How do Hipcamp Alerts work?
To create a Hipcamp Alert, search for a public park, then select your desired campground and dates. This can be done on the Hipcamp website and is coming soon to the Hipcamp iOS and Android mobile apps. Campflare will then continuously scan the campground’s reservation system until a campsite becomes available for your dates. Once it does, you’ll get alerted via push notification from the Hipcamp app and email so you can try to snag the newly available campsite.
What campgrounds are supported?
Currently, you can create alerts for any US campground reservable through Recreation.gov, including all national park and national forest campgrounds, plus some state parks. Alerts are also available for California state parks available via ReserveCalifornia. We will continue to add new campgrounds over time!
How will I be notified of an available campsite?
When a campsite becomes available for your dates, you will receive instant alerts via push notification from the Hipcamp app and by email. We use push notifications so you get instant alerts directly on your phone’s lock screen. Getting the notification via the app is the quickest way to be alerted so that you have the best chance to grab the open site which can be very helpful for high demand parks. Just make sure you enable push notifications from Hipcamp!
Can I get alerts for more than one campground?
Yes! You can set up alerts for as many campgrounds as you wish to get the best chance at securing a spot.
Where can I manage my alerts?
You can view all of your current alerts at hipcamp.com/lists along with your Saved Lists.
Is this service really free?
Yes! It’s our mission to get more people outside, and we believe deeply in the importance of unlocking access to both public and private lands. For 10 years, Hipcamp has advocated for open data in public campsite reservation systems, and providing this availability alert system for free is the latest in our work toward an equitable outdoors. You may see other brands charging for this same service, but we’re committed to keeping public data free for everyone.
How is this different from paid alert services?
Hipcamp and Campflare’s free alert service works very similarly to other paid services you may have used before. In fact, Campflare scans the most sought-after campgrounds as often as every 15 seconds (up to 200x more frequently than other paid services) to give you the absolute best chance of reserving any newly available campsite.
How do I manage my active alerts?
To manage an active alert, check your alert confirmation email. You can turn off the alert via a link in the email.
How often do you check for campsite availability?
Campflare scans the most sought-after campgrounds as often as every 15 seconds to give you the best chance of snagging any newly available campsite.
How long will I have to book an open campsite once I receive an alert?
Everyone gets alerts at the same time, so the most popular campsites may be re-booked within seconds, while others may not be re-booked for several minutes. Either way, make your reservation as quickly as possible!
We don’t give any sort of preferential priority when it comes to sending alerts because we believe in equal access to this data.
How likely is it that I will get to reserve a campsite?
Every campground is different. As a general rule of thumb, many consecutive nights at the same campground will be harder to find. Cancellations usually occur most frequently only a few days in advance, meaning you may be able to secure a last-minute camping reservation.
Can you book available campsites for me automatically?
No, this is prohibited by the Better Online Ticket Sales Act.
What is Campflare?
Founded in 2020, Campflare offers free public land campsite alerts with the aim of increasing America’s access to public lands. To date, Campflare has sent more than 3 million notifications, helping campers secure coveted sold-out campsites across America’s most popular national parks, state parks, and national forests.
About the Hipcamp x Campflare partnership
Hipcamp and Campflare partnered to unlock and expand access to public lands availability data. Hipcamp Alerts, available via an API integration with Campflare, are free to use for everyone and solve a top pain point for campers: finding an available campsite in our national parks.