Use These Apps to Find the Best Places to Camp, Hike, Swim, and Explore This Summer
Welcome to The Best Summer Ever , your guide to making the most of the sunny season. Whether your idea of the perfect summer is one of epic adventure or a blissful effort to do as little as possible, we’ve got you covered. Because the best summers don’t just happen—you have to make them.
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 where you live. If that sounds like you, but you don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the best websites and apps for getting outside and finding new places to explore this summer.
Best Apps and Websites for Finding Campsites
Camping is a classic summer activity if you can find a good spot. Personally, I recommend asking friends, family, and anyone else with local experience about campsites, but it can be tricky if you’re new or just visiting. Luckily, there are plenty of online tools for finding a campsite.
If you just want somewhere to pitch a tent—and you’re willing to put in a little work—FreeCampsites.net is always worth checking out. In the United States, it’s perfectly legal to camp on certain public lands, including most national forests, and it’s free. FreeCampsites points to some of the best campsites you can find on such public lands. It also highlights other free campsites offered by municipal governments. Now, this isn’t for everyone: Free campsites typically don’t have bathrooms, and they almost certainly won’t have running water or electricity. Personally, though, I’ve had great success using the site to find free places to stay during road trips.
If you prefer a little more convenience—and are willing to pay for camping—there are options. Recreation.gov is a U.S. government service that makes it easy to browse and book camping options in federal wilderness areas. Most states offer a similar service for state parks, as do most countries where camping is common.
If you’re not having any luck with government sites, there are other options. HipCamp is essentially an Airbnb for campsites. The benefit is that you’re getting access to campsites on private land, meaning you’ll have more options and (potentially) amenities. Another similar tool to check is The Dyrt . As with Airbnb, it’s worth paying close attention to the listing and customer reviews before booking. It’s also worth using a search engine to see if the campsite has a website or even just a phone number — sometimes booking directly can save you money.
Before you hit the road, check out this guide to all the camping gear you need (and some things you just need ).
Best Apps and Websites for Finding Walking Routes
Summer is the best time to get lost in a camping trip. As with campsites, it’s a good idea to ask people you know for recommendations before searching online, but there are also plenty of tools you can use to find great camping trips wherever you are.
All Trails is often mentioned in this section, and it does offer a lot of trails. Hikes usually have detailed descriptions with photos, lengths, and other information. The problem: This website tends to overwhelm visitors with a lot of pop-ups and upsells. Wikiloc is an alternative service full of user-submitted hikes that is better in this regard. Another thing to keep in mind is that many places have a local trail database. For example, I live in Oregon and usually find the best hikes using Oregon Hikers — I recommend doing some research and finding out if there is something similar in your state or region.
Finally, it’s a good idea to have an offline map handy while you’re hiking. When I’m on the trail, I like to use Organic Maps , a free, open-source app that works completely offline. I’ve used it on three continents, and it’s yet to go 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 you download the area you’re going to be hiking while you still have data.
Best Apps and Sites to Find Swimming Pools
There’s nothing quite like jumping into a pool for summer, but most people don’t have their own. The free site Places 2 Swim is the easiest way I’ve found to find local public pools near you. The site asks for your location and shows you public facilities that are open year-round. The actively curated site includes information about each pool, including size, dive options, and price. There’s also a phone number for each pool, making it easy to call someone if you have questions.
This works for public pools, but what if you want something more private or want to throw a pool party? In that case, you might want to check out Swimply , a site where pool owners make a little extra money by renting out their pool to others for a few hours. Prices and quality of pools vary widely, but it’s always cheaper than installing a pool in your own backyard. Just make sure you read the listing details and reviews carefully before booking.
The best apps and sites for walking around the city
Not everyone wants to leave civilization in the summer – that doesn’t mean you can’t spend time outside. I love a good city walk with friends, but what do you do if you’re not sure what’s worth seeing? There are a few apps that can give you some ideas. Whats-Near.me points out all the buildings, parks, and other attractions near you that have their own Wikipedia page. I’ve learned a lot about my neighborhood this way.
You can also check out services typically aimed at travelers, like Trip Advisor or Atlas Obscura , to find nearby attractions you might otherwise ignore. The idea is to find an excuse to get out and about. If you’re more game-motivated, there’s always Pokemon Go . Sure, the app’s heyday is long gone, but it can still be a fun way to force yourself to explore a little. Whatever it takes, enjoy your summer.