California State Parks

Reservation Drawing is a lottery-style program on ReserveCalifornia where Visitors apply for a chance to reserve high-demand campsites. Winners are randomly selected and given an opportunity to book a reservation before the campsites are released to the generic public.

Which Parks currently participate in the program?

This program is currently underway for the following Parks:

• Steep Ravine Cabins in Mount Tamalpais State Park

• Select campsites in Malibu Creek State Park

• Select campsites in Morro Bay State Park

• Select campsites in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

How do I apply for a Reservation Drawing?

There are two ways to apply for a Reservation Drawing – both options require a profile with ReserveCalifornia:

• Option 1: Visit ReserveCalifornia.com and search for any Park on the “Camping & Lodging” page. You should see a banner with a button to “Enter a drawing now”.

• Option 2: Call the Contact Center at (800) 444-PARK (7275), or for international callers, (833) 448-7278.

You can apply for free for the reservation drawing up to eight months in advance, with the drawings conducted seven months ahead of the reservation dates.

If selected, you will have 30 days to claim and pay for your reservation.

If you aren’t selected, your account will receive one point to be used in future drawings, which increases your odds of winning. Once you win a reservation, your points are removed, and your balance starts at zero for the next drawing.

Is it free to apply for a Reservation Drawing?

Yes! There is no fee to apply for a Reservation Drawing. However, future drawings may require a small fee to apply.

Can I choose which site I want in the drawing?

No, you can’t choose a specific site for the drawing, but you can submit your preferred stay details, including:

• Arrival Date

• Number of Nights

• Trailer Lengths

• Sites with ADA accommodations

Winners will always be awarded one of their reservation choices.

What if I win a campsite through the reservation drawing, but my vehicle (e.g., trailer) exceeds the site’s maximum vehicle length restriction?

If your vehicle exceeds the site’s maximum vehicle length restriction, you may need to forfeit your reservation by not booking the campsite. Per California State Park rules, we cannot accommodate vehicles over the maximum vehicle length restriction because of space and safety requirements.

To avoid this situation, please update the “Vehicle Length” field as you apply for future drawings to ensure that the site you are applying for can accommodate your vehicle.

In addition, unclaimed campsites on the Reservation Drawing program will be released for booking on the standard 6-month rolling window. We recommend checking ReserveCalifornia 6 months before your arrival date to look for available campsites that may accommodate your vehicle.

How do I change my Reservation Drawing application? (e.g., changing arrival dates, number of nights, etc.)

Please cancel your Reservation Drawing application and then submit a new application.

To cancel your application, go to your ReserveCalifornia account and select “Your Drawing Applications”. Locate the application you’d like to update and select “Cancel”. If you need help, give us a call at 1-800-444-PARK (7275).

Does the Reservation Drawing award free reservations?

No. The Reservation Drawing does not award free reservations. The drawing is held to give all visitors an equal chance to compete for a reservation.

Will I be notified of the Reservation Drawing results?

Yes. You will be sent an email to confirm your entry. Once the drawing is held, you will be notified through email whether you were awarded a reservation.

Guests can view their existing Drawing Applications by logging into the their account and selecting Your Drawing Applications.

How many times can I sign up for the drawing to receive a point?

You are limited to one application per drawing. In an application, you can make up to three reservation choices.

What are reservation choices?

Reservation choices refer to your preferred details for the reservation, including:

• Unit Type

• Arrival date

• Number of nights

• Trailer lengths

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-only option.

You are encouraged to create three reservation choices with different variations to increase your chance of winning the draw.

Can I apply for an ADA Site?

ADA sites are included in the Reservation Drawings for Malibu Creek SP. In your application, you can select the “ADA site” checkbox to indicate this is your preferred choice.

However, it is important to note that if you do not qualify for an ADA site, your reservation will be canceled at the park during check-in.

ADA sites are not included in the Reservation Drawing for Morro Bay SP and McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial SP. If you need to reserve an ADA site at these Parks, please visit ReserveCalifornia and book within the standard 6-month rolling window.

I have dependents listed on my ReserveCalifornia profile. Can each member in my profile enter the reservation drawing?

No, each household profile is limited to one application per Reservation Draw.

One of the members in my ReserveCalifornia profile has an active DDP pass that we use to receive camping discounts. Will the DDP discount still be honored if our profile is selected by the Reservation Draw?

To ensure the DDP benefit is being used appropriately, California State Parks can only honor the DDP discount if the reservation holder has an active DDP pass.

Since Reservation Drawing applications are limited to one per household per Reservation Draw, we strongly recommend that the DDP member be the one to apply if your household would like to use the benefit.

If the Reservation Draw is still open, you can cancel your current application and then re-apply under the DDP profile.

How does the system pick which reservation choice to award winners?

If the winner’s first choice is available, they will be awarded that reservation choice. If their first choice is not available, the system will award their second choice. If their first choice and second choice are not available, the system will award their third choice.

Will an awarded reservation count toward the 30-night calendar limit?

Yes, an awarded reservation will count toward the 30-night calendar limit at most California state parks. Visitors will not be able to claim or pay for a reservation if it exceeds the 30-night stay limit.

What are points?

Points refer to a reward system for unsuccessful applicants in the program.

If you enter a draw and is unsuccessful, your ReserveCalifornia account will receive one point to be used in future drawings. A point equates to an additional entry, thus increasing your odds of winning the next drawing you enter.

There is no limit to the number of points you can accumulate. If you win a draw, your balance will reset to “0”.

Points are also not specific to a Park. That means your total points balance will be weighed every time you enter any Park’s reservation draw.

Will my points be used if I do not book my awarded reservation choice?

Yes, if you are awarded one of your reservation choices, your points will be reset to zero.

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