Finding Places for Shiny to Stay

I’m asked, quite often, how we find all the neat places we stay at.  I do most of the campsite research and the first thing I’ll say is that it does take a little time. I usually get up in the morning first to get the coffee going and that’s when I do the “finding”. I enjoy the hunt while Susan doesn’t so much, so the system works out good.

First we discuss the general direction we want to go in then the hunt begins. As a rule we do not make reservations ahead. Even so, we seldom have to scramble to find a site. If we do have trouble it’s usually on Friday or Saturday and it’s almost always at State Parks or government run campgrounds like National Parks or US Army Corps Of Engineers campgrounds. Spring Break can be a problem time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that we like to camp as inexpensively as possible. This means it galls us to have to pay for a private campground. Basically we only use private campgrounds when we have to do laundry or dump our tanks. Last winter we were traveling from January to May and averaged less then $15 per day in camping fees. I aim to do better than that this time out!

There are many more but these are my favorite sites, some have phone apps.

• Free Campsites.net – My goto website
• Shunpiker Guides – These PDF’s cost $69 but have paid for themselves many times over. Good for the Southwest region of the US.
• US Army Corps Of Engineers – You might need reservations on weekends.
• Boondockers Welcome – Annual fee but one stay and it pays for itself.
• Airstream Courtesy Parking – You need an Airstream and there is an annual fee but two stays and it’s paid for itself.
• Harvest Host – Annual fee but one overnight and it pays for itself.
• Allstays – When we are looking for a private campground.
• Campendium – When we are looking for a private campground.