This year, Minnesota’s state parks continue to refine their camping reservation system to enhance accessibility and efficiency for the campers flocking to the great outdoors. Last year, the parks drew more than 11 million visitors, with nearly 1.9 million staying overnight, a testament to their enduring popularity.
Amid rising demands and an increase in park revenue, officials at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are working diligently to address both the benefits and challenges of a fully reservable camping system that was implemented in 2016. Initially, about one-third of campsite reservations were available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the shift to an all-reservable model aimed to improve camper access and satisfaction, although it also sparked some discontent among park-goers.
This season, the system has faced scrutiny over a glitch allowing campers to unintentionally extend their reservations to 14 days, potentially monopolizing coveted spots during peak periods. This issue predominantly affects high-demand areas such as the North Shore and during popular times like weekends and holidays.
Rachel Hopper, a visitor services and outreach manager within the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division, highlighted the careful steps being taken to refine the reservation process.
“The overbooking issue does not affect the vast majority of reservation holders or the vast majority of campsites within our system,” Hopper explained.
Looking ahead, the DNR plans to implement significant system improvements by the 2025 camping season to tackle overbooking. The changes are designed to ensure a more equitable distribution of campsite availability, especially for in-demand sites featuring amenities like drive-in electric access.
To combat the challenges of no-shows and underutilization of reserved spaces, the DNR introduced new electronic notification measures. Campers now receive reminders three and 15 days prior to their scheduled arrival.
The DNR’s “Notify Me” feature, another strategic tool, alerts campers when previously booked sites become available. The system helps distribute opportunities more fairly among potential campers, although high-demand sites remain challenging to secure.
As per a StarTribune report, further addressing reservation system abuse, the DNR has tightened policies against a practice known as “date sliding,” where campers manipulate reservations to encompass premium dates outside the typical 120-day booking window. Now, reservations including dates beyond this window face restrictions on modifications, limiting campers to two changes before requiring a new booking.
Enforcement of no-show policies has also been strengthened. Campsites remain reserved until 11 a.m. the day following the scheduled arrival; if unclaimed, they are released with no refund to the original booker.