How can we help?

Outdoorithm helps families discover established campgrounds on America's public lands. We aggregate data from Recreation.gov, ReserveCalifornia, state park systems, and more to help you search, compare, and book the perfect campsite. We're a mission-driven company partnered with Outdoorithm Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Yes. All core features, including campground search, weather forecasts, availability alerts, and Camp Sage AI, are free for everyone. Premium Supporters get higher limits and no ads, but nothing is locked behind a paywall.

No account is needed to search and browse campgrounds. You'll need a free account to set availability alerts, use Camp Sage AI, save favorites, and access personalized features.

We currently cover 10,000+ campgrounds across all 50 states, with 1.5M+ reviews analyzed. This includes national parks, national forests, BLM lands, state parks, and more.

Our system automatically checks campground availability every 2 minutes across 150,000+ campsites. When a reservation is cancelled and a site becomes available that matches your alert criteria (dates, campground, etc.), we instantly notify you via email, SMS, or push notification so you can book it before anyone else.

Yes! Free accounts get 1 active campground alert with 5-minute scans and full SMS/email/push notifications. Premium Supporters ($60/year) get 5 alerts with faster 2-minute scans. Need even more? Purchase additional alert packs anytime.

We monitor all campgrounds on Recreation.gov (national parks, national forests, BLM lands, Army Corps of Engineers) plus state park systems including ReserveCalifornia, ReserveAmerica, and many others. This includes popular destinations like Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Big Sur, Yellowstone, Zion, Grand Canyon, and thousands more.

Our system scans for availability every 2 minutes and sends notifications within 30 seconds of detecting an opening. This speed is critical because popular campsites at places like Yosemite or Big Sur often get rebooked within minutes of a cancellation.

No, we don't book campsites for you. When we detect availability, we send you an alert with a direct link to the official reservation site (Recreation.gov or the park's booking system). You complete the booking yourself — no middleman, no extra fees, no markup.

You can set alerts for entire campgrounds or filter by specific criteria like site type (tent, RV, cabin), amenities, or loop. This lets you target exactly the kind of campsite you're looking for rather than getting notifications for sites that don't meet your needs.

Yes, using campsite availability alerts is completely legal. We simply monitor publicly available information on Recreation.gov and state park booking systems, then notify you when availability changes. You still book directly through the official reservation sites using your own account.

Recreation.gov reservations typically open 6 months in advance on a rolling basis at 7:00 AM Pacific Time (10:00 AM Eastern). For example, if you want to camp on July 15th, reservations would open on January 15th at 7:00 AM PT. Some high-demand campgrounds like those in Yosemite have special rules.

ReserveCalifornia (California State Parks) reservations open 6 months in advance at 8:00 AM Pacific Time. The system uses a rolling window, so new dates become available daily.

The 'sliding modification' strategy lets you book earlier than the official window. Book the maximum nights allowed (usually 7-14) ending on your desired checkout date, then modify or trim your reservation later to keep only the nights you want. This can give you a 7-14 day head start.

Don't give up! Cancellations happen every day. Set up a free campsite availability alert and we'll notify you instantly via text or email when a site opens up. Many campers successfully book sold-out campgrounds this way.

Be logged in and ready exactly when reservations open. Have your payment info saved beforehand. Use a fast internet connection. Have backup campground choices ready. Consider booking the maximum nights first, then trimming later. Set up cancellation alerts as a backup plan.

Yes, most public campground booking systems require full payment at the time of reservation. Recreation.gov, ReserveCalifornia, and most state systems charge the full amount plus any booking fees immediately. Refund policies vary by provider.

Camp Sage is our AI-powered camping assistant that helps you find the perfect campground. Ask it questions like 'Where should I camp near Yosemite with kids?' or 'What's the best beach camping in California?' and it will provide personalized recommendations based on our database of campground reviews, amenities, and conditions.

Yes, Camp Sage is free for all users with limited messages per month. Premium Supporters get 100 messages per month for more in-depth planning conversations.

Camp Sage draws from our database of real campground data, reviews, and verified information. Its recommendations are based on actual campground attributes, sentiment analysis, and user reviews — not generic web content.

Each campground page features personalized gear recommendations based on the campground's location, activities, amenities, and climate. We suggest essential gear, activity-specific items, comfort upgrades, and items to fill amenity gaps.

Gear nomination allows you to suggest products you believe should be added to our collection. Fill out the nomination form with the product's name, description, and a link to where you found or purchased it.

No, nominations cannot be edited once submitted. Please review your entry before submitting. If you need to correct something, contact us or submit a new nomination.

Premium Supporters get 100 Camp Sage AI messages per month, 5 availability alerts with 2-minute scans, an ad-free experience, and the knowledge that their membership supports guided camping trips for families historically excluded from outdoor spaces through Outdoorithm Collective.

Yes. Cancel anytime from your account settings. You'll keep Premium benefits until your billing period ends, then return to the free tier with full access to all features.

Outdoorithm Collective is our 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner. A portion of our profits supports the Collective's mission: guided camping trips, gear grants, and education for families historically excluded from outdoor spaces.

We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe. Your payment info is encrypted and never stored on our servers.

Click 'Sign up' in the top navigation. You can create an account with your email address or sign in with Google. It takes less than a minute.

Click 'Sign in', then 'Forgot password?' Enter your email address and we'll send you a password reset link. Check your spam folder if you don't see the email within a few minutes.

We use your data to personalize your experience, send alert notifications, and improve our platform. We never sell your personal information to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Contact us through our contact page or send us feedback requesting account deletion. We'll process your request and remove your personal data from our systems.