First-come, first-served national park campgrounds
37 campgrounds at 4 national parks in this catalog never appear as bookable inventory on Recreation.gov.
A first-come campground is not a leftover site inside a reservation loop. The whole campground is walk-up only, so it will not show up in a Recreation.gov search for your dates.
Walk-up campgrounds
| Campground | Park | Payment | Park page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bartlett Cove | Glacier Bay National Park | Free walk-in campground. No Rec.gov payment. 14-day stay limit; about ¼ mile south of the Bartlett Cove dock. | Camping |
| Beaver Island | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Caribou Island | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Chippewa Harbor | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Daisy Farm | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Duncan Bay | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Duncan Narrows | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| East Chickenbone | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Feldtmann Lake | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Grace Island | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Hay Bay | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Huginnin Cove | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Intermediate Lake | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Island Mine | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Lake Richie | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Lake Richie Canoe | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Lake Whittlesey | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Lane Cove | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Little Todd | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Malone Bay | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| McCargoe Cove | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Merritt Lane | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Moskey Basin | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| North Desor | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Pickerel Cove | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Rock Harbor | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Siskiwit Bay | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| South Lake Desor | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Three Mile | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Todd Harbor | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Tookers Island | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Washington Creek | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| West Chickenbone | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Wood Lake | Isle Royale National Park | First-come sites; Rec.gov does not take reservations. No camping fee listed on Rec.gov (park entrance fee still applies). Stay limits vary by campground. | Camping |
| Morefield | Mesa Verde National Park | Register and pay at the camp store — not on Rec.gov. Showers, laundry, gasoline, and a kennel on site (Aramark, spring–fall). | Camping |
| Gold Bluffs Beach Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park | Redwood National Park | See the park page | Camping |
| Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park | Redwood National Park | See the park page | Camping |
Related lists
Common questions
Which national park campgrounds are first-come, first-served?
Glacier Bay National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and Redwood National Park hold 37 first-come, first-served campgrounds in this catalog.
Can you reserve a first-come, first-served national park campground?
No. Those campgrounds never appear as bookable inventory on Recreation.gov. Arriving early in busy season is the only way to get a site.