UPDATED: 06/01/2023
We have been camping for a while now. We are not "RV Park Folk", in that we are not fans of KOA's and RV Parks. Not that there is anything wrong with them, it's just not our style.
I am a techie, so I love apps. I love efficiency, and love to plan, at least at some level. So apps for me are kind of huge. Some of the apps below are functional, like the first section, the second section is really about finding sites when we aren't going to First Come Fist Served locations like the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I am sure there are a ton of different apps out there that others use but here are the one's that we have found useful. Some of these are specific to North Carolina, but most will work anywhere. We hope these are of value to you too.
FYI, The links provided are to the website. All of these apps are available on both Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. We are not endorsed by, or recieve any support from anything we are presenting here.
Functional:
RV Life - This is our go to app! As opposed to other apps, we did pay for the Pro subscription on this one because of the volume of features. From finding campsites and scheduling trips, locating gas on the road, checking reviews, to making it trips. You can even plug in the dimensions of your rig and it will plot a safe route. This app also has great detailed reviews of campgrounds including cellular coverage. Check it out!
Waze - Step one of camping, you have to get there right? Waze has been a great app for us, not just in driving to / from camping trips, but in our daily commutes and other trips. In our last trip there was heavy construction in our path. Waze actually changed courses and saved us time and gas from sitting in traffic.
BringFido - We have two pups, so when we are camping and want to go find a good coffee shop or somewhere local to eat when we venture out BringFido is a must have. We can quickly find canine friendly places.
GasBuddy - This free app shows the best fuel prices near you in real-time. We don’t use their Gas Buddy credit card, but the app does come in handy when we are checking fuel prices. It works in both the US and Canada.
CampSpots!
Recreation.gov - Our go-to app for booking sites when staying at federal government sites.
NCParks.gov - Because we live in NC and camp a lot in this great state, this is our primary site for state parks and other sites. Everything from boondocking to full hook-ups.
RV Parky - Overnight Dry Camping! Several businesses including casinos, Cracker Barrel, Camping World and even fraternal lodges allow overnight parking. The RV Parky app lists those that do.
North Carolina State Parks - Google My Maps - A great visual of all NC State Parks. We use this view a lot when we want to go to a certain area, or we are chasing to cooler / warmer temps. You can easily customize this kind of view for your area or wherever you want to camp.
Campspot - Great site for finding any type of campsite you want. You are able to search the items you require and find everything from quiet little campgrounds to RV Parks.
The Dyrt - Great site for looking up all kinds of campsites, good global map.
HipCamp - We absolutely LOVE HipCamp. A lot of these sites are on private land, great hosts, and near places that you want to visit without having to deal with campsites and RV parks. Some have hook ups but a lot that we have encountered are boondocking.
FreeRoam - FreeRoam is a 501(c)3 non-profit seeking to connect campers with nature in a sustainable way. It has a great list of sites and is constantly growing.
App - Tool Specific:
Because we boondock we use solar, and our Renogy apps are critical for us. We also have a back up camera that we use to back in as well as when driving (shows me anyone in that blind-spot. So we linked those below.
Renogy BT - Bluetooth connect app to monitor our solar panels, battery charging and charge controller.
Key Ring - Reward Cards - Key Ring keeps all your loyalty reward cards in one place. No need to attach those silly little cards to your key ring or fill up your wallet, just get this simple little app. It can alert you of sales and coupons, create shopping lists and help you find nearby deals. You can even store health insurance and library cards in here to cut down on clutter. The app is free and available for both iOS and Android.
AllTrails - This is THE GO TO if you like to hike. With both online and offline trail mapping, GPS tracking allows you to follow along on the trail, and you can even print trails.