Maine is experiencing record demand for state park campsites this year.

Demand for the campsites has soared since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said registrations for this year total 9,155.

The number for 2021 was 7,510 and 2020 was 5,477.

It was about 5,000 or a little less in the several years before the pandemic.

The state opens up reservations at Sebago Lake State Park on Feb. 1 and the others on Feb. 7.

Officials say they processed more than 4,200 transactions in the first hour of Feb. 7.