Best Tips on Reserving BC’s Spectacular Campsites
Scoring a campsite in British Columbia, whether at a provincial or national park, takes a mix of luck, strategy and solid planning, especially during the peak months of May through September. With high demand, limited spots and a lot of competition, securing a coveted campsite reservation feels much like trying to snag a ticket to a Taylor Swift concert. Here’s how to boost your chances at reserving BC campsites.
For Provincial Parks
With over 11,000 front-country and 1,000 backcountry campsites spread across more than 235 parks, there are plenty of options. While BC’s most popular spots like Porteau Cove, Manning Park and Alice Lake require reservations, last-minute campers aren’t out of luck as BC Parks maintains 45 per cent of campsites on a first-come, first-served basis.
BC Parks reservations open daily at 7 a.m. PST, up to four months in advance. So, if you’re planning to arrive at a designated campsite on July 1, 2025, for the Canada Day long weekend, booking starts on March 1, 2025, at 7 a.m. PST. To keep things fair, most parks have a 14-night stay limit per park per calendar year, and you can book all 14 consecutive nights at once.
For National Parks
To book a campsite in one of BC’s stunning national parks and historic sites, you’ll need to go through Parks Canada, and each park has its own reservation launch date. This year, BC’s national park bookings opened between January 17 and January 27, meaning bookable sites at parks like Yoho National Park and Mount Revelstoke are now up for grabs. Unlike BC Parks, where reservations roll out daily, Parks Canada opens bookings for the entire season on launch day.
Get In the Virtual Queue
Whether you’re booking a campsite through BC Parks or Parks Canada, be prepared to enter a virtual waiting room on launch day. To ensure equal opportunity and to prevent system crashes, spots in line are randomly assigned and you’ll be able to see your place in the queue along with an estimated wait time. Be sure not to refresh your screen while in the virtual queue, as doing so will send you straight to the back.
Set Up Your Account
Save yourself precious time by setting up your BC Parks and Parks Canada accounts in advance, especially if you haven’t booked a campsite since the BC Parks system upgrade in late 2022. Because your old account didn’t transfer over, you’ll need to create a new one.
Know Exactly What You Want
Before reservation day, take time to explore the booking site and get familiar with its layout. Use maps and site photos to research campgrounds, noting key details like proximity to washrooms, showers, playgrounds and day-use areas, as well as how much shade each site gets. Decide whether you want a tent site, RV spot or cabin, and have backup options ready in case your first choice gets taken. That way, when you’re let in from the waiting room, you can hit the “reserve” button as quickly as possible.
Wait It Out
While the Parks Canada system holds your reservation for up to 20 minutes, the BC Parks site allows 15 minutes for you to complete your reservation. If you don’t see any available campsites right away, hang tight and wait out those time increments as there’s a small chance some spots will open up as others are dropped.
Partner Up
If you’re planning to camp with others, try having everyone go for a campsite on different devices at the same time to up your chances of scoring a spot. Just be sure to communicate throughout the booking process so that if you all happen to snag a spot, only one person moves forward with the booking to avoid confusion.
Be Flexible
Campsites closest to the cities tend to fill up the fastest and are especially sought after on long weekends. But if you’re flexible with your dates and location, your chances of snagging a spot go up. Consider taking an extra day off to arrive before the weekend rush or plan a mid-week escape. Or consider combining your camping trip with a road trip and explore a campground a little farther from home.
Use the “Notify Me” Feature
In 2023, a “Notify Me” feature was added to the BC Parks website, which gives you a heads-up when a previously booked site becomes available. You can sign up for up to five alerts for your chosen campgrounds and dates. Once a spot opens up, you’ll receive an email—but be ready to book it right away.
A similar “Notify Me” feature was added to the Parks Canada website in 2024 for front-country sites and Parks Canada accommodations like oTENTik tents, yurts and cabins, sending an alert straight to your inbox when a site that matches your criteria becomes available.
