With over 13,000 private campgrounds and 1,600 more state-owned parks in the U.S. alone (not to mention the countless off-grid sites), finding the perfect campsite can seem like a daunting task. But don’t let that stop you from exploring the great outdoors! If you’re ready to sort through the oodles of choices, follow these steps to learn how to book a campsite.
Step 1: Where do you want to go?
The most important part of a trip might be the journey, but knowing where you want to go is still pretty important. The first step to booking your dream camping trip is knowing where you want to go.
There are a few ways to decide your destination:
- You already know where you want to go – Everyone fantasizes about their travel goals. Just pick one of your dream destinations and move on to step two!
- How far do you want to drive – Sitting in the car, RV, or truck all day isn’t always the most enjoyable activity, or the most comfortable. If three hours is the max you can handle, head to Google Maps and find a destination that seems interesting within a three hour drive.
- Google search – Google is the best resource for everything and anything. If you’re not sure where you want to go, just ask Google! Search for “best places to visit in ______” and see if anything interesting pops up.
- Ask friends and family – Have you heard any crazy travel stories from your friends or family? Maybe it’s time to experience them for yourself. Ask the people around you for suggestions on where to travel. They might know of some undiscovered gems you won’t be able to find on the internet.
Step 2: When do you want to go?
Once you figure out the “where,” it’s time to determine the “when.” Campsites fill up fast, so the earlier you can start the process, the better. Generally, this is how early you should book campsites:
- Peak season (Summer) – Start booking your site at least one to two months in advance. Even then, you’re going to be choosing between leftover sites. If you want that prime waterfront spot, book three to six months in advance.
- Off-season (Winter) – Since winter is the slowest camping time, you get some leeway when it comes to booking. If you want to camp on weekdays, you can almost book your spot the day of. It’s still a good idea to book at least a few weeks to a month in advance, especially if it’s a popular campground.
- Holidays – Good luck. If you want to camp on a holiday (especially in the summer), you’ll want to book your site at least six months in advance.
In other words, if you’re feeling spontaneous in June and decide you want to go camping the upcoming 4th of July weekend, it’s not going to happen. The farther out you can book your campsite, the better and easier it’ll be. Plus, you’ll have more options when it comes to choosing prime sites!
For all you planners out there, many campsites take reservations up to 13 months in advance. If you get an inkling that you might want to go camping within the next year, go ahead and start looking for a site!
Step 3: Find a campground
Now comes the fun part: merging the “where” with the “when” and finding the perfect campground to suit your travel dreams.
Weeding through tens of thousands of campgrounds can be quite the task, but luckily, there are tons of online sources to help you find the right one. These are some of our favorites:
- Google maps – Search “camping” in the area you want to go and see what pops up. You’ll get a good mixture of private and state-owned campgrounds to choose from. Then, just click on their websites and follow the booking instructions.
- Recreation.gov – A great source for finding campgrounds on federal land like state and national parks.
- Reserve America – one of the largest online camping reservation systems. It’s a great source for finding state, local, and even private campgrounds. The only downside is that they don’t offer National Park reservations.
- Hipcamp – A unique way to book a site. Think of it like an Airbnb for camping. Find private landowners who rent their properties to campers. This is great for finding unusual camping experiences.
- Go Camping America – When the state, local, and national parks are all packed, this is a great website to help you find private campgrounds all over the U.S. It’s especially good for families, since you can filter for amenities like a playground or pool.
- Ask other campers – Half the fun of camping is getting to meet other people. While you’re talking about gear and what’s cooking around the fire, why not ask them about their favorite campgrounds in an area? They might know of a few hidden gems.
Most of these websites let you search by area. So, if you want to find a campground in a specific area, simply search for that region and watch the list populate with all the available campgrounds.
Take a look through the pictures and pick a few campgrounds that seem like they’d fit your camping style. You never know which ones will actually have availability or the amenities you like until the next step. It’s always a good idea to have a few options.
Step 4: Look through available sites that fit your needs
Finding a campground is just the beginning. Because in those hundreds of thousands of campgrounds are dozens, if not hundreds, of sites to choose from.
Getting the right site can make all the difference between having a fun, relaxing weekend away or baking in the sun as you try to level your camper with the front of your rig sticking out into the driveway because it doesn’t fit in the site.
In our experience, it’s best to look for availability first, then find the right site. It’s never fun to find that perfect site right next to the lake with plenty of space to stretch out, only to realize it’s not even available for the dates you want!
On your booking website of choice, filter the search results for your travel dates and see which sites pop up. Then, go through the available sites and find the one that best suits your camping style.
Most reservation websites give you information about the various sites before you book. Sometimes they even include pictures. Do your research before giving out your credit card information.
Here are the main things to look for in a campsite when booking:
Length and width
Campsites come in all shapes and sizes, which is why it’s important to find a site that’s the same shape and size as your camping setup!
Just about every booking website will show you the dimensions of a site, usually measured in feet. Make sure your rig will fit before booking. There’s nothing worse than being that person in the campground blocking traffic because the nose of your rig sticks out into the road.
PRO TIP: Choose a site that’s at least slightly bigger than your rig. For example, if you have a 25-foot travel trailer, look for a 30-foot site. It’s always nice to have a little extra space to maneuver. Plus, travel trailer dimensions are typically just for the box. The trailer tongue adds a few feet to your overall length. While RVs don’t have a tongue to worry about, it’s still nice to have a few extra feet to play with, just to be sure.
Also consider the width of a site. Although just about every site is wide enough to accommodate most rigs, it’s still nice to have space to put out your awning and relax in front of your camper.
If you use a travel trailer, remember, you’ll need space to park your tow vehicle, too.
Type of site
Just because you find a site that fits your rig doesn’t mean it’s right for what you need. There are several different types of sites available, and depending on your camping setup, some might work better than others.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most common types of campsites:
- Carry-in – These campsites are typically off the beaten path. You’ll have to park your car and, as the name might suggest, “carry in” your gear. The campsite might be 20 feet away from the parking lot, or it might be a couple miles. Naturally, these are only for tent campers. You might also find variations on carry-in sites like canoe-in sites that sit on rivers or lakes.
- Primitive – Primitive just means there isn’t any water or electric service at the site. These sites are suitable for tents, RVs, and travel trailers, as long as the site is big enough for your rig. Primitive sites are usually the cheapest option. Sometimes they’re even free, like in certain National Forests.
- Tent only – When a campground says a site is “tent-only,” it usually means it’s tiny, unlevel, or hard to get into. Not suitable for RVs or travel trailers of any size.
- Electric or water only – Some campsites will have one type of hookup, either water or electric (not both). Electric-only is the most common, with a communal water supply somewhere in the campground. Most electric-only campsites offer either regular 20-amp service (like the outlets in your house) or 30-amp service for smaller campers.
- Water and electric – These campsites have both water and electric service. They’re the most common type of campsite in established campgrounds and ideal for just about any camping style. Most water and electric sites have 20-amp and 30-amp electrical service. 50-amp is less common, but it does exist. Check amperage ratings before booking. Some campgrounds also call this a two-point hookup.
- Water, electric, septic – This is the same as the water and electric sites, except it also has septic hookup at the site. These are the best for RVs and travel trailers with bathrooms because you can use all the water you want without worrying about filling your tanks (hello full-length showers!). Most water, electric, septic sites have either 30-amp or 50-amp service, or both. If you’re camping for a long time, these are the sites to have! Some campgrounds also call this a three-point hookup.
- Full hookup – This is the most infuriating name used to describe campsites. You’d think it means “full” hookup with septic, but that’s not always the case. Some campgrounds mean full hookup as just water and electric. To make matters worse, it’s almost impossible to tell what you’re actually going to get until you show up at the campsite. To make life a bit easier, assume full hookup means just water and electric. That way, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with a septic hookup once you get there. If you absolutely need septic, it’s best to call or email the campground and make sure.
Location, location, location
Camping is about getting away from it all and enjoying the great outdoors. It’s not always easy to relax when you’re parked right next to a busy road or three feet from your neighbor’s front door.
Before you book anything, take a look at the campground map to make sure the site is in a good location. Check for things like spacing between sites, which way your door will face (trailers and RVs), and distance from the road.
Pull through vs. back-in
How you get into the site can be a deciding factor as well. For tenters, this isn’t really a big deal. But for RV and travel trailer campers, you’ll have to decide if you want a pull-through or a back-in site.
Some rigs aren’t so easy to back up. If you’re not confident in your “backer-upper” abilities, a pull-through site might be the best choice. That way, you can just drive straight into the site, put it in park, and start setting up—no rearview mirrors or yelling at your travel partner to turn to their “other” right required! While this might be the easiest way to park your rig, not every campground offers pull-through sites.
Back-in sites are just that: You have to back your rig into it. This is the most common type of campsite, so it’s best to just get used to backing up. Installing a backup camera on your camper is a great way to boost your backing-up confidence.
We like the Furrion Vision S Sharkfin Wireless Camera. It’s super easy to install on most modern campers, and it has a built-in microphone, so the person helping you back in doesn’t have to scream to get your attention. We don’t leave home without it!
Pad type
Camping pads come in all types of materials. Some are completely unfinished, while others are well-maintained and professionally leveled and paved. Make sure you know what type of pad a campsite has before booking. It could make a huge impact on your camping experience.
These are some of the most common materials used for camping pads:
- Dirt
- Sand
- Grass
- Crushed rock
- Gravel
- Asphalt
- Cement
If you like keeping a clean camping space, dirt and sand pads might not be for you—especially if you have kids or pets. Dirt pads also tend to be less level compared to other types.
Obviously, asphalt and cement pads tend to be the cleanest and most level, but they’re also more likely to be in “developed” campgrounds, aka. they won’t give you the same “nature” feel.
Pet friendly
Unfortunately, some campgrounds aren’t as happy to see your furry friends as you are. If you have pets, make sure they’re allowed in the site before booking.
There are different levels of pet friendliness in campgrounds. Some (the good ones) allow all pets in the campsites. Others allow pets but have stipulations about certain “aggressive” breeds, require vaccination documentation, and/or require an additional fee. There are even some that don’t allow pets at all or restrict pets from certain areas of the campground.
Typically, private campgrounds are more likely to have rules about pets. Local, state, and national parks are generally more lenient.
Make sure you understand the campground rules if you want to bring your fuzzy camping buddy along for the ride.
Step 5: Book it
You’ve done your research and found the perfect campground and site to give you the ultimate outdoor retreat. Now, the only thing left to do is book it!
The easiest way to book a campsite is online. You can see pictures and details about the site before booking, and you get instant confirmation.
Most camping reservation websites like Recreation.gov and Reserve America let you book sites directly through their website. Just select the campsites and the dates you want and follow the prompts. Once you reserve the site, it’ll send you an email confirmation, and you’re ready to go.
Others, like Google Maps, will transfer you to the campground’s website to book sites. This adds a step to the process, but it’s still relatively easy.
You can book over the phone, but in our experience, it’s much slower and more difficult than online. You can’t see pictures or maps to make sure it’s the right site for your needs, and the confirmation depends on the host manually inputting your email correctly.
Of course, that’s only if you get through. With so many people camping (and COVID), campground phone lines are notoriously hard to get through. Hope you enjoy hold music! In the end, you can avoid errors and have a much better experience booking online.
Step 6: Have fun!
The last step of the process is to grab your gear and actually go on your adventure! Remember to mark it down on your calendar. Booking so many months in advance leaves plenty of opportunity to forget about your dream trip into the great outdoors.
Most campgrounds will send you a reminder email about a week before the trip, but it’s always best to remind yourself, too. That way, you won’t make other plans and accidentally double book yourself.
Have fun out there!