How to get a better campsite ? ? ?

[Billy Bob]

OK all you great folks who have camped a lot, here's the the BIG question.

What do you think makes a difference in getting a good campsite at any give campground (like a nice quite site compared to being next to the highway etc...

1) Reservations
2) NO reservations
3) Length of stay

[griffsmom]

Just speaking from my own experiences, none of those factors has really played much of a part for us in getting a good site.  What we do is try to find out as much as possible about a cg and good sites from others--either here at PUT or other camping sites or even searching the Web for cg review sites.  If a cg or review Web site has pictures of the cg and its sites, even better!

When we stay at a cg that we like for the first time, we make sure to walk around the cg and scope out the good sites and make note of their numbers.  That way, we know exactly which sites to ask for when making our reservations.

 
HTH!

[PopUpMomma]

We go there first before we camp if at all possible.  We have a book with all the local camping areas and almost always get the same site.  Happy Hunting!!

[edwardr132]

I think it is luck more than anything else.  My luck almost ran out when I visited Mukegan State Park in Michigan this year.  I reserved a spot that "appeared" to be an ideal popup site, but when I got there, it was so steep that there was no way I was going to put my popup there.  I was talking to the person next to us at that site and he told us that he put his boat near the site.  His boat rolled right into his tow vehicle!  There was no way after that I was going to popup at that site.  My wife was thinking "hotel" at that point.  Luckily for us, there was another "flat site" that was open when we complained about the site so we took that.  We needed one for three days so that was "positively" luck for us.

[tlhdoc]

If I can't visit the campground in person, I look on webshots for pictures of campground, look for online reviews, and call the campground and and ask about the sites.  When I make my reservations I tell the campground what I do and do not want.  EX: I like private wooded sites, I do not want to be close to the bathroom or near any lights.  I have found that if you tell them, they will try to accommodate you.  Good luck on getting the good sites.

[dthurk]

I do many of the things mentioned here, but also check the campground map online.  I try to pick sites that don't appear to lend itself to foot traffic through, such as between a bathroom and other sites that might be prone to using that bathroom.  I like out of the way, private sites.  If you talk to the campground reservation people on the phone, they will try to give you what you want, if it's available.  So...the earlier you can call, the better your opportunity.

[wynot]

There is no substitute for scoping out a place before you stay - but...

Look at the campground online map.  I don't willingly take sites on the outside of a turn, because I get woken up by headlights.  We tend to try to get sites that provide seclusion for our two dogs, which means trying not to have sites that back up against others.  Although we like being convenient to the bathhouse, we try to avoid being on the "public path" going to the bathhouse.
 
We try to get deep sites if possible, or wide.  We also try to avoid sites that look like they will flood or have running water come through if we get a lot of rain.
 
The owners or rangers know what sites are good and bad.  And usually, they will let you know what has been booked and what is available and just tell you to go ahead and pick something and let them know which one.