ReserveCalifornia™ FAQ's
ReserveCalifornia™
August 1, 2024
Q1: When did California State Parks change to ReserveCalifornia™?
A: California State Parks switched to ReserveCalifornia™ on August 1, 2017. You can book your reservation at www.ReserveCalifornia.com.
Q2: How does the rolling window reservation system work?
A: California State Parks moved from a block or on-sale day reservation period to a rolling window. The public can reserve the highly sought-after campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Camping and lodging inventory will become available each day for a period of six months in advance. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.
Q3: Why do certain parks sell out faster than others?
A: California’s state park system is loved by many within and outside the state of California. At times, the public demand exceeds the inventory of available campsites. We have approximately 13,000 campsites available on ReserveCalifornia and each year, on average, more than 6.5 million visitors camp in our popular state parks.
This is especially true with popular parks such as the cottages at Crystal Cove State Beach where there are only 24 spaces available to book and are booked all year round, and others like Steep Ravine cabins at Mount Tamalpais State Park, RV campground at Seacliff State Beach and all of our southern coastal campgrounds.
Q4: Why does ReserveCalifornia show available reservations one day and then booked before the 8 a.m. PST when the rolling window opens?
A: One factor that may explain the availability issue is that the new reservation system allows visitors who have an existing reservation to modify their reservation. For example, a visitor who already has a reservation from September 1-7, can modify their reservation from their original reservation to September 2-8 before the 8 a.m. PST reservation window as long as it is within the maximum stay limit of that particular park.
Q5: What should people do if they are having issues booking a campsite?
A: Feedback from the public helps us as we continue to develop and improve the system. Visitors encountering technical issues or who are unable to make a reservation on ReserveCalifornia.com are encouraged to call our Customer Call Center via phone at (800) 444-7275 or submit their feedback online under the “Contact Us” link located at the bottom of the ReserveCalifornia.com website. Individual parks do not take reservations. Please contact the Customer Call Center.
As nature lovers ourselves, we sympathize with our fellow outdoor enthusiasts and want to assure them that we continue to review the reservation system for process improvement and will continue to implement improvements as they are identified.
California State Parks apologizes for the frustrations some of our visitors are encountering using ReserveCalifornia. Providing a user-friendly reservation system and equal access to all of our visitors is one of our top priorities. As with any new large system, course corrections must be made.
Q6: Is California State Parks making any improvements to the new reservation system?
A: California State Parks is committed to continuously enhancing your reservation experience, both online and by phone. The goal is to make the process as seamless and enjoyable as possible, ensuring that you have more time to focus on planning your adventures. You can expect to see the following enhancements made to the reservation system over the next 8 years.
- Enhanced User Experience: We will continue to streamline the user interface to make navigation and booking more intuitive and user-friendly. Whether you’re reserving a campsite or booking a tour, our updated designs will continue to ensures a smoother experience from start to finish.
- Modification Limits: To promote fair access to reservations, we are implementing a limit on the number of modifications an individual can make. The new limit is two modifications per reservation. This helps ensure that more visitors have the opportunity to book a campsite at their favorite park unit.
- More Payment Options: We are introducing additional secure and convenient payment methods, including modernized payment card readers with tap, swipe, and insert functionalities. These enhancements offer greater flexibility and security when making payments.
- Interactive Maps: We will be adding interactive maps to provide detailed views of campsites and facilities, making it easier for you to plan your trips and select the perfect spot. These maps offer a wealth of information to help you make informed decisions about your reservations.
Q7: I do not understand how the rolling window reservation works. Can you please provide an example?
A: Booking a reservation on the new system is easy and similar to booking hotel rooms, airline tickets and other similar services. It is also similar to the booking window for facilities in the National Park Service.
With ReserveCalifornia™ you can make reservations six months to the day in advance of the arrival date. Each new date opens at 8 a.m. PST. The rolling window also adjusts for months longer or shorter than 30 days. For example:
| If you make a reservation on: | You can make reservations with an arrival date of: |
|---|---|
| August 1, 2024 (open at 8 a.m. PST) | February 1, 2025 |
| August 2, 2024 (open at 8 a.m. PST) | February 2, 2025 |
| August 3, 2024 (open at 8 a.m. PST) | February 3, 2025 |
| Months with longer or shorter than 30 days | |
| February 28, 2024 (open at 8 a.m. PST) | August 28, 2024 |
| March 1, 2024 (open at 8 a.m. PST) | August 29-31, 2024 |
Q8: What are the new features with ReserveCalifornia™?
A: A variety of features will be phased in through the fall 2024, allowing for better trip planning and access to outdoor public spaces. Below is a breakdown of the features:
The reservation system will continue to be enhanced with more user-friendly and intuitive web services, including:
- Additional self-service options, such as online profiles.
- Interactive maps with more detailed views of campsites.
- Easier to reserve camping and lodging sites (rolling window).
- Reservation drawings up to 8 months in advance for certain parks.
- Customer contact center.
As additional features are phased-in for visitors and staff to enjoy:
- Ability to view real-time reservation inventory.
- More payment options at locations currently accepting only cash and checks.
- Enhanced payment security with modernized payment card readers with tap, swipe, and insert functionalities.
- Smoother pay by phone parking experience without needing to download a mobile application or create an account.
- Additional trip information to make it easier for you to plan your visits.
The reservation system includes state-of-the-art, computerized point-of-sale and fee collection equipment that will allow debit and credit card payments at more locations. This equipment will be installed in phases across the state, beginning August 1, 2024.
Q9: How do I make a reservation on ReserveCalifornia™?
A: You can make reservations online or by calling our Customer Contact Center. Below are the details:
- Online: www.ReserveCalifornia.com
- Phone: (800) 444-PARK (7275). The customer contact center will be available seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. (except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). For international callers, please dial 833-448-7278.
Q10: Have the transaction fees changed?
A: Yes, transaction fees have changed. All fees are non-refundable. See below for the changes to transaction fees beginning Aug.1, 2024.
| Transaction Fees: New Reservations (Non-Refundable) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Reservation | ReserveCalifornia™ Fee before August 1st, 2024 | ReserveCalifornia™ Fee after August 1st, 2024 |
| Camping | $7.99 | $8.25 |
| Tours (excluding Hearst Castle) | $3.99 | $2.50 |
| Tours (Hearst Castle™) | $4.50 per ticket | $5.50 per ticket |
| Group Day Use on Weekdays | $7.99 | $8.25 |
| Unmanned parking lots using LAZ Parking | $0 | $0.55 |
| Transaction Fees: Modification (Non-Refundable) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Reservation | ReserveCalifornia™ Fee before August 1st, 2024 | ReserveCalifornia™ Fee after August 1st, 2024 |
| Camping | $7.99 | $8.25 |
| Tours (excluding Hearst Castle) | $0 | $0 |
| Tours (Hearst Castle™) | $0 | $0 |
| Transaction Fees: Cancellation (Non-Refundable) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Reservation | ReserveCalifornia™ Fee before August 1st, 2024 | ReserveCalifornia™ Fee after August 1st, 2024 |
| Camping | $7.99 | $8.25 |
| Tours (excluding Hearst Castle) | $0 | $0 |
| Tours (Hearst Castle™) | $4.50 per ticket plus a $7 cart fee | $0 |
Q11: Can I walk up and camp or will I always need a reservation?
A: Yes, you may still enjoy walk-up camping. Some sites will remain first-come, first-served. View Details
Q12: What type of activities are available in California’s state park system?
A: California State Parks protects and preserves the state's most significant natural and cultural resources while delivering public spaces to bring families and friends together and providing a wide array of recreational opportunities for the benefit and enjoyment of all people. Off-highway motor vehicle recreation, boating activities, horseback riding, on and off-road cycling, hiking, camping, and rock climbing are some of the recreational activities enjoyed in 280 state parks organized into 22 field districts throughout the state.