Is It Wrong to be Super Excited About This?

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources just announced yesterday that all of the state recreational areas and state parks that have campgrounds, camp sites and group campsites will now all be reserveable on www.reserveamerica.com. Up until a few years ago you could not reserve any sites online. In order to reserve a campsite a snail mail or in person reservation system was in place. A couple years back rv style sites with power and water or just power were added to Reserve America, but not all sites were available. This latest addition now incorporates state park primitive sites. This is huge especially during the office season where at most parks there aren't paid staff around as their used to be to properly gain access to the site and pay for it.

Now I want to reserve a spot and head out this weekend! 

Keep Hiking Forward.

Here is the information from IDNR:

IDNR and Reserve America have joined together to bring on-line camping, cabin, group camp, and shelter reservations. The new system is available by using the Reserve America website www.reserveamerica.com and using a Visa or a MasterCard.

IDNR camping and shelter reservations will no longer be taken through the mail or over the phone.

Reservations for regular campsites and group campsites require a $5 non-refundable reservation fee and payment of the full camping and utility fees at the time the reservation is made. For more information on our fees, please review our camping fee information.

Payment of the entire camping and utility fee amount will guarantee that the reservation will be held for the entire length of the stay. Shelter reservation fees are $25.

Campsites can be reserved for a maximum of 14 nights per 30-day period and reservations must be made between three to seven days before the campsite is needed, depending on the facility - see the chart below (Days in Advance for Reservation).

Reservations for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends may require a two-or three-night minimum stay reservation. Some facilities will require a three night minimum stay for Columbus Day.

Additional Information:

• Most sites may be reserved from May 1 through October 31. Some sites accept reservations year-round; please review the information about the site you are wanting to reserve on the Reserve America website.http://www.reserveamerica.com.
• A site may be reserved for a maximum of 14 nights.
• Reservations will be held for the entire length of the booked stay.
• A reserved camp site must be vacated by 3 p.m. on the last day of the reservation period.
• Most sites still have first come first serve sites, please contact the park for availability of these sites.
• Additional permits may be required for large groups. Please review our permits section for more information.

Costs

The reservation fee is $5.00, plus the entire camping fee for each camp site reserved. This $5.00 reservation fee is non-refundable unless the campground is closed by the Department of Natural Resources.



Remember:

1. The $5.00 reservation fee will NOT be refunded. The camping fees will be refunded if cancelled on the website 7 days in advance of your arrival.
   
2. Reservations will be held for the entire camping reservation. 
   
3. Campers must comply with all other Department camping rules which are posted at each site.
   
4. Reservations must be made on the website at least seven days before the campsite is needed.
5. All cancellations must be made on the website.
   
   For more information about the parks and which ones are taking reservations go to: http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/Programs/Camping/camprsvp.htm

---