Finding Good Campsites

The best campgrounds have the most to offer.

Not only will they have typical car camping facilities—which are, when you get right down to it, parking lots in the woods—but they will also offer hiking trails, biking trails, and opportunities for swimming and enjoying the simpler pleasures of exercise and camping. The best way to discern between the good, the bad, and the ugly is to get your hands on a map of the campgrounds you're planning to visit.

Campground layouts are provided at visitor centers and in brochures provided by land managers. Most campsites also offer a close-up, numbered layout of the campsites, which normally means you can reserve one you particularly like.

If you see the term interior camping or backcountry camping, it's a clue that your prospective destination has a certain amount of wilderness that can be explored beyond the camping spots designed for cars. In the beginning, start out by camping from the trunk of a car on the first night, then scout around and pick a campsite not too far into the interior of the park. Move camp and set up there on the second night.

If you move from an established campground to an “interior” campground off the beaten path, you may need to get another permit for the secluded site. You will probably need to move your car to a lot set up to accommodate campers who have departed for an interior trip. Depending on the time of year and usage level, you may be expected to stay there. Before embarking on foot to the site, make sure to reserve a campground site for your return. You can drive back and park there when you return.

This approach lets less experienced campers get a taste of camping in the “real” country, truly away from it all.