Welcome

The U.S. National Forest Campground Guides are one of the most comprehensive resources available for camping on public lands in the United States.

Originally created by Fred and Suzi Dow, the guides document:

• 155 National Forests
• 20 National Grasslands
• 1 National Tallgrass Prairie
• 2,383 developed campgrounds

Their research focused on campgrounds with 10 or more designated sites and was built on extensive, firsthand fieldwork across the country.

Today, April and Tom Maher are continuing that legacy—preserving, updating, and expanding the campground database, website, and guidebooks for a new generation of travelers.

The New Generation of Guides

The newly updated National Forest Camping Guides series includes:

• Regional guidebooks covering campgrounds by Forest Service region
• A complete National guide combining all regions

And the newest release:
National Forest Camping Near National Parks — featuring handpicked campgrounds near major parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton, helping you camp smarter while avoiding crowds.

Each guide is carefully designed to help you:

• Discover developed campgrounds across U.S. National Forests
• Plan trips by region, state, or forest
• Access consistent, detailed campground information
• Explore public lands beyond the most heavily visited destinations

With updated content, improved design, and expanded coverage, the guides continue to evolve—while staying true to their original mission: helping people discover incredible camping experiences on America’s public lands.