CampsitePhotos

Founded in 2009, CampsitePhotos is an online platform providing some of the most comprehensive selections of pictures, maps and reviews of campsites at popular locations across the United States. They currently have photos in more than 1,400 State Parks, National Parks, U.S. Forest Service, BLM and other campgrounds, with more added every month. In addition to the photos, each campground page has information about the campground and a link to make a reservation.

Searching for campsites can be done by either state, region or park, or by map view. Results can then be sorted alphabetically, by newest, by oldest or by those most recently updated, however there is no option to apply search filters, such as amenities or specific features. Personally, I find that being able to add filters means that you can search for specific campsites more quickly and saves time in scrolling through listings in which you do not have an interest.

Once you have selected a particular campsite, you can then view the selection of photos, read more detailed information, see a list of amenities and discover activities. That being said, as a website that is predominantly focused on its pictures, the additional information is limited compared to other websites, which, for me, is an issue as I like to know all about the location before making a booking.

One of my favourite aspects of CampsitePhotos has got to be the community forum, where users can join discussions or start their own topics. Current discussions range from tips for beginners to advice on beach camping in California to the best camping gear and equipment to purchase before a trip. Signing up is free and means that if you have your own question on a camping-related matter, you can quickly and easily start a thread and wait for a reply.

The blog is another useful part of the website that I often resort to, containing a whole range of different subjects, recommendations, advice, news and experiences to help you plan for a camping trip away. There is also a comments section below each article, which provides a space for people to leave their own thoughts and feedback on the topic in question.