Booking Campgrounds and Lodges: What to Know

In-park lodging is the single biggest planning bottleneck for a national park trip. Popular lodges and campgrounds can book out many months ahead, especially for summer weekends.

Book Early, Especially In-Park

Reservation windows vary by park and by concessionaire, so check each park’s specific booking system as soon as your dates are set. Many popular campgrounds open their booking window exactly a set number of months ahead and fill within minutes.

Gateway Towns Are Your Backup

If in-park lodging is full, gateway towns just outside the park usually have more availability and more flexible cancellation policies, at the cost of a longer drive in each day.

Watch for Cancellations

Reservation systems often release canceled spots continuously, so checking back periodically, even the week of your trip, can turn up openings at sold-out campgrounds.

Have a Backup Plan

If you can’t get a spot inside the park, look at first-come-first-served campgrounds, nearby national forest land, or dispersed camping where permitted, in addition to hotels in gateway towns.