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Step 1
Get a campground map and study it before you pick a site. Take a driving tour if allowable. Mark a north arrow on your map, if it doesn’t have one, and get ready to make notes on the map.
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Step 2
Drive past all sites and note where trees and forested areas are. Check locations of bathrooms, group picnic or recreation areas, ballfields, pools, beaches and garbage dumpsters. Note if you see any banks of lights around fields or buildings. If you can’t drive around before you check in, get as much information as you can from people at the front desk.
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Step 3
Note all campsites with trees on the south side of the site. They will get a decent amount of shade most of the day, and should be preferred. Note sites with shade trees on west or east sides, which get morning or afternoon shade.
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Step 4
Check the pattern of roadways in the campground. If there are cul-de-sac roads, pick a site on one of them because they will get less traffic. If the campground has circular roads, just avoid entrance and exit areas which may have traffic back-ups.
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Step 5
Try to keep your distance from noisy areas like public picnic or sports facilities. These areas may also be brightly lit up at night. Get a site near, but not right next to the bathrooms. Kids tend to be noisy around bathrooms and may hang around in groups. Also, don't pick a site that's too close to the garbage dumpsters, for obvious reasons.
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Step 6
Make sure the water and electricity are working at the site before you sign up. The best sites will have plenty of shade, be on a cul-de-sac, be close to bathrooms and far from noisy and night-lighted areas.
