How to Choose a Campsite
Our campsite at East Harbor State Park
I spend a lot of time researching campground details to see how closely they match our essential criteria. And to easily identify our must- and must-not- haves I go to the internet. I do not rely on just one website but instead, look at many. If I have any questions, I email or call the campground.
Once a campground has been selected, we usually drive to the location and ask to look around so we can pick out a site that we will be content with. I look around the site at ground space, shade, and privacy. I feel the need to mention that we frequently stay within a few hours of our home and are generally Monday - Wednesday campers. During this time frame, there are more campsites available than on the weekends.
We both started camping when we were young, so over the years, we've spent a lot of time at state parks. And a states DNR website is typically my first stop in researching a location.
STATE DNR
If you type in the states DNR it will normally provide you with a clickable list of state parks or some will take you to their fish and game department. From this, you can research the information available. There are usually links to listings for Campground Locations, Family Camping, Group Camping. From these links, you may find Park Overview, Reservations, and Rates, Activities, History & Natural Features and Nearby Attractions or they will help you pinpoint a specific event with date and time it is occurring. I find these details to be very valuable.U.S. FOREST SERVICE
This is a great site to visit. They manage and protect 154 national forests and 20 grasslands in 44 states and Puerto Rico. Basically, I think of the forest service as a voice for species habitat and conservation. They plant trees, improve trails and help you experience the wilderness through their many specialists, volunteers, and partners.
a view at Grand Lake St. Mary's
RESERVE AMERICA
This site will allow you to search by city or zip and has a link to individual campgrounds which normally provided a blurb of information, a map and a decent description of the campground highlights. I find myself going here to look at the description and 'alerts' it provides for winter campground closure dates.
Ohio's Winter Hoarfrost
CAMPING USA
This is the internet's oldest camping and campgrounds resource and it provides an address, phone and web address for campgrounds, state parks, national parks, RV centers. I really rather enjoy the campground articles and photographs. And I like the added feature of google street maps. There is a lengthy section titled 'discussion' that lists a slew of observations. I appreciate that it lists some of the campgrounds I've not heard of before.
Our Campfire at East Harbor State Park
GOOD SAM OR PASSPORT AMERICA
In my mind, any discount is a good one, so I use both of these web sites. However, it does seem that some campgrounds drop out overnight. While Good Sams boasts 229 campground in my home state, Passport America list 48 campgrounds with 29 tent camping campgrounds being discounted. I am a Passport America member.
Setting up our campsite at Pokagon State Park
GOOGLEMAPS
Googlemaps is an alternative to using a standard camping search website. When typing 'campsite' into the search box it'll be pinpointed with a red balloon. Hover over it and you'll see the campsite address and occasionally a photo of the campground and reviews from other googlemap users. I like that if you click on the image it may take you to a slide of other images from the campground. The reviews are balanced with good and bad.
Buddy at the dog park at Hueston Woods State Park
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