Campground Directories Obsolete?

[Jayco-noslide]

It has irritated me that the 2 major directories combined and now they show very little info. about public campgrounds. However, since getting a smart phone and RV related apps I'm beginning to think I don't need a directory?? The RV Parks app looks pretty good to me but haven't tried it yet for an actual trip. One called "Oh Ranger" not so good so far but there are many others.

[rexlion]

My big, fat paper directory now sits on the shelf, unused. CG apps and websites have me covered.

[4runnerguy]

One of the better online resources for public CG's is Epgsoft campground map. Still far from complete when it comes to county and city CG's however.

[kknowlton]

We still use the combined TL-Woodalls directory, but agree that it's disappointing that not much info is there on public CGs (or, for that matter, on private ones not affiliated with Good Sam.) Online research backs us up at home, but on the road we're kind of stuck if there's not good wifi available. We do not dry camp, especially in store parking lots and gas stations.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

I keep two paper books/ directories. One for military campgrounds and one for Corps of Engineers campgrounds.

Any others, I do my research on-line. Sometimes that means stopping at a McDonald's or Starbucks in the middle of a trip if we need to change our plans.

[Linda_VA2]

I still like to use the Trailer Life directory when traveling on the road to find a quick place to park. Not for destinations, though. I use rvparkreviews to do that and also trip advisor.

[NCWriter]

Yes, they are obsolete. I bought when we got our first RV, never used the directories after the first trip.

I like the Allstays app for finding a campground as I plan trips, and use RV Park Reviews regularly for more descriptive details.

[aerbus32]

The data I used to get from the Good Sam book is still at their website. While it was good at pointing me in the right direction, I often disagreed with their ratings. I now use rvparkreviews, Campendium, rvparky, tripadvisor & Yelp. With five different sources it isn't difficult to find users who are looking for the same things in a facility that I am.

[valhalla360]

I'm surprised they even have printed copies anymore. Expect them to get worse and worse as they make up ever smaller percentages of users.

[missourijan]

I agree with the other posters. As an example we've had Passport America for many years. I used to carry the book but found if I didn't place a call to the cg I intended to stay at they may or may not still be members. I still carry the Next Exit guide and Wal Mart atlas in book form because it's easier to read than on the smart phone or tablet. Otherwise, I look for campgrounds online prior to our travel.

[rr2254545]

Rollnhome wrote:
Rvparkreviews.com is about all you need. Throw in RvParkey and Passport America apps and you are well on your way.
When is the last time you looked something up in an encyclopedia or on microfilm.

What you really need is the on line version or phone app of Good Sam trip planner the rest are useless

I increasing consult the campground reviews on Trip Advisor they are getting more review all the time

[Rollnhome]

Rvparkreviews.com is about all you need. Throw in RvParkey and Passport America apps and you are well on your way.
When is the last time you looked something up in an encyclopedia or on microfilm.

[Tom_N]

As obsolete as encyclopedias and telephone books.

-Tom, W3TLN

[Matt_Colie]

I gave up carrying both the AAA camping books and Woodalls some time back. While We do carry non-electronic navigation backups, those were just not worth the weight any longer. AAA is now sourced from Woodalls and the online AAA tour information is all from Google maps (including every micro-burgies minutia-fest). If you get FoxFi for your phone (if it in not a ixxx) then you can use your laptop to work on where you want to be (and burn your data like a forest fire).

Matt