FAQ

Data, coverage, accounts, and the AI scout.

Data & freshness

Where does the campground data come from?: We pull federal data directly from RIDB (the Recreation Information Database), the same source that powers Recreation.gov. State-park availability comes from official state-park reservation APIs where they exist, like ReserveCalifornia. Dispersed and walk-up locations come from OpenStreetMap. Federal data is verified. State-park availability is live where APIs exist; sites without a live feed are flagged in the list and on the map.
How fresh is the availability data?: We poll Recreation.gov every 15 minutes and ReserveCalifornia every 30 minutes. Weather data refreshes hourly from the National Weather Service.
Why do some sites show “NO LIVE DATA”?: Federal walk-up campgrounds without an online reservation system don’t have an availability feed by definition. Some state-park systems outside our 6 launch states also lack a public API. We list those sites with a “NO LIVE DATA” flag so you can see them on the map and verify availability with the operator directly. All 6 launch states have live availability across both federal and state-park systems.

Why only 6 states?: Each state’s park system is a separate integration. We started with the West because it has the densest federal-land coverage (national forests, BLM, national parks) and built the state-park layer on top: ReserveCalifornia, AZStateParks, Oregon SP, Washington SP, Utah SP, and CPW Shop. Adding a new state means standing up a new poller, validating the data, and watching it for a few weeks before we promote it.
When are more states added?: Post-launch, prioritized by what users ask for. If we do not cover a state you camp in, let us know. The most-requested ones get added first.
Why federal-only state parks in some regions?: Some state-park reservation systems do not allow automated polling. In those states, our federal layer (national forests, national parks, BLM land) ships fully while the state-park layer stays empty or flagged “NO LIVE DATA” until we get API access.
What if I’m trying to plan a trip in a state you don’t cover yet?: The map still shows you federal sites — Recreation.gov, BLM, national forests — in any state, because the federal layer is national. What’s missing in non-launch states is state-park live availability and the polished verification we do before promoting a state. The Scout Report works in any state where there are bookable sites in your view. If you camp in a non-launch state regularly, email us — the most-requested ones get added first.

Do I need an account to use Scoutio?: You can browse the map, see live availability, and view per-day status for every campsite without an account. The AI Scout Report requires signup — your first run is free, and unlimited Scout Reports plus saved sites are part of Scoutio Pro.
What does saving a site do?: Saving a site pins it to your account across devices, so you can come back to it from your phone or laptop. Saving is part of Scoutio Pro — start your free trial to save sites and saved searches. No charge for 14 days.
Can I cancel anytime?: Yes. Cancel from your account settings — your Pro features stay active until the end of the period you’ve already paid for, then drop to the unauthenticated browsing experience (map, sidebar, per-day status). No “are you sure” hold pattern, no email-customer-service-to-cancel friction. If you cancel during the 14-day free trial, you’re not charged.

Why is this $5 a month? What stops me from just checking Recreation.gov for free?: Recreation.gov shows you federal-only sites and only when you already know which campground you want. It can’t tell you which of the campgrounds within driving distance of you have openings on your dates, what the weather will be at each, whether the forest road in is open to passenger vehicles, or how close active fire is. It also doesn’t know about state parks. The $5 isn’t for the Recreation.gov data — that’s free and stays free. It’s for the live joining of seven booking systems, NWS weather, USFS roads, NASA fire detections, and the Scout Report ranking the result for your dates. Roughly the cost of a single campsite night, per year, on the launch offer.

Does Scoutio work on my phone?: Yes. The map fills the screen, the sidebar collapses to a bottom sheet you can drag up, and the Scout Report streams the same as on desktop. Currently best on iPhone Safari and Android Chrome. Open scoutio.app on your phone — no app to install.
What is the Scout Report?: A short summary of the campgrounds visible in your current map view. Our scout ranks 3 to 5 top picks, flags any active fire or weather risk, and weaves in the nearest trailheads, water access, and river gauges. Streams as it generates, usually under 60 seconds.
Is the AI making things up?: No. The scout only sees the structured data we feed it: site availability, weather, fire alerts from FIRMS, and distances to nearby trailheads, water access, and river gauges. It cannot browse the open web. If the underlying data is wrong, the report inherits that. The scout cannot invent a campground or generate an opinion on its own.