Where the data comes from
- Recreation.gov (RIDB) - the federal recreation database: campground locations, campsite types, equipment lengths, fee text, contacts and reservation links.
- National Park Service - for campgrounds in national parks: drinking water, toilets, showers, dump stations, fees and seasons.
- NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 - average monthly high, low and precipitation from a nearby weather station. We only show it when the station is within 25 miles and within 1,000 feet of the campground's elevation; otherwise the climate block is hidden. Normals are long-term averages, not a forecast.
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service - the elevation of each campground's listed location.
- Maps - relief maps from Wikimedia Commons by SANtosito (CC BY-SA 4.0); campground dots are placed from the official coordinates and are approximate at map scale.
Both sources are matched only by their official identifiers. Places with similar names or nearby coordinates are never merged automatically - they are flagged for a human check.
Yes, no and “not listed”
Every amenity is “yes”, “no” or “not listed”. “Not listed” means the official sources don't say - it does not mean the campground lacks it. When you filter for an amenity, only confirmed “yes” places appear in the main results; places where it is not listed are shown separately. Water hookups at a site and drinking water at the campground are kept apart. A missing fee is never shown as free.
What we don't do
- No availability: “Open season” describes the season, not free sites. Check availability on the official reservation site.
- No made-up reviews, ratings or “we stayed here” stories.
- “Nearby” is a straight-line distance, not a driving route.
- The longest listed RV length is the longest site - not every site fits it.
Updates and corrections
Data is refreshed from the official sources on a schedule; each campground page shows when it was last checked and the source of every fact. If something is wrong, use “Report an error” on the campground page. Corrections are reviewed by a person and are kept even when the next import arrives.