PurpleTents.com exists to make camping more welcoming, more transparent, and a lot less intimidating—especially for LGBTQ+ campers. To do that responsibly, we rely on trusted public data sources, then thoughtfully organize and enrich that information so it’s actually useful to real people planning real trips.

Here’s where our data comes from, explained without the jargon.

Our Primary Data Sources

Federal Campgrounds (United States)

Most campground listings on PurpleTents come from official U.S. government data, including:

• Recreation.gov — https://www.recreation.gov/
• RIDB (Recreation Information Database), maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior — https://ridb.recreation.gov/

These sources provide verified information for thousands of federally managed campgrounds, including those operated by the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

From these datasets, we source foundational details such as campground names, locations, managing agencies, geographic coordinates, reservation URLs, and baseline descriptions.

State & Regional Park Systems

PurpleTents also includes campgrounds managed by state and regional park systems, sourced from publicly available datasets such as:

• State open-data portals
• State park agency websites
• GIS and ArcGIS Hub datasets published by state governments

These sources allow PurpleTents to represent a broader range of camping experiences beyond federal lands, especially state parks that are beloved, local, and often overlooked.

Mapping, Routing & Geographic Data

OpenStreetMap

PurpleTents uses OpenStreetMap data to support mapping and geographic context.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/

OpenStreetMap is a global, community-driven mapping project that provides open, freely usable geographic data. We use OpenStreetMap to help with road and access context, geographic placement and orientation, and general mapping features surrounding campgrounds.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Geographic and mapping data used on PurpleTents is sourced in part from OpenStreetMap contributors and made available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Learn more at https://www.openstreetmap.org/.

TomTom Navigation & Routing Data

PurpleTents also incorporates TomTom navigation and routing data to support driving directions and route context, particularly for vehicle-based travel.

TomTom data helps power features such as:

• Road routing and navigation context
• Distance and travel-time estimates
• Vehicle-aware routing considerations, including RV-friendly navigation where available

TomTom is a global leader in digital mapping and navigation services, widely used in automotive, logistics, and travel applications. Navigation data is used to improve trip planning and wayfinding but does not affect campground availability or reservation systems.

Environmental & Dark-Sky Data

NASA Earth Observation & Night-Light Data

To help campers understand nighttime conditions, PurpleTents incorporates publicly available NASA Earth observation data, including satellite-based night-light measurements.
https://earthdata.nasa.gov/

This data helps inform features related to regional light coverage, relative darkness or light pollution levels, and dark-sky context around campgrounds. NASA Earth data is environmental and observational in nature and does not track individuals or campsites.

What We Add (and Why It Matters)

PurpleTents doesn’t just repost raw data.

We carefully clean, organize, and enrich information to make it more human-friendly and inclusive. This may include:

• Standardizing campground names and locations
• Improving descriptions for clarity and readability
• Categorizing campgrounds by camping style (tent, RV, cabins, etc.)
• Adding accessibility and amenity indicators when available
• Highlighting community-informed or queer-friendly signals where appropriate
• Organizing listings by state, region, and experience

Some enrichment is technical, some editorial, and some informed by community insight, but we always preserve the integrity of the original source data.

Reservations & Availability

When PurpleTents links to reservations, such as those on Recreation.gov, we link directly to the official booking platform.

PurpleTents does not sell campsites, collect booking fees, or act as a third-party reservation service. Availability can change quickly, so campers should always confirm details directly with the managing agency.

Community Insight

As PurpleTents grows, community insight helps add context that public datasets often lack. This may include camper feedback, accessibility or safety notes, and queer-affirming or welcoming signals. Community insight never replaces official data but helps make listings more meaningful and relatable.

Accuracy, Updates & Transparency

Outdoor data changes all the time. Campgrounds open, close, update amenities, or shift policies.

Official sources always take precedence. Data may be updated periodically, not in real time, and some details may lag behind recent agency updates. If something looks incorrect or outdated, we genuinely appreciate hearing about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PurpleTents affiliated with the U.S. government?

No. PurpleTents is an independent, queer-owned platform. While we use publicly available government data, we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.

Do you copy data from Recreation.gov?

We responsibly use public datasets, such as RIDB, that are designed for reuse. We then organize and enrich that data to make it easier to explore and understand.

Why do you use OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap provides open, community-maintained geographic data that helps improve mapping accuracy, especially in outdoor and rural areas where commercial maps can be incomplete.

Why do you use TomTom?

TomTom provides high-quality navigation and routing data that improves driving directions, trip planning, and vehicle-aware routing. This helps campers get to campgrounds more confidently, especially when traveling by car, camper, or RV.

How does NASA data relate to camping?

NASA Earth observation data helps provide environmental context, such as regional light coverage, so campers can better understand nighttime conditions and dark-sky potential.

Are all campgrounds LGBTQ+ friendly?

Not necessarily. PurpleTents does not label campgrounds as safe or unsafe. Instead, we aim to provide helpful context and community-informed signals while encouraging campers to make decisions that feel right for them.

Can I suggest a correction?

Absolutely. If you spot something outdated or incorrect, please reach out through our contact page.

Data & Content Disclaimer

PurpleTents strives to present accurate, helpful, and up-to-date information, but outdoor conditions, campground policies, navigation routes, and availability can change at any time. All campground listings, environmental indicators, routing information, and enrichment features are provided for general informational purposes only.

Official sources and managing agencies always take precedence. Campers should confirm details, such as reservations, accessibility, regulations, road conditions, and safety considerations, directly with the appropriate land manager or reservation platform before planning a trip.

Community insights and enrichment features are intended to add helpful context, not guarantees. PurpleTents makes no representations regarding personal safety, campsite availability, navigation accuracy, or individual experiences.

Our Commitment

PurpleTents is about more than maps and listings. It’s about helping people feel welcome, informed, and confident in the outdoors.

We respect the data we use, the agencies and providers that publish it, and the community we serve. Transparency builds trust.

Camp queer. Plan here. 🌲💜