Use These Apps to Find the Best Places to Camp, Hike, Swim, and Explore This SummerWelcome to "Best Summer Ever," your guide to getting the most out of the sunny season. Whether your idea of a perfect summer is embarking on epic adventures or blissfully doing as little as possible, we've got you covered. Because the best summer doesn't just happen—you have to make it happen.
Summer is here, and this year is going to be different. This year you're going to get outside. You're going to camp, hike, swim, and explore the area you live in. If that's you, but you don't know where to get started, you've come to the right place. Here are a few of the best websites and apps for getting outside and finding new places to explore this summer.
Best apps and sites for finding campgrounds
Camping is a classic summer activity—assuming you can find a good spot. I personally recommend finding out about campsites from friends, family, and anyone else with local experience, but that's hard if you're new to a place or are just visiting. Fortunately, there are plenty of online tools for finding a place to camp.
If you just want somewhere to put down a tent—and are willing to rough it a little—the website FreeCampsites.net is always worth checking. In the United States, it is perfectly legal to camp on certain public lands, including most National Forests, and there's no cost. FreeCampsites points out some of the best campsites you can find in such public lands. It also highlights other free campsites offered by municipal governments. Now, this isn't for everyone: Free campsites usually won't have bathrooms, and almost certainly won't have running water or electricity. I've personally had a lot of success using this site to find free places to stay during road trips, though.
If you'd prefer a little more in the way of amenities—and are willing to pay for your campsite—there are options. Recreation.gov is a service of the U.S. government that makes it easy to browse and reserve camping options available in federally owned wilderness areas. Most states offer a similar service for state parks, as do most countries where camping is common.
If you don't have any luck on government sites, though, there are other options. HipCamp is essentially an Airbnb type service for campsites. The advantage here is that you get access to campsites on private property, meaning you'll have more options and (potentially) amenities. Another similar tool to check out is The Dyrt. As with Airbnb, it's a good idea to pay close attention to the listing and the customer reviews before booking. It's also worth using a search engine to see if a given campsite has its own website or even just a phone number—sometimes booking directly can save you money.
Before you head out, check out this guide for all the essential camping gear you need (and some things you'll just want).
Best apps and sites for finding hiking trails
Summer is the best time to lose yourself in a hike. As with campsites, it's a good idea to ask people you know for recommendations before checking online, but there are also plenty of tools you can use to find good hikes wherever you are.
All Trails is mentioned a lot in this space, and it does indeed offer a lot of trails. Hikes generally have thorough descriptions with photos, length, and other information. The problem: This website tends to inundate visitors with a lot of pop-ups and upsells. Wikiloc is an alternative service full of user-submitted hikes that's better on that front. Another thing worth remembering is that, in many places, there is a local database of trails. For example, I live in Oregon and generally find the best hikes using Oregon Hikers—I recommend doing some research and finding out if there's anything similar in your state or region.
Finally, it's a good idea to have an offline map handy during the hike itself. When I'm out on the trail, I like to use Organic Maps, a free and open-source application that works entirely offline. I've used it on three continents and it am yet to walk on a trail it doesn't have. I like being able to use turn-by-turn directions, or check how far I am from the next junction. Just make sure to download the region you're going to hike while you still have data.
Best apps and sites for finding pools
Nothing says summer quite like jumping into a pool, but most people don't have one of their own. The free website Places 2 Swim is the simplest way I've found to local public pools nearby. The site asks for your location and shows you public facilities that are open year round. The site, which is actively curated, includes information about each pool including size, diving options, and price. There's also a phone number for every pool, making it easy to call someone with questions.
That works for public pools, but what if you want something a bit more private, or to throw a pool party? In that case, you should check out Swimply, a website where pool owners make a little bit of extra money by letting others rent their pool for a few hours. The prices, and the quality of the pools, varies a lot, but it's invariably cheaper than putting a pool into your own backyard. Just make sure you review the listing details and reviews carefully before booking.
Best apps and sites for wandering the city
Not everyone wants to leave civilization during the summer—that doesn't mean you can't spend some time outside. I love a good urban wandering with friends, but what if you're not sure what's worth checking out? There are a few apps that can give you some bearings. The website Whats-Near.me points out all buildings, parks, and other landmarks near you that have their own Wikipedia page. I've learned a lot about my neighborhood this way.
You could also check out services usually intended for travelers, like Trip Advisor or Atlas Obscura, to find nearby attractions you might otherwise ignore. The idea is to find some excuse to walk around. If you're more of a game-motivated kind of person, there's always Pokemon Go. Sure, the app's heyday is long behind it, but it can still be a fun way to force yourself to do a little bit of exploring. Whatever it takes to get you out there, enjoying your summer.
Source:
Use These Apps to Find the Best Places to Camp, Hike, Swim, and Explore This Summer
Topic: Use These Apps to Find the Best Places to Camp, Hike, Swim, and Explore This Summer (Read 1118 times)
Similar topics (5)
May 18, 2025, 01:17:19 PM