Yosemite Tests New Lottery for Summer 2022 Campground Reservations
The National Park Service is piloting a lottery system for Yosemite’s North Pines Campground reservations for arrival dates during peak season from July 21 through September 14, 2022.
Winners aka successful lottery applicants will have an opportunity to make a reservation for campsites in North Pines Campground during an early access period. The early access period will occur before the traditional on-sale dates, with any remaining availability becoming available on the usual on-sale dates (five months in advance on the 15th of the month). The goals of this pilot are to:
- Create a better experience that reduces confusion and frustration for the highly competitive reservation process.
- Offer a new method for reserving campsites at this high-demand location for a more equitable experience.
- Address visitor complaints about the perception of an unfair reservation process.
Important Dates
- Lottery application period: January 18 through February 6, 2022
- Lottery application results: February 10, 2022
- Early access period for successful lottery applicants: February 18 through March 10, 2022
- General on-sale dates for any remaining reservations: March 15, 2022 (July 15 through August 14, 2022 arrivals) and April 15, 2022 (August 15 through September 14, 2022 arrivals).
How does the lottery work?
You can apply for the early access lottery any time between January 18 at 7 am PST through February 6 at 8 pm PST on Recreation.gov. (The lottery is available on the web, but not via the Recreation.gov app.) The timing of when you apply for the lottery during the lottery application period does not affect your chances of success. Recreation.gov will select 640 applicants using a computer-randomized, equitable approach. If you are one of the successful lottery applicants, you will receive your early access date and time on February 10. The early access period (when you can make a reservation) is from February 18 through March 10.
How much does the lottery cost?
Applying for the early access lottery has a non-refundable $10 lottery fee. If you make a reservation, the cost is $36 per night.
Why are you piloting an early access lottery system?
The demand for reservations in Yosemite campgrounds through Recreation.gov far exceeds availability, especially in Yosemite Valley during the busiest times of the year. This has been the case for decades and demand has only increased over time. More than ten thousand people visit Recreation.gov during Yosemite’s on-sale dates in hopes of getting a reservation. On the busiest on-sale dates, reservations sell out in minutes. Hopeful campers take days off work and recruit family and friends to simultaneously try to make any possible reservation. Still, many are unsuccessful year after year, causing frustration, disappointment, and feeling the system is flawed and unfair. We regularly receive complaints from users saying they were unsuccessful because they are not computer savvy, their computers or internet connection are not fast enough, or that bots (automated computer systems) got all the reservations, or that some users receive preferential treatment.The early access lottery pilot is an attempt to address these concerns. Based on an equitable, randomized system, the lottery assigns a limited number of successful applicants a period before the general on-sale during which they can make a reservation. While the lottery does not guarantee your desired dates or campsite will be available, it limits the number of users competing simultaneously for campsites during peak-season dates. In summary, the pilot program seeks to:
- Create a better experience that reduces confusion and frustration for the highly competitive reservation process.
- Offer a new method for reserving campsites at this high-demand location for a more equitable experience.
- Address visitor complaints about the perception of an unfair reservation process.
Read more at NPS.gov
