You have decided to try campervanning out and stay at, at least some campgrounds on your campervan road trip. Yay! Excellent choice! Now you are wondering how to find them, book them and what you need to know about them before your trip. We have been in your shoes and will answer the most important questions for you.
How to find and book campgrounds?
Since camping and campervanning have grown tremendously in popularity over the past years, there are some destination-specific campground finders online. However, I don't particularly appreciate using them, as they are not very user-friendly and often overwhelming.
My approach is to search for 'campgrounds' in the Google Maps area that I would like to stay. Then I start looking at the result with the best location. I check the reviews, images, and their homepage. We have noticed that by far, not all campgrounds have arrived in the internet of things and sometimes have ancient and not updated websites, especially the smaller they are.
For those that do, you can mostly reserve a campsite through their homepage. Sometimes you can even select the exact campsite you would like (e.g., at the fantastic Mather Campground on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon). To others, you write a friendly email to request a booking or call them directly.
This system has worked exceptionally well for us, and we have found some gorgeous spots following this strategy. If you would like to learn more about this technique in detail, go along to our post 'A Foolproof Strategy to Find Campgrounds Anywhere'.
Can I show up without a reservation at campgrounds?
Yes, you can. Provided that the campground is not full, they are happy to accommodate you. We do recommend, however, that you look into your campground bookings in advance, especially when you are traveling in high season and to trendy spots. Also, be sure to research local, national holidays in advance that will take place during your travel period and especially pre-book these.
You might find the challenge that during school holidays, some campgrounds ask for a minimum amount of 2-4 nights. If you do not want to spend this long in one place, keep searching. We have always found alternative campgrounds, where we could stay just one night.
We usually book about half of our nights in advance (for the most popular places) and then leave the rest free to be spontaneous.
When wanting to stay at National or State Park campgrounds, do your research in advance. In the US, these campgrounds can be booked up to six months in advance, whereas Provincial Park campgrounds in Alberta, Canada, can only be booked three months in advance and in British Columbia, Canada, four months in advance.
Is there a check-in and check-out at campgrounds?
Yes, there is. Usually, check-in is after 3pm, and check-out between 10am and noon. Just like in a hotel or Airbnb. Check your reservation or the homepage to know the exact times for your campground.
We noticed some considerable differences in campground operations, depending on the country, specifically for check-in.
In the US, for example, you can pretty much arrive at any time (although arriving after 10 pm is regarded as very rude and disrespectful).
Upon arrival at the reception after closing hours, you will always find a note telling you which sites are still available together with an envelope, with which you can complete a self-check-in. Mark down your details, your license plate, etc. and put the required money in cash inside the envelope and drop it in the dropbox. It is all based on trust and keeping the campground running for the future.
For check-out in the US, you simply leave the campground, without stopping at reception. What we really enjoyed in the US, is that each campsite we visited, always had its wooden table bench, a fire pit, and some good space between campsites.
In Australia, we got to experience a completely different campground culture. Almost all campgrounds have a boom gate at the entrance. You must arrive before the closing hours of the reception to check-in and get your card or chip to open the boom gate.
Should you not make it on time, as most campgrounds close at 6 pm, make sure that you call in advance and ask for a late check-in. In that case, they will leave your necessary information in a lockbox or envelope at the reception. For checking-out, you will always have to stop at reception to drop your key or card for the boom gate.
No campground that we have been to in Australia had the setup that we enjoyed in the US. No table benches nor fire pits. And some campgrounds were quite tight in space.
Are there any specific rules while staying at a campground?
Yes, there are, and they vary from campground to campground. Upon arrival, you will see posted rules and regulations, and sometimes you will also have to sign them.
Be sure to read them, even if you think that you know how to behave ๐. When we stayed at Mather Campground in the Grand Canyon we got a warning from the ranger because we were parked the wrong way around. Oops!
Also ask at reception, whether campfires are allowed. Even if you find a fire ring at your site, you might not be allowed to use it due to elevated wildfire risk.
Be aware and check upon arrival, whether the roads on the campground are one way or not, and respect it even if it means driving an extra loop.
Also, get acquainted upon check-in, how the bathrooms work. At some campgrounds, they are open at all times; at some, you need a code to enter, and at others, you need to pay your shower with quarters or some shower coins, which you can get at the reception. Depending on how big the campground is and where your campsite is located, getting this information at check-in saves you some time and running up and down.
Besides campground specific rules, common sense will get you far:
- don't play loud music, after all you are in nature to enjoy it, including its sounds
- don't leave any food unattended, again you are in nature, and it is full of wildlife
- don't leave your campfire unattended and put it out before going to bed
- don't pick up natural wood from the forest nearby for your campfire, buy firewood
- don't leave your engine running or your headlamps on, be respectful to your neighbors
- don't leave anything behind when leaving your campsite
Is it better to free camp or stay at a campground?
Let me give you some advantages for both options so you may decide for yourself:
Advantages of staying at a campground:
- it is secure and safe
- you have bathroom facilities
- you have the chance to meet fellow campers
- you might get some local tips from the campground staff or fellow campers
- your travel gear is usually covered by your travel insurance
Advantages of free camping:
- it is more adventurous
- you can choose the spot you would like to stay at (while respecting the local laws)
- you can be completely alone
- you can come and go as you please
- it is for free
- your travel gear is usually not covered by your travel insurance
So far we have stayed at campgrounds more often than free camped, as we also enjoy the atmosphere. We secretly also like to observe the setup and vans of other campers ๐. The times that we free camped were mostly because there was no appealing campground in the area or it was already full.
In my opinion, this question also depends a lot on the country you are in. Natural paradises like Iceland and New Zealand offer an open invitation to free camp (refer to our post 'Do You Need A Toilet In Your Campervan Rental' to learn more about the conditions for free camping in New Zealand).
Do you prefer to stay at campgrounds or free camp? Let us know in the comments below why you like one over the other.
