Characteristics of a great campsite
- A campfire ring: Whether it is just a circle of stones or a metal fire ring with a grate, having a specified area in which to set up your campfire is ideal.
- A level site: A level campsite is beneficial for a few reasons. In the event that it rains, you don't want water running through or pooling in your site. Also, sleeping on an even surface is much more comfortable.
- A tent pad: A tent pad can be be poured concrete, or small gravel stones. Either one is preferable to setting up your tent in the dirt. A tent pad can save you from tracking dirt and mud into your tent.
- Grass: Having a campsite with grass is great, especially in the event of rain.Grass will absorb the rain to a certain extend and like a tent pad, will save from cleaning up a muddy mess.
- Privacy: Privacy is a must when selecting a campsite. The site your choose should provide you a bit of distance between you and your neighbors, as well as some trees, bushes and landscaping provide some separation from your fellow campers.
- Proximity: Choosing a site which is close, but not too close, to the bath house is important. Trust me, the shorter the distance you need to walk in the middle of the night to use the restroom the better. Be aware that the closer you are to the bathroom, the more foot traffic you will have around your site.
- Picnic table: For me, the picnic table is the camping command center. This is usually where everything happens, from food prep to planning the days activities.
Your local KOA is a great place for novice campers to get their start. KOA's typically have a general store stocked with many items that you may have forgotten, firewood for sale, designated campfire rings, bath houses with showers, WiFi and electricity (depending on the site you choose). All this convenience comes at a price, as KOA's tend to be more crowded.
State parks are another great option. They typically have fire wood for sale, but it is not common for them to have elaborate general stores. State Parks also tend to charge less per night than KOA's do.
It is wise to look up your campground before your trip to get an idea of what they have to offer. Often they will have a map of the campground on their website, thus enabling you to choose your campsite wisely.
