ReserveCalifornia Cancellation Policy: Fees, No-Shows and Rules

Published October 10, 2026

ReserveCalifornia is the booking site for California State Parks campgrounds. Its cancellation rules got stricter after the 2023 AB 618 law. Here's what cancelling costs, what other rules apply, and how to catch a site someone else cancelled.

Cancellation fees and refunds

• 7 or more days before arrival: all site fees are refunded, minus an $8.25 cancellation fee.
• 2 to 6 days before arrival: you forfeit the first night's site fee.
• Less than 2 days before arrival, or a no-show: no refund.

The $8.25 reservation fee charged when you book is never refunded.

No-shows

Three no-shows in one calendar year can get you a 365-day restriction on reserving sites. If you can't use a reservation, cancel it, even late. It frees the site for someone else and protects your account.

Other rules to know

• You must be at least 18 to make a reservation.
• At check-in, bring your reservation confirmation and photo ID, plus proof of disability if you reserved an accessible site.
• Many parks have a 30-night maximum stay per person in a calendar year, though limits vary by park.
• Resale, transfer and unapproved for-profit bookings are prohibited and can be cancelled without a refund.
• Most campgrounds open for reservations six months ahead, at 8 a.m. Pacific.

Many of these rules come from California's AB 618 law.

When cancelled sites show up

Cancelled nights go back on ReserveCalifornia for anyone to book. Because cancelling 7 or more days out is the cheapest option, people with changing plans have a strong reason to cancel at least a week before arrival. At sold-out campgrounds, those sites tend to be rebooked quickly by whoever spots them first.

How to get a cancelled site

Checking ReserveCalifornia by hand works if you're lucky and persistent. A cancellation alert works better: Wandering Labs watches ReserveCalifornia campgrounds and emails or texts you the moment a site matching your dates and needs opens up. You book it yourself on ReserveCalifornia. Create a free alert, or see how to get a campsite at a sold-out campground.

Fees and policies can change. Check ReserveCalifornia's current camping policies before you book.