How to Pick the Perfect Campsite

How to Pick the Perfect Campsite

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3 min read

Picture this: your dates are booked and you’ve got your eye on the perfect campground. Now comes the fun part, picking your site. Seems simple enough, right? Not quite. There’s a bit more to it than just clicking the first option that pops up. But don’t worry, this guide will walk you through it so you can lock in the best spot for your crew and make the most of your stay.

Pre-Booking Tips:

  • Don’t Go In Blind: While you're not able to book a campsites prior to the opening day, you can take time to view images online in the reservation portal. You can use these photos to scope out the sites at your desired campgrounds and get an idea of the potential contenders.
  • Know Your Equipment: Are you picking a site for a trailer or a tent? Do you also have a kitchen tent? Make sure you know how much space you need for set-up as most reservation platforms will make you enter in the size and type of equipment you’re bringing. Be aware that some campgrounds put a limit on the size and quantity of equipment you're allowed on a site.
  • Do Your Research: As weather continues to be more and more unpredictable, monitor if any parts of the campground have been recently affected by severe weather events such as flooding, wildfires, or strong wind storms. Natural disasters such as these drastically change park conditions, so you can’t always rely on reservation portal images to accurately depict campsites as they may not be up to date.
A young woman cooking on a portable propane camp stove on a log overlooking a lake and distant mountains

Campsite Criteria:

When you’re scouting out campsites, here’s our guide of things that you should consider before booking:

  • On-Site Shade & Coverage: No one wants to come back to a tent-turned-sauna after their morning hike. Looking for tree coverage that will offer shade for portions of the day can be a welcome method of cooling off on those scorching summer days
  •  Proximity to Washrooms: This can go either way. If you’re camping with the whole family, or, you would just rather not have to run far when nature calls, having a washroom nearby can be super convenient. On the other hand, if you’d prefer to have less foot traffic around your campsite, especially in the evening and nighttime, you might decide that you’d rather have a healthy distance between your site and the washrooms.
  •  Lakefront: Breakfast with a view? Yes please! These sought-after sites offer plenty of perks: views, direct access to the water and an extra breeze. Be prepared to be first in the queue to snag one of these, especially if you plan to camp on a long weekend.
A young woman sitting in an orange hammock eating popcorn and facing an outdoor projector screen
  • Privacy Between Sites: Depending on the campground you go to, the sites may be quite large and have plenty of trees and foliage on the outskirts to provide some privacy between one another, while some are much more open and exposed to neighbours. This can vary a lot between and within campgrounds, so be sure to look at supplied campsite images, if available, to avoid having to wave at your neighbour three sites down. When in doubt, throw some paracord in your pack to make a clothesline curtain with your towels to ensure some privacy.
  • Terrain: What does your camping set-up look like? Are you trekking in with a small tent and sleeping pads or with a fully stocked trailer? Some campsites are on gravel pads while others are a mix of grass, mud, rocks and tree roots. Trailers are equipped to handle rougher, bumpier terrain, so this isn’t as big of a concern, but for all the tenters out there, you want to try pin-point a level spot for your tent in advance. Tree roots and slopes also must be considered by tent-campers; not only will these make for an uncomfortable sleep, but could also be the difference between staying dry and having a splash pad in your tent after a storm.
  • Electric Hook-Up: Not essential, but certainly nice to have, electric hook-up is a little luxury that will let you bring plug-in coolers and power bars to keep everyone connected. Keep in mind that not every site at every campground is serviced, so these are typically reserved quicker than the non-serviced sites.
A young woman leans against an open car trunk at a campsite while enjoying her morning coffee
  • Water Taps: We know that no one likes lugging the freshly-filled water cooler back to the campsite. Being a quick walk from a water tap means water bottles are topped up ASAP and dish-duty flies by.
  •  Walk-In vs. Parking: Not all campsites are adjacent to parking spots. While they’re usually not too far of a walk, some campsites do require you to park your vehicle in a designated area and transport your gear to the site on foot. Therefore, these sites are not ideal for trailers or RVs and are best-suited for those in tents. If you prefer to have peace of mind by always having your vehicle in sight, or, you like to have easy access to the gear kept in your vehicle, this likely isn’t an ideal set-up for you.
  • Proximity to Traffic: Imagine driving three hours out of the city to relax and enjoy nature, just to be met with a fleet of semi-trucks flying down the highway just outside the campground. No one wants that. Be mindful of a campsite’s proximity to major roadways as this will cause more consistent noise pollution. Choose a site further into the campground for a greater chance of quieter, more serene time in the wilderness.

With all that in mind, we're sure you'll pick a campsite that fits just right. A little planning
goes a long way when it comes to making your camping trip as relaxing — or adventure-packed — as you want it to be. Whether you’re after shade, a killer lake view, or a little extra privacy, knowing what to look for makes all the difference. So take your time, do a little homework, and you’ll be kicking back at your perfect campsite in no time. Happy camping!