The Recreation.gov iPhone app is destined to be one of those “How did we ever live without it?” RV camping utilities. Whether you’re on the road and looking for a place to stop, or planning the Great American Road Trip, the app cuts down on time spent searching for the ideal RV campsite.
It’s hard to believe a slowly moving behemoth like the federal government could come up with something so snappy, but their fderally-funded developer team hit a home run with this one.
The Recreation.gov app helps you locate your ideal campgrounds at national parks, forests and other federal recreation facilities. From your phone you can check on current availability information for federal campsites, cabins, day-use areas and other sites. The app displays them all using a map or list.
Tell the app your location and it will give you the nearest public facilities near you.
Choose the facilities you want in a campsite. Hookups? Dry camping? Pull-thrus? Restrooms? Pet friendliness?You can get as specific as you want. The app will tell you if your wishes are granted.
Pinpoint the dates you’ll be camping, then check to see what campsites are available.
You’ll never have to wonder what the scenery looks like: the Recreation.gov app also includes descriptions, details and photos of the campground and all its available campsites.
Save your favorites by creating specific search settings or just bookmark your favorite campgrounds. The app will remember what you wanted to search for. You can even Tweet your favorites or post the to Facebook, right from the app.
About the only place where Recreation.gov app developers fall short is the app doesn’t offer push notifications that alert you to upcoming campgrounds on your current trajectory. Another component missing is the ability to add photos to the campground descriptions, the way other handy campground research websites like campgroundreviews.com allows users to do.
Once you decide on your campsite, the app will whisk you away to Recreation.gov website where you can make a reservation. Of course if you want to do it the old school way, you can also call the Recreation.gov telephone reservation desk and speak to a live agent.
This little Recreation.gov app is a must for anyone who spends time in the great outdoors. No RVing camper should be without it. Download it from the App Store today. It’s like having your own personal camping concierge in your back pocket!
Often called “The O.G. of full-time RVing,” Rene Agredano and her husband Jim Nelson hit the road in a fifth wheel trailer in 2007, after their dog Jerry lost a leg to terminal cancer. Sixteen years later they are still traveling and sharing their nomadic adventures at LiveWorkDream. As a self-employed wordsmith, Rene shares her expertise for many RV industry videos, publications such as the Escapees RV Club Magazine, and has authored numerous books, including the Essential RVing Guide to National Parks, and Income Anywhere, a guide to earning money on the road. She has been featured in global media outlets including the PBS documentary “NATURE: Why We Love Cats and Dogs,” The Guardian Sunday Edition, and the Dan Pink book Free Agent Nation.
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