9 Free Camping Apps to Download Before Your Next Adventure

Camping is packed with amazing benefits: fresh air, improved mood, better sleep — the list is endless. Unfortunately, all of those positives often come with a lot of work. You need to think about where to set up camp, what meals to eat, how to pack for your trip and how to keep the kiddos entertained. The solution? Free camping apps to make your life much, much easier.

We know, we know — you probably go camping to unplug from technology. But the truth is that mindfully applied technology can enhance your outdoor adventures tenfold. So before you head out on your next adventure, download these nine free camping apps. You won’t regret it!

9 Free Camping Apps to Download

1. The Dyrt

The first step to planning any camping trip is figuring out where to camp. The Dyrt app takes some of the stress out of the equation by allowing campers to easily find campgrounds, RV parks and other lodgings in the U.S. and book them directly from the app. With over 300,000 campground photos and reviews, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect spot to pitch your tent.

2. Packr

Packing for a camping trip — or any trip, really — can be such a headache. With the Packr app, you can finally stop worrying about what you left at home. Not only does this app tell you what you should bring based on your destination, it also lets you create a to-do list for your trip. Need to meal-plan before the trip? Did you remember to pack the camping pillows? You’ll never forget a single thing again with the Packr app.

3. Seek by iNaturalist

Found a bug or a plant that you don’t recognize? Using the power of image recognition technology, the Seek by iNaturalist app lets families take photos of the outdoors to easily identify the plants, flowers and wildlife around them. This is a great app if you’re hiking with kids and want to keep them entertained! It’s basically Pokémon Go for the real world.

4. AllTrails

Looking for nearby hiking, biking and running trails? AllTrails is a free camping app that boasts more than 100,000 hand-curated trails in its database. Simply download the app, tap on a trail and you’ll get detailed reviews and photos of each trail. You can also add trails to your list, track your progress and filter trails by dog-friendly, kid-friendly, wheelchair-friendly, etc.

5. Knot Guide

We’re knot going to lie, this knot-tying app is pretty useful. The Knot Guide teaches you how to tie more than 100 knots through simple steps, diagrams and pictures. You can save your most-used knots to a favorites list so you can keep them handy until you become a master knot-tier.

6. Flashlight

While nothing will replace a quality flashlight or headlamp, the Flashlight app can serve as a useful backup. The Flashlight app turns on the flashlight next to your rear phone camera and is designed to mimic an actual hardware flashlight. And unlike other flashlight apps, this particular app has helpful bonus features such as an SOS option, Morse code, compass and map.

7. Dutch Over Helper Lite

Calling all Dutch oven cookers! This Dutch oven app is for you. The Dutch Oven Helper Lite makes it easy to calculate the specific number of coals you need for your Dutch oven meal. Sure, you could quickly Google how many coals you need, but it’s super handy to have all the information in a single app. Tell all your DO cooking buds about this app and be the hero of your next camping trip!

8. Accuweather

Nothing is worse than going through all the trouble and expense of planning a camping trip, only to cancel your trip due to bad weather. The Accuweather app helps you stay in the know with an accurate weather forecast and detailed reports. The app also sends you severe weather alerts so you can keep your family safe when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

9. Night Sky

One of the biggest perks of camping is getting far enough away from the city to see the beautiful night sky. But let’s face it — most of us can only identify the Big Dipper and Orion’s Belt. With the Night Sky app, you can look up to the sky and start identifying stars, constellations and planets from your phone.

Take Your Camping Game to the Next Level with Free Apps

From planning your camping trip to hiking the perfect trail, there is an app to make every outdoor adventure one for the books. And the best part is that many of them are free. Download these apps before your next trip and let us know what you think!