Choose a general location where you’d like to camp. Consider the time of the year and the temperature when selecting a location to camp.
Locate national and state parks in that area. To locate a national park, go to the National Park Service’s website and click on the state where you’d like to camp. Green areas denote national parks. Alternately, you may use the federal government’s Recreation.gov website to enter a general location where you’d like to camp. The site will return a list of government-owned parks, including national and state parks and land owned by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other government agencies.
Go to the individual website for the park where you’d like to camp. On the National Park Service’s site, you do this by simply clicking on the green portion of the map corresponding with a location where you’d like to camp. On state park departments’ websites, you may have to click on a location from a map or you may be asked to select a park from a list.
Find a link for a page with information on reserving a camping space and associated fees. On some sites, you may be able to reserve online, while others may require you to call a number to reserve. Follow the instructions provided by the individual park’s website to reserve your camping spot.
Pack as you would for any other camping trip, making sure to bring sufficient provisions for your trip. Research the individual park of your choice to find out what specific activities are available at your park of choice, such as swimming, hiking or cave diving, to ensure that you pack the appropriate supplies for these activities.
