It typically takes only one bad campground or RV park experience before every trip following that begins with looking over campground and RV park reviews. It becomes as much of the trip planning process as filling up with gas. It doesn’t really matter if it was disrepair, management policies, employees, bathrooms, hookups, WiFi, or your neighbor because everyone has their pet peeves when it comes to campgrounds and RV parks. In years past most of us would buy the Trailer Life, Woodall’s Campground Directory (Now combined into the Good Sam RV Travel Guide & Campground Directory) or a Frommer’s and scan through it for the best fit for the trip. Those days are quickly becoming nothing more than stories to tell the next generation as we move into the “information at our fingertips” age. Luckily or unluckily (depending on your point of view), there is a wealth of information for Campground and RV park reviews online and through smartphone applications. The only trouble is, its tough to tell the good from the bad. What is worth your time and what isn’t?
We set out to find all the resources the web has to offer to point readers in the right direction to help you find the best ways to find quality places to stay on your next journey.
We will be looking for:
- Accuracy
- User Base (Crucial for Reviews)
- Specific Information Regarding RV’s (Hookups,WIFI, etc.)
- Nationwide Listings for Campgrounds and RV Parks
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Campground and RV Park Reviews – Accuracy
Accuracy is key when it comes to reviews and directories. Having real people share their opinion is what you are after, not paid reviewers, or even the owners themselves telling you how great that un-leveled spot is with no Wi-Fi. Some websites and smartphone applications get the data for their listings from outdated or scraped (automated) sources making much of the information only partially useful. We rate each site/ application based on the perceived accuracy on both accounts.
Campground and RV Park Reviews – User Base
Without people like you visiting and contributing to these websites and smartphone applications they cease to be useful. The best campground and RV park reviews resources have a large user base with constantly updated content.
Campground and RV Park Reviews – RV Specific Information
In addition to reviews, we like to see that these sites have RV specific information about the different amenities each campground and RV park offers. Saves you from having to jump from site to site looking to see if they allow pets or pull through spots for example.
Campground and RV Park Reviews – Nationwide Listings
Commonly, some review sites may be regionally based or have a larger user base centered in one area. Though not necessarily a negative, if you are planning a trip to Las Vegas and there are not any reviews past the Mississippi river, that’s a problem. We find that many folks prefer nationwide resources.
The tables below use the world famous 1 to 10 scale!
Campground and RV Park Reviews Websites
| Accuracy | User Base | Specific Info | Listings | Claim to Fame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RV Buddy | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5 | Unique Format |
| Campsite Photos | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | Photo Driven Reviews |
| Camping USA | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | Also Provide RV Repair Directory |
| Campster | 7 | 3 | 6 | 7 | Search by Amenity Feature |
| Wheeler's Guides | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | Includes Mexico and Canada |
| U.S. Campgrounds | 7 | n/a | 8 | 8 | Downloadable Info for GPS |
| Trip Advisor | 8 | 5 | 1 | 9 | Well Known/User Friendly |
| RV Park Finder | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 | Clickable State Map |
| RV Parking | 7 | 4 | 9 | 9 | Nice Interface |
| All Stays | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | Tons of Functionality |
| RV Park Reviews | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Simple to Use, Very Fast |
| Woodall's | 7 | n/a | 6 | 9 | Easy to Find Good Sam Parks |
| Trailer Life Directory | 7 | n/a | 6 | 9 | Easy to Find Good Sam Parks |
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Campground and RV Park Reviews Smartphone Apps
| Accuracy | User Base | Specific Info | Listings | Claim to Fame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RV Parks (FREE - iOS) | 7 | 4 | 9 | 9 | Great Support |
| Good Sam RV Travel Guide (FREE - iOS) | 7 | n/a | 4 | 9 | Great for Good Sam Parks |
| RV Park Finder (FREE - Android) | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | Built by a Full Time RV’er |
| We Camp Here ( $3.99 - iOS, Android) | 7 | 2 | 7 | 8 | Both Apple and Google Versions |
| CampFinder ( $2.99 - iOS, Android) | 6 | 2 | 7 | 8 | User Friendly |
| AllStays Camp and RV ( $9.99 - iOS, Android) | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | Frequently Updated |
| RV Park Reviews ( FREE WEB APP) - iOS and Android) | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | Web Application (Loaded in browser instead of through an app) |
The Best Campground and RV Park Reviews – WEBSITES
After careful consideration and extensive use of all of the sites listed in the above table, we feel that the three below offer the best balance of functionality, positive user expierence, and quality information.
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The Best Campground and RV Park Reviews – SMARTPHONE APP
Depending on the type of smartphone you own dictates which apps you can use for campground and RV park reviews. We have broken them down by iOS (apple) and Android (google). We chose these based on user interface, speed, and usefulness given the smaller form factor of a smartphone.
APPLE iOS
Free: RV Parks Paid: AllStays
GOOGLE ANDROID
Free: RV Park Finder Paid: AllStays
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How do we get our 10-10-10 Good Sam’s Rated park (3yrs in a row now) listed on your wonderful site?
Our park is so beautiful with a perfect location for just about anything. I want everyone to know about it!
Thanks for your comment Linda – glad you let them know about it.
Hello:
You might want to revisit RV Park Reviews. They’ve revamped the site and it is a nightmare. I am so sorry to see the old format go which was fast and user friendly (I told them so, too). Off to find another site.
Thank you for taking my comments.
Linda
Thanks for letting us know about your RV park.
great place to stop for overnight rest or repairs. our bathrooms are built yet but working on them. have large horse or dog run area. love the custom rvs and the tiny houses. come see us in Edgewood nm. 25 miles east of albuqueruque