California State Parks campsites can need six-month planning

For a popular California State Parks campsite, waiting can cost you the spot. Most standard inventory opens on a rolling window up to six months before the arrival date. New dates open each day at 8 a.m. Pacific on ReserveCalifornia. Most parks take reservations until two days before arrival, while a limited group offers same-day booking.

A campsite reservation includes the site, one vehicle, and one vehicle or trailer that is legally towed into the park. Extra vehicles can bring a nightly charge. As of July 2026, ReserveCalifornia lists an $8.25 fee to make a reservation, an $8.25 modification fee, and an $8.25 cancellation fee. Those service fees are separate from the campsite or lodging price.

There is also a drawing system that can open up to eight months ahead. The current list includes Malibu Creek, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial, Morro Bay, and Mount Tamalpais’s Steep Ravine Cabins. Being selected gives you the chance to book; it does not make the stay free. Check the current drawing list and the individual park page before planning around one of these exceptions.