Reservations required at national parks campsites

The reservation system is intended to ensure proper COVID-19 mitigations and allow campers to plan with more accurate information about campsite availability, according to a press release by the National Park Service.

To cover online processing costs, fees for campgrounds newly added to www.recreation.gov will increase to $22 per night, an average increase of $4 from previous years.

“We know that many people have been coming to these parks for years and years, and look forward to their camping trips all year long, while many others are eagerly awaiting an opportunity to visit and camp for the first time,” says Superintendent Clay Jordan. “Park employees are working diligently to make campgrounds safe for campers and provide the dates that people need to plan their trips.”

Current and upcoming campground availability; 

•  Azalea Campground is currently open in Kings Canyon National Park, with 19 sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Azalea is scheduled to open at full capacity on May 26, 2021, at which time it will switch to reservation-only.
• Potwisha Campground is currently open in Sequoia National Park at 50% capacity and will transition to 100% capacity on March 31, 2021. All campsites in Potwisha Campground are reservation-only, a change from previous years.
• Buckeye Flat Campground, in Sequoia National Park, will open for the season on March 31, 2021.
•  Sentinel Campground, in Kings Canyon National Park, is scheduled to open for the season on April 23, 2021.
• Lodgepole Campground, in Sequoia National Park, is scheduled to partially open for the season on April 21, 2021.  

As spring continues, more campsites and campgrounds will reopen throughout the parks, according to the National Park Service. 

Atwell Mill Campground in Mineral King and Dorst Creek Campground in Lodgepole will remain closed for the 2021 season due to hazardous trees.

Scheduled campground opening dates are subject to change. As campground opening dates and other information become available, it will be posted on the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks website at https://go.nps.gov/seki-campground-info.

To make reservations, explore campsite availability, or modify an existing reservation, search for “Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks” on www.recreation.gov, or call the website using the numbers listed under their “Contact Us” section.