App for Camping....

[Java Jack]

A friend and I are working on an app for camping and looking for some feedback.

What would you want in an app used for camping?

I am assuming some basic stuff like:
Campground Locations
Ability to search for campgrounds based upon various criteria (filters for region, amenities, etc.)
Campground Amenities
Directions/mapping - in route info like upcoming rest stops, etc.
Campground phone number, hours, etc.
Ability to upload/share pics
Ability to submit review

What else might you want or what do you think would be helpful?

Thanks for any suggestions, thoughts or feedback you are willing to share.

[Verna]

"Allstays--Camp & RV" is the iPhone app I use. It lists all types of campgrounds, state parks, city parks, Corp of Engineers. National Parks/Forests/Monuments, and BLM ground. I've traveled throughout the country for two years using this app and have always found a Campground/campsite and I know most of the specifics before I get there. Everything you mention is already in this app.

[Java Jack]

Thanks for the tip, I will check it out. I am on Android and see they have it for $9.99. Not sure if it is the same on iPhone or not but will check.

But are there things you would like that are missing from that app? Something that would make it better if it had it?

I know there are several other camping type apps out there but the ones I have seen so far come up short in one way or another so we thought we would build one. We already have a couple of other apps out there that have done OK.

By the way, ours will be free so hopefully people will try it out and see if it helps.

[jonw]

I use WeCampHere - you can also use it online at WeCampHere.com

[tony.latham]

"Allstays--Camp & RV" is the iPhone app I use. It lists all types of campgrounds, state parks, city parks, Corp of Engineers. National Parks/Forests/Monuments, and BLM ground. I've traveled throughout the country for two years using this app and have always found a Campground/campsite and I know most of the specifics before I get there. Everything you mention is already in this app.

Verna:

$10 is high for an app price. Does it work well for you? 'Seem to be complete? I try to avoid campgrounds since it's almost (90%) BLM and USFS around here but sometimes while on the road it's good to know where a "real" federal campground is if we don't have the time to hunt out something in the boonies.

Thanks,

Tony

[Woodbutcher]

Roadtrippers is as close as I have come to what I am looking for. I want to be able to put is a destination, and select a route. Then I want the App to let me know all the things that are of interest along my route. I don't really care about Camp Grounds. There are lots of those Apps. I want the weird or lesser known places along the way. Most Apps require you to put in the town you want to search and then it gives you things to see. I want to know those places before I leave so I can plan to see what I want before I am on top of it, or going through at a bad time. I would pay up to 5 bucks for a good App like this.

[Verna]

"Allstays--Camp & RV" is the iPhone app I use. It lists all types of campgrounds, state parks, city parks, Corp of Engineers. National Parks/Forests/Monuments, and BLM ground. I've traveled throughout the country for two years using this app and have always found a Campground/campsite and I know most of the specifics before I get there. Everything you mention is already in this app.

Verna:

$10 is high for an app price. Does it work well for you? 'Seem to be complete? I try to avoid campgrounds since it's almost (90%) BLM and USFS around here but sometimes while on the road it's good to know where a "real" federal campground is if we don't have the time to hunt out something in the boonies.

Thanks,

Tony

Tony, I traveled around the West this summer , from Indiana to Arizona last year, from Indiana to Ohio to Virginia last fall, and from Indiana to Washington, D.C. last month. This app is so much easier than getting out Woodall's campground book, or even Passport America. This app tells you if PA is accepted, or any other camping discount. I haven't boondocked on BLM grounds because there weren't any where I wanted to stay. I was able to find the USFS campgrounds in northern Utah, a small, clean city park in Illinois (a true blessing) when I thought I was going to have to spend the night in a Walmart parking lot, and although they were full, I found inexpensive USFS campgrounds in the boonies around Durango.

I have had the app for over 2 years and I don't think I paid $10 for it, but after using it, it has paid for itself. It is worth $10 to have it ready to find any campground. I got to McCall, Idaho 2 nights early for the little Guy gathering this summer. I was sick with a cold (of course, catch a nasty cold while you're on vacation), and I just wanted a quiet campsite to fix something to eat and to go to bed early. There was a Festival in town that weekend, so I just headed north out of town and found an oasis of a private campground 7 miles out of town. Yes, it was on the app, plus some directions to make sure you understood it was 1/2 mile off of the road and if you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't know it was there. Peace and quiet with a pond next to me and a trout stream behind me. Mary Van ended up camping in the next site because she needed a place to stay, too.

I've been searching the app for Arizona campgrounds, BLM, USFS campgrounds, state parks for an upcoming trip. I don't think I'll have any trouble finding a place to camp on the entire state. Lots of campsites to be found.

A nice thing about the app is that it will tell you how far it is from your current location. This comes in so handy when you've lost track of time, and daylight, in your sight seeing. And it give you dollar signs for how much it will cost: one $ for $10 or under, two $$ for $11 to $20, etc. I've immediately ruled out some $50+ campgrounds using this info.

If you live close, I'd let you check out the app on my phone.

[dales133]

I'm not sure if it's avaliable in the states but wikicamps is a great ap downunder

[tony.latham]

Well..... I just downloaded Roadtrippers App (thanks WoodButcher!) and Allstays (thanks Verna!) -Allstays really looks great BTW.

Boy..... did we (me?) hijack this thread?

Anywho.... what I'd like to see in an app are these details:

-Nearby Federal and state campgrounds. (based on my GPS'd location)
-Fees?
-Details about 'em
-How popular are they? Do they fill up fast like my two favs in Yellowstone?
-Are they open year-around or do they have seasonal dates?
-If I were a tent camper... are they open to hard-sided campers only? Do the grizzlies only eat the tenties?
-any interesting stuff nearby?
-Is the hunting season open on generators in the campground?
-And I like the idea of being able to rate 'em and add photos.
-Perhaps maybe a way to upload boondock sites? (But I'm not giving up the one at the Dewey Graveyard...)

T

[Java Jack]

thanks for bringing this back on topic.

i appreciate your feedback. If you think of anything else you might want in an app, please let me know.

think of this as a chance to have input on an app in development...if you could have anything you want, what would it be...what makes it perfect for you?

[Vedette]

"Allstays--Camp & RV" is the iPhone app I use. It lists all types of campgrounds, state parks, city parks, Corp of Engineers. National Parks/Forests/Monuments, and BLM ground. I've traveled throughout the country for two years using this app and have always found a Campground/campsite and I know most of the specifics before I get there. Everything you mention is already in this app.

Hi Verna
Are you coming to the Great North West in 2015!
Check your app for things you would like to see in B.C. and Washington????
You are such a Great TD traveller.....we would love to hear some of your stories around a campfire here at the Farm. Free Camping!!!!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[samblam]

I'm evaluating if I want Allstays. I'm about to leave to go pick up my camper 16 hrs away over this holiday weekend. Roadtrippers has helped me plan a few things! I'm pretty excited to catch my first farmers market of the year and try a farm/ice cream place outside of Indianapolis. It's full of great spots. You should add your own, if you get a chance!

[Mary C]

I'd like to include in amenities washer and driers. or where to do laundry, in near cities.

[2bits]

It would be helpful to somehow poll the topography maps that some carriers will have on their websites to show what kind of coverage is available and since elevation affects coverage that they sometimes don't tell you about, have a section to allow feedback specific (no text field but just a star rating for cell coverage). Then a "once you are there" section for weather, lightning, nearby attractions. Maybe a "find a friend" feature that has a proximity limit for other users that are using the app. Could work for when you are hiking and want to locate each other.

[deleted]

I'd like to be able to see two things:

1. Is there an age limit on the trailers they allow to stay? Some say if your trailer was built before ______ year it cannot stay in their park.

2. Do they require a RVIA certification sticker? I ran into this problem once so far but flew under the radar because they forgot to ask until the next morning.

Either would be an unpleasant thing to learn about upon arrival at a campground and I've seen enough comments online to know that people are often surprised to be turned away when it does happen.