Best App for campsites

posted in: Camper tips | 0

There are many apps available on the market, unfortunately there is no single app for campsites that would list all of them. Some apps allow additional functionality such as booking and payment and for some campsites it is only possible to make payment through specific app. So you might end up with multiple apps if you are visiting paid campsites. Below is the list of my most used apps and why I use them. If you wanted to use only one app, I recommend Campercontact.

Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliation or sponsorship with any of the apps mentioned

Some campsites or parking places are free, some are paid. This is the most expensive campsite I visited so far, but it is my favorite also. In Norway for 450NOK/night

Campercontact

Cost: Free, with paid premium account option

Location: It is open for whole world, but mostly covers campsites in Europe. 

Campercontact is an App where users submit locations they have stayed at. Sometimes the campsite owner submits their own campsite. The App contains both free parking as well as paid campsites or only service sites. Other users can add pictures and reviews. This is by far the best app listing many of the campsites in the other Apps mentioned below. If you want to use only single app, I would highly recommend this one. Extra features such as search with filters is only available for paid premium account.

More HERE 

Most people recommend park4night as the best App, but I find Campercontact the superior app between the two of them, also for free parking. Here is aerial view on free parking place in Spain. Fantastic location which is not listed on park4night. You can see the campsite on the left side.

Park4night

Cost: Free, with paid premium account option

Location: It is open for whole world, but mostly covers campsites in Europe.

Park4night is similar App to Campercontact, where users submit and review the locations of free and paid campsites. It is the most known and used. However from my experience, I would say 95% of the campsites on Park4night are also on Campercontact, but Campercontact has significantly more campsites than park4night. However I still like to use park4night for the 5% in case I can not find campsite in specific location or area. It does happen occasionally, that there is nice campsite on park4night which is not on Campercontact.

More HERE

Unique paid campsite in Tubbehaugen in Norway, where donkeys graze freely outside your camper. You might also see small lake where you can use kayaks, SUP board and boats for free. Not on park4night, only on Campercontact

Camping-Car Park

Cost: Free

Location: Mainly France, low number of campsites in other countries

Camping-car Park is great App, which is mainly specific to France. It covers network of campsites that offer standard service: secure (usually with fence and camera), water, disposal of grey/black water and electricity. Some campsite additionally have restrooms and/or bathrooms although often these are only open in high season. The price in France is on average around 13 EUR. You can also pay 5EUR to usage of 5h, which is ideal if you want to park somewhere safely for quick trip, plus refill and empty. Most of the campsites are also on Campercontact, however I still use the Camping-car app, because it will always show you up to date number of available spots. Depending on the site, booking might be also possible, but I have never used it. For this network, you will need to get a physical card and top it up with money online or through the terminal at the site in order to pay. I recommend getting the card shipped to your home before the trip if possible to save a little bit of stress/hustle, but its also possible to get it from terminal during your very first visit. 

More HERE

One of the Camping-car park campsites in France. It did have facilitiy building but unfortunately closed during the season. Electricity, emptying, water and safety for average price of 13 EUR/night.

TripStop

Cost: Free

Location: Mainly Spain, low number of campsites in Portugal

I find that TripStop is one of the best Apps for finding campsites in Spain. It has mostly free parkings, but some paid ones also. Some campsite owners also offer booking and payment only through TripStop. This is my preferred App for Spain as actually it had more campsites than Campercontact. 

More HERE

Another unique campsite, this one in Sweden. Paid campsite where you could also pay for a tour to feed the bisons. Or just watch them graze right next to the fence by the campsite.

ACSI

Cost: App is free, but need subscription to benefit from savings

Location: Europe

I advise you to get ACSI app only if you are subscribed to ACSI annual plan. ACSI annual plan offers discount, however mostly in low season. Usually there is fixed price for camper place including electricity, 2 people and one pet. The App then contains list of campsites which offer discount for ACSI subscribers. Most of the campsites are also listed on Campercontact, but it might be handy to search still on this App to filter out the ones that offer discount. Also information on campercontact might be outdated, such as current price or promotion validity dates. 

More HERE

Some campsites are paid, but might include free laundry. This marina campsite in Sweden was 200 SEK (20 EUR) and had beautiful facilities including free showers and free laundry and dryer.

Google Maps

Cost: Free

Location: Worldwide

Google maps can be also amazing source of campsites, however the search can be bit tricky. If you want free parking, you can search for “parking” at desired location, but then you still need to research if you can actually park there, because it might not be allowed to camp overnight or there might be height barrier. If you search for campsite, you will get also campsites which are not suitable for vans or campers, such as tent or caravan campsites. 

More HERE

Norway is camper paradise and offers many free park ups, this one was on Campercontact, but you could also google or just drive until you see a spot that you like. As long as there is no sign prohibiting overnight camping, you are free to park, provided you dont leave any trace.

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