How to Find Parks?

[texasfire]

We are kinda new to the RV camping thing and was wondering what ways everybody uses to find campgrounds when they are traveling? Are there certain websites or just mainly googling?
Thanks

[magnusfide]

danorske wrote:

magnusfide wrote:
Allstays

So, how dow you put in multiple stops for a whole trip ?

1. Plan the route.
2. Use a map. Plan which area I want to stay. a. Overnight b. Longer stay.
3. Look up each of those areas on Allstays.

[danorske]

magnusfide wrote:
Allstays

So, how dow you put in multiple stops for a whole trip ?

[agesilaus]

We only lock in stops at major points, like a NP stay. Otherwise we 'plan' a week or so ahead at the max. We use RVTW

[danorske]

magnusfide wrote:
Allstays

So, how dow you put in multiple stops for a whole trip ?

[LMHS]

How do I find places to stay?

#1. The Next Exit (a book) because I'm a "freddy" when traveling, I choose to spend two nights "fredding" (as in Freddy the Freeloader, a character the late comedian Red Skelton developed), which I'm now calling "overnight parking" because some snooty RVers think overnight parking is freeloading and I think it's funny, in a Sam's Club or Cracker Barrel parking lot before spending the third night in a campground with hookups. Since I run US & State Highways that cross over interstates, I use the Next Exit book to see what's at the exit I cross over at as well as the next exit in each direction on the interstate.

#2. My Maps (Google.com/maps) I have been using My Maps on Google to keep maps of free and cheap campgrounds and overnight parking places by state. I just add or delete places as I come across the info. It keeps it all in one spot and some of the info I have never found on a review website. Since it's all private and I don't share it with anyone, I don't have to worry about insulting anyone by the places I have on it. It's not hard to do if you simply start with areas you travel in and to and just keep adding to it about once a month or as you find a mention of a place (after researching to find the contact info and correct GPS). Some of the places I have listed, I've known about for a few decades. But they are nowhere that I have found on the internet or only listed in one place. But they are still there and available to use.

#3. freecampsites.net lists a lot of public (some free - more "fredding") parks. Hookups range from full to none.

#4. rvparky.com also lists some overnight parking places and free public parks (more freeloaders than just me I guess) as well as public fee-based parks but leans more heavily towards private parks.

#5. campendium.com is similar to rvparky, just with a few different reviewers... sometimes.

I also check Passport America's website too (50% off).

The types of campgrounds and/or RV parks that you prefer to stay at will determine which websites you will get the most out of. I'm not interested in paying for something that I am not using. I do care if the hookups at the site are good and if there is a good place to walk the dog, which is what reading various review sites helps me to figure out. Otherwise I carry my own bathrooms, laundry facilites and wifi hotspot. And if I'm out of range for my wifi provider for a night or two, I have a hefty stash of DVDs and Blu-ray movies.

[stickdog]

Freecampsites.net

[magnusfide]

Allstays

[agesilaus]

RVTW

[StarkNaked]

Sorry to start this topic going again, but I just found out some new information.

I have been a long-time user of Ultimate Campgrounds, and it has been mentioned several times in this thread.

I just discovered that Ultimate Campgrounds has "closed". It is no longer available on the web, and the app for mobile devices is no longer being sold (but if you paid for it, it will still work. just no updates).

I'm sad to see it go. Now I will need to find something else to find camping locations!

If anyone has more suggestions that haven't already been mentioned, speak up!

[Mayor30]

It depends on what type of campgrounds you want to stay in. We prefer State and Federal Campgrounds because you are not packed in like sardines and you get to have more of a wilderness experience. Many of them have hookups. Sometimes just electric,but other also have water and a few have FHU. But we get by very well with just electric.With our holding tanks and by managing water usage we can go 5 days without dumping tanks.Federal parks include Forest Service,BLM,Army Corps of Engineers (COE)and National Parks.Most of the COE campgrounds are on lakes.Many have sites right on the water so if you like to canoe or kayak you can launch right from your site. Also these state and federal campgrounds are cheaper than commercial campgrounds. With the Federal Senior Pass ( must be 62 or older) we have paid as little as $7.50 a night for a site with water and electric. Or $19.00 a night for electric and water lakeside. Plan where you would like to go,then search for state or federal campgrounds in those areas.

[tsetsaf]

For rec.gov properties there is no better tool than these campground virtual tours https://www.campgroundviews.com/best-camping-tool-ever/

[Hammerboy]

Like others have mentioned, I use Google maps. Find an area you want to go and type in 'Campgrounds" or "Rv Resorts". You may have to try a couple of different words because just typing in campgrounds may not bring up all places you can camp like some RV resorts for example and vice versa.

Dan

[texasfire]

WOW, thanks to everybody for all the good info, this will definitely help.

[garmp]

This is just about my most used site, https://www.campgroundreviews.com/. Followed closely by http://www.uscampgrounds.info/.
https://www.campsitephotos.com/ is a good one, but does have limited listings.
And here are some more that I do frequent on occasions:
https://www.campgroundviews.com/?,
https://thedyrt.com/,
Of course, you mentioned, https://www.rvparky.com/,
Another decent search site is http://www.ultimatecampgrounds.com/
This is about the best site for info on a given park, but the listings are limited, https://wxtoad.com/. He does a stellar job on photos.
This is also valuable info, https://www.tripsavvy.com/state-park-entrance-passes-3362306
An amusing site is https://www.roadsideamerica.com/.
And I believe you mentioned Allstays, which has decent info to offer.
This has some interesting info but is a bit awkward to navigate., https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/byways.