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A New Law Is Trying To Make Booking A Campsite In California Easier
A campground at Joshua Tree National Park
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Jae C. Hong
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AP
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A new law wants to make California's outdoor splendor accessible to more people by better managing the state's campsite reservations.
The new legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will give state park officials more control to monitor the campsite reservation system beginning next year. No-shows and late cancellations with little consequences will no longer be tolerated.
"Our current outdated reservation system has led to a situation where many campsites are left empty. By promoting responsible reservation practices, we can increase access to these vital resources," bill sponsor and California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan said in a statement.
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Beginning in January 2024, there will be steep fines for those who don’t cancel reservations a week prior to the planned visit. For those who have accrued three or more no-shows, they will be cut off from the reservation system, prohibited from extending a site past 30 days, or restricted to visit a park to only a week during peak season.
The law also requires state park officials to test out a lottery system for the five most popular destinations starting in 2025. Those destinations will be determined by counting the sites with the most reservations six months before the trial is set to begin. Park officials will be required to submit a status report on how that system is working within the next three years.
Currently, visitors are able to access their campsite a day after their reservation start day, and can cancel with a lower penalty a day before it begins.
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