Finding GOOD campgrounds while traveling ?????

[cb1313]

While traveling how do YOU find GOOD/Clean/SAFE campgrounds ?? Thank you for any info . Cb

 

[TravelTiger]

Rvparkreviews.com We try to make reservations before we even go anywhere, and this site really helps because actual visitors give the feedback.


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[Lynn1130]

There are phone apps for Woodalls and Good Sam, which are now, I think, one and the same. I use those. I We generally plan out the trip and use Good Sam to check sites that we may want to use then back that up on the road as we get closer with the phone apps.

 

[skyguy]

With the number of users on this forum, asking here is not a bad idea either!

 

[pegmikef]

The various sources for good info depend a lot on what you are calling campgrounds. We for instances prefer to camp in natural environments rather than RV resorts and RV parks where your neighbors are fifty feet from you, so we spend a lot of time in state parks, corps of engineer parks, some military family camps, national forests and national parks. For our type of camping the states are the best source for state park info; http://www.recreation.gov/ is the best source for national park/forest and COE Park info; and you can buy a nice concise guide to Corps of Engineer Parks (Camping with the Corps of Engineers) on Amazon.com.

 

[Gaffer]

I use RVParkReviews.com as well. Then I try to get a good look at it from Google or Bing from the air. I have seen several where the internal streets are even on "street view". Take notes when you are visiting with people who have favorites.

 

[TXBobcat]

When we travel I make a route on Streets & Trips from were we are to about where we want to go. Make the trip disance about 150 to 250 miles. Then I select the Near by Places. Categories are set to campgrounds and casinos. I then select the ending location and set the distance to 20miles. I will now get all the campgrounds in that area. I go to RVParkreviews.com and look at all the campgournds.

I also use the app on my cell phone called All Stays Camp & RV. This gives me all the campgrounds in the area we want to stay the night (we normally stay two nights or the weekend) and has a review of them also. I can also see the clearances along the route I chose. It will show me the Walmarts that are in the area and other things.

When we actually start to drive the route I plot the route on my computer with Basecamp or MapSource making sure it is the same and clear of problems then I upload the route from Basecamp (or MapSource) to my GPS. DW likes to check the route on paper maps I print out showing the towns and where we change highways.

BC

 

[TXBobcat]

If anyone is intrested I have loaded all the campgrounds I have stayed at in a gpx file. If you use MapSource sort the waypoints by comment (click on the comment column tab) and you will see the waypoints by states.

Also if you like to go to Corp of Engineer parks here is the link to their web site.

The below attachment should be a ziped file. This forum will not let me upload a GPS gpx file so I placed it in a zip file.
If it works just download it to your computer and click on it and it should open up.

View attachment Campgrounds only.zip

BC

OK. I checked the zip file. I downloaded it to my Temp folder and clicked on it. It opened up and it launched with MapSource.
Let me know what you think.

 

[Lynn1130]

I notice that one suggestion is National Parks, State Parks etc. and as mentioned it depends upon what type of traveling you are doing. If you are traveling from one point to another be sure to determine what facilities are available. In some government sites you will need to be self contained as there may not be water, electric or dump hookup available.

 

[TXTiger]

Woodall's and Good Sam have combined their RV Travel Guide and Campground Directory for 2013 and it is available at Camping World for only $9.95. It is a rather large directory but it gives information on most all campgrounds, public and private including state campgrounds and contact info for each. It is categorized state by state, gives directions to the site, has a rating system and tells you what amenities the campground has, including hookups, if any, paved access, and costs by the night. I believe it may be available on line also but am not sure. I have found that most state campgrounds use reserveamerica.com to make reservations. I have not tried RVparkreviews.com but will intend to check it out before my next trip.

 

[tweber]

While in route to a rally or special destination I will use http://www.freecampgrounds.com/ and http://www.casinocamper.com/index.p...e&activation=d68ae21a9754c172c6efd03269585b4f Often it is without hook ups, but the price is right.

 

[dbylinski]

We had a NJ member turn us on to ALL STAYS. It is a very good app with lots of available information including campgrounds, rest stops, fuel, food, low clearance points and an extensive interactive mapping system. Cost is $10.00 but it is money well spent to have all this information in one place. Prior to this we used Next Exit and would look the CG up on the internet before calling them.

 

[pegmikef]

BC

OK. I checked the zip file. I downloaded it to my Temp folder and clicked on it. It opened up and it launched with MapSource.
Let me know what you think.

Bob, I think Wow, that is a lot of different camp sites. How long of period is covered by the locations in the gpx file? If you don't mind, I made a copy of the file because a lot of the locations will really be useful. Thanks for sharing. Mike

 

[recumbent615]

We had a NJ member turn us on to ALL STAYS. It is a very good app with lots of available information including campgrounds, rest stops, fuel, food, low clearance points and an extensive interactive mapping system. Cost is $10.00 but it is money well spent to have all this information in one place. Prior to this we used Next Exit and would look the CG up on the internet before calling them.

I agree with Deb on this application - I have been using it for many years and it gets better and better. The Author is approachable and listens to the needs of his customers within reason and limitations of the database engine ... but I use it both on my iPhone and iPad ... when at home planning and on the road changing plans

Kevin

 

[FlyerChief]

I have the apps, too. But my personal preference is rvparkreviews.com, as others have mentioned. You said that you want to find GOOD parks and this is the best site I've seen because it contains reviews from real people who have stayed in the parks. It does not have a mobile site, but you can use your browser function - even from a cell phone.


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[TXBobcat]

Bob, I think Wow, that is a lot of different camp sites. How long of period is covered by the locations in the gpx file? If you don't mind, I made a copy of the file because a lot of the locations will really be useful. Thanks for sharing. Mike

I think those are all the campgrounds we have stayed at since we have been fulltiming in 2007. I try to keep track of the campgrounds we stay in and if I get in a certain area I will look to see if we have stayed there. If I find a different campground I will check it out. If it looks good I might stay there, if not I go to the one that we stayed at before.

You are welcome to use the file if it will help you. In Garmin's MapSource if you sort the waypoints on the comment column they should be in order by state.

BC

 

[simsfmly]

Will add my vote for http://rvparkreviews.com. Anything with 7's, 8's, 9's is worth a look. A random "1" or "2" rating but when you read the comments, they had a complaint about something. (Often when you look at all their reviews, they've had a complaint at A LOT of places. Consider the source.)h
I have a framework that we work with that we'll go from winter spot A to winter spot B, usually from April/May to November/December. I'll use google maps to see what routes will take us to our "feature spot" of the summer/fall. Then, I'll start breaking it down into drivable segments of 2-4 hours. We try to stay monthly to take advantage of the better rates. That's where we love RVParkReviews.com. Lets us go to the website (CG has GOT to have a website), also shows campgrounds close to our original city, etc.
We're Elks members, so we always look for Elks Lodges first for overnights. Casino Camper is a good resource, also, for overnights. If we keep striking out, in order, we go KOA then Good Sam for overnights. We try to never go 3 nights consecutive without a long stay.

 

[TXBobcat]

One thing I like to do is, when I find a campground I like, I go to Google Earth and look at the satellite view. This gives me an idea of what the campgound looks like and where the actual entrance is located.

I have found that my GPS will lead me to some campgrounds down a road that is not what I would like or shouldn't pull my trailer.

The satellite views can be about 3years old. I was at one in Galveston that when the photo was taken it was just being graded for construction. Some are in enough trees that you can't see the campsites.

BC

 

[TXBobcat]

This is such a personal preference thread that you should read with an open mind.

I don't understand your post. Would you please be kind enough to elaborate? I personally see no problem with this thread..

Thank you
BC