Last updated on January 29th, 2022
Camping season has arrived! Do you know where to find a campground? Whether you want to go tent or RV camping in a state or national park, take your camper to an RV park, camp off-grid in the backwoods, or find a cozy camping cabin, there are plenty of affordable and relaxing options to choose from. Check out the resources below to help you find your perfect piece of camping paradise!
Also, be sure to check out the Recipes section of the blog for plenty of delicious and easy paleo recipes to make while you’re camping. New recipes are added weekly!
National Park Service
The National Park Service was created on August 25, 1916, by President Woodrow Wilson to protect and manage the national parks and monuments under the care of the Department of the Interior. There are currently more than 400 national parks across the United States and U.S. Territories and over 130 of those parks offer a variety of camping opportunities.
The NPS website allows you to choose a location on the interactive map, search for a location by city and state, or browse the “featured campgrounds and parks” section for ideas. Each listed location has a clickable link that will take you directly to the park’s website where you can find park information such as address and operating hours, maps and directions, notifications regarding any park or road closures in the area, and things to do in the area.
Campground-specific information that can be found on each national park’s website includes camping season dates, types of camping sites and number available, information about camping cabins, camping prices, fees, and regulations for park use, amenities available such as RV hookups, restrooms, and showers, and types of activities available in the park like hiking, boating, and fishing.
Making campground and RV site reservations well in advance is highly recommended and in some cases required, as national park campgrounds fill up very quickly, particularly around summer holidays.
When reserving a campsite, you will be directed to Recreation.gov, the primary booking site for national parks. Most national parks release campsites for booking 6 months to one year in advance. The Recreation.gov app is available for free on iOS devices.
America’s State Parks
America’s State Parks have long been a staple of outdoor fun and recreation among adults and children of all ages. With 10,336 state park areas covering all 50 U.S states, there is bound to be a park near you!
State Parks boast “241,255 campsites and 9,457 cabins […] with over 40,000 miles of trails, countless miles of waterways and rivers on 18.6 million acres.”
The America’s State Parks website allows you to select a state on the interactive map or use the drop-down menu to choose a location. Selecting a state will direct you to the official website for that specific state park system. Additional links to individual parks can be found here.
Individual park websites contain information regarding location and hours of operation, maps and directions, park regulations, permits, fees, and camping reservation information, types of campsites available, alerts related to weather, closures, and repairs, upcoming park events, outdoor activities located in the park or nearby, and onsite amenities such as RV hookups, restrooms, and showers.
When reserving a state park campsite, you will be directed to Reserve America, the primary booking site for state and local government-owned campgrounds. The Reserve America app is available for free on both iOS and Android devices.
Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov is the primary booking site for outdoor recreation involving Federal lands, waterways, and monuments.
The Recreation.gov website and app allow you to select your destination location, specify check-in and check-out dates, select the type of activity you are planning to book (camping, day use facilities such as picnic shelters or pavilions, etc.), and further refine your search by desired campground amenities.
The website even offers a “Trip Builder” feature that allows you to plan your trip and activities all in one place. Start by choosing travel dates and your destination, then you can search for and add activities and experiences to build your trip, such as hiking locations, guided tours and activities, rafting excursions, and more.
The Recreation.gov app is available for free on iOS devices.
Reserve America
Reserve America is the primary booking site for state, provincial, private, and local government-owned parks and campgrounds.
The Reserve America website and app allow you to enter your destination location on the home page. A list of state parks and privately-owned campgrounds will be displayed, accompanied by a map view.
Clicking on a result will take you to the park or facility’s page, where you can view details such as camping season dates, the current booking window for advance reservations, activities and amenities located at the facility, a campsite map, park or facility directions, current rates for various types of campsites, alerts and important information, and park contact information.
You can further narrow your search results by the type of camping site you’re looking for: Tent camping sites, RV sites, camping cabins, group camping sites, horse sites, or boat sites. Specific dates can be entered to check campsite availability.
Creating an account allows you to save favorite locations and keep track of reservations, which is especially helpful when you book your campsite in advance.
The Reserve America app is available for free on both iOS and Android devices.
HipCamp
HipCamp is a unique website that connects private landowners with people who are looking for a place to camp. Think of it as Airbnb for camping.
According to the HipCamp website, campers can “discover unique experiences on ranches, nature preserves, farms, vineyards, and public campgrounds across the U.S. Book tent camping, treehouses, cabins, yurts, primitive backcountry sites, car camping, airstreams, tiny houses, RV camping, glamping tents and more.”
This option is particularly helpful if campsites at your favorite national or state park are full on popular holiday weekends, or if you’re looking for more privacy than a busy public campground can offer.
HipCamp hosts give a description of their offered campsites, post photos, list available campsite amenities such as electric hookups, running water, fire pits, and toilets, and state whether or not campfires or pets are allowed. The price is also clearly displayed, along with any length of stay requirements.
After a camper visits a host’s campsite, they rate and review the property and experience. As with Airbnb, it is always a good idea to check ratings and reviews and message the host with any questions you may have prior to booking your stay.
KOA
If you’ve traveled along U.S. Interstate highways, you have probably seen the big, yellow KOA signs advertising a nearby campground. In fact, Kampgrounds of America is currently the world’s largest system of privately owned campgrounds, with 508 locations across the U.S. and Canada (Ann Gibson, RootsRated.com).
Although KOA’s roots reach back to 1962, the growing company has done an excellent job of preserving nostalgic camping traditions while providing modern amenities that make the camping experience more comfortable for present-day and future generations.
KOA campgrounds offer accommodations for RVs and camping trailers of all sizes, complete with clean and level sites, full hookups, optional patio sites, and several amenities nearby. Be sure to check the amenities available at your preferred destination, as they vary by location.
KOA also offers standard and deluxe tent camping sites. Standard tent camping sites are dry and level, include a picnic table and fire ring at each site, and offer quick access to nearby restrooms and showers.
Deluxe tent camping sites can be found at select KOA locations (KOA Journey, Holiday, and Resort campgrounds) and include the standard amenities, plus larger tent spaces, extra vehicle parking areas, and electric hookups for recharging.
According to the KOA website, “ultra-comfortable and affordable Patio Tent Sites that will give tenters their own surfaced patio complete with gas grills, fire rings, and patio furniture” are currently being developed.
If you don’t own an RV and tent camping isn’t your thing, KOA also offers a variety of log-style camping cabins. Cabin amenities include electricity and climate control, one or two-bedroom units that can accommodate four to six people, and outdoor grills. Some cabins include a bathroom and mini-kitchen, while others are located within close proximity to restrooms and showers.
Many KOA locations also offer amenities such as swimming pools, bike rentals, game rooms, WiFi, fishing ponds, hiking and walking trails, sport courts, exercise rooms, mini-golf, playgrounds, pet parks, laundry facilities, and a camp store.
Regardless of which way you choose to camp, KOA has the amenities and experience to make your trip comfortable, memorable, and fun! The KOA app is available for free on iOS and Android devices.
The Dyrt
The Dyrt’s website and app are amazing resources to help you find a campground. The staff at The Dyrt are dedicated to helping campers find the best tent and RV campsites across the country through thousands of ratings and reviews from Dyrt community users.
The Dyrt allows users to search over 29,000 campgrounds across the U.S., categorized by state, to find the perfect camping location. Filter by tent, trailer, or RV sites in National and State Forests and Parks, county and city parks, privately owned campgrounds, and more. Users can read real reviews and view actual pictures of campsites uploaded by other users around the country and join The Dyrt community to share camping experiences with other campers.
As a bonus, community members who rate and review campgrounds can earn points and win prizes.
The Dyrt app is available for free on iOS and Android devices.
Campendium
Campendium is an excellent resource that relies on reviews from campers around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to help other campers locate and choose just the right camping spot. The website is well-organized and allows for quick and easy searching via campsite type or location.
Campendium allows you to search for RV parks, free campsites, national parks, national forests, and state parks, and you can further refine your search by state, campsite amenities, and cost.
Each specific campground or RV park page contains detailed information about the location, such as the physical address, GPS coordinates, a phone number and contact information, and a website link, as well as the type and number of sites available, cost, and which cell phone services have coverage in the area. This is particularly helpful information for those who need internet access or cell coverage while traveling.
Once you have narrowed down your search, there are plenty of reviews written by previous campers that can help you choose the right location for you. Reviews contain valuable information specific to a particular campsite, such as ease of access for RVs and travel trailers, cleanliness of campsites and bathrooms, available amenities, and photos of the campsites.
Note that campsites are not booked directly through Campendium. You will need to visit the campsite or RV park’s website or contact them by phone to reserve.
The Campendium app is available for free on iOS devices.
U.S. National Forest Campground Guide
Across the U.S., there are 157 National Forests and 22 National Grasslands, combined for a total of over 193 million acres of public lands. There are 5,083 developed and dispersed camping areas on these public lands.
Developed campgrounds are areas built and managed by the Forest Service, but they often contain only minimal amenities such as a fire ring, picnic table, dirt or gravel parking area, and vault toilets.
However, most Forest campgrounds can accommodate both RVs and tents and may have fresh water and waste dumping stations. Always be sure to check with the Forest Service regarding the availability of RV sites, size restrictions, and water / waste stations at your desired location prior to your trip.
Dispersed camping, or boondocking, is much more “off the grid” and requires campers to provide for their own water, electricity, and waste needs. This type of camping is often free and provides plenty of peace, quiet, and solitude.
Whether you choose to camp in a developed campground or opt for the solitude of a dispersed site, camping in U.S. National Forests can be a very affordable and enjoyable experience.
Now that you know how to find a campground, it’s time to get out there and camp! Do you have a favorite resource for finding great places to camp? Share them with us below in the comments!
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