Mt. Rainier National Park Camping

Provide clear, detailed information to help campers choose a great campsite in Mt. Rainier National Park.

The UX opportunity was to improve the type and hierarchy of information offered on the Park’s website, making it a more trusted planning resource.

Existing site doesn't inspire confidence.

Most people start planning on their phones.

This redesign is therefore centered on a mobile-first approach. Because hiking was the most popular reason people visit the park [per survey], they likely already know which area they’d like to visit most. Given the size of the park, campground proximity to activities is important. So, the map helps people quickly focus on a campground closest to their preferred hiking trails.

Map gives location context, and offers a preview of campground details.

The map eliminates one step in the campground decision process by immediately showing people where the campgrounds are in relation to parts of the park they’re most interested in visiting. Popovers with photos give people a quick sense of whether the campground is a place they’d like to stay. A link to recreation.gov lets people know they’ll need to visit an external site to make a reservation, and provides an opportunity to go there without spending further time on this site.

Campers want first-hand information to help them make decisions.

Interviews revealed that people value first-hand information like trail condition reports from Park Rangers or reviews of campgrounds by other campers. User-generated photos also help take the guesswork out of selecting a campsite. And real-time information about campground capacity makes it easier for last-minute campers to find a place to stay. Icons offer a quick read of campground amenities.

People enjoy planning, but would prefer some flexibility when it comes to timing.

Campsite reservations are released on a 6-month rolling basis. This means that one often needs to be willing to commit in February to going camping in August. Whoever is able to predict the weather that far out ought to go buy some lottery tickets. To better serve users, the Park could hold a percentage of sites to be available for reservation 10-14 days in advance.