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Reserving campsites in California state parks or beaches can be a frustrating experience, with all available spots being booked almost immediately after they open up.
In response, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 618 into law, which seeks to improve access by encouraging residents to stop reserving campsites they do not plan to use or cancel their reservations at the last minute.
The bill establishes a set of restrictions and financial penalties for reserving campsites at California state parks beginning in 2024.
It also creates a temporary system that will use random drawings to assign reservations at five of the most popular camping destinations, to be implemented by 2025 and used through 2028. The California Department of Parks and Recreation will determine the selected parks.
The bill's restrictions include limiting peak season reservations to a maximum of seven consecutive nights and 30 days a year. It also prohibits someone from using the state's online booking system for a year if they fail to show up to three consecutive reservations. Financial penalties would be issued for no-shows or cancellations on short notice.
By improving reservation practices, the new law aims to increase access to California's public parks and beaches.
With approximately 280 state parks and over 15,000 campsites, cabins, and cottages available, this is an important step towards making these natural treasures available to everyone.