Are most good camping destinations (that require paid reservations) in
the U.S. government owned or privately owned?  Are there any good
resources I can check out on this
topic?

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 20 Jan 2003 19:39 PST

When you say "most good camping destinations" it seems that the only
answer can be an opinionated one. Is this acceptable to you or do you
require irrefutable evidence?

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by nellie_bly-ga on 20 Jan 2003 19:41 PST

Hi-

Many good campgrounds do not require PAID reservations.
There are many commercial campgrounds, as well as national, state,
county and municipal parks/campgrounds in the United States.

What kind of camping experience are you seeking -- RV, popup camper,
tent, backpacking?  What amenities do you want -- pool, cable,
electricity, seclusion, etc, etc.
Are you interested in a particular region of the country or
nationwide?

Any information you can provide will help a researcher provide a more
useful answer.

Thank you.

Nellie Bly
Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by aaman003-ga on 20 Jan 2003 20:35 PST

Let's change the word "good" to "popular."  I'm basically wondering if
there are many camping destinations out there that are privately
owned, or if everything is government owned.  In response to
nellie_bly:  I am looking for all types of camping amenities --
anything pertaining to outdoor reservations (TV, RV, electricity, no
electricity, cabins, no cabins, it really doesn't matter)  I'm looking
for general info.  To clarify, this question pertains to the camping
reservations industry -- it is not for myself in planning a camping
trip.  I am interested in nationwide camping destinations.

I am only interested in campgrounds that require paid reservations. 
Are these reservations set by the government?  Do they fluctuate or
are they open to a little negotiation (like hotels)?  I hope this
helps.  Please let me know.

Hello aaman003-ga,

I’ve collected a broad selection of sites that should help you scope
out the private camping industry and how reservations are handled by
both the public and private camping destinations. I’ve included
reservations services, camping portals, industry associations and
several large private camping companies. Good luck with your
explorations.

czh


http://www.reserveamerica.com/jsp/homepage.jsp?goto=/home/history.html
ReserveAmerica was founded in 1984 as a software development company
specializing in innovative solutions for the municipal recreation
industry. In 1992, the Company broadened its focus to pursue
opportunities in the camping industry and developed its Campground
Management Solution (CMS) product for state and federal park systems.

http://www.camping-usa.com/
Portal site with links to camping resources.

http://www.campingconnection.com/
Portal site for many resources including
In addition there are listings of National as well as State and
Provincial Parks by state and province and detailed information on
private campgrounds throughout North America. Our goal is to offer a
one-stop resource where campers can find all the information they need
to plan their next outdoor adventure.

http://www.koa.com/
As North America's camping leader, only KOA offers toll-free
reservations, clean restrooms, playgrounds and pools, and a variety of
lodging options from level RV sites to our exclusive cabins (Kamping
Kabins®), Cottages and Lodges.

http://www.campresorts.com/
America's Finest Private Campgrounds
Campground Memberships Broker Specializing in the Establishment of a
"Home Resort"

http://www.akisscamping.com/aboutus.htm
A Kiss Camping was developed to inform the average consumer about
Membership Camping across America. We have been in this business for
over 15 years and now is your chance to learn more about the amazing
adventures that await you across the nation. We offer memberships to
the following RV Camping Clubs.

http://www.campground-memberships.com/
AMERICAN CAMPGROUND MEMBERSHIPS SALES
A Division of Camp Resorts Marketing
http://www.campground-memberships.com/ResortLocator.asp
RV Campground Directory 2002

http://www.basecamps.org/
Base Camps of America

http://www.prd.state.or.us/images/pdf/scorp_roles.pdf
Public-Private Sector Recreation Roles
This is an interesting project from the Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department. The evaluation form matrix might be very helpful for
identifying segments of the industry.

http://www.rvlinks.org/
RV Links is a public service site of Base Camps of America , a
nonprofit, educational, consumer services organization.
Large collection of links
http://www.campingworld.com/campsearch/index.cfm?effortID=809
Campground Search

http://www.ecampsolutions.com/ecs/CoInfo.asp
Camp Solutions LLC was founded by people with experience working in
the camp industry for three specific reasons:
1) To provide complete guest reservations, camp registration and
facility operations software.
2) To launch an informational, departmentally-focused industry hub
where members of the camping industry can collaborate with others in
their field, as well as provide a comprehensive web resource for
persons seeking a camp or conference center.
3)To create the first camping industry alumni web site where former
campers and staff members can reunite and reminisce.

http://www.zeal.com/category/preview.jhtml?cid=263619
Directory of camping resources

http://www.pahaque.com/news_info4.html
Camping Industry Fact Sheet

http://www.arvc.org/
The National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC), represents
campground owners seeking to gain the advantages of national
promotion, group purchasing power and national advocacy for the
industry. ARVC is the only national association exclusively
representing the interests of all commercial RV parks and campgrounds
in the United States.

SEARCH STRATEGY
camping
private camping industry

Good list of resources, but it would have been nice to have a
paragraph that summarized overall findings.

actually, I believe, most national parks are publicly owned and it's
upkeep paid through our taxes.

But here is a public lands report (very in-depth analysis from various
viewpoints.

http://www.perc.org/publications/publiclands.html