How to Find a Great Campground — Quickly
Have you ever pulled into a campground that you didn’t want to leave? A good campground can be the destination. Or it can ruin your night. It’s a massive disappointment to arrive at a mediocre RV Park after driving all day. You step out of your rig, look around, and see that your campground is just a glorified parking lot. Asphalt is melting in the hot sun, completely void of shade trees — or any trees for that matter. All the excitement and anticipation rushes from the scene. You’re left feeling like a deflated balloon. Let’s talk about how you can find a great campground quickly — and can avoid this catastrophe.
What to Look For to Find a Great Campground
A great campground isn’t just a place to park your rig. It’s a gatehouse to a special destination that spoke to you. It should offer a taste of the landscape you traveled to see. Or, maybe, it is the destination. Regardless, your choice of campground will drastically affect your entire camping experience. Here are some things that I look for when I’m trying to find a great campground.
Greenways
If a campground can be the epicenter of your scenic exploration, that is a huge win. One of my favorite campgrounds was at Riverside RV Park in Salida, Colorado. The campground was modest, but the host was kind and very accommodating. There was a trail directly in the park that led to endless miles of greenways. We could have biked to the next town directly from the campground — all on protected greenways free of vehicle traffic.
Trails
Our family loves exploring trails around a campground. Sometimes, we don’t want to commit to a 20-minute drive for a full hike at a national park. Maybe we just want to walk around after dinner and take in the local scenery for a few minutes. This is definitely something I look for when I’m campground shopping. Especially since we are traveling with kids. They have an almost constant need for perpetual motion.
Location, Location, Location
This is pretty obvious, but it’s worth a mention. If your campsite is an hour from the place you want to explore, it will probably make your experience somewhat of a drag. We like to drive as little as possible during our camping experiences. (Especially if we were driving all day to arrive there in the first place.) On the flip side, you may have found the perfect site right inside the town you want to explore. But is it in a good part of the town? Are there sidewalks to walk around on? Or will you be stuck in a tiny campground with loud and dangerous traffic on all sides?
Shade
If you are in a hot climate, this is crucial. A campground without shade can feel like a stifling prison. Need I say more?
Water Features
Natural water features may not be available in some parts of the country. But if it’s an optiondon’t discount it. My husband loves walking down to the creek with his fly rod whenever the mood strikes. Something as simple as hearing running water from a river or stream nearby can affect the overall atmosphere of your experience. Lakes are also common at many RV parks. Or maybe you just need a pool to cool off in! Regardless, ask yourself if water on the premises will make your experience more enjoyable.
Locally Owned
This is a personal preference. I’m not a huge fan of corporate RV Parks. But I know a lot of people that are. It really is up to you and what kind of experience you want. The pros of locally owned RV parks is that they offer the following.
- Positivity within the community
- Local knowledge
- Respect for the land they are on (usually, not always)
- A more quaint and familial atmosphere
- Local resources for deeper experiences
Corporate Chain Corporate
RV parks also have a place for many people. It’s not unlike a corporate restaurant versus a small locally owned cafe. You are taking a chance at the locally owned cafe- but you might end up with the best sausage biscuit you’ve ever tasted. Corporate businesses on the other hand offer less creativity, but a lot more reliability and predictability. It’s easy to crave that on the road where everything else is left to chance. Things you can expect are:
- Reliable amenities
- Easy access
- Predictability
- Similarities amongst campgrounds of the same name (KOA, Sun Outdoors, Encore RV Resorts, and so many more)
Where to Find a Great Campground Fast
You’ve been driving all day. Everyone in the car is hot, tired, irritable, and hungry. But you just realized that the campground you chose isn’t dog friendly. How will you find a suitable campground without simply rolling the dice and picking the first thing on the map? The most obvious place to look is Google’s business listings. You can integrate this directly into the map function so you know how far you are from each one. If you are looking for public campgrounds, check out Recreation.gov and Reserve America. Other resources for finding campgrounds include The Dyrt, Campendium, Hipcamp, RV LIFE Campgrounds, and Harvest Hosts.
How to Vet It Fast
Here’s a way to quickly vet your campground. First, make sure it checks your boxes. Have a mental list of what you know you need:
- Dog friendly. Check
- Has pool. Check
- Is in your budget. Check
More than likely, a variety of campgrounds in your radius will fit the bill. Let’s narrow it down. You want something that will embrace your family’s experience, not stifle it. Here’s how you can get a better idea of what the campgrounds really have to offer you.
Aerial Photo
On Google Maps you can get a good sense with aerial views and street views of where your campground really sits. On the website they might be showcasing running water and trails. But on the map view you might see that the “stream” is really just a narrow drainage ditch running along the edge of the property.
Photos
Most websites offer photos of their campground, but Google can offer photos from first hand user accounts. This can give a more realistic idea of what you’re getting into.
Reviews
I never used to read reviews; I just didn’t have the patience. But after a few epic fails at RV parks and motels, I have since changed my tune. I read reviews every time I book a place to stay. Here’s a good way to sort through them.
From the Google business listing, click on reviews. From there you can sort from, most relevant, newest, highest, and lowest. It would be worth taking a look at a few from each of these categories. You can also look at reviews on Yelp, campground apps like the Dyrt and Campendium, andFacebook groups. Even Reddit has reviews of campgrounds. But keep in mind that this can be a rabbit hole of information if you’re in a hurry. Personally, I just stick to reviews on Google. It is an overreaching resource of first-hand accounts.
The Secret to Find a Great Campground
At the end of the day, there is no such thing as the perfect campground, but there are many great ones. RV life teaches us to embrace the imperfections and make the best out of surprises. With all the resources available at our fingertips, it’s easy to try and tailor every experience to be fully predictable and free of variables. But some of the best memories come from unexpected stops and places we stumble on by chance. Do your research, but don’t forget to leave a little room for discovery.
Olivia de Soria
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