Manitoba Parks is rolling out reservations in stages across five consecutive days starting April 13. It’s not a free-for-all — each day has a specific category, and the most popular spots tend to disappear within the first hour. Knowing the schedule isn’t optional. It’s the difference between spending the long weekend at your favourite campsite or refreshing a waitlist all summer.

Here’s the full breakdown of what opens when.

The 2026 Manitoba Camping Reservation Schedule

Every round opens at 7 a.m. sharp. Don’t show up at 7:05.

Monday, April 13 — Cabins, Yurts and Group-Use Areas This is the first and arguably most competitive round. Cabins and yurts book out faster than regular campsites because there aren’t many of them and families plan around them months in advance. If a yurt at Stephenfield or a cabin anywhere in the province is on your list, Monday morning is your moment.

Tuesday, April 14 — Birds Hill, Winnipeg Beach and Grand Beach The three most popular campgrounds in southern Manitoba open on Tuesday. Grand Beach especially fills within minutes during peak rounds. If you want a summer weekend at the beach, Tuesday at 7 a.m. is your shot.

Wednesday, April 15 — Whiteshell Provincial Park Whiteshell gets its own dedicated day — which tells you everything about how in-demand it is. Caddy Lake, Brereton Lake, West Hawk — all of it opens Wednesday morning.

Thursday, April 16 — Northern and Western Regions Less competition, more wilderness. If you’re looking for a quieter trip away from the crowds, Thursday’s round covers the northern and western campgrounds across the province.

Friday, April 17 — All Remaining Campgrounds Whatever hasn’t opened yet gets released Friday. This is also the round for anyone who missed their preferred window earlier in the week.

Two Sites Staying Closed This Year

Worth knowing before you start planning: Black Lake campground and Tulabi Short Haul sites will remain closed for the 2026 season. If either of those was on your radar, you’ll need to pick an alternative this year.

What’s New in 2026

Manitoba Parks made two notable changes this year that are worth knowing about before you book.

Availability notifications are now a thing. The province has added a feature that lets you sign up to be notified if a site matching your preferences opens up. So if you miss Monday’s cabin round or strike out on Grand Beach Tuesday, you’re not completely out of luck — you can get an alert if something becomes available through a cancellation.

Cancellation fees are changing. This one has real consequences if you’re the type to book multiple sites and figure it out later. A new $10 non-refundable cancellation fee now applies to any reservation cancelled four or more days before arrival. Cancel within three days or less and you’re still looking at a charge equal to one night’s stay. Book what you actually plan to use.

How to Make Your Reservation

There are three ways to book:

Online — the fastest option and where most people will go Monday morning. Have your account set up and your preferred sites already researched before 7 a.m. Don’t be logging in for the first time when the round opens.

By phone — call 1-888-4U2-CAMP (1-888-482-2267). Expect wait times on Monday morning.

In person — head to 1181 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the slowest option but works if you want help navigating the system.

Don’t Sleep On This

Manitoba summers are short and camping spots in this province go fast — especially anything near water. The 2026 season reservation window is here and Monday at 7 a.m. is the starting gun.

Set your alarm. Have your site picked out. Know your backup. And if you miss round one, sign up for availability notifications so you’re not completely shut out.

More information on the 2026 camping season is available through Manitoba Parks online.