Finding a great home-away-from-home campsite for your next adventure isn't always easy. If you're searching for insight on finding campsites to go RVing with lots of amenities, fun, nature activities, or wooded privacy, you've come to the right place! In this post, we're sharing our top tips on how to uncover wonderful campsites while RV traveling.
From researching campgrounds ahead of time to recommendations from fellow adventurers, we've got you covered! So if you're ready for some gorgeous scenery and fun experiences, let's dive into finding the perfect RV campsites under the stars.
Guest Post By The Adventure Detour
What Is Your Camping Style?
The first step to finding your perfect campsite is figuring out what kind of camping you enjoy. There are options available for any personality of RV camper. Types of RV camping range from high-end resorts full of amenities and activities to RV camping deep in the woods with not another soul in sight. There are many options to find your perfect campsite. So let's dive in so you can find your camping style!
RV Resort
RV resorts are the perfect camping style and campsite for the RVer that is social and loves to have many things to do. Often RV resorts have lots of scheduled activities where you can meet and have a great time with other campers.
Examples of common scheduled activities you may find at an RV resort are live music, karaoke, golf cart parades, group campfires, crafts, happy hour, dances, movie nights, as well as kid's activities.
RV resorts also commonly have many amenities to create your own fun. Typical resort amenities include swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, shuffleboard, horseshoes, volleyball, pickleball, pool tables, and ping pong.
RV resorts can range from high-end places to stay to moderately priced campsites. This is the most expensive style of camping, but can also be the most fun if this is your preferred style for an RV vacation.
RV resort campsites are usually full hookups but may be closer together than the other options on this list. There is often little to no privacy in this style of camping.
Our family stays in RV resorts sometimes because we enjoy guided kid's activities and crafts. We also love amenities like pools and games during our stay.
A basic campground is a privately owned campground that often offers full hookup campsites but few or no extra amenities.
Staying at a basic campground can be much cheaper than an RV resort and still offer a great experience if you aren't looking for activities at the campground. Campsites are often very close together with little privacy. This camping style is still one of the most expensive options unless you are using a camping discount card or membership.
We often stay in basic campgrounds for shorter stays when we are en route to a destination. While free parking lot camping is an option that many RVers use for overnights, our family prefers to have brief overnights or short stays in basic campgrounds while we are traveling to the next stop.
State park camping is our favorite style of camping on this list! Not only is it less expensive than privately owned campgrounds or RV resorts, but the campsites are often large and private.
State park camping is the perfect style of camping for an RVer that wants to have partial hookups but also still be camping more in nature. Most state park campgrounds offer electric and water utilities in campsites, but occasionally you will also find electric-only or even full hookup sites with sewer. Every state park system is different.
Another reason why state park camping is our family's personal favorite style is because of the included nature activities. There are often free Ranger talks, group hikes, a nature center, or other educational or recreational activities included in your visit. This can be a great way to enjoy your trip while also lowering the expense of activities while RVing.
Not every state park is large RV friendly. Some states have state parks systems better for big rigs than others. For example Florida State Park campgrounds are very big rig friendly compared to many other states. Read on to find on how we check to see if a campground works for a big rig.
Corps Of Engineers
The Army Corps Of Engineers is a branch of the federal government designed to oversee water projects. These are often located at dams, water diversions, spillways, and locks. Many of these projects also have campgrounds.
These campsites are often water and electric hookups but no sewer. A huge benefit of these scenic campsites is the price. This style of camping is very inexpensive, especially considering the scenery.
National Parks camping is perfect for the RV camper that wants to stay where the action is. When visiting a national park is on your travel bucket list, it is super convenient to just camp right there in the park.
Camping in a national park saves on gas during your trip and provides additional opportunities, sometimes right within the campground, such as nightly Ranger talks or other programs. National park campsites are often highly desired due to their location and scenery. These campsites are usually large, private, in nature, and near hiking trails.
Camping in the national park is often dry camping or electric only. Occasionally you will find water and electric hookups in these campsites, but that is pretty rare. The price is often very low for these campsites compared to most of the other camping styles on our list. If you have a senior or disabled version of the national park pass, you also receive a discount of 50% off campsites.
One challenge is that national park camping is extremely popular, and can be difficult to get a campsite reservation. It helps to plan national park camping trips far in advance and to research what the reservation window is for the park you want to stay in. The sooner you can make your reservation, the better!
Boondocking is the perfect camping style for the RVer that wants to avoid crowds and really get out in nature. While some boondocking locations are well-known to many campers, others are secret gems, and you may find that you are the only one there during your stay.
Boondocking is free camping, often on federal BLM (Bureau Of Land Management) land. This is dry camping with no facilities and is first come, first served. Many of these locations are extremely rural, but the views make up for the drive. Also, note that the roads leading to the camping location can be rough, and you have to be aware of your camping surface to avoid getting stuck. Always avoid mud and deep sand, if possible, when boondocking.
How To Find Campsites In Your Travel Location
Websites
Websites are a great way to search for and reserve campsites. Every state park system has its own reservation system, so check out the website of the state you are interested in.
Recreation.gov is the website to check for camping availability and to make reservations for camping in national forests, national parks, and Corps Of Engineers locations.
Apps
There are a dizzying amount of camping apps out there, and many options include the ability to search for campsites. It can be tough to pick which ones to use.
Our favorite free apps include Campendium and RV Parky. Campendium is the best overall free app to find campsites in any location. You simply load the map for the area you are looking to stay in and zoom in to find the campground options. Then you click the icon for more information on the campsite.
RV Parky is a great free camping app that displays free overnight camping locations. This is what we refer to as parking lot camping, but it can save a lot of money on overnight campsites.
The Dyrt is another free app that is geared toward locating amazing boondocking locations. Sometimes boondocking locations are lacking in the other all-in-one apps, but this app really shines in that category.
Social Media And Pinterest
Some of the best spots to camp are suggestions from other campers. We often search for locations on Pinterest to find new travel ideas and camping spots.
A great way to find hidden gems is by talking to people that you meet at campgrounds. Also, check out campers that have a similar camping style to you on Facebook or Instagram. We (The Adventure Detour) share a lot of unique camping spots on Instagram and Facebook. Other accounts that share many campsite locations are Wandering Woodchuck, RV Miles, and RV Happy Yet.
Tips To Know If A Campsite Will Be Right For Your Trip
Check Reviews
You can learn so much about a campsite or campground just by checking reviews. Google reviews can be helpful, but we prefer to look at reviews on Campendium.
Campendium is especially great for reviews because it also often includes what the reviewer is camping in. Knowing the type and size of an RV can really help to figure out if your RV could fit or work in that camping location.
When we look at reviews, we like to check for reliable campsite hookups, clean bathrooms and facilities, things to do in the area, and overall, if people recommend the campground.
Look At An Aerial View
It's amazing how much info you can get about a place just by looking at the aerial view of the camping location on Google Maps.
When we consider a camping location, we look for campsite layout, tight turns, and placement of trees. We have a large RV, so it's helpful to check a place out on Google Maps first to see if the layout looks like we can fit in the campsites and navigate the turns in the campground. Nothing can ruin a camping trip faster than arriving and then realizing that your RV won't fit!
Check Internet Coverage
Some RV travelers require reliable internet for work, school, or personal use while traveling. It's always best to travel with your own internet hotspot or source because campground internet can be very unreliable.
One way to look ahead of time at the internet service in a prospective camping location is to check the reviews section on Campendium. Reviewers on this site often leave internet coverage reviews for all major cellular carriers, as well as Starlink. This can really be valuable to know if you will have service at a campsite.
Call The Campground
If you still have any questions or want to find out even more information about a campsite, call the campground directly. We often give the campground a call if we are wondering about low trees, utilities, or the best route to get there. Sometimes a quick call can help you decide if the camping location will be a good fit for you!
Now that you know your RV camping style and the best ways to find campsites, you can plan the perfect RV trip. No more aimlessly looking for a spot! And with these tips, you can find amazing spots that other campers might not even know about. So pack up the RV and hit the road for your next camping adventure!
Looking for a new RV to take out to that perfect campsite? La Mesa has the selection to find your dream road trip RV. Stop by for a visit today!
Scott, his wife Van, and their 12-year-old daughter Sissy have traveled full-time in their RV for 7 years. They have worked and homeschooled on the road through 42 states so far. They blog about RVing tips, travel destinations, jobs for RVing, and the full-time RV lifestyle on their blogs, theadventuredetour and rvnomadjobsThey are also RV content creators @theadventuredetour on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. They love connecting with RVers, so be sure to reach out to them and say hi!
