All Minnesota campsites will be reservable online this summer

All Minnesota campsites will be reservable online this season, ending frustration for campers competing for a limited number of sites at the most popular state parks.

The Department of Natural Resources announced Friday that it will roll out the new reservation system in the first week of May. Until now, about one-third of campsites were not reservable, forcing campers to waste time in line at parks.

The state has been testing the system at 17 of the 75 state parks. Phil Leversedge, deputy director of the Division of Parks and Trails, said public response was positive once campers were aware of the new system.

"We think that if people are aware of the new process that folks will generally be really excited about the convenience, flexibility and certainty," Leversedge said.

In addition to the online reservations upgrade, the state will introduce same-day reservations without a fee and more self-service options at the parks. These changes are part of the agency's larger plan to improve customer service.

In anticipation of more activity at the parks, there will also be simplified and standardized signage, so campers and visitors can easily find the information they're looking for.

Last year, 1 million campers and 9.5 million visitors enjoyed Minnesota parks, the DNR said.

"Camping is very popular in Minnesota right now," said Erika Rivers, director of the Division of Parks and Trails. "It's a pretty exciting time for us to make this change."

Zoe Peterson is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune.