Frequently Asked Questions
What is CampsiteScan?
California campgrounds book out months ahead, but people cancel constantly. CampsiteScan watches the campgrounds you pick and texts or emails you the moment a site frees up, so you get a shot at places that looked fully booked.
How does it work?
You tell us where and when you want to camp. We check those campgrounds on a repeating cycle, and when a site opens for your dates, you get an email or a text (your choice) with a link straight to the booking page. You do not have to sit refreshing a reservation site.
Which campgrounds are covered?
Over 600 California campgrounds, roughly 25,000 individual sites, across two reservation systems:
- California State Parks through ReserveCalifornia, including the coastal favourites like Carpinteria, Leo Carrillo, Malibu Creek and Pfeiffer Big Sur.
- National parks and forests through recreation.gov, including Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Mammoth and Lake Tahoe.
How fast will I hear about an opening?
The campground you are watching gets checked every few minutes, and the alert text or email goes out on that same cycle. Cancellations get rebooked fast, so open it quickly. We cannot hold a site for you.
Can I watch a whole area?
You can search 25 miles around any point on the map and see every campground in that area and pick which ones to watch.
Does CampsiteScan book the site for me?
No. We are an alert service. Booking happens on the official reservation site under their prices and rules. We send you there the moment something opens.
What does it cost?
Nothing right now. Alerts go out by text or email, with no limit on how many alerts you get.
Do I need an account?
You can browse the map and search campgrounds without signing up. You need a free account to turn alerts on, because alerts are delivered by email or text. Signing up takes your phone number or email and a 6-digit code, or one tap with Google. No password to invent and no card.
Can I get alerts by text and by email?
Each account gets one. Sign up with your phone number and alerts come by text. Sign up with email or Google and they come by email. To switch, sign out, sign up the other way, set up your watch again, and delete the old account on its Account page.
How far ahead can I search?
Signed in, up to about six months out, which is as far as the reservation systems open their booking windows. Browsing without an account shows a shorter window.
My alerts are going to spam. How do I fix that?
Search your inbox for "campsitescan", open one of our emails and mark it as not spam. Adding our sending address to your contacts helps too. Alerts are no use sitting in a folder you never open.
How do I pause or stop alerts?
Turn off the alerts switch under the map at any time. You can also reply STOP to any text, or use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any alert email. Nothing is locked in.
Are you affiliated with the parks?
No. CampsiteScan is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to ReserveCalifornia, California State Parks, recreation.gov, or any park operator. All park names belong to their owners.
Still stuck?
A real person reads every message. Use the contact form and we will get back to you.