Your guide to the best car camping apps of 2023

Looking to head out camping this season, but not sure where to begin? Our first suggestion is to ask friends in your area. Odds are that they’ll have some tips and favorite spots that they’re eager to share. But what if you need a second opinion? Perhaps it’s time to bring in the apps. Here are a few you might want to check out:

Campendium

You’re likely familiar with the next research tool in our list: Campendium. It’s available on both iOS and Android). Campendium’s 750,000+ members help vet information on thousands of campsites, ranging from public parks to private ones—as well as free dispersed camping.

You can use Compendium’s search functionality to find campgrounds using location names or parameters (nearby, proximity, ratings, reviews). You can also filter results by category, price, hookups, rig size, elevation, policies, and facilities. Map overlays offer cell coverage information and allow you to view public land availability. Compendium also offers guides for camping and gear. You can use Campendium for free, or pay to unlock premium features.

Recreation dot gov

With 4,200+ facilities and activities and over 113,000 individual reservable sites, recreation.gov likely offers access to more campgrounds than any other camping platform. As such, you ought to download the app. You can get the mobile for iOS or Android. Once you have, you can use the app to search parks (filter by price, amenities, and site type). Campground maps and photos of campsites and campgrounds will help inform your decision-making.

The app offers real-time site availability, as well as the ability to reserve campsites and manage your reservations. It also stores digital tickets for easy check-in. Beyond just camping reservations, the app offers permits, tickets, and passes. You can also use the app to review information on activities, attractions, and experiences ranging from hiking and rafting to cultural tours and ranger-led experiences. This app is an essential download.

Campnab

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by sold-out campgrounds, you’ll loooove Campnab. This web app (my friend and I build it) monitors sold-out parks for cancellations. When a new availability matches your criteria, it sends you a notification by text message. You then follow the provided link and try to book the newly available campsite.

Campnab is a simple but incredibly useful tool. You don’t need to install an app; the whole thing works in your web browser. You just specify when and where you want to camp. After that it scans on a regular interval, so you don’t have to manually check the booking system for openings. Campnab scans more than 3,200 parks and 7,000 campgrounds in Canada and the United States.

Good Sam

The Good Sam Camping app for iOS and Android (no membership required) offers campground information for 12,500+ campgrounds as well as directions and discounts. The app covers national, state, and provincial parks and provides information on rates, Wi-Fi availability, campsite info, services, and policies. Search results are provided in the map and list few. Users can sort and filter results by features, location types, and more.

The app offers added information on the over 2,100 Good Sam Parks. These details include RV hookup information, tenting and pull-through availability, slide-out space, as well as pet allowances and restrictions. Good Sam members are eligible for 10% savings at Good Sam Parks, Camping World discounts, and fuel discounts at select Pilot Flying J locations. The app also offers park photos, park notes, and click-to-call functionality.

Sēkr

If you live the vanlife, you may already know Sekr. That said, the app isn’t limited to those with vans. You can use the app (iOS and Android) to help find campsites and plan your outdoor adventures. You can filter searches (price, amenities, etc.) and access RV parks, photos, and reviews.

Sekr offers a large index of free campsites (commonly referred to as boondocking) in the United States, as well as private land camping, glamping, and info on National Parks and those managed by the US Forest Service. The app contains a community forum, allowing travelers to connect and plan trips together. It also provides added resources like map layers (Native Lands, terrain, trails) and information on refilling stations, potable water, dump stations, mechanics, showers, gyms, and ADA accessibility. A premium subscription is available with offline access and premium map layers.

ReserveAmerica

A great many of America’s parks are booked through Aspira’s ReserveAmerica, making it another important addition (iOS or Android) to your camping app toolkit.

Did you know that 17,500,000 folks rely on ReserveAmerica to research and book their camping trips, every year? They also support parks with technology and call center assistance.

The ReserveAmerica Camping app allows you to search ~290,000 campsites by location, date, amenities, and features. It also offers campground details and driving directions. Once you find the campsite, cabin, or yurt you like, you can book it from within the app. In need of hiking, fishing, hunting gear, or camping technology guidance? ReserveAmerica offers tips on those as well.

Camp Finder

Looking for a place to camp? Camp Finder can help with this on the web or with the use of their iOS app. Camp Finder allows you to search for campgrounds, RV parks, and RV resorts. It also allows you to filter results by distance, club discounts, campground amenities and types, policies, and available activities.

In addition to national and state parks, Camp Finder indexes private campgrounds, city, county, and regional parks as well as those managed by the military. Reviews, photos, and site maps help you suss out which park is for you. The app also offers directions and the ability to save/compare campgrounds. Camp Finder also provides info on outdoor events, road trips, camping tips, and suggestions on what to see and do at national parks.

Tentrr

Don’t own any camping gear? Tentrr (available on iOS) might be right for you Tentrr offers fully outfitted tent campsites on both private and public lands. I suppose you could look upon Tentrr as a form of gaming as you can chill and let them do the rest. Just check their curated list of ready-to-camp sites, book your spot, and you’re all set!

The Tentrr platform enables landowners and land trusts a way to create new income streams while opening up new opportunities for campers. (We love this approach as campsites are in such extremely high demand!) They also provide insurance protection to land owners and support for customers. You can also tap Tentrr’s CampKeepers, who have inside info on swimming holes, nearby adventures, and local provisions.

—

And that’s our list of car camping apps! Hopefully, these come in handy for your trip planning! Got tips on others we should include—or feedback on our list? Kick us an email! We’d love to hear what you have to say!

Bonus!

Looking for other handy camping apps? Check out our nature apps round-up.

Back to Blog index