California State Parks site gets makeover for faster, easier campsite bookings
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- California State Parks updated its website to streamline real-time site searches.
- Lottery-based reservations will expand to three high-demand parks in summer 2025.
- A federal lawsuit challenges hidden fees on the ReserveCalifornia booking platform.
Booking a campsite in the redwoods or next to the ocean is even easier now, California State Parks said this week, announcing updates to its reservation system.
California nature lovers can now see what campgrounds sites are available on the state parks website. The site’s updates will allow users to see campsites’ real-time status and the availability of spots at other nearby campgrounds — features that were previously only available on the reservation website.
To book a site, outdoor enthusiasts still need to use the system on ReserveCalifornia.
“California’s state parks are home to some of the world’s best campgrounds, and we want to make it as easy as possible to find your perfect campsite,” State Parks Director Armando Quintero said in a statement announcing the reservation upgrades.
The state parks department is also expanding a lottery-style reservation system to three more popular destinations after a successful pilot program at Mount Tamalpais State Park.
There have been over 100,000 entries to reserve a spot at the Steep Ravine Cabins at Mount Tamalpais since 2023, the parks department said. The lottery system gives more visitors the opportunity to secure a camping spot at some of the most sought-after campgrounds in California.
The state is expanding the reservation lottery system to include Malibu Creek State Park in Los Angeles County starting in July, and Morro Bay State Park in San Luis Obispo County and McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Shasta County later this summer.
It’s free to enter in the drawing and, if selected, users book and pay for the campsite. More information about the process can be found on the parks department website.
Earlier this year, several California residents filed a federal class action lawsuit against the government contractor that runs the ReserveCalifornia website, alleging the company has been illegally tacking on last-minute reservation fees in the online check-out process.
The lawsuit alleged that Tyler Technologies Inc. violated the state’s 2024 Honest Pricing Law by adding hidden fees to campsite reservations.
This story was originally published July 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM with the headline "California State Parks site gets makeover for faster, easier campsite bookings."
