Check Camping Apps for Free Campsites
These apps have been invaluable to us! They’re essentially crowdsourcing for campsites. Exact coordinates for camping spots are uploaded to the app by actual people who’ve camped there. (Most of these apps show RV parks and public, paid campsites as well – just set your filters to only show free camping if that’s what you’re looking for).
Each app is a bit different, but generally you can see pinned campsites on a map of the area you’re searching. Click into each campsite for further details and often a photo or two, depending on how much the previous camper decided to share.
Check Camping Apps for Free Campsites
» iOverlander – (Android and iPhone) – Free! We’ve had the most luck with this one, and it shows campsites all over the world, not just the US.
» AllStays Camp & RV -(iPhone only) – $10. Has lots of sites with very detailed info. Set the rate filter to free since it will show you pay campsites as well.
» Boondocking -(iPhone only) – Free. Doesn’t have as many campsites as the other apps, but we still check it sometimes.
» Campendium (Android and iPhone) – Also free! Again, set the price filter to free sites.
Keep in mind that not all vehicles are ideal for all of these campsites! If you’re adventuring in an RV or camper van, you’ll have an easier time spending the night discreetly in a more visible area. Our bright orange rooftop tent is pretty conspicuous, so on our recent road trip down the Oregon coast we opted against staying at the pull-offs overlooking the ocean right next to the road (though we saw plenty of RVs and vans stopped there, and no signage preventing it!)
On the other hand, our offroad-ready Subaru camper can make it up more difficult terrain, giving us access to campsites many low-clearance 2WD vehicles couldn’t reach. Be honest about your car’s (and driver’s) abilities, and don’t ruin your camping trip by getting your car stuck in a rut you’ll need to be towed out of.
Also be forewarned that you’ll probably lose cell service on your way to many dispersed campsites. Most of these apps work without service, at least for the basic map function, but we often take screenshots of where we’re headed just in case.
0 التعليقات: