The hardest reservations in America, measured
"Impossible to book" is usually a vibe. We made it a number. Our scouts have been checking 236 of the most contested reservation targets in the country every 15 minutes — around the clock, for up to 91 days, ≈952,368 checks — recording every time a reserved night flipped open and whether it survived to our next look. Every number below is computed over the campground's most recent season — the nights people actually fight for (each row says which, and the dates) — and recomputes from the live log on every visit.
The shutouts: not one opening that counted
Every campground below stayed fully booked for its nights that count on every check across its season window. No cancellation we could catch, no momentary opening wider than our 15-minute net. This is the measured shape of "you can't get this site."
| Campground | Nights counted | Nights in view | Checks | Cancellations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorst Creek Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 57 nights | ≈8,746 | 0 |
| Willow Flat Canyonlands National Park | Mar – May & Sep – Oct · Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 | 54 nights | ≈3,164 | 0 |
| Cayo Costa State Park Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 34 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 34 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| Cayo Costa Cabins Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 34 nights | ≈3,274 | 0 |
| Julia Pfeiffer Burns California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 8 nights | ≈6,612 | 0 |
| San Onofre Bluffs California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 8 nights | ≈6,612 | 0 |
| Steep Ravine (Mount Tamalpais) California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 8 nights | ≈6,612 | 0 |
| Steep Ravine Cabins (Mount Tamalpais) California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 8 nights | ≈3,274 | 0 |
| Gooseberry Falls State Park Minnesota State Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| Jay Cooke State Park Minnesota State Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| Burr Oak State Park Ohio State Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| East Harbor State Park Ohio State Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| Lake Hope State Park Ohio State Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| Mohican State Park Ohio State Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| Punderson State Park Ohio State Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
| Salt Fork State Park Ohio State Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1 nights | ≈3,314 | 0 |
Caught cancellations — and how fast they died
These campgrounds do open. A cancellation is one site freed for one stay; a three-night stay is one cancellation, not three. "Gone before our next check" means the next look, about 15 minutes later, already saw it taken — it may have lasted seconds. Only openings that survived at least one look get a lifetime, and even that is a bound between our own observations.
| Campground | Nights counted | Cancellations | Per week | Gone before our next check | Outlived a check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby Cove Golden Gate National Recreation Area | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 1 (2 nights) | 0.2/wk | 0 of 2 | 2 lasted longer (median ≤43 min) |
| Buckhorn Chickasaw National Recreation Area (Arbuckle Mountains) | Mar – May & Sep – Oct · Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 | 2 (22 nights) · 2 releases | 0.5/wk | 0 of 2 · 20 still open | 2 lasted longer (median ≤2142 min) |
| Fry Creek Cleveland National Forest | year-round · last 28 days | 3 (21 nights) · 1 release | 1.1/wk | 0 of 11 · 10 still open | 11 lasted longer (median ≤6206 min) |
| Paradise Los Padres National Forest (Santa Barbara & Ojai) | year-round · last 28 days | 3 (25 nights) · 1 release | 1.1/wk | 0 of 17 · 8 still open | 17 lasted longer (median ≤4146 min) |
| Dripping Springs Cleveland National Forest | year-round · last 28 days | 5 (25 nights) · 1 release | 1.8/wk | 0 of 17 · 8 still open | 17 lasted longer (median ≤4688 min) |
| Desert View Grand Canyon National Park | Mar – May & Sep – Oct · Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 | 11 (50 nights) · 3 releases | 1.8/wk | 0 of 15 · 35 still open | 15 lasted longer (median ≤521 min) |
| Sage Hill Los Padres National Forest (Santa Barbara & Ojai) | year-round · last 28 days | 6 (25 nights) · 1 release | 2.2/wk | 0 of 17 · 8 still open | 17 lasted longer (median ≤6865 min) |
| Moro (Crystal Cove) California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 9 (13 nights) | 2.2/wk | 0 of 2 · 11 still open | 2 lasted longer (median ≤372 min) |
| Observatory Cleveland National Forest | year-round · last 28 days | 7 (23 nights) | 2.5/wk | 0 of 15 · 8 still open | 15 lasted longer (median ≤4749 min) |
| El Capitán State Beach California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 13 (17 nights) | 3.2/wk | 1 of 10 · 7 still open | 9 lasted longer (median ≤239 min) |
| Burnt Rancheria Cleveland National Forest | year-round · last 28 days | 9 (22 nights) | 3.3/wk | 0 of 21 · 1 still open | 21 lasted longer (median ≤1712 min) |
| Wheeler Gorge Los Padres National Forest (Santa Barbara & Ojai) | year-round · last 28 days | 10 (39 nights) · 1 release | 3.6/wk | 0 of 30 · 9 still open | 30 lasted longer (median ≤2484 min) |
| Refugio State Beach California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 16 (20 nights) | 4.0/wk | 3 of 14 · 6 still open | 11 lasted longer (median ≤723 min) |
| Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 29 (56 nights) · 1 release | 4.8/wk | 5 of 31 · 25 still open | 26 lasted longer (median ≤104 min) |
| Lake Havasu State Park Arizona State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 9 (30 nights) · 1 release | 5.2/wk | — · 30 still open | none lasted longer |
| Lake Havasu Cabins Arizona State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 9 (30 nights) · 1 release | 5.2/wk | — · 30 still open | none lasted longer |
| Lost Dutchman State Park Arizona State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 9 (30 nights) · 1 release | 5.2/wk | — · 30 still open | none lasted longer |
| Carpinteria State Beach California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 23 (27 nights) | 5.7/wk | 4 of 21 · 6 still open | 17 lasted longer (median ≤172 min) |
| Wright's Beach (Sonoma Coast) California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 24 (26 nights) | 6.0/wk | 6 of 26 | 20 lasted longer (median ≤102 min) |
| San Elijo State Beach California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 24 (31 nights) | 6.0/wk | 2 of 24 · 7 still open | 22 lasted longer (median ≤947 min) |
| Red Rock Canyon Campground Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 11 (34 nights) · 1 release | 6.4/wk | 0 of 12 · 22 still open | 12 lasted longer (median ≤307 min) |
| Dead Horse Ranch State Park Arizona State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 12 (33 nights) · 1 release | 7.0/wk | 1 of 3 · 30 still open | 2 lasted longer (median ≤13181 min) |
| Dead Horse Ranch Cabins Arizona State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 12 (33 nights) · 1 release | 7.0/wk | 0 of 3 · 30 still open | 3 lasted longer (median ≤11515 min) |
| Bodega Dunes (Sonoma Coast) California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 34 (42 nights) | 8.5/wk | 9 of 39 · 3 still open | 30 lasted longer (median ≤253 min) |
| Laguna Cleveland National Forest | year-round · last 28 days | 24 (54 nights) | 8.7/wk | 0 of 44 · 10 still open | 44 lasted longer (median ≤157 min) |
| Myakka River State Park Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 15 (36 nights) · 1 release | 8.7/wk | 0 of 6 · 30 still open | 6 lasted longer (median ≤354 min) |
| Myakka River Palm Log Cabins Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 15 (36 nights) · 1 release | 8.7/wk | 0 of 6 · 30 still open | 6 lasted longer (median ≤354 min) |
| Pfeiffer Big Sur California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 42 (56 nights) | 10/wk | 9 of 56 | 47 lasted longer (median ≤270 min) |
| Leo Carrillo California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 44 (57 nights) | 11/wk | 16 of 57 | 41 lasted longer (median ≤107 min) |
| Doheny State Beach California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 45 (55 nights) | 11/wk | 14 of 55 | 41 lasted longer (median ≤68 min) |
| South Carlsbad State Beach California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 46 (54 nights) | 11/wk | 22 of 52 · 2 still open | 30 lasted longer (median ≤135 min) |
| Slough Creek Yellowstone National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 93 (153 nights) · 2 releases | 12/wk | 74 of 153 | 79 lasted longer (median ≤75 min) |
| New Brighton State Beach California State Parks | year-round, weekend nights · last 28 days | 54 (58 nights) | 13/wk | 28 of 57 · 1 still open | 29 lasted longer (median ≤68 min) |
| Needles District Canyonlands National Park | Mar – May & Sep – Oct · Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 | 68 (108 nights) | 14/wk | 0 of 108 | 108 lasted longer (median ≤103 min) |
| Potwisha Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 111 (143 nights) | 14/wk | 18 of 125 · 18 still open | 107 lasted longer (median ≤225 min) |
| Henderson Beach State Park Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 24 (44 nights) · 1 release | 14/wk | 2 of 21 · 23 still open | 19 lasted longer (median ≤2952 min) |
| Ryan Joshua Tree National Park | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 29 (53 nights) · 1 release | 17/wk | 0 of 34 · 19 still open | 34 lasted longer (median ≤258 min) |
| Indian Cove Joshua Tree National Park | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 36 (60 nights) · 1 release | 21/wk | 0 of 38 · 22 still open | 38 lasted longer (median ≤42 min) |
| Black Rock Joshua Tree National Park | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 40 (68 nights) · 1 release | 23/wk | 0 of 48 · 20 still open | 48 lasted longer (median ≤139 min) |
| Jonathan Dickinson State Park Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 45 (67 nights) · 1 release | 26/wk | 7 of 37 · 30 still open | 30 lasted longer (median ≤287 min) |
| Cottonwood Joshua Tree National Park | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 46 (74 nights) | 27/wk | 0 of 49 · 25 still open | 49 lasted longer (median ≤832 min) |
| Hodgdon Meadow Yosemite National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 215 (267 nights) · 1 release | 27/wk | 58 of 244 · 23 still open | 186 lasted longer (median ≤106 min) |
| Devils Garden Arches National Park | Mar – May & Sep – Oct · Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 | 173 (243 nights) | 29/wk | 15 of 233 · 10 still open | 218 lasted longer (median ≤139 min) |
| Crane Flat Yosemite National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 252 (301 nights) | 31/wk | 97 of 274 · 27 still open | 177 lasted longer (median ≤61 min) |
| Grayton Beach State Park Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 57 (84 nights) · 1 release | 33/wk | 4 of 70 · 14 still open | 66 lasted longer (median ≤388 min) |
| Jumbo Rocks Joshua Tree National Park | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 57 (83 nights) · 1 release | 33/wk | 0 of 61 · 22 still open | 61 lasted longer (median ≤117 min) |
| Rio Grande Village Big Bend National Park | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 59 (83 nights) | 34/wk | 0 of 70 · 13 still open | 70 lasted longer (median ≤237 min) |
| St. Mary Glacier National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 285 (347 nights) | 36/wk | 73 of 323 · 24 still open | 250 lasted longer (median ≤91 min) |
| Anastasia State Park Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 62 (89 nights) | 36/wk | 17 of 64 · 25 still open | 47 lasted longer (median ≤219 min) |
| Mammoth Yellowstone National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 302 (401 nights) | 38/wk | 84 of 398 · 3 still open | 314 lasted longer (median ≤105 min) |
| Schoodic Woods Acadia National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 306 (402 nights) · 2 releases | 38/wk | 84 of 383 · 19 still open | 299 lasted longer (median ≤150 min) |
| Watchman Zion National Park | Mar – May & Sep – Oct · Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 | 233 (308 nights) · 1 release | 39/wk | 11 of 263 · 45 still open | 252 lasted longer (median ≤116 min) |
| South Zion National Park | Mar – May & Sep – Oct · Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 | 234 (296 nights) · 2 releases | 39/wk | 7 of 274 · 22 still open | 267 lasted longer (median ≤119 min) |
| Platte River Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 235 (306 nights) · 1 release | 39/wk | 88 of 282 · 24 still open | 194 lasted longer (median ≤91 min) |
| Sol Duc Olympic National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 316 (418 nights) · 1 release | 39/wk | 115 of 418 | 303 lasted longer (median ≤121 min) |
| Wawona Yosemite National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 322 (416 nights) | 40/wk | 99 of 389 · 27 still open | 290 lasted longer (median ≤91 min) |
| Fruita Capitol Reef National Park | Mar – May & Sep – Oct · Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 | 252 (355 nights) · 1 release | 42/wk | 20 of 340 · 15 still open | 320 lasted longer (median ≤137 min) |
| Camp 4 Yosemite National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 337 (371 nights) | 42/wk | 128 of 350 · 21 still open | 222 lasted longer (median ≤75 min) |
| Chisos Basin Big Bend National Park | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 77 (112 nights) · 1 release | 45/wk | 0 of 99 · 13 still open | 99 lasted longer (median ≤149 min) |
| Jenny Lake Grand Teton National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 272 (328 nights) | 45/wk | 120 of 326 · 2 still open | 206 lasted longer (median ≤61 min) |
| Seawall Acadia National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 392 (564 nights) · 1 release | 49/wk | 95 of 550 · 14 still open | 455 lasted longer (median ≤104 min) |
| Bahia Honda Cabins Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 88 (139 nights) · 1 release | 51/wk | 9 of 119 · 20 still open | 110 lasted longer (median ≤219 min) |
| Bahia Honda State Park Florida State Parks | Oct – Apr · Oct 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 90 (141 nights) · 1 release | 52/wk | 11 of 121 · 20 still open | 110 lasted longer (median ≤226 min) |
| Signal Mountain Grand Teton National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 318 (417 nights) | 53/wk | 76 of 417 | 341 lasted longer (median ≤121 min) |
| Fish Creek Glacier National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 459 (565 nights) | 57/wk | 85 of 557 · 8 still open | 472 lasted longer (median ≤151 min) |
| Moraine Park Rocky Mountain National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 351 (427 nights) · 1 release | 58/wk | 138 of 409 · 18 still open | 271 lasted longer (median ≤75 min) |
| Lower Pines Yosemite National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 520 (591 nights) | 65/wk | 269 of 588 · 3 still open | 319 lasted longer (median ≤60 min) |
| Assateague Oceanside Assateague Island National Seashore | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 405 (535 nights) | 67/wk | 154 of 535 | 381 lasted longer (median ≤136 min) |
| North Pines Yosemite National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 543 (640 nights) | 68/wk | 283 of 636 · 4 still open | 353 lasted longer (median ≤60 min) |
| Lodgepole Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 546 (656 nights) | 68/wk | 169 of 634 · 22 still open | 465 lasted longer (median ≤90 min) |
| Blackwoods Acadia National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 565 (756 nights) | 71/wk | 164 of 746 · 10 still open | 582 lasted longer (median ≤91 min) |
| Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 576 (692 nights) | 72/wk | 325 of 660 · 32 still open | 335 lasted longer (median ≤60 min) |
| Hoh Rainforest Olympic National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 433 (557 nights) · 1 release | 72/wk | 157 of 557 | 400 lasted longer (median ≤76 min) |
| Many Glacier Glacier National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 613 (777 nights) · 2 releases | 77/wk | 350 of 775 · 2 still open | 425 lasted longer (median ≤60 min) |
| Kalaloch Olympic National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 652 (814 nights) | 81/wk | 283 of 814 | 531 lasted longer (median ≤75 min) |
| Apgar Glacier National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 721 (932 nights) · 1 release | 90/wk | 205 of 928 · 4 still open | 723 lasted longer (median ≤152 min) |
| Cougar Rock Mount Rainier National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 564 (716 nights) | 94/wk | 208 of 716 | 508 lasted longer (median ≤76 min) |
| Upper Pines Yosemite National Park | Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 | 1169 (1428 nights) | 146/wk | 707 of 1415 · 13 still open | 708 lasted longer (median ≤60 min) |
Booking window just opened
A run of nights went on sale at once in this season window — a release, not a cancellation — and nothing has been cancelled since. Too early to rank.
Alexander Springs Ocala National Forest · 20 nights still open · Boulder Beach Lake Mead National Recreation Area · 20 nights still open · Buffalo Point Buffalo National River · 8 nights still open · Fremont Los Padres National Forest (Santa Barbara & Ojai) · 8 nights still open · Juniper Springs Ocala National Forest · 20 nights still open · Los Prietos Los Padres National Forest (Santa Barbara & Ojai) · 8 nights still open · Mather Grand Canyon National Park · 40 nights still open · Mt. Figueroa Los Padres National Forest (Santa Barbara & Ojai) · 8 nights still open · North Rim Grand Canyon National Park · 35 nights still open · Oak Grove Cleveland National Forest · 8 nights still open · Salt Springs Ocala National Forest · 20 nights still open · Tyler Bend Buffalo National River · 20 nights still open
Season not in view yet
These are watched around the clock too, but none of the nights that count for them has been bookable while we watched — the season hasn't started, or the booking grid (about three weeks out) hasn't reached it. Their numbers appear here the day it does.
Amphitheater Ouray (Uncompahgre National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Arid Peak Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Aspenglen Rocky Mountain National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Atherton Creek Bridger-Teton National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Bald Butte Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Bennett Spring Cabins Missouri State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Bennett Spring State Park Missouri State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Big Creek Baldy Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Big Meadows Shenandoah National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Bolding Mill Lake Lanier (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Brooklyn Lake Snowy Range (Medicine Bow National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Cape Perpetua Oregon Coast (Siuslaw National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Cataloochee Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Cave Springs Coconino National Forest (Oak Creek Canyon) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Cedar Breaks Park Lake Georgetown (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Chilhowee Cherokee National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Chisholm Hyalite Canyon (Custer Gallatin National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Clear Lake Cabin Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Colonial Creek South North Cascades National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Cranes Mill Canyon Lake (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Cultus Lake Deschutes National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Davidson River Pisgah National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · DeSoto Falls Chattahoochee National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Difficult Maroon Bells (White River National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Dogwood San Bernardino National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Dolly Copp White Mountain National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Douglas Fir Mount Baker (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Douthat Cabins Virginia State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Douthat State Park Virginia State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Drake Peak Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Elk Lake Deschutes National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Elkmont Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Evergreen Mountain Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Fall Lake Superior National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Fallen Leaf Lake Tahoe (Forest Service) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · First Landing State Park Virginia State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Fivemile Butte Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Garnet Mountain Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Glacier Basin Rocky Mountain National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Glacier View Sawtooth National Recreation Area · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Gold Butte Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Gooseberry Falls Camper Cabins Minnesota State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Gros Ventre Grand Teton National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Guanella Pass Front Range National Forests · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hancock White Mountain National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hanna Flat San Bernardino National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Heybrook Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Holland Lake Flathead National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hood Creek Hyalite Canyon (Custer Gallatin National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hoodview (Timothy Lake) Mount Hood National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hopewell Lake Carson National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hornet Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hospital Flat Kern River (Sequoia National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hungry Mother Cabins Virginia State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Hungry Mother State Park Virginia State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Indian Boundary Cherokee National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Jay Cooke Camper Cabins Minnesota State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Jemez Falls Santa Fe National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Jersey Jim Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Jim Hogg Park Lake Georgetown (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park Missouri State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Juniper Bandelier National Monument · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Kenosha Pass Front Range National Forests · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Kirk Creek Big Sur (Los Padres National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Lake Michigan Recreation Area Huron-Manistee National Forests · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Lake Winfield Scott Chattahoochee National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Langohr Hyalite Canyon (Custer Gallatin National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Little Crater Deschutes National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Little Guard Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Lofers Bend East Lake Whitney (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Loft Mountain Shenandoah National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Lonesomehurst Hebgen Lake (Custer Gallatin National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Lost Creek Mount Hood National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Luby Bay Priest Lake (Idaho Panhandle National Forests) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Manzanita Coconino National Forest (Oak Creek Canyon) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Mohican Cabins Ohio State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Mountain Oak Angeles National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Nash Fork Snowy Range (Medicine Bow National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Nevada Beach Lake Tahoe (Forest Service) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Newhalem Creek North Cascades National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · North Campground Bryce Canyon National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · North Shore San Bernardino National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Obey River Dale Hollow Lake (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Oconee Point Lake Hartwell (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Ohanapecosh Mount Rainier National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Old Federal Lake Lanier (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Outlet Sawtooth National Recreation Area · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Paulina Lake Deschutes National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Pickett Butte Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Pineknot San Bernardino National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Pinon Flats Great Sand Dunes National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Point Sawtooth National Recreation Area · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Potters Creek Canyon Lake (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Punderson Cottages Ohio State Parks · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Rainbow Lakes Front Range National Forests · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Rainbow Point Hebgen Lake (Custer Gallatin National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Reeder Bay Priest Lake (Idaho Panhandle National Forests) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Russian River Chugach National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Sam Owen Lake Pend Oreille (Idaho Panhandle National Forests) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Sawnee Lake Lanier (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Seneca Shadows Monongahela National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Serrano San Bernardino National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Shorty Peak Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Silver Bar Maroon Bells (White River National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Silver Bell Maroon Bells (White River National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Silver Fir Mount Baker (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Silver Queen Maroon Bells (White River National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Smokemont Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · South Rim Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Spruce Knob Lake Monongahela National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Forest Service Fire Lookouts · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Spruces Wasatch (Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Standing Indian Nantahala National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Stanley Lake Sawtooth National Recreation Area · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Sunset Campground Bryce Canyon National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Susquehannock Raystown Lake (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Sutton Oregon Coast (Siuslaw National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Swan Lake Flathead National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Sweetwater Lake Allatoona (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Table Mountain Angeles National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Trails End Superior National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Trillium Lake Mount Hood National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Twelvemile Beach Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Twin Lakes Lake Hartwell (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Twin Lakes Mammoth Lakes (Inyo National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Waitsboro Lake Cumberland (Daniel Boone National Forest) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Wheeler Peak Campground Great Basin National Park · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Williwaw Chugach National Forest · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026 · Willow Grove Dale Hollow Lake (Army Corps of Engineers) · Jun 1 – Labor Day · Jun 1 – Sep 7, 2026
How these numbers are made
One shared checker per target polls the venue's own reservation system about every 15 minutes and stores a snapshot. A night-opening is a date that was unavailable on one check and available on the next; openings detected on the same check for consecutive nights are one cancellation, and a run of 7 or more nights opening at once is a release (a booking window or season opening), counted separately. Which nights count: each park has a season — Yosemite and the mountain parks Jun 1 through Labor Day, the desert Oct through Apr, canyon country the spring and fall shoulders — and the California coast counts only Friday and Saturday nights, year-round. Openings on other nights are recorded but not ranked. Rates are cancellations per week over the campground's most recent season window (shown on its row), from the day we started watching if later — read from the full change archive rather than a rolling sample. Year-round parks use the last 28 days. We can only report what happened between our looks — anything that appeared and vanished inside one interval is invisible to us, so every count here is a floor, not a total. California state-park targets are checked through an on-the-ground relay and have a shorter history than the rest.
Excluded today (checks currently failing, so we can't vouch for their numbers): Eagle Creek, Itasca State Park, Itasca Camper Cabins, Lake Bemidji State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Tettegouche State Park, Whitewater State Park, Table Rock State Park, Hocking Hills State Park, Hocking Hills Cabins.
Want the next opening at any of these? Each campground page has a watch that emails you the moment it happens — campgrounds.
Rankings for one season, one region, or weekends only
The table above spans every park's own season at once. These pages fix the same window and the same night rule across every row: Hardest summer camping reservations · Hardest winter camping reservations · Hardest canyon-country reservations (spring & fall) · Hardest weekend campsites to book · Hardest campground reservations in Alaska · Hardest campground reservations in Arkansas · Hardest campground reservations in Arizona · Hardest campground reservations in California · Hardest campground reservations in Colorado · Hardest campground reservations in Florida · Hardest campground reservations in Georgia · Hardest campground reservations in Idaho · Hardest campground reservations in Kentucky · Hardest campground reservations in Maryland · Hardest campground reservations in Maine · Hardest campground reservations in Michigan · Hardest campground reservations in Minnesota · Hardest campground reservations in Missouri · Hardest campground reservations in Montana · Hardest campground reservations in North Carolina · Hardest campground reservations in New Hampshire · Hardest campground reservations in New Mexico · Hardest campground reservations in Nevada · Hardest campground reservations in Ohio · Hardest campground reservations in Oklahoma · Hardest campground reservations in Oregon · Hardest campground reservations in Pennsylvania · Hardest campground reservations in South Carolina · Hardest campground reservations in Tennessee · Hardest campground reservations in Texas · Hardest campground reservations in Utah · Hardest campground reservations in Virginia · Hardest campground reservations in Washington · Hardest campground reservations in West Virginia · Hardest campground reservations in Wyoming.