The other day, someone asked us how we find our campsites while we're travelling. So I thought I'd share the search for campsites works for us. (You can click any image for a larger view)
H is subscribed to several YouTube channels belonging to RVers, many of whom travel full-time. I'm subscribed to a couple of them. Most of these folks will talk about where they are staying and we'll make note of it. One of our favorite channels is Grand Adventure and it's hosted by Marc Guido. They live in Utah and are "weekend warriors" who will occasionally take extended trips; and they like to boondock on public lands whenever it's possible. Since our style is closely related to theirs, we pay close attention to his channel. You can search for their channel on YouTube to see all the places they've been.
In addition to that, I have several campground apps downloaded to my iPad. The two I use the most often are Campendium and Allstays Camp & RV. I can also reach both of these apps using my computer, which I do when I want to research several spots at a time. (campendium.com and allstays.com)
Campendium is my favorite app this year. It's fairly easy to use, and because I'm a Supporter, I can save sites I'm really interested in to a Favorites file. The image on the right shows where my favorite sites are located on the map. They have a good filter system so you can search for RV parks, overnight parking lots (see this post for more on that), public lands, and RV dump sites. There are reviews left by other Campendium users and supporters, and usually lots of photos so you can get a feel for the land. Because we are almost 50 feet long when we are towing (30' rig + ~20' truck), I pay attention to whether we will fit in a campground or not. Many of the reviewers will also indicate how big their rigs are, so that's helpful.
A favorite Campendium feature is the cell coverage information. They will report the amount of "bars" available in each campground. Of course, this information mostly comes from the reviewers, so it is subject to many factors. We tend to have fewer bars at any given site; but our phones are pretty old, and in Sawtooth Canyon, we were set up next to large rocks.
Allstays Camp & RV is another good app. Their filters get more specific, so you can really narrow down your search. Some of these include state parks, national parks, KOAs, Walmarts and other overnight parking. You will also find reviews on many of the campgrounds and lots of photos.
While Allstays does not have a cell coverage feature, they have many other features that Campendium does not have. You can look for highway rest areas, stores in the area, and even Cracker Barrel restaurants. The most helpful feature for me is the truck stop filter. Because we are rather large as we are travelling down the road, a truck stop works the best for us when we need to stop for fuel. Another handy feature is the Low Clearance filter. The trailer is almost 12 feet high; and if we're in unfamiliar territory, I will often give that filter a look to make sure we don't have any surprises coming. (We could have used this feature 20 years ago while travelling on the East Coast in our motorhome!)
So there you have it. I don't use the other apps very much, so I won't comment on them. But that doesn't mean they aren't good. You can check them out for yourself.
I should also mention that my iPad does not have the cellular data feature and will only work on a wireless network. I use my phone as a wireless hot spot and since most freeways and a lot of highways have good cell coverage, I can use these apps while we're travelling. But it does take some planning and thinking about where I'm going to be at any given time.
Another thing I'll mention is this: if a campground hasn't been reviewed in awhile, I generally won't take us there. And if any campground feels unsafe to us, we won't stay! There are usually lots of other options.
I hope this helps any of you interested in travelling. If you have something you like to use, please let us know in the comments below.
H is subscribed to several YouTube channels belonging to RVers, many of whom travel full-time. I'm subscribed to a couple of them. Most of these folks will talk about where they are staying and we'll make note of it. One of our favorite channels is Grand Adventure and it's hosted by Marc Guido. They live in Utah and are "weekend warriors" who will occasionally take extended trips; and they like to boondock on public lands whenever it's possible. Since our style is closely related to theirs, we pay close attention to his channel. You can search for their channel on YouTube to see all the places they've been.
While Allstays does not have a cell coverage feature, they have many other features that Campendium does not have. You can look for highway rest areas, stores in the area, and even Cracker Barrel restaurants. The most helpful feature for me is the truck stop filter. Because we are rather large as we are travelling down the road, a truck stop works the best for us when we need to stop for fuel. Another handy feature is the Low Clearance filter. The trailer is almost 12 feet high; and if we're in unfamiliar territory, I will often give that filter a look to make sure we don't have any surprises coming. (We could have used this feature 20 years ago while travelling on the East Coast in our motorhome!)
So there you have it. I don't use the other apps very much, so I won't comment on them. But that doesn't mean they aren't good. You can check them out for yourself.
I should also mention that my iPad does not have the cellular data feature and will only work on a wireless network. I use my phone as a wireless hot spot and since most freeways and a lot of highways have good cell coverage, I can use these apps while we're travelling. But it does take some planning and thinking about where I'm going to be at any given time.
Another thing I'll mention is this: if a campground hasn't been reviewed in awhile, I generally won't take us there. And if any campground feels unsafe to us, we won't stay! There are usually lots of other options.
I hope this helps any of you interested in travelling. If you have something you like to use, please let us know in the comments below.
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