Video
How to Book a Campsite on Recreation.gov
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Summary
Each campground on Recreation.gov sets its own booking window; Recreation.gov says most campsites can be booked six months ahead and most go on sale at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET, though some use other times. Check the campground’s Seasons tab, sign in early, use one browser tab, and finish within the 15-minute cart hold.
Read the full step-by-step guide, with every official source.
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Full transcript
0:02 How do you book a campsite on Recreation.gov?
0:06 Start with the booking window.
0:08 Each campground sets its own window.
0:10 Recreation.gov says most campsites can be booked six months ahead, and most go on sale at 7 a.m.
0:17 Pacific, 8 Mountain or 10 Eastern, though some campgrounds use other times.
0:22 Check the campground's Seasons tab.
0:25 At Acadia National Park, for example, 90 percent of sites release six months ahead on the first of the month at 10 a.m.
0:32 Eastern, and the other 10 percent release 14 days ahead.
0:35 On sale day, sign in early and use one browser tab, because several tabs can trigger extra reCAPTCHA checks.
0:42 Recreation.gov's clock runs on Coordinated Universal Time, and a site in your cart is held for 15 minutes.
0:50 Before you book, check the site's maximum vehicle length and hookups.
0:54 Step by step at OpenSkiesRV.com.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead can I book a campsite on Recreation.gov?
Each campground sets its own booking window. Recreation.gov says most campsites can be booked six months before arrival. Check the campground’s Seasons and Fees tab.
What time do Recreation.gov campsites go on sale?
Recreation.gov says most go on sale at 7 a.m. Pacific, 8 a.m. Mountain or 10 a.m. Eastern, “but not always.” Check the campground page.
How long does Recreation.gov hold a site in my cart?
15 minutes. If you don’t complete the reservation, the site is released.
Sources
Related guides
How Do You Book a Campsite on Recreation.gov?
How federal campsite reservations work on Recreation.gov: booking windows set by each campground, the Seasons and Fees tab, on-sale times, the 15-minute cart hold, RV length limits and a worked national park example.
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Education only: general information, not legal, insurance, mechanical or other professional advice for your situation. Rules, fees, recalls and campground policies change and vary by state, park and manufacturer, so check the official source we link, your RV’s manual or a qualified technician before you act. We may earn money from ads and paid links; our advice isn’t for sale.