In this modern age of technology that we are so fortunate to live in, there are some awesome camping apps you can download on your cell phone, and most of them are free!
These camping apps cover all types of camping adventures, from RV sites and campgrounds, to glamping, to primitive campsites. There are apps that feature National and State Parks, RV Parks, tent campgrounds, all the way to camping on someone’s private land. We will now take a look at some of the best camping apps available for you to download on your cell phone, so you will always be prepared and ready for your next camping adventure!
The best camping apps are divided into a few categories. Specialized databases and booking tools, featured on apps such as Tentrr and Boondocking, will show you a specific type or kind of campground. More generalized databases, such as The DYRT, have features such as campgrounds, availability, activities, and much more, offering you an all in one approach to find some awesome camping sites directly from your cell phone!
BEST CAMPING APPS YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ON YOUR CELL PHONE:
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THE DYRT – FREE
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Recreation.gov – FREE
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Reserve America – RA Camping – FREE
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Tentrr – FREE
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Hipcamp – FREE
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REI Co-op National Parks Guide – FREE
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AllStays – $9.99
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Campendium – FREE
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Boondocking – FREE
THE DYRT
The DYRT is a free all in one app that lets campers locate a campsite, read reviews, then book your site directly from your cell phone. This app features the most campground photos, videos, and reviews than any other camping source. The desktop, IOS, and Android apps are all free, and feature over 42,000 campgrounds, including HipCamps, Tentrrs, private RV parks, cabins, Federal and State Parks, and even more campsites are being added daily.
People with this app are able to compete in camping contests, and your on-line reviews will lead to prizes and discounts from the app’s outdoor brand partners. Campers have voted The DYRT the Very Best Camping App!
RECREATION.GOV
Recreation.gov is a free IOS-exclusive app that features only Federal campgrounds, and lists activities in the area on most of their listings. It is not a peer-to-peer app, so it does not show user-submitted reviews or photos.
There is some information on campsites and local activities from Federal sources. Bookings can be made directly from this app on your IOS device.
RESERVE AMERICA – RA CAMPING
Reserve America is a free app that features State-operated camping area in 32 states, and also a few KOA and Good Sam private campgrounds. This is a free app for IOS and Android devices.
You are able to search for campgrounds by location and available dates, then make your reservations from your phone. It also has an upcoming reservations tab and filtering features.
Reserve America – RA Camping does not have rankings, reviews, or map functionality, which could be extremely helpful when planning your road trip.
TENTRR
Tentrr is a free IOS and Android app that offers pre-made glamping tents which are set up on mostly private and some public land across the country. This app has more than 730 campsites which offer very cozy accommodation in nature with more of a bread and breakfast touch. Many of these glamping sites offer services such as breakfast in bed, massages, and saunas.
Tentrr’s app and website offer information on sleeping amenities and nearby attractions, and you are able to book your reservation directly from your phone app. Keep in mind that most of these campsites will not be as affordable as a tent or RV site in a public campground. It IS, after all, a glamping campsite, but we ALL deserve to be spoiled at times, don’t you agree?
HIPCAMP
Hipcamp is a free IOS and Android app where campers can search for private, landowner campsites and accommodations. This app features hotel-level accommodations all the way to secluded, primitive campsites, and you can expect to find yourself in isolation as many landowners offer a single RV site or campsite.
Once you are on the Hipcamp app, you can search for landowner sites, see photos of the camping areas, terrain, and any amenities that the landowner provides for your visit to his or her land. You are also able to see landowner- featured activities as well as nearby activities, and read reviews from other Hipcampers.
Personally, I am very familiar with the Hipcamp app, as my husband and I are members. We will be opening our 35-acre wooded property, which will feature 2 (at the moment, and more to follow!) isolated, heavily wooded, primitive campsites, within the next month. We are so excited to be able to let other campers and hikers visit our Little Piece Of Heaven at Howard and Annette Frasier’s Property, featuring The Missing Link and Scenic View Primitive Campsites!
Here is a photo of our brand new solar shower area in our Scenic View Campsite!
REI CO-OP NATIONAL PARKS GUIDE
Rei Co-op National Parks Guide is a free IOS and Android app. While this app does not necessarily focus on camping directly, it is still a very convenient app to download on your cell phone.
It features detailed information on National Parks across the country, and offers guides to hiking trails, popular viewpoints, and an GPS locator tool, just in case you get lost, which will work even if you are not within internet service areas.
ALLSTAYS
The AllStays app is available to IOS users only, at a price of $9.99. This app focuses on road-trip friendly services such as rest stop locations, RV parks and WalMart parking lots, as well as their databases for RV and tent camping sites.
The main drawback with this app is that everything is not conveniently located under one app. AllStays owns 6 separate apps containing different information, and each of these 6 apps costs anywhere from $1 up to $10, which can be purchased separately on the app store. Another couple of drawbacks are that this app does not feature user reviews, and you are not able to make reservations from the app.
One big advantage for AllStays is that you do have offline search capability.
CAMPENDIUM
Campendium is a free app for IOS users only. It offers a database of campgrounds, and these listings are constantly being updated. There is also a feature that lets you search for public land and overnight parking spots, which is very handy for RVers.
Capendium does offer fellow campers’ reviews; however, they do not offer booking reservations on the app.
BOONDOCKING
This is a free app for IOS users only. Boondocking collects data on free camping areas, and most of these areas will be dispersed and without any hookups for RV campers or tents. There are over 500 listings available, and you are able to reviews from other campers’ experiences.
Boondocking is a great app to save money when visiting wilderness areas or taking a road trip. There is no need to make reservations since the sites are free, so the app does not feature booking capabilities.
I hope this post has been informative and helpful, and that you will keep these awesome apps in mind to download on your cell phone before you take off on your next camping adventure. They all are worth checking out, and will save you a tremendous amount of time, stress, and energy when searching for your perfect camping spot.
All you have to do is get to that perfect spot, then kick back and enjoy your time in Nature!
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