Good fits for California scans
Use FirstCampsite for Recreation.gov campgrounds and supported permit areas where cancellations can matter. It is especially useful for trips where you can act quickly if an opening appears.
California campsite alerts
Watch California campsite cancellations
California camping demand can be intense, especially near national parks and summer weekends. A cancellation alert helps you keep watching the dates you want.
Built for Recreation.gov campground availability
Good for flexible weekend and shoulder-season trips
Create the scan draft first, then start it after signup
First scan free
Build a campsite alert
Pick a place and dates. We watch for cancellations.
Need a permit alert? Supported permit results are labeled in search. See the current permit list. Don't see your campsite or permit? .
Try Yosemite, Whitney Portal, or a California campground
Cancellation alert guide
How this helps with booked-out trips
Build a focused scan
A narrower date window can make the alert easier to act on. If you are flexible across several parks, create separate scans for the places you would actually book.
Start with the free credit
New accounts include one scan credit, so you can test the cancellation workflow with a real California trip before adding more scans.
FirstCampsite activity
Results from real campsite and permit scans
Public totals are calculated from aggregate scan records and omit user identities, contact information, and private trip dates.
Total scan requests
47
Targets requested
25
Successful scans
20
Active now
4
Common questions
Does this cover California state park reservations?
FirstCampsite is focused on Recreation.gov availability. Some California trips are outside Recreation.gov and are not covered by these scans.
Can I scan more than one campground?
Yes, but each active watch should be specific enough that you would act on the alert if it appears.