Categories: CampingGuides & hacks

What’s the Difference Between Hipcamp and The Dyrt?

If you’ve ever felt the draw of the great outdoors, you know how amazing it is to sleep outside at the perfect camping spot. You may also know that these can be hard to come by. But instead of logging on to attempt to reserve a campsite at a crowded campground six months in advance, you might want to expand your options.

Public land, private land, off-grid spots, glamping tents, RV sites—where can you browse all of the above to find the perfect spot and camp your way? Hipcamp or The Dyrt?

Both camping platforms offer valuable insights and detailed information for planning your next camping trip, but each site also has different advantages depending on your needs. Let’s break things down.

Photo by Hipcamp Photographer Rory Goodchild

Finding the right campsite

From glamping yurts to private waterfront RV campsites near swimming creeks to tiny homes and cabins set up for longer stays, private camping areas near national parks are becoming just as popular as public camping options. No matter if you’re looking for a private or public campsite, finding and booking the right spot for you is easy when you use the right platform. 

Hipcamp

For a seamless experience from discovery to reservation, Hipcamp is hard to beat. Through the website or mobile app (Apple // Android), campers can search any location in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia to browse a huge variety of campsites with unique features—think everything from off-grid tent sites and cabins on private land to RV parks and national park campgrounds. With such a comprehensive set of places to get outside, Hipcamp serves as a one-stop shop for any kind of camper. Reserve a campsite with all the features you want by adding your preferred dates and group size—there’s also no annual subscription or pro membership cost.

Plus, extensive filtering options allow you to refine your search based on specific criteria like: 

Aside from a direct search, another way to explore Hipcamp is through curated collections. Simply click on the options that are most appealing to you to find RV sites, big rig-friendly spaces, areas for off-leash pets, and more. Looking for a pet-friendly campsite to pitch your own tent near a swimming hole with biking trails? You can find that too.

The Dyrt

If you’re only really interested in public land camping for RVs and tents, The Dyrt provides a comprehensive directory of public camping across the US. The listings focus on national, state, and municipal campground offerings.

What sets The Dyrt apart is its emphasis on user reviews and ratings for public campgrounds. These firsthand insights and photos covering details like public restroom cleanliness or the campground setting can help campers understand more about an area before booking.

You can also refine your search a bit more with filtering options for campsite type and RV hookups, but extensive filters like discount campgrounds and available cell service are only available to paid subscribers.

Photo by Hipcamp staff member Madison Kotack

Features and functionality 

If you have a specific type of camping trip on your mind, you’ll want to use the right booking website to guarantee you get your chosen amenities and features on your next getaway. 

Hipcamp

With Hipcamp, campers never have to pay for any sort of premium membership. Browsing and searching for sites with specific features in the app or on the website is completely ad-free and subscription-free, while bookings come with a small service fee.

Free map layers
Hipcamp also offers a wealth of additional free features to help you plan and book your camping trips, such as map layers that showcase:

  • Campsites along with cellular signal by network
  • National Park Service campsites
  • US Forest Service campsites
  • Free BLM campsites
  • Campsites along with nearby RV dump stations
  • Campsites along with nearby EV charging stations
  • Indigenous territories
  • Campsites in dark sky areas
  • National Scenic Byways

Free Hipcamp Alerts
If you find a public campground where you’d love to camp, you can skip the lotteries and early wake-up calls by setting up a free Hipcamp Alert. Hipcamp monitors campground availability, and you’ll get instantly notified of any openings that come up for your dates so you can jump on it to reserve the newly open site. This is free for any US public campground reservable through Recreation.gov, including all national park and national forest campgrounds, plus some state parks. Most other sites that offer this service charge fees for each alert.

The Dyrt

For an annual subscription fee of $36, the Dyrt’s PRO membership unlocks a number of key features for prospective campers, including waived service fees.

Paid membership inclusions
The Dyrt PRO members gain access to offline maps and campground discounts, plus additional filters for:

  • Free campsites
  • Campsites along with cell service coverage
  • Dump stations
  • Water stations

Dyrt Alerts
Similar to Hipcamp Alerts, Dyrt Alerts scan sold-out campgrounds and text you when a campsite is available to book. Stand-alone alerts start at $9, or they’re included with a PRO membership.

The Dyrt typically offers a 30-day free trial for the PRO membership.

Which is better: Hipcamp or The Dyrt? 

If you’re still deciding between Hipcamp or The Dyrt for your next outdoor escape, it will come down to your personal preferences and priorities.

  • If you’re looking for a comprehensive look at all types of camping available near your destination, you might opt for Hipcamp. Hipcamp’s inventory spans both public and private land in four countries, covering everything from dispersed sites to glamping cabins, while The Dyrt is limited to the US with a focus on public land.
  • If you’re on a budget, you’ll find that most of The Dyrt’s paid features are available for free on Hipcamp. Most of The Dyrt’s advanced search and filter functions are available only with a paid membership.
  • If you want to read camper reviews for national park and state park campgrounds, The Dyrt has an extensive inventory of public land reviews and photos. Hipcamp has more reviews of private land and commercial campgrounds.

We’re all about getting more people outside, and both Hipcamp and The Dyrt help make that happen. No matter which you choose, we’ll see you out there!

Hipcamp is an online marketplace where you can list, discover, and book campsites and accommodations on private and public land. Hipcamp is your go-to guide to getting outside. If you’re a landowner, Hipcamp creates new revenue streams for your business, which can help conserve your land and keep it wild. #FindYourselfOutside #LeaveItBetter

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