A 35+ year RVer’s guide to camping resources
In 1990, finding free campsites meant pulling out our DeLorme Atlas, circling potential spots with a pencil, and hoping the Forest Service road we drove down would actually fit our 1988 Gulfstream Class C. We’d chat with other RVers at rest stops, scribbling campsite coordinates on napkins. Sometimes we’d arrive to find a gate locked or coordinates five miles off. That was part of the adventure.
Fast forward to 2025, and my phone holds more campsite data than we accumulated in our first decade of RVing. Apps promise real-time availability, user photos, and GPS navigation straight to a site. The technology has changed dramatically, but the core challenge remains the same: separating accurate information from outdated listings, and finding spots that actually work for your specific rig.
After 35 years of RV travel across the northeastern United States, we’ve learned what resources actually deliver and which ones leave you stranded on a dead-end Forest Service road. We’ll share what we personally rely on for finding campsites in our 2018 Hymer Aktiv Class B, along with resources our fellow RVers consistently recommend. We haven’t tested every app and directory out there, but we know what works for northeastern camping and what questions you should ask before trusting any resource.
Whether you prefer our old-school verification methods or want to explore the latest apps, this guide will help you find reliable campsites without the guesswork.
How we found campsites before apps existed
Our 1988 Gulfstream Class C came with a glove box full of paper maps. The DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer became our bible for northeastern camping. Each state had its own atlas with topographic details showing Forest Service roads, boat launches, and primitive camping areas that larger RV atlases missed. We still keep these atlases in our Hymer Aktiv because they show terrain features and road conditions that smartphone screens can’t convey at a glance.
The atlases marked potential spots, but verification required calling ranger stations from payphones. We’d spend Sunday evenings phoning Forest Service offices to confirm road conditions, seasonal closures, and whether our 24-foot rig could navigate the access routes. Rangers knew their territories and would steer us toward lesser-known sites that tour books ignored. This method was slow, but the information was accurate because we talked directly to people who maintained these roads.
RV conventions and campground conversations filled in gaps the maps couldn’t show. We attended rallies in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine where experienced northeastern RVers shared their favorite dispersed camping spots. Someone would mention a pullout near a particular mile marker, or a Forest Service road that recently got graded. We kept a notebook of these tips, organized by state and season. Half turned out to be gems, the other half required significant scouting.
Word-of-mouth had one major advantage over today’s crowdsourced apps: specificity for our region and rig type. When a fellow Class C owner told us about a site in the White Mountain National Forest, we knew they’d already verified the clearance and turning radius. Modern apps aggregate reviews from RVers in 40-foot motorhomes and popup campers alike, making it harder to filter for Class B-relevant information.
What still works from these methods? We call ranger stations before heading to unfamiliar areas, especially in early spring when winter damage may not yet appear in apps. The personal conversation reveals nuances about road conditions, recent weather impacts, and unofficial site availability that databases miss. And those DeLorme atlases remain in our center console because cellular coverage in northeastern forests remains spotty enough that paper backup matters.
Our current go-to resources for northeastern camping
Our camping resource toolkit has evolved significantly since moving from our Class C to the 2018 Hymer Aktiv. The smaller footprint of a Class B opens up sites that larger rigs can’t access, but it also means we need better information about road conditions and site dimensions before we commit to a destination.
Harvest Hosts membership has become our favorite paid resource over the past several years. As members, we’ve stayed at wineries, farms, and museums across New England and the Mid-Atlantic. The program works particularly well for our travel style because hosts typically accommodate smaller rigs easily, and the overnight locations often sit near areas we want to explore anyway. We’ve found the host communication through their system reliable, though we always call ahead to confirm arrival times and any specific site restrictions. The membership pays for itself after about five stays, and it solves the “where do we stop tonight” question when we’re between major destinations.
For traditional campground reservations on federal lands, Recreation.gov remains our primary booking tool. The website can be clunky and frustrating during peak season when popular sites get snatched up months in advance, but it’s the only official reservation system for most Forest Service and some BLM campgrounds. We’ve had the best luck finding last-minute availability by checking the site around 6am Eastern, when cancellations from the previous evening post. The site’s search filters let us specify our 21-foot length limit, which saves time weeding out spots designed for larger rigs.
State forest websites provide information that national databases often miss. Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine each maintain their own systems for primitive camping areas within state forests. These sites rarely appear in popular camping apps because they’re managed locally rather than through federal systems. A direct call to the state forest headquarters usually gets us specific directions, current conditions, and confirmation that our Hymer Aktiv will fit. This old-school approach takes more time upfront but eliminates the uncertainty of showing up to find the site inaccessible.
Our actual planning workflow for a weekend trip looks like this: we start with Recreation.gov to check availability at established campgrounds in our target area. If nothing’s available or we want more solitude, we move to state forest websites for primitive options. Harvest Hosts fills in gaps when we need a reliable overnight spot between destinations. Throughout this process, we verify current conditions with phone calls to ranger stations or forest headquarters, especially early in the season or after severe weather. Paper atlas backup stays in the van because cellular dead zones remain common in northeastern forests.
Camping apps and directories the RV community recommends
We haven’t personally tested every camping app and online directory available, but our fellow RVers consistently recommend these resources based on their experiences across different regions and rig types. Consider these as starting points for your own research rather than definitive endorsements. Always cross-reference information from multiple sources and verify current conditions before committing to a site, particularly for dispersed camping locations.
Official federal and state resources
Recreation.gov – The official reservation system for federal lands managed by the USDA Forest Service and other agencies. Provides comprehensive campground information, reservation capabilities, and facility details for thousands of sites across the United States. Updated regularly with current availability and seasonal closures.
National Park Service – Official website for all national parks, including detailed campground information, amenities, reservation policies, and access requirements. Essential for planning visits to national park campgrounds.
US Forest Service Interactive Visitor Map – Interactive mapping tool showing campgrounds, dispersed camping areas, and recreation sites within national forests. Includes access information and contact details for ranger districts.
Bureau of Land Management Recreation – Information on camping opportunities on BLM-managed public lands, including dispersed camping guidelines, developed campgrounds, and regional contact information. Particularly valuable for western states where BLM manages extensive public lands.
Parks Canada – Official site for Canada’s national parks, offering campground guides, reservation details, and comprehensive information for RVers traveling north of the border.
Crowdsourced camping directories
Campendium – Community-driven platform featuring reviews, photos, and detailed information on both free and paid campgrounds. Users report amenities, cellular coverage, and site-specific details. The platform includes filtering options for various camping preferences and rig sizes.
FreeCampsites.net – User-generated database focused specifically on free camping locations throughout North America. Contributors provide GPS coordinates, site descriptions, and recent visit reports. Information accuracy varies by location and update frequency.
iOverlander – Originally developed for overlanding travelers, this app includes extensive coverage of camping spots, services, and points of interest across the Americas. Particularly strong for international travel and remote locations.
Boondocking.org – Directory focused on dispersed camping and boondocking locations, providing GPS coordinates and user-submitted site information. Coverage emphasizes free camping opportunities on public lands.
Membership and subscription services
Harvest Hosts – Membership program connecting RVers with wineries, farms, museums, and other unique overnight locations. Annual membership provides access to thousands of hosts across North America. Best suited for self-contained RVs comfortable with dry camping.
Boondockers Welcome – Network enabling RVers to stay on private property hosted by fellow RV enthusiasts. Members can search for hosts by location and arrange overnight stays. Community emphasizes connection between hosts and travelers.
Passport America – Discount camping club offering 50% off nightly rates at participating campgrounds. Membership provides access to over 1,800 campgrounds, though discounts typically apply to non-peak periods and may have restrictions.
Good Sam Club – Comprehensive RV membership organization providing campground directories, discounts, and various RV-related services including insurance and roadside assistance.
Mobile apps for on-the-road planning
AllStays Camp & RV – Mobile app featuring extensive database of campgrounds, RV parks, rest areas, and related services. Includes offline map capabilities and filtering options for amenities and rig size.
The Ultimate US Public Campgrounds Project – Comprehensive coverage of public campgrounds with detailed information on facilities and access. Available as both website and mobile app with downloadable data for offline use.
FreeRoam – Map-based application helping users locate free and low-cost camping spots. Features filters for cellular coverage, weather conditions, and site characteristics.
Planning and reference guides
Dow’s National Forest Campground Guide – Detailed directory of National Forest campgrounds available in both print and digital formats. Provides comprehensive facility information and seasonal details.
RV Life – Platform offering trip planning tools, campground reviews, and RV-specific routing. Includes community forums and resources for various aspects of RV travel.
RV Park Reviews – Community review platform where RVers share experiences and ratings of campgrounds and RV parks. Useful for reading multiple perspectives on specific locations before booking.
Regional and specialized resources
Public Lands Information Center – Resource hub for information on camping and recreation across western state public lands, including coordination between multiple land management agencies.
Reserve America – State park reservation system used by many states for campground bookings. Coverage varies by state, with some regions maintaining their own separate systems.
Note: The effectiveness and accuracy of crowdsourced platforms depends on active user contributions and recent updates. Always verify critical information like road conditions, seasonal closures, and site availability through official sources or direct contact with land managers before traveling to unfamiliar areas.
Interactive camping map
Utilize the interactive map below to discover free and budget-friendly public campsites across the United States and Canada. Click on the markers for detailed information about each site.
For a larger view, click here to open the map in full-screen mode.
What matters more than which app you choose
After 35 years of finding campsites through every method available, we’ve learned that your verification process matters more than which specific app or directory you use. The most comprehensive database becomes useless if the information is six months old or the contributor never actually visited the site.
Cross-referencing remains our most reliable strategy. If a site appears on Campendium with recent positive reviews, shows up on iOverlander with GPS coordinates, and we can confirm access through the local ranger station, we’re reasonably confident it exists and remains accessible. When only one source mentions a site, especially for dispersed camping locations, we treat it as unverified until we can find corroborating information. We’ve saved ourselves multiple wasted trips by spending an extra 20 minutes confirming details before leaving home.
Recent reviews tell you more than star ratings. A five-star review from three years ago doesn’t account for the road washout last spring or the gate that now gets locked seasonally. We filter for reviews posted within the past 60 days, particularly for dispersed sites on Forest Service roads where conditions change rapidly. Winter damage, spring flooding, and summer fire restrictions can make a previously accessible site unusable without warning.
Having backup options matters more than finding the perfect site. We identify three potential camping spots for any trip rather than committing to a single location. Our Hymer Aktiv’s smaller size gives us flexibility, but even Class B rigs face limitations with narrow roads, low clearance, or sites already occupied when we arrive. The backup plan keeps us from scrambling at sunset to find somewhere legal to park.
Seasonal considerations affect northeastern camping significantly. Popular sites near hiking trails or water access fill quickly from June through September. State forests that allow dispersed camping in summer may close certain areas during mud season or hunting periods. Apps rarely update for these seasonal variations, which is why we still call ranger stations before trips during shoulder seasons. A five-minute phone call confirms whether gates are open and sites are accessible before we drive two hours into the mountains.
For Class B and smaller Class C rigs, pay attention to reviewer rig sizes. When someone raves about a dispersed site but mentions their popup camper or roof tent, that doesn’t tell us whether our 21-foot van will navigate the access road or fit in the parking area. We look specifically for reviews from Class B owners or rigs under 25 feet when evaluating tight Forest Service roads or small pullouts.
Common questions about camping resources
Do we need multiple apps or can we get by with just one?
One comprehensive app like AllStays or Campendium works for most situations, but we keep Recreation.gov bookmarked for federal campground reservations since it’s the only official booking system. Add your state’s forest service website for local primitive sites that don’t appear in national databases. Think of it as having one primary tool plus two backup resources rather than juggling five apps simultaneously.
How accurate are GPS coordinates from crowdsourced apps?
Accuracy varies significantly. Coordinates for established campgrounds are typically reliable since they reference fixed facilities. Dispersed camping coordinates can be off by anywhere from a few feet to a mile depending on how the contributor marked the location. We’ve learned to treat dispersed site coordinates as “general area” rather than exact destinations, then use visual landmarks from reviews to locate the actual spot.
What’s the best free option for finding campsites?
FreeCampsites.net provides extensive coverage of no-cost camping locations without requiring membership fees. The trade-off is that information quality depends entirely on user contributions, which means update frequency varies by location. Combine it with official Forest Service or BLM websites for the most reliable free camping information.
Should we trust reviews or official information when they conflict?
Official sources tell you what’s supposed to be available, but recent reviews tell you current reality. When they conflict, the reviews usually reflect actual conditions. However, always verify with a phone call to the managing agency before making final plans, especially for sites you’ve never visited. A ranger can confirm whether the gate is locked, the road is passable, or the campground is temporarily closed for reasons that haven’t reached online databases yet.
Finding your own path to reliable campsites
The camping resources available today would have seemed like science fiction when we started RVing in 1990. Real-time availability, GPS coordinates, and user photos all accessible from a smartphone represent genuine improvements over the payphone-and-paper-map era. But the fundamental skill hasn’t changed: learning to distinguish reliable information from outdated listings, and developing a verification process that works for your specific travel style.
Our approach combines old-school verification methods with selective use of modern tools. We still call ranger stations, still keep paper atlases as backup, and still rely on word-of-mouth from fellow RVers we meet on the road. But we also use Recreation.gov for reservations, appreciate the convenience of Harvest Hosts for overnight stops, and occasionally check crowdsourced apps when scouting new regions. The technology serves us rather than replacing the judgment we’ve developed over three decades of finding campsites.
Your ideal resource mix will likely differ from ours based on where you travel, what type of rig you drive, and how much spontaneity versus planning suits your style. A full-time traveler exploring the western states needs different tools than a weekend warrior focusing on northeastern state forests. Someone in a 40-foot motorhome requires more detailed site information than we need in our 21-foot Class B. The comprehensive resource list in this guide gives you starting points to explore and test against your own requirements.
Start with one or two resources that match your primary camping style, learn their strengths and limitations through actual use, then add complementary tools as you identify gaps in coverage. Build your verification habits early, develop backup plans as standard practice, and remember that the best camping resource is the one that consistently gets you to sites that work for your specific rig and preferences.
The road keeps teaching us new things even after 35 years. We hope our experience helps you avoid some of the dead ends we’ve encountered while discovering your own favorite spots and methods for finding them.
