CampPing guide
CampPing vs. Campnab vs. BC Parks "Notify Me" (and Schnerp)
A look at the campsite alert apps that watch for BC Parks cancellations — so you can choose the right one for your camping style.
Sold-out campgrounds are the norm in British Columbia. With more people buying tents and trailers, many campgrounds open reservations months in advance and are fully booked within minutes. Campers who don't click refresh at 7 a.m. usually end up empty-handed.
Services that watch for cancellations — often called campsite alert apps — are a way to snag a spot without spending your day reloading the BC Parks website. Below is a look at three options: CampPing, Campnab and Schnerp, plus the free “Notify Me” feature that BC Parks offers.
Why use a campground-alert service?
Campsites get canceled all the time. The province's reservation systems don't automatically re-book those spots; instead they appear as available again when someone cancels. Rather than refreshing the booking site manually, alert services do the work for you: you enter the park and dates you want, they check for cancellations on a schedule, and they notify you when there's a match so you can book it yourself.
Without these services, casual campers rarely have a chance — by the time you get to the booking site, somebody else has already beaten you to the cancellation.
BC Parks “Notify Me”
BC Parks' reservation system includes a free Notify Me option. When a campground is full, you can click Notify Me and enter your email; the system will send a notification if a site matching your exact dates becomes free. While it's handy for occasional users, the feature has limitations:
- Limited subscriptions: you can only sign up for five notifications at a time.
- Date specificity: it watches only the exact park and dates you selected. Flexible searches (e.g., any weekend in July) aren't supported.
- Frontcountry only: BC Parks' alerts don't work for backcountry campgrounds.
- Slow & email-only: testers report notifications arriving about 30-60 minutes later. Also, the alerts are sent via email only, so it's easy to miss them if you don't check your inbox.
In short, the BC Parks system is free but basic. It's best suited for campers who are ok with missed opportunities.
Campnab – the veteran cancellation scanner
Campnab launched in 2017 in Vancouver and quickly became the go-to alert service for Canadians. Two local developers created it after struggling to book BC Parks sites for their families. Key features include:
- Huge coverage: Campnab monitors more than 3,200 parks and over 7,000 campgrounds across Canada and the United States. It also scans backcountry campgrounds, day-use permits and wilderness permits.
- Filter options: users can filter by ADA accessibility, hookups or even specific campsite numbers.
- Plans: memberships start at CAD 10/month for 3 concurrent scans (“Good” plan), CAD 20/month for 5 scans (“Better”) and CAD 30/month for 7 scans (“Awesome”). Annual plans save 25%. Pay-per-use scans cost CAD 10–20 depending on scan speed.
- Unknown scan frequency: Campnab used to publish its polling frequency but now only describes scans as “standard,” “boosted,” or “priority.” More expensive plans scan more often.
Pros: broad coverage (including U.S. parks), flexible filters and a detailed FAQ make it great for travellers who camp in multiple provinces or states. Cons: the price per scan can add up, and scan frequencies aren't disclosed.
Schnerp – flexible date windows and fast scans
Schnerp (often misspelled as “Schnerb”) is a newer Canadian competitor. It started as a side project by programmer Dan Thareja in Canmore and now watches campsites across Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.
- Coverage: Schnerp checks frontcountry and backcountry campsites, huts, day-use shuttles and wilderness permits. It advertises scanning every few minutes around the clock.
- Free trial: the Free plan sends 10 notifications, includes one active request, provides email alerts only and scans every five minutes. No credit card required.
- Paid plans: the Basic plan costs CAD 15/month, includes unlimited notifications, 3 active requests, email + text alerts and scans every five minutes. The Priority plan costs CAD 29/month and offers priority notifications, 7 active requests, email, text, WhatsApp and push notifications, and a scanning interval of two minutes.
- Longer date windows: Schnerp lets you set up a single request for weeks or months and filter by days of the week.
Pros: fast scan frequencies, flexible date windows and a generous free trial make it attractive for serious campers. Cons: higher monthly prices and a cap of seven active requests on the top plan.
CampPing – made for BC Parks campers
CampPing is a Vancouver-based service created by campers Ahmed and Carol. It focuses solely on BC Parks, so it's perfect for residents who camp within the province. CampPing emphasises affordability and simplicity:
- Story & mission: the founders built CampPing after experiencing the 7 a.m. scramble for reservations themselves. Their mission is to give campers an affordable shot at their dream campsite; most alert services watch one or two dates, but CampPing includes up to five scans on the mid-tier plan.
- How it works: you choose your park and dates, CampPing monitors availability around the clock, and you get a ping when a site frees up. It doesn't book sites for you; you still complete the reservation through BC Parks.
- Free Email Alerts — CAD 0/month: 1 active scan, email notifications only, scans every 15 minutes.
- Starter Plan (recommended) — CAD 10/month (50% off during summer): 5 active scans, email + SMS notifications, scans every 5 minutes.
- Pro Plan — CAD 15/month (50% off): 10 active scans, email + SMS alerts, scans every 1 minute.
- No long-term commitment: cancel anytime, no per-scan charges.
Pros: lower monthly prices than competitors, more active scans even on the mid-tier plan, and very fast polling on the Pro plan. Cons: it only covers BC Parks — those needing Parks Canada or U.S. sites will need Campnab or Schnerp.
Comparing the services
Prices are shown per month and may change; see each site for current deals.
Plans and pricing checked June 2026.
Which service should you choose?
Casual campers
If you aren't picky about dates and only need a few email notifications, the free BC Parks Notify Me system might be enough. Just remember notifications can arrive late and others may beat you to the site.
Frequent travellers across Canada or the U.S.
If you camp across Canada or the United States and want to scan national parks, state parks or recreation.gov permits, you'll need Campnab. Its extensive coverage and robust filters justify the higher price.
BC-based campers who want a budget-friendly option
If you primarily stay in BC provincial parks, CampPing's free plan is good for occasional trips, while the Starter and Pro plans provide more scans and faster polling at lower monthly costs than competitors. Because CampPing was designed by local campers, the tone and features feel tailored to the BC camping experience.
Final thoughts
Campsite-alert services won't guarantee you a spot — you still need to act fast when a notification arrives — but they dramatically improve your chances. Each service has strengths: Campnab's broad coverage, Schnerp's fast polling and flexible dates, CampPing's affordability and BC focus, and BC Parks' free but basic option.
The right choice depends on where you camp, how often and how much you're willing to spend. No matter which service you choose, keep your phone handy, practice booking quickly and enjoy those starry nights. Happy camping!
Try CampPing free — no credit card needed
Set up one free scan and get an email the moment a matching BC Parks campsite opens up. Upgrade any time for faster alerts and more concurrent scans.
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