Securing a campsite reservation in a California state park or beach is akin to snagging a rare golden ticket. Many camping enthusiasts can attest to the frustrating experience of seeing available slots vanish mere moments after being made available.
Enter Assembly Bill 618. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, this legislative piece aims to rectify this issue. The bill’s essence is to deter individuals from monopolizing campsite reservations without genuine intentions of use and to punish late cancellations.
Spearheaded by assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan from Orinda, the bill’s objectives are clear: to streamline the campsite reservation process and eliminate the wastage of such precious resources. Beginning in 2024, the bill mandates specific restrictions and imposes monetary penalties on those disregarding these reservation guidelines.
One standout feature of this bill is the experimental lottery-based reservation system. By 2025, a randomized draw will determine reservations for five highly-coveted camping locales, with this system slated to run until 2028. The exact parks benefiting from this trial remain undisclosed within the bill. However, the California Department of Parks and Recreation will take on deciding.
Bauer-Kahan underscores the necessity of this move. She emphasized the immense value and demand for California’s parks and beaches. The prevalent inefficient reservation system often leads to numerous unutilized campsites. This bill, she believes, will advocate for ethical reservation habits, ensuring wider accessibility to California’s treasured outdoor spaces.
Statistically, California boasts around 280 state parks, which cumulatively offer upwards of 15,000 spots that encompass campsites, cabins, cottages, and yurts. About half of these parks operate on the ‘Reserve California platform – an online portal that enables users to reserve spots half a year in advance.
AB 618 elaborates on its guidelines:
- Seasonal Cap: During the peak camping season, which spans Memorial Day and Labor Day, individuals can reserve a spot for a maximum of seven consecutive nights. Annually, any one person is restricted to a 30-day total.
- Penalties for Consistent No-Shows: Users who consecutively miss three reservations without prior intimation face a year-long ban from the state’s online reservation portal.
- Financial Consequences: There’s a cost to inaction or late decisions. If someone cancels between two to six days before their slated date, they lose the equivalent of one night’s charge. Worse still, canceling within a day or failing to show up means forfeiting the entire reservation amount.
- Reminders & Refund Timelines: Reservists receive two email reminders detailing the cancellation windows that qualify for a refund.
- Quick Turnaround for Canceled Reservations: In the event of cancellations, the bill mandates that the now-available slots be promptly listed online within three days, allowing others a shot at the reservation.
Through Assembly Bill 618, California seeks a fairer and more efficient campsite reservation system. By curtailing opportunistic booking and promoting responsibility, the state hopes to ensure more nature enthusiasts can revel in its scenic parks and beaches.
