Going camping at a state park in 2025? You need to start thinking about where before the end of 2024. Many state park camping reservation windows are approaching, and some may have already passed. So, it’s never too early to start planning your next trek. But every state has its own rules, and those rules can change. That’s why we created this handy reference list for you!
Fremont Indian State Park near Sevier, Utah.
Most state park systems offer camping reservations as the number of first-come, first-served (FCFS) camping sites seems to be shrinking.
Cancellation rules also impact state park camping reservation windows more now. We’re seeing more states where cancellations aren’t as easy or cheap as they once were.
States are combatting the practice of booking more days than you need. People would game the system and snag a prime campsite by paying more upfront and then assuming they would get their money back by canceling later. That’s not a safe assumption anymore.
We’ve also noticed a growing trend of earlier state park reservation windows for residents versus out-of-state visitors.
The state park camping reservations list
We have strived to make this information as accurate as possible, and it should be considered up-to-date as of November 2024. State governments periodically update their rules and regulations, and there can be a time lag between those changes and a state’s website being updated. Please get in touch with us using the form at the end of this post if you note any errors so we can revise this list ASAP.
The links in this list take you to the state park websites. It’s always a good idea to double-check rules and regulations. Often, cancellation policies, maximum allowable stays, and other information could impact your camping decisions.
Also note that numerous states have reservations only during the “camping season,” which varies by region due to weather. Some states shut down camping entirely, while others leave sites open but on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, even if a campground is open, some amenities may change. In Michigan, for example, we know of several campgrounds open throughout the winter, but the water spigots are turned off, and no bathrooms or showers are available.
- Alabama: 12 months before arrival date for out-of-state visitors; 13 months for Alabama residents.
- Alaska: A few campgrounds allow reservations 7 months before the arrival date, but this varies from park to park. Most state parks in Alaska are considered first come, first served.
- Arizona: 12 months before arrival date
- Arkansas: 12 months before arrival date
- California: 6 months before arrival date
- Colorado: 6 months before arrival date
- Connecticut: 11 months before arrival date
- Delaware: 12 months before arrival date
- Florida: 10 months before arrival date for out-of-state visitors; 11 months for Florida residents
- Georgia: 13 months before arrival date for out-of-state visitors; 14 months for Georgia residents
- Hawaii: 12 months before arrival date except for the island of Oahu, where campsites can be reserved only 30 days in advance
- Idaho: 9 months before arrival date. Note that Idaho is implementing a new online reservation system, and all camping reservations for 2025 are paused until 7 a.m. on January 6.
- Illinois: 180 days before arrival date
- Indiana: At noon, 6 months before arrival date
- Iowa: 3 months before arrival date
- Kansas: Normally, 1 year into the following year, starting in mid-December. However, Kansas is implementing a new online reservation system and campsite reservations for 2025 are paused until January 6.
- Kentucky: 12 months before arrival date
- Louisiana: 13 months before arrival date
- Maine: The camping reservation system for the summer opens on Feb. 3, 2025, for Lily Bay and Sebago Lake State Park. Reservations for the season open for all other state parks on Feb. 6.
- Maryland: 12 months before arrival date
- Massachusetts: 4 months before arrival date
- Michigan: 6 months before arrival date. Have you seen our YouTube series, in which we visited all 103 state parks in Michigan?! Also, note that we’ve been tracking state park closures due to an enormous rehabilitation project underway at Michigan state parks. We have information about various campground closures in this blog post and a special post about Traverse City State Park.
- Minnesota: 120 days before arrival date (We spent the summer of 2021 traveling all over Minnesota. We have a YouTube playlist for that trek.)
- Mississippi: 13 months before arrival date
- Missouri: 12 months before arrival date
- Montana: 3 months before arrival date
- Nebraska: 180 days before arrival date
- Nevada: 11 months before arrival date. Note that Nevada had no reservation system until Sept. 1, 2023. So, if you hear that Nevada is an FCFS state, that has recently changed.
- New Hampshire: 11 months before arrival date, starting at 8 a.m. for weekdays and 9 a.m. for weekends.
- New Jersey: 11 months before arrival date
- New Mexico: 6 months before arrival date
- New York: 9 months before arrival date, starting Jan. 6, 2025
- North Carolina: 6 months before arrival date. Note that due to Hurricane Helene’s devastating effects, eight North Carolina state parks remained closed as of Nov. 1, 2024: Chimney Rock State Park (long-term closure), Elk Knob State Park, Lake James State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park (long-term closure), New River State Park, South Mountains State Park (long-term closure), and Stone Mountain State Park.
- North Dakota: 95 days before arrival date
- Ohio: 6 months before arrival date
- Oklahoma: 11 months before arrival date
- Oregon: 6 months before arrival date
- Pennsylvania: 11 months before arrival date
- Rhode Island: 12 months before arrival date
- South Carolina: 13 months before arrival date
- South Dakota: 90 days before arrival date except for Custer State Park, which takes reservations 12 months before arrival date
- Tennessee: 12 months before arrival date
- Texas: 5 months before arrival date, starting at 8 a.m. (We have a YouTube playlist about our numerous treks through Texas.)
- Utah: 4 months before departure date because Utah uses a rolling window reservation system. We have a YouTube playlist dedicated to our summer-long trek through Utah.)
- Vermont: 11 months before arrival date. The inventory for the entire month opens the first business day of the month at 9 a.m. for all state parks except for Burton Island, where the inventory opens the first business day at 9 a.m. on or after the 15th of each month.
- Virginia: 11 months before arrival date
- Washington: 9 months before arrival date
- West Virginia: 1 year in advance for the entire month, starting on the first day of each month
- Wisconsin: 11 months before arrival date, starting at 9 a.m.
- Wyoming: 120 days before arrival date for out-of-state visitors; 113 days before arrival date for Wyoming residents
We’ll see you out there
We hope you found this information useful!
By the way, if you find yourself without a campsite or need to get away from a park for a night or two before you can get back in, consider using Harvest Hosts. We have been members for many years and have enjoyed each of our stays at the unique locations made available to us as members. Here’s an example of when we stayed at a moonshine distillery. How’s that for unique?!
If you miss out on snagging a state park campsite, you can always go the private campground route. Those can get pricey, especially compared with state park camping rates. That’s why we’re members of Passport America. On our trip through California, Oregon, and Washington this past summer, we saved 50% on campsites at numerous parks. Our expenses on the West Coast were high to begin with, so being Passport America members really helped! We even found one right between the north and south units of Redwood National Park.
Whatever style of camping you choose, we hope you enjoy a happy and safe 2025 travel season. Keep on trekin’, and we’ll see you out there!