Info
Campflare is a camping app without all the paywalls and bloat. We wanted build an outdoor app that wasn't just a sales front, and this is what we came up with. We are primary known for our free campsite alerts, which sends you a notification when someone cancels their campground reservation, so you can snag it.
Original Manifesto, June 2020
Camping is no longer available to everyone. In fact, it's rigged. Places that were set aside for the public, are now only available to the rich and technically advanced. Let me explain.
In most areas, the demand for campsites far exceeds the supply. When campsites are released, they are booked in seconds. In turn, people take whatever reservations they can find — months in advance. Given that people don't get their ideal dates, and don't know their plans months ahead of time, tons of people end up canceling. This is not the problem.
The problem arises when paid services take advantage of this fact. These companies have created expensive paid services that will let you know when someone cancels their reservation, so you can snag it. This has led to their customers being the majority of people getting canceled campsites.
Not everyone can afford to pay $30/mo+ for the off-chance of getting a campground reservation — everyone deserves equal access to our public lands. Regulation and captchas are not the solution as tech will always find a way around it. The only way to stop the paid services is to drown them out.
Campflare is a free service that will send you a text or email when a campground becomes available. It's free, available to everyone, and it always will be.
FAQ
Is Campflare an app?
Campflare has both an iOS App and website. Both are free, and let you receive fast availability alerts.
How often does Campflare check each campground for openings?
We check each campground every 45 seconds or so, but it depends on the campground. The more popular the campground, the more we check it.
How does Campflare work?
We monitor campground reservation systems and use their data to find out immediately when a campsite becomes available. If the campsite matches your request, we notify you of the opening.
How likely is it that I will get a campsite?
Each campground is different. As a general rule of thumb, many consecutive nights in the same campsite are harder to find and cancellations usually occur more frequently only a few days in advance.
How quickly do I have to book the campsite once I get a notification that it's available?
It depends. In the most popular campgrounds, you only have a short period of time (seconds). In most campgrounds, however, you probably have a few minutes.
Do you sell or share any of our data?
No, and we never will.
Is Campflare always scanning?
Yes. Campflare scans 24 hours, 7 days a week. We have had nearly zero downtime over the past 5 years.
How do I cancel a request?
There is a link in the bottom of the request confirmation email and each notification to cancel the request. You can also cancel the request under the alerts tab if you are logged into your account.
Does Campflare support international phone numbers?
No, we do not support them at this time. However, you can still get email alerts.
I am no longer receiving text alerts, what happened?
Due to regulations, replying "STOP" to our phone number will block your phone number from us. This process is reversible, just send an email to us with your phone number.
Why can't you book campsites automatically?
This is prohibited by the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, and regardless this is a terrible idea.
What campgrounds does Campflare support?
Campflare supports nearly all public campgrounds in the United States. If we are missing your favorite campground please reach out to us.
Can I pay a premium to be notified of campsites earlier?
No.
Thank You to Our Supporters
Since 2020, Campflare has delivered 8 million free notifications to more than half a million people. None of it would be possible without the thousands who chipped in financially. If you've ever used Campflare, you owe them a thanks. Thank you.
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