Campsite Odds

Booking odds · December

Kipahulu Campground in December: How Hard Is It to Book?

Kipahulu Campground · HI · Haleakalā National Park

The verdict

Hard

Booking difficulty 8 out of 10. Competitive. Be ready when the booking window opens.

Rarely sells outBased on 3 years of reservation data

December rarely sells out — you can often book close to your trip.

Kipahulu Campground in December scores 8 out of 10 for booking difficulty — hard. Competitive. Be ready when the booking window opens.

Across the last 3 years of reservation history, the typical December booking was locked in about 22 days before arrival, with the campground running roughly 100% full that month. The lightest arrival day is Wednesday, so shifting to a midweek start is the single easiest way to improve your odds.

Lead time

How far ahead people book

Same day: 10% of bookings10%Same day1–3d: 11% of bookings11%1–3d4–7d: 8% of bookings8%4–7d1–2wk: 9% of bookings9%1–2wk2–4wk: 60% of bookings60%2–4wk1–2mo: 2% of bookings1–2mo2–3mo: 0% of bookings2–3mo3–6mo: 0% of bookings3–6mo6mo+: 0% of bookings6mo+Median booking lead time: 22 days ahead
Demand split

Weekend vs. weekday demand

Weekend (Fri–Sat)Weekday (Sun–Thu)

Best odds: arrivals are lightest on Wednesday in December. A midweek arrival is your easiest booking.

Cancellation alert

Get notified when a spot opens

Kipahulu Campground in December books up fast. We'll email you if a spot opens up. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Booking window · December 2026

When December reservations open

Reservations for Kipahulu Campground in December 2026 operate on a rolling 6-month window releasing at 7:00 AM ET.

December 1 stays open

June 1, 2026

at 7:00 AM ET

Release style

6-Month Rolling Window

Releases daily 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM ET

Campsites for December 1, 2026 become bookable on June 1, 2026 at 7:00 AM ET. Each subsequent date throughout December releases day-by-day exactly 6 months prior to arrival.

Facility note: Standard Recreation.gov 6-month rolling window: sites become bookable 6 months before arrival at 7:00 AM ET.

Fees

How much does it cost to camp at Kipahulu Campground?

There is a campsite fee of $20 per night. Campers may reserve a maximum of 3 nights per campsite. The National Park entrance fee is not included in the campsite reservation. Upon arrival, please pay an entrance fee of 30$ at the entrance station or automated fee machine. A Valid National Park Pass is accepted in lieu of the $30 entrance fee and may be applied while reserving a campsite. Visit www.rec.gov to make any changes or cancellations to the reservation. Modifications to reservations may result in additional charges. A No Show Fee and additional charges may apply if a reservation is not canceled and or the camper does not check in with the entrance station staff.

Fee details as listed on Recreation.gov. Rates and passes change by season, so confirm the current price on Recreation.gov before you book.

FAQ

Kipahulu Campground in December: common questions

How hard is it to book Kipahulu Campground in December?
Kipahulu Campground rates 8 out of 10 for December — Hard. Competitive. Be ready when the booking window opens.
How far in advance should I book Kipahulu Campground for December?
The typical December reservation was made about 22 days before arrival, so plan to book as early as your dates allow.
When do December reservations open for Kipahulu Campground?
Reservations for Kipahulu Campground in December 2026 open on a rolling 6-month window. Sites for December 1 become bookable on June 1, 2026 at 7:00 AM ET, with each subsequent day releasing day-by-day 6 months ahead.
What is the best day to arrive at Kipahulu Campground in December?
Arrivals are lightest on Wednesday. A midweek arrival is usually the easiest booking.

← Kipahulu Campground complete reservation guide & all months