5 things to know about Nevada State Parks’ new reservation system

So, you’re thinking about visiting a Nevada state park. Did you know that you may have to make a reservation first? 

Citing a record number of visitors and increased demand for camping and day-use facilities, Nevada State Parks will launch an online reservation system for its 27 parks (on a rolling basis) starting in September.

The reservation system is intended to enhance your experience and help the parks sustainably manage Nevada’s natural resources.

Here are five things you need to know before visiting a state park this fall.

Reservations begin in September

Southern Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park in Overton will be the first state park to offer reservable dates. Campers will have the ability to make a reservation as of September 1 for September 15 at the earliest. 

All other parks will be online and ready for reservations by November 1. Inventory will become available at 8 a.m. daily up to 11 months in advance. 

Reservation length depends upon availability and the park’s maximum stay rules—from 7-14 days—depending on the park.

The reservation system will have multiple functions

Once the system is fully launched, you will be able to reserve campsites, cabins, group-use areas, tours, and special events at all the state parks. You’ll also be able to pay for day-use reservations at select parks, and you can purchase annual permits.

According to Nevada State Parks Public Information Officer Jenny Jackson, Nevada’s online reservation system will be similar to the one utilized by California State Parks. She says it will be an easy transition for users with a simple learning curve.

To see what facilities are reservable, check the online reservation system,  reservenevada.com, before your visit. 

Expect some transaction fees

There will be transaction fees charged during the checkout process. These include:

• $5 for camping, cabins, group day use, group camping and day-use reservations
• $1 for walk-in, bike-in, or horseback entrance fees
• $5 if you modify your reservation more than a month in advance
• $10 if the modification is made less than a month in advance
• No fee if you cancel your reservation more than a month in advance. Your user fees will be refunded but your initial transaction fee will not.
• $10 if you cancel your reservation less than a month in advance
• $10, plus the cost of a one-night stay, if you cancel within three days of your arrival date

Reservations may not be required

Reservations are not always a requirement, especially in the offseasons, but they will come in handy if you have a preferred campsite or area of use.

If you arrive at Valley of Fire without a reservation, for instance, you can pay for and stay one night at a time if there’s a spot open. To guarantee your spot, or to stay for more than one night, however, a reservation is your best bet. Overnight reservations must be made at least three days in advance of the planned arrival date.

For now, only one park will require day-use reservations

To prevent traffic issues at park entrances and avoid overcrowding, some Nevada state parks may eventually require day-use reservations.

The first park to implement day-use reservations will be Big Bend of the Colorado in Laughlin as part of a pilot program. The park will require entrance during a certain window of the day. After that time window, the park will be open on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Day-use reservations can be made up to the day of, depending on availability.