photo credit: Greta Mart/KRCB
Stillwater Cove beach, easily accessible from the county campground.

 Last-minute camping in Sonoma County? You still might find a campsite.

Camping at popular Sonoma County parks often requires booking months in advance, especially for summer weekends. But campers planning a last-minute trip still have a chance to reserve an available site.

Sonoma County Regional Parks says same-day campsite reservations are available online until 11:59 p.m. on the day of arrival, as long as a campsite remains open.

The county manages more than 200 campsites at parks including Doran Beach, Stillwater Cove, Spring Lake and Westside Regional Park. Coastal campgrounds are especially popular during the summer as visitors head to the coast to escape inland heat.

Park officials are also asking campers to cancel reservations they no longer plan to use. During the busy season, even one canceled reservation can give another family the chance to camp instead of leaving a site empty.

Officials say canceling as soon as plans change not only allows campers to recover most of their reservation fees, but also helps make better use of the county's limited number of campsites.

One important reminder: all Sonoma County Regional Parks campgrounds require reservations. There is no first-come, first-served camping at county parks.

Campers hoping to find a last-minute site are encouraged to check the county's online reservation system regularly, as cancellations can become available throughout the day.