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National & State Parks
How to Make Camping Reservations at National Parks

Here's how to make camping or tour reservations online at National Park Service properties.  

Difficulty Level: Easy      Time Required: Variable (usually less than 15 minutes)

Here's How:
  1. Decide which national park/s you wish to visit. 

  2. Go to the official national parks reservations web site at http://reservations.nps.gov/ and see if the park/s you are interested in visiting are included on the list handled by the reservation service. At present, reservations to campgrounds for 24 national parks and tours for 6 national parks can be made online or by calling a toll-free number.
     
  3. If the park where you wish to stay IS NOT on the list, you will need to contact the park itself to find out about specific procedures for booking campground reservations. To obtain the phone number for the park of your choosing, see the National Park Service Address Book at http://165.83.219.60/nps/directory/.

  4. If the park where you wish to stay IS on the list, follow the instructions on the web site, or call one of the following numbers:
    Campground Reservations 1-800-365-2267
    Yosemite Reservations: 1-800-436-7275
    Tour Reservations 1-800-967-2283
    From outside the U.S. or Canada: 301-722-1257

  5. If using the online reservation service, choose "Click here to Start Reservation."
     
  6. Select the appropriate park from the drop-down menu or from the interactive map.
     
  7. Select the campground or browse the park maps before selecting a campground.

  8. Read all the pertinent information, such as check in times, camp directions, minimum/maximum stays, camp attributes, and so on.
     
  9. Select equipment type and check-in date from drop-down menus and click on "Accept Restrictions, Check Availability" button.
     
  10. Make selection for number of nights and number of persons from drop-down menu and click on "Search Sites" button.

  11. Message will be displayed  indicating whether or not site is available on date you requested. To continue, click on "Start Reservation" button. If site is booked or you want to view other options, click on "Check Another Date."

  12. To continue with the reservation process, select your customer status and click the "Submit" button.

  13. If you are using the system for the first time, you will be asked to fill out the Personal Details screen, which includes your name, phone, address, etc. If you are a repeat user of the reservation system, you will be asked to provide your customer ID and password.
     
  14. Provide information on any discount cards  you have (i.e. Golden Age Passport or Golden Access Passport).

  15. Review reservation details and provide credit card information.
Tips:
  1. Reservations processed through the Internet site will only be accepted between the hours of 10:00 am and 10:00 pm EST (7:00 am and 7:00 pm PST).
  2. On the 5th, 15th, and 25th of each month the NPRS Call Center handles an enormous number of calls. You may experience delays in getting through to a reservation agent.

  3. Reservations can be made up to five months in advance. After a reservation is made, any changes or cancellations will result in a $12.85 charge; if the cancellation isn't made until the day of the scheduled reservation, a $12.85 fee plus one night's stay will be charged. 

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