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Old 03-23-2015, 10:46 AM   #1
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Red face Campground Websites

When I'm looking at a new campground I love to get recommendations from others, but I also almost certainly check out the website of the campground/park. What I find is that most campgrounds do a poor job of showing what the actual campsites look like on their website. This is a huge pet peeve of mine.

A few pictures would show things like distance between sites and woodsy vs. open-field sites. This would really help me make a decision about staying there, and choosing the area I want to stay in. While I'm sure their "Halloween Hoe-Down" of 3 years ago, was a huge success (with 75 pics to prove it), I would think most people are interested in the actual sites and other facilities. Their website should be there to give information to those that might want to stay there. Would a few representative snapshots of a few campsites in a few different areas really be that much trouble to post? It certainly wouldn't cost them any extra money to have 5-10 photos of their different types of sites. Anyone else experience this?

My usual method is to also check out the campground in "Satellite View" on both Google Maps and Apple Maps to get a feel for the campground, but that is only an aerial view.

Maybe I'm just needy . HA.
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Old 03-23-2015, 11:41 AM   #2
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This site doesn't include all campgrounds and sites. But I have found it helpful at times.

Campsite Photos, Camping Pictures, and Campground Reviews - campsitephotos.com
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Old 03-23-2015, 11:46 AM   #3
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After we look at the CG website, we use Google satellite view. Works pretty good for finding the sites we want and want to stay away from. DW is a pro at this now.

Lets us see which has trees, are to short...

Thank you Google!!! I believe that most of the satellite views are from 2013 and 2014.

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Old 03-23-2015, 11:50 AM   #4
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More and more campgrounds are including site-by-site snaps of each of the campsites. I find this extremely useful when making reservations. Guess this can only be a growing trend!
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Old 03-23-2015, 11:56 AM   #5
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Great idea on that link, Maromeo...I love it, but as you say, it doesn't have very many campgrounds covered.
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Old 03-23-2015, 12:08 PM   #6
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A good website for finding campgrounds is RVparky.com Some reviews and links to CG websites. Even a decent APP in playstore.

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Old 03-23-2015, 03:11 PM   #7
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Just checked out RVparky app. Love it. Thanks Murph
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Old 03-23-2015, 03:30 PM   #8
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Trip Advisor helps with reviews too. Seems to be more active than the popular RVPark Review.
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Old 03-23-2015, 05:18 PM   #9
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We mostly camp at state park style campgrounds. Reserve America and some of the government reserving sites have ok pictures of the sites, along with the websites mentioned. Often missing are good overall pictures of the site layout. I don't need to see a picture of what the picnic table and fire ring look like! I do want to see the site layout to see where they are placed. Often I get to a site and find the fire ring is too close to the camper to be able to have my awning out and a fire going at the same time.
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Old 03-23-2015, 05:25 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bikester View Post



A few pictures would show things like distance between sites and woodsy vs. open-field sites. This would really help me make a decision about staying there, and choosing the area I want to stay in. ...



My usual method is to also check out the campground in "Satellite View" on both Google Maps and Apple Maps to get a feel for the campground, but that is only an aerial view.



Maybe I'm just needy . HA.

If you are needy then I am just as needy. For the corps of engineers campgrounds we do weekend trips at they do have some fairly good pictures but maybe they are an exception
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Old 03-23-2015, 05:31 PM   #11
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I too find it rediculous that the campgrounds themselves are horrible about updating anything, much less giving info about the individual sites. That is exactly what I need to know before I go.

With that said, I also use google maps and google street view as much as possible first. Then I look to see if campsitephotos has the park in their database. Then I will go see if the park has a website and see if there is any good info (other than price). After that, I will start looking at reviews on campgroundreviews.com or yelp or google and just some searches with the campgrounds name with the word reviews behind it. After that, I will look at the elevation to get there using gpsvisualizer.com.

First, I need to see if the sites are big enough - google maps and google street view
Next, I try to get an actual view of the sites and see if there is a specific one better than another using campsitephotos.com
Then I will look to see where other things are using the campgrounds map if available.
After that I look for reviews to see if I am missing something - loud parties, bad management, surprise fees not shown on the website.
Then I need to know if I am going to be traveling up 7000ft just to get to the campground.

I am probably missing some steps I use, but that is the shortest list I complete. I usually travel out of state, so I need to be prepared as much as possible beforehand.
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Old 03-23-2015, 05:59 PM   #12
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My pet peeve with campground websites is the rate information.

They indicate the nightly rate is $42.50 PLUS TAX.

If you don't live in that area/state you probably have no idea what their tax rate is. Why are they so opposed to disclosing this information on their website? I have asked before.....blank stare....no response.


I have seen that jump the rate as much as 25% more than indicated.

When I am researching campgrounds that very thing may cause me to eliminate that campground from my short list.
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Old 03-23-2015, 08:00 PM   #13
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Enter the site on YouTube and visitors will document their stay often times!
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Old 03-23-2015, 11:03 PM   #14
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Great call...YouTube is another great way to check out parks and campgrounds.
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Old 03-24-2015, 07:47 AM   #15
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campgroundreviews.com can be a good resource, no pics but I like to read the comments about why a CG is good or bad. Usually comments about utilities, shade, access, wifi, cable are posted. Satellite view on Google maps is useful to get an idea about general layout and how easy access will (or not) be.
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Old 03-24-2015, 11:30 AM   #16
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Aside from using all the methods mentioned, I wanted to just toss in this link for Some of our Beautiful Parks up here in Ontario Canada.
Ontario Parks Pictures

Would be nice if there were a sticky somewhere that had links to all this sites eh? Mods?
LOL
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Old 03-24-2015, 01:37 PM   #17
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Quote:
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Aside from using all the methods mentioned, I wanted to just toss in this link for Some of our Beautiful Parks up here in Ontario Canada.
I may just come back up to camp in Ontario again this year, just because I love that website and the ability to see the sites Thanks for sharing!!!
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Old 03-24-2015, 02:16 PM   #18
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I may just come back up to camp in Ontario again this year, just because I love that website and the ability to see the sites Thanks for sharing!!!
Come Visit Bon Echo, I'll be there from July 1st - 10th
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Old 03-24-2015, 02:22 PM   #19
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Just the other day as I was trying to make reservations at TN state parks, I wondered if there was a post-retirement part-time job opportunity for me going around to all our state parks and taking better photos of the campsites. I also don't need photos of the picnic table or the fire ring. Some of the photos were just of the site # post - how helpful is that?? 2-3 photos of the site layout from different angles would help determine if that's the site I want. With most of the current photos, it's a crap shoot.
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Old 03-25-2015, 12:18 AM   #20
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Here's one that you guys might like. It shows brief "YouTube" movie that campers (such as ourselves) have taken of the various campsites throughout the U.S. and it's FREE !
'
Best RV Park Campground Directory | Videos Pictures Reviews | Find Campgrounds RV Parks
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