Have a s'more on us
Photo by: James Rubio (Stock Exchange)

Hello from AllCampgrounds!

The time between Christmas and New Years is perhaps the slowest point for camping all year, so we like to use this time to relax, unwind, and take a look back at the interesting and exceptional things we’ve discovered in the world of tent camping and RV camping.

2011 was a banner year for major developments in the national camping scene, and also saw the arrival of several outstanding resources that campers can use for trip planning.

Here’s a quick retrospective, AllCampgrounds style.

Tips to Camp More and Save on Gas: Everyone is looking for good ways to save money nowadays, and campers are no exception. In this post, you’ll learn the ins and outs of taking your camping plans out on the road, with apps, websites, and tactics you can use to minimize your cost per mile. If you’re looking for easy ways to stretch your budget and get out even more, this is a fantastic place to begin.

Make Camping Delicious With Outdoor Cooking: Camping cuisine has come a long way from plain old franks and beans. In this post, enjoy mouth-watering recipes and learn about some of the great, modern ways to make camping delicious. Potatos, kebabs, and even gourmet variations on the s’more can all be found, as well as some in-depth pointers on how to turn the Dutch oven into the cornerstone of a camping kitchen.

Igloo Camping: I’ll admit it: I just can’t get enough of the igloo camping post. It’s the height of winter camping finesse to be able to introduce the most effective ancient methods to your modern camping experience. For the old motto of “Leave No Trace,” this is the ultimate way to devise a natural, winter-proof shelter. The post covers the basics of how an igloo works, how to build one, and igloo camping experiences.

Can Camping Get Even Greener?: Speaking of natural camping, let’s commemorate this eco-friendly innovation from the Herkimer Diamond Mine Kampgrounds of America site one last time. Herkimer KoA is home to the solar-powered lodge, a great stride in camping technology. This lodge strives for a carbon-neutral, eco-friendly experience with a futuristic but very approachable design that incorporates green ideas at every turn. It stands out as one of the most unique ideas in the already very forward-thinking KoA camping network.

That’s just a sample of the tent camping and RV camping adventures we had this year, so check out the archives for more. Of course, we discussed AllCampgrounds’ 2012 plans recently, too, make plans to visit every Friday for more. Thanks for helping us achieve another excellent year in the world’s one-stop shop for camping! See you again soon!

Forest of the French Dordogne
Photo by: Fred Fokkelman (Stock Exchange)

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to AllCampgrounds!

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at the best in winter camping and cold weather camping in general.

If you’re ready to come in from the chill, we’ve got something new: international camping news, including a whole slew of wild camping trends you might not be familiar with yet.

These new ideas in tent camping are sweeping the globe, and you might just be inspired.

Extreme Camping in the Trees: Out of Bavaria, famous for its Oktoberfest, comes this awesome concept for extreme camping. During the spring and summer months, campers can dangle several feet over the ground in a portaledge, the kind of self-contained, hanging tent that rock climbers use when they’re out for more than one day at a time. Not quite extreme enough? The next option “up” has you hanging among the cliffs on a platform that can be deployed up to 6,000 feet high. Hope you like heights!

What is it About Camping?: From Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald travel section comes this entertaining anecdote about the challenges and triumphs of camping in Africa. The biggest hurdle? Well, it’s literally the biggest one, as our author finds himself and his fellow tent campers on an “elephant road” out in the middle of the Savannah. Serial Africa adventurer Ben Groundwater tries to put his finger on just what it is that makes camping so appealing, and does a fine job of it, even if you’ve never been so far afield.

Camping in the French Dordogne: France’s Dordogne River region is one of the most beautiful areas of an enchanting country, so it’s no surprise that this lush, picturesque riverside summons tent campers from all over the surrounding nations. There are wonderful offerings at camps all around the shoreline, such as Eurocamp, which includes fun for children and families. Is it any surprise this is one of the most popular destinations in Europe’s growing camping craze? Check out the amazing photographs!

Gardens as Campsites in Europe: Driven by sites like Camp in my Garden, which lists hundreds of private family gardens that are open to camping, explorers are learning about local communities in Europe by taking up the offer to camp right outside a residence. This may seem outlandish to North Americans, but remember that tending a beloved garden is one of the most important and routine parts of life for many Europeans, especially the British. You can avoid camping fees and get a dose of local color by checking out garden camping; just don’t plan to stay too long.

The colors of fall
Photo by: John Nyberg (Stock Exchange)

Here at AllCampgrounds, Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays.

With so many people discovering camping for the first time, there sure is a lot to be thankful for lately!

In today’s post, we wanted to highlight some of the extaordinary things that are out there for tent campers and RV campers alike to enjoy.

These are some of the top sites we’ve pointed out in previous posts; they’re the best of the best, and we want to be sure they don’t slip by this Thanksgiving.

So let’s pay a visit to some camping resources we’re thankful for.

Kampgrounds of America: Kampgrounds of America is one of the most respected, and easily the largest, franchise in camp grounds throughout the United States. Thanks to the rigorous inspection process and quality standards of KOA, you can be sure you’re going to enjoy a safe, fun, friendly experience. KOA is also known for great camping options — which usually include cabins, and can sometimes include yurts, rental RVs, and even a solar-powered bungalow in one notable case — and total dedication to providing plenty of family-oriented outdoor activities. All this makes KOA something to be thankful for!

Good Sam Club: An institution in the world of RV camping, Good Sam is a nationally recognized discount club that also provides a slew of trip planning resources. In addition to all kinds of DVDs, a smartphone app, and a terrific community forum all devoted to the best RV camping, they also have you covered when it comes to the nuts and bolts of the lifestyle. That includes, for example, roadside assistance, technical tips to get the most from your rig, and a number of competitive insurance and finance options. Good Sam does it all, and from all we’ve heard, it’s an outstanding value for the money.

Recreation.Gov: It used to be a huge challenge to get reservations at the most-loved federal camp grounds. Then Uncle Sam pulled it together with Recreation.gov, the most streamlined, camper-friendly site yet for planning to your visit to public lands. There’s a huge search that will help you find exactly the kind of camping experience you want from over 84 million spectacular acres of national park land throughout the United States. Not only that, but it’s easier than ever to claim your spot thanks to a centralized account interface that lets you make your plans known well in advance, all via the internet. If the camp grounds you’re seeking require a permit, you can apply for one here, too.

REI: At AllCampgrounds, we don’t endorse any particular camping supplier. But REI recently made the jump from supplier to outstanding information source thanks to their new expert camping advice section. This collection of columns and checklists covers a huge range of camping topics. You’ll find just about everything to do with tent camping here, and the archive is growing by leaps and bounds. Even more impressive, though is the collection of how-to videos on camping and outdoors topics. The videos are still pretty rare, but we’re hoping to see the library expand as time goes on. Very helpful!

Trout on the move!
Photo by: celticstrm (Stock Exchange)

Plenty of fishers love summer for its hordes of hungry fish and easy catches, but fall is turning into a great alternative for fishers who want to beat the heat and still land record trophies.

If you’re an angler, today’s AllCampgrounds is for you as we explore some of the best seasonal fishing opportunities at parks and camp grounds around the U.S.

For a quick, recent intro to fall fishing, visit this Press-Republican piece: Some of the Best Fish are Caught in Autumn.

Back? Great! Follow AllCampgrounds for fishing fun!

The News on Fall Fishing

Autumn Fishing is in Full Bloom declares the New York Post, and the northeast is ripe for some of the best bass fishing this season. If you’re headed west, Rory Aikens of Arizona’s state Fish and Game Department wants you to know that trout fishing will be abundant in Arizona’s Fossil Creek and Winter Creek areas throughout fall and deep into winter. If you’re in the southeast, Florida Sportsman raises the call to keep an eye out for migratory fish populations including cobia, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, wahoo, and sailfish, among others.

Great Fishing Spots for Tent Camping and RV Camping Alike

New York

Back Bay: Fishing and Camping on Black Lake: Located in the 1,000 Islands region of New York, Back Bay offers tent camping and cottages near the famous St. Lawrence River. With freshwater fishing on Black Lake, you can rent a boat from the camp or bring your own. Plus, all the attractions and natural wonders of Ottawa just an hour away. Big rig RVs are welcome at the camp, and many of the facilities are accessible to campers with disabilities. Definitely a good choice for serious anglers.

Arizona

Patagonia Lake: Patagonia Lake, just a touch south of Tucson, is the main attraction of Patagonia Lake State Park, and clocks in at a massive 265 acres. Though the lake is man-made, it’s extremely well-kept and always full to bursting with a selection of crappie, bass, bluegill, catfish, and more: in fact, the pond is re-stocked with trout every three weeks through the high season of October through March. It comes serviced by its own full-featured marina, and offers primitive camping for expert tent campers as well as sites with water and electric hookups. Note that water skiing is prohibited from May through September, but it’s one of the most popular activities during the season.

Florida

Indian Pass Campground and World Class Fishing: Situated right on the tip of pristine Apalachicola Bay, where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico, Indian Pass is a glimpse of Florida’s untouched past. It has some incredible white sand beaches and is renowned for its delicious oysters, which you can sample at the Indian Pass Raw Bar. The camp grounds are also well-known in the area for fishing, and you can even hire a fishing guide if it’s your first time around the local waterways. This is an especially great choice for RV campers, since it offers prime waterfront sites for rigs. Visitors also have their choice of cabins accommodating up to five people.

Autumn is another beautiful time for camping!
Photo by: Tamasila Mihai (Stock Exchange)

The sweltering heat of the summer is over just about everywhere, but it’s not quite winter yet.

At AllCampgrounds that means it’s time to look at some of the best autumn camping opportunities.

Plus, this is the start of a new month, which means it’s also time for us to pop through the latest camping headlines and share the best in news for tent camping and RVing.

Let’s hit the trail and see what we can find this week.

Camping or Hiking? Stay Warm and Dry with the Right Stuff: Just as it’s important to stay hydrated and breathable in the hot weather, it’s equally important to keep warm and dry when it gets cooler out. This recent piece from the Edmonton Journal in Alberta, Canada, will help you get prepared for your outdoor adventures in the fall. Some of the brands may be a bit, well, foreign to Americans, but the basic tips are great. Stick with waterproof clothes, down lining, and lightweight, all-season tents for fall.

Rec and Roll: Autumn Camping: The Brighton Patch, an online publication out of Michigan, wants you to know that now is one of the best times of the whole year to enjoy the tent camping opportunities in the area. Bugs are on the downlow throughout this season, and cool morning temperatures mean less discomfort and a much lower likelihood of sunburn. Click through to find out about some of the great camp grounds Michigan has to offer, including spots all around the Brighton Recreation Area and local favorites like the Crooked Lake Rustic Campground in picturesque Pickney.

Bubble Hotel Offers High-Style Camping in France: If you’ve been perusing our posts lately, you probably caught the special feature from a few weeks ago where we discussed how great it can be to add some stargazing to your tent camping trip on a clear night. Well, the French have taken the idea a step further with the unique “bubble hotel” that allows campers – even those just outside Paris – to see the stars through the transparent roof of their “cocoon with a view.” Seeing is believing, so check out this Huffington Post article for a video and a taste of the most glamorous camping option France has to offer.

Michigan’s First Time Campers Program Makes it a Breeze: Back to Michigan for a peek at this great program that helps first-time campers see what they’re missing out in the great outdoors. It’s the third year of the program, which serves about 150 families per year participating in a mini-vacation: $20 holds your camp grounds for two nights, and the program supplies all your needs: tent, stove, lanterns, lights, firewood, an air mattress and a lawn chair. Thanks to the free gift certificate to Gardner Mountain Sports, the end cost to visitors is zero – so there’s nothing at all to lose. And you don’t even have to be a total newcomer to camping: anyone who hasn’t camped in Michigan qualifies.

Pinhoti Trail Marker at Talladega National Forest
Photo by: Jonathan Kendrick (Stock Exchange)

Welcome back to AllCampgrounds, camping fans and nature lovers!

In today’s special post, we’re going to explore some news for RV campers.

When it comes to RVing, the community is just as good at moving fast as it is at taking its own pace, and there are a lot of exciting events, ideas, and RV camping opportunities out there that we’d like to share with you!

More tent camping and great ideas about fun in the outdoors in next week’s post.

For now, let’s join the convoy and roll on!

Talladega Superspeedway Lands a Title Sponsor for its Fall Race: Not too long ago, we discussed the folks who combine RV camping with a love of NASCAR to create an awesome group excursion that follows the sport around the country. Some RVers have been doing it for years, and the camaraderie and excitement is contagious. Well, now, one of RV camping’s most trusted organizations is getting in on the act. Good Sam Club, a terrific RV owners’ organization that provides discounts at selected RV campgrounds, has taken on the Talladega 500; now known as the Good Sam Club 500. Check out their site if you’re not familiar with Good Sam’s offerings for RVers. Congratulations, Sam!

Caravan That Transforms into a Boat: It may not be quite as large as an RV by U.S. standards, but the new “Sealander” now being manufactured in Germany is an intriguing concept. Combining the functionalities of a camping trailer and a boat, this mighty little “caravan” includes on-board facilities for sleeping, eating, and washing. It’s your home away from home while at camp, and when it reaches the water, it transforms into a totally functional motorized sea craft. You do have to tow it from place to place on the back of another vehicle, but for a first design, it really shows some promise!

DISH Launches “Tailgater,” a Robotic Mobile Satellite TV Antenna: RV campers have always faced a somewhat mixed bag when it comes to television service. While more and more RV parks and campgrounds are offering free wireless internet, the best place to get a good TV reception has traditionally been the camp clubhouse. Now, DISH Network plans to change all that with the brand new “Tailgater.” “As long as there’s a line of sight between the Tailgater and the southern sky,” you’re all set; the dish itself remains safely protected from the elements and swivels to lock on to the signal no matter where you are. At $350, it’s also much cheaper than competing models that can run nearly $1,000 each.

Spanish coast by moonlight
Photo by: Mehdi Lebbadi (Stock Exchange)

Here at AllCampgrounds, we usually stick to exploring the awesome tent camping and RV lifestyle opportunities here in North America, and we love the national park system.

But here we are, with the peak of summer behind us, in September: the month when some of the nation’s major parks and camp grounds will start to scale back or shut down.

In many places, it gets too cold to camp in winter.

So, what’s a savvy tent camping enthusiast to do?

Every once in a while, it’s a good time to explore camping overseas: and that’s how we’ll spend today’s visit, with more on warm weather camping abroad.

When we opened this series a couple posts ago, I talked a little bit about Morocco and Spain. This time, we’ll dig in deeper to the selection of over a thousand campsites that Spain has to offer. With plenty of sun-soaked coastline, you can find beachside, plain, and even mountainous camping environments to enjoy. It also draws tourists from Spain, Great Britain, and as far away as Scandinavia, so if you enjoy culture, you’re bound to meet plenty of interesting people during a Spanish camping excursion.

Here are some resources to get started …

Eurocamping Guide to Spanish Campsites: Eurocamping is a hub site to display camp grounds approved by ACSI, which bills itself as “Europe’s leading camp ground specialist.” They offer camping holidays in Spain, so take their recommendations with a grain of salt! That said, there’s a lot of information and, frequently, pictures for each of the featured camp grounds. This is also the only site we found that can sort Spain’s campsites and find you ones with wheelchair and other disability-friendly access features.

Alan Rogers Campsite Guide to Spain: Another travel company, Alan Rogers provides a strong general overview of the Spanish camping scene as well as a more versatile search function than most other sites. You can sort camp grounds by features like pet-friendliness, spa, eco-tourism, and others. Their printed guide to camp grounds in Spain and Portugal is about $15, but you can learn a lot about grounds in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Malaga from the complimentary portions of the site.

Motorhome and Caravanning in Spain: What AllCampgrounds post would be complete without at least a little bit for our RVing friends? A part of “Spain and Portugal for Visitors,” this is a comprehensive site with a lot of information. For our purposes, though, this list of vetted, high quality links for RVers is probably the most interesting. This will save you a lot of searching for the best sites and help give you an idea of where to find RV-friendly zones and what to expect from them.

Fishing on the coast of Morocco ... Yes, Morocco!
Photo by: Jean Froidevaux (Stock Exchange)

Welcome to AllCampgrounds!

It’s the middle of August, and for many of us here in the good ol’ United States, that means the official camping season is starting to draw down.

But campers rejoice: there are tent camping and RV camping destinations scattered all around the world where the fun is just getting started.

Camping is holding steady in the States, but it’s growing fast in many other countries, including a few that make tempting winter destinations.

Today, we’ll peek in on a few choice places to camp in winter.

Whether tent camping or RVing, your best bet for winter camping in Europe is down south. Camper Van Life provides a warm weather overview of some of the top picks for continental campers. Naturally, Spain and France are popular with both Americans and Europeans, with Spain being a bit warmer. Both are a tad pricey, though, and there are other choices afoot for those who would rather avoid heavy tourist traffic. We’ll cover France and Spain in detail in a future post.

The Algarve, in Portugal, is one of the best kept secrets in winter camping throughout Europe. Located at the southern tip of the country, it dips gently into the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The southwestern coast is replete with camping opportunities, and also provides water sports and sight-seeing: there are scads of beautiful and historic lighthouses to visit and view. Algarve Beach Life has a description of Algarve camp grounds and other things to note, including typical prices, safety, and more.

At only a few Euros a night, Algarve camping is an inviting prospect, and some of the parks and camp grounds include sophisticated private “chalets” equal to what you’d expect from cabins in the States. RVs are welcome at some sites, but be aware that all camping in the Algarve area has to take place in the confines of official sites; there is no backcountry camping. (Backcountry and unofficial site restrictions are hot topics around the world right now: check out the debate over freedom camping in New Zealand.)

Morocco is becoming another popular destination for camping in moderate climes during the tail end of the year. For some great “on the ground” perspective about what it’s really like to camp the desert, check out Camping in the Sahara from Bill and Cori’s Excellent Adventures. Also visit Camping Beyond Travel for a laudatory look at Morocco’s low cost, high value coastal camp grounds. RV campers are more than welcome throughout the country’s coasts, so don’t be shy! Tent campers will find both seaside and mountain settings to set up camp.

Now, obviously, there are a lot of things to consider and plan if you want to go camping abroad. AllCampgrounds is your number one source for all things camping, so in the coming weeks we’ll explore more warm weather haunts and chat a bit about crafting the perfect international camping trip. Drop by again this time next week, won’t you?

North gate to Yellowstone National Park
Photo by: Michael Swanson

Welcome back to AllCampgrounds!

Whether you’re an RVer or enjoy tent camping, most folks know that Yellowstone National Park was America’s first national park; and there’s a special mystique and grandeur about this place that really captures the imagination.

No surprise that out of all the parks and camp grounds out there in the U.S., Yellowstone has a special place in the hearts of AllCampground followers.

So, in today’s visit AllCampgrounds will be catching up on the latest news from the “granddaddy” of all national parks in all its 2.2 million acre glory.

It’s not too late to visit for the summer season, and we hope to give you a few more reasons why you should.

Yellowstone National Park Gets 900,000 Visitors in July: July is the peak season for Yellowstone, and it’s been raking in record breaking numbers lately, especially among hikers and tent camping enthusiasts. In fact, the park has hit an important milestone: the second-highest monthly visitor total since July 1872, when the park first opened. That means interest in Yellowstone is as high now as it was when it was brand new!

Scope of Yellowstone River Oil Spill May Grow: Now, this is bad news and you might wonder why it’s a reason to go to Yellowstone. But as those of us on the Gulf Coast know, it takes a lot of work for a body of water to recover after an oil spill! Direct volunteer participation in the spill cleanup efforts is still limited, but you can show your support by visiting the Park and taking part in other activities, such as …

Volunteers Sought to Do Trail Work in Yellowstone: A night of free tent camping is available to a small selection of 20 lucky volunteers who will do about seven hours of work at Yellowstone this September 24, installing water bars to improve trail conditions n the Clear Lake-Ribbon Lake Loop Trail in the Canyon area. It will be hard work, requiring tools and carrying heavy loads at high altitudes. On the plus side, you’ll get the chance to make your mark on Yellowstone on National Public Lands Day, and receive a free entrance coupon. Interested parties can inquire by phone or email.

Official Yellowstone Park News: Go right to the source for official news from Yellowstone including weather, trail conditions, animal events, camp ground information, and other facts to serve you well on a Yellowstone camping trip. Always check this out before you make plans to venture into the backcountry!

Bearman’s Yellowstone Adventures: Bearman is an experienced tour guide who specializes in Yellowstone Park excursions. He got his name from his terrific bear viewing tours, but he can also help you find wolves and other beautiful Yellowstone creatures – providing the background and precautions you need to enjoy these animals safely. Even if you’re not up for a tour, Bearman provides a slew of free resources for all Yellowstone visitors – and he’s been doing it since 1996.

Laguna Ridge Trail, California
Photo by: dlockeretz (Stock Exchange)

It’s good to see you back again at AllCampgrounds.

As you know, this is the place to be for tent camping, RV parks and campgrounds, and just about anything to do with the camping life: whether you want to go camping quick, make a camping pie, or even find the “camping bathroom.”

No surprise, then, that whether RVing or tent camping is more your style, you’ll find something to smile about in this latest round of news from around the camping community.

Climb aboard the AllCampgrounds hay wagon and let’s go!

Families Warm Up to Mother Nature: From the Kansas City Star, the newspaper of record in that fine town, comes this little report that suggests more and more people are bringing the young ones around to enjoy the wonders of the great outdoors. It’s a growing phenomenon, and not confined to the central plains. The East Hampton-Portland Patch sounds a similar note here: Family Camping Has Many Benefits. Some of those benefits have been compiled by the National Wildlife Federation as part of their Great American Backyard Campout campaign. It’s not too late to sign up and be an official part of the Campout, so check out the NWF site for details.

When you think of camping, the city of Boston might not be high on your list. Known more for its great libraries and Revolutionary War history than its camp grounds, Boston gets a cheer from this piece out of the Boston.com Article Collection. Boston-area camp grounds have a lot to offer: just take a gander at the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and you’ll get a good idea how you, too, can have the best of both worlds on your next camping trip out in the northeast.

Travel Daily News International recently posted Camping: The Trendier Way to Holiday? As reported before in this blog, upscale camping areas are proliferating, not only in North America, but throughout the world – aiming for the young, affluent adult demographic and encouraging exploration and enjoyment of nature in a “safe” space. At the same time (on the same day, even!) AOL Travel’s “Gadling” blog joins the glamping craze with this primer: Glamping 101: What is “Glamorous Camping,” Exactly? If glamping interests you, don’t forget to browse AllCampgrounds’ coverage of the topic as part of our signature series, Camping for Everyone.

If you like to use camping to disconnect and get off the grid, you might wonder what use your smartphone is on a wilderness excursion. Well, don’t count out the little Droid, Apple, or whatever else it may be just yet. Gizmodo’s App of the Day feature just alerted the AllCampgrounds crew to some useful software in this post: Trail Maps for iPhone and iPad: Maps for When You Go off the Grid. Sound cool? Well, it is.

As many of our readers will attest, one of the most challenging parts of backwoods camping is navigating lesser known trails. Now, of course, some backcountry camping will take place in areas where your handy phone won’t have a signal. But with this app, you have a built-in “command center” that will download gargantuan, incredibly detailed maps – helping keep you on course even when you’re low on “bars.” There are lots of nifty navigational features when your connection is up, too.