Prospecting for Campsites ?

[Dan & Julie CO]

The weather today in southern Colorado is beautiful a 71 degrees here at home it was 46 this morning so we set out.
our destination "Eleven Mile lake state park" we arrived to see ice shacks and and augers the park is located behind Pikes peak where it is much cooler the drive was great just didn't expect ice fishing
does anybody else prospect for campsites?

here is a link to the parkhttp://parks.state.co.us/Parks/ElevenMile/Pages/ElevenMileHome.aspx

[tearhead]

Oh, definitely! If we happen to be driving through an area and see a state park we'll drive through and make notes of good sites. Did that when we went to the Camp-Inn Campoutt last fall--prospected at a nearby county park.

[mechmagcn]

Uh, isn't that the way it's supposed to be done I have found some real jewels by just passing through while I was in the area.

[Miriam C.]

I have a long history of heading down a dirt road! Now that I have a computer I look at State owned land, Birding and Natural Resources land.

Really I agree with SC, put google on a spot, zoom in and see where the nearest lake is. Google will have a "search nearby" button. That will find you camping.

[Dan & Julie CO]

I was pondering, is prospecting taking the fun and surprise out of the equation?
I guess I don't want any unwanted surprises any way what ways do you prospect for campsites?
Miriam & Slowcowboy had a good suggestion with the "google earth" street level

[S. Heisley]

I have been known to go to a specific area and spend the whole day just looking at campgrounds, just for the fun of it. Like you, I don't like surprises. Driving through a campground and stopping to check out the facilities is wise. Whenever I am visiting an area that's a little far for a whole day look and see, I verify as much as I can and then find all the other nearby campgrounds and check them out while I'm there.

Some years back, in a local national park campground, I didn't verify first and soon found it was one of the worst places that I had ever stayed in. Who would have thought that a National Park would be bad?! It turned out that the camping portion was leased out to a concession-type firm to manage and it looked like they were simply working the facilities to suck out all the profits they could. ...Lessen learned. I've also driven to a campground only to find the gate padlocked with a closed sign on the gate. ...Not nice. Now days, I usually call the available phone number and check before I make plans. Also, the Rangers are wonderful advice givers and are eager to help when you call or visit their stations.

[Big Dan]

I use google,I also like the USFS web sites Most of them will show you pics of each camp site. witch is nice if you have to reserve a spot and have not been there yet. When I hear about a gathering, I'll google map it, Then I'll drag the map through the route to see the type of drive it would be.If its more than a days drive you can find a place to overnight.

[Wolfgang92025]

Most trips we check out campgrounds in the area.
Almost always use the web to gather as much info as possible.
That being said, nothing beats looking at the place with your own eyes and using your judgment to see if it fits your needs.

Last trip we stayed at Aqua Caliente county park in Anza Borrego State Park. Scouted out the other smaller county park (Vallecito) about 5 miles up the road. I was talking to the campground host while looking at a posted area map and saw a campground I had seen on other maps I have but without a lot of info. The host was able to tell me more about the campground and were I could get the detailed map I was looking at. Stopped by Blair Valley primitive campground on the way home and found the next place we want to try to set up camp.

The things that attracted us the the area are free camping, nice scenery and lots of room were we can let the dogs off of the leads and just watch as they get to run around and just be dogs.

[Beachbuggy]

One of the best campsites I was ever at was found off the beaten path.
We were traveling in Kentucky I believe, and saw a small sign on the side of the road.
Followed it and got us a nice little site right on the river.
Fellow who owned it was the nicest guy you ever met and the bathrooms were the best I ever seen, even in a KOA!

They were set up just the way I would design a bathroom, they had a mirrored section with a table away from the sinks!

Every time I go to a state park and there are girl scouts or just lots of ladies, I can never use the sink for all the make-up and hair fixing time going on at the sinks.

A woman definitely designed his bathroom.

[Dan & Julie CO]

What method works best, drive by, internet, word of mouth?
this is all new to me trying to figure most bang for the buck
methodology tells me alot

[CAJUN LADY]

Dan n' Julie, all of the above! I find campsites online, word of mouth, driving by.....If I hear of one that someone really likes, if it's within an hour and a half, I may take a ride to check out the sites. I bring my camera, (always) take pictures and make notations of the sites I like.

You never know when someone might ask if anyone has been to a certain campground and you have pictures of the sites, or vice versa.

[Lookfar]

To me, it is mainly a matter of how close they are. I'm more than willing to drive a reasonable distance to avoid an unpleasant surprise. I don't mind an imperfect park (like most), I just don't much care for surprises. A few bucks worth of gas and some driving is well worth the effort.

[CAJUN LADY]

To me, it is mainly a matter of how close they are. I'm more than willing to drive a reasonable distance to avoid an unpleasant surprise. I don't mind an imperfect park (like most), I just don't much care for surprises. A few bucks worth of gas and some driving is well worth the effort.

I agree Butch! I heard about this campground about 45 minutes from my house...people just loved it and all it had to offer. I went take a ride and the campsites were on top of each other, seriously. You could barely fit your vehicle next to your trailer. Glad I visited before I wasted my money.

[Beachbuggy]

To me, it is mainly a matter of how close they are. I'm more than willing to drive a reasonable distance to avoid an unpleasant surprise. I don't mind an imperfect park (like most), I just don't much care for surprises. A few bucks worth of gas and some driving is well worth the effort.

I agree Butch! I heard about this campground about 45 minutes from my house...people just loved it and all it had to offer. I went take a ride and the campsites were on top of each other, seriously. You could barely fit your vehicle next to your trailer. Glad I visited before I wasted my money.

We stayed at a sight like that this weekend.
We had been to that campground one time before and our sight was less than desirable. It was a circle with campers on each side, no trees and very close together.
We went there again knowing it had another loop, so we asked to be there, figured it had to be better....wrong!
It literally was a parking lot with all the campers squeezed in. Each one did have a table and fire ring behind the spot but you were snuggled up with your neighbor. Those were the good sites the ones in the middle of the lot didn't even have a table or ring, just the back end of the camper on the other side of you.
And this was a State Park.

[PKCSPT]

I like to drive through when I have time or the internet but yoy can't always tel how close the sites are.
Everyone has different ideas on what makes a good campground.
Though I prefer to be camping in dispersed areas.