Anyone who has tried to reserve campsites at a state park or beach in California knows how complicated it can be to secure, as sometimes spots are fully booked within minutes of spaces opening up.
A bill recently signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom seeks to improve access by discouraging residents from booking campgrounds they don't plan to use or by canceling their reservations at the last minute.
Assembly Bill 618, introduced by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), creates a set of restrictions and financial penalties related to camping reservations in California state parks beginning in 2024.
It also creates a temporary system that will use random drawings to allocate reservations at five of the most popular camping destinations, to be implemented by 2025 and used through 2028. Those parks are not identified in the bill, but will be determined by the Department Of California. of Parks and Recreation.
“California's public parks and beaches are treasures that all Californians should enjoy and demand for them has greatly increased,” Bauer-Kahan said in a statement. “Unfortunately, our current outdated reservation system has led to a situation where many campsites are left empty. By promoting responsible reservation practices, we can increase access to these vital resources.”
California has about 280 state parks, with more than 15,000 campsites, cabins, cabins, and yurts available for use. About half of state parks use an online system called Reserve California that allows reservations to be made up to six months in advance.
Specific restrictions outlined in the bill include limiting peak season reservations (those between Memorial Day and Labor Day) to a maximum of seven consecutive nights and a total of 30 days per calendar year. It also prohibits someone from using the state's online reservation system for one year if they do not submit up to three consecutive reservations.
Financial penalties may apply to no-shows or those who cancel at short notice. They could include the loss of the cost of one night for anyone who cancels within two to six days of their reservation, and the full cost for anyone who does not show up or cancels within 24 hours of their start date. booking.
Anyone who makes a reservation will receive two reminder emails detailing the time restrictions for receiving refunds for cancellations.
Finally, the bill requires that reservation slots be made available online to others within three calendar days of cancellation.
