Book the campsite before you buy the gear

Start with the reservation system—your trip doesn’t exist without a site.

Popular parks like Yosemite, Glacier, and Zion sell out minutes after openings. The process isn’t hard, but it is competitive. You need to know three things: which agency runs the reservations (usually Recreation.gov), the release date and time, and the specific campground you want.

Set a calendar reminder for the on-sale date. Have multiple dates and a backup park ready. Recreation.gov’s system is a free-for-all—load times, errors, cancellations. Be logged in before the clock hits. Use the app, not just the browser. Practice on a different park if you’ve never done