time. Log in before 10 AM on that date, have your dates and payment ready, and begin the checkout process as quickly as possible. Waiting even 15 minutes can mean all sites are gone.

    Warning

    Sites that appear available may sell out while you are in the middle of completing your checkout. Recreation.gov holds a site for you for 15 minutes during checkout — complete payment quickly so the site is not released back to another buyer.

    5

    Complete the reservation and understand cancellations

    ~31s
    Select your arrival and departure dates, choose your specific site, and click "Reserve." Enter payment information — credit or debit card — and review the total, which includes the campsite fee plus the Recreation.gov booking fee. After payment, you receive a confirmation email with a reservation number. Print or save this number — some park entrance stations ask for it. To cancel, log into your account and find your reservation. Canceling at least 14 days before your arrival typically provides a partial refund; canceling closer to the arrival date forfeits more of the fee.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: Reserve a Campsite at a National Park with Recreation.gov

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Recreation.gov is the official website operated by the US government for reserving campsites, cabins, day-use areas, and permits at federal recreation sites — including national parks, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management areas. If you want to camp at Yosemite Valley, the Grand Canyon's South Rim, or Acadia National Park, this is where those reservations are made. There is no other official way to book these sites.

    The site is free to browse. Creating an account is also free — you only pay when you complete a reservation. Most reservations require a non-refundable $6 to $10 booking fee per site per night, plus the actual campsite fee which varies by location (typically $20 to $40 per night).

    The most important thing to know about Recreation.gov is timing. Many popular campgrounds in national parks release their reservation windows exactly 6 months in advance, often at precisely 10:00 AM Eastern Time. For peak summer dates at the most popular parks, sites can sell out within minutes of opening. This means planning ahead is essential — not nice to have, but necessary for popular destinations.

    Some campsites at Recreation.gov are also released on a first-come, first-served basis without reservations. These are noted on each campground's page. If you have flexibility in your schedule and are willing to arrive early in the morning to claim a walk-in site, this can be an alternative to the competitive reservation process.

    This guide walks through creating an account, searching for campgrounds, reading site descriptions, and completing a reservation.

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    Official Resources

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    Reserve a Campsite at a National Park with Recreation.gov — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure