An RV glows under fading twilight on the Beartooth Highway along the Wyoming and Montana border as clouds drift over the distant mountain range.
Campground Views
Planning an outdoor trip has always required a little faith. Even in an age of satellite images and endless photo galleries, many campers still pull into a site only to discover that the online photos were outdated or that the layout was nothing like what they expected. For families with young kids, RV travelers hauling heavy rigs or beginners who simply want to try something new, that uncertainty can turn excitement into anxiety before the engine ever starts.
For more than a decade, Mark Koep has been working to eliminate that uncertainty. The idea for Campground Views began not in a boardroom but on the road, where Koep and his wife spent 13 years living full-time in an RV. His work in digital marketing allowed him to stay mobile, and the couple used that freedom to explore thousands of miles of North American landscapes. Along the way, Koep saw the same issue again and again. Travelers wanted to spend more time outside, yet lacked the information they needed to feel confident.
“People want to get outside, but they don’t always know what they’re driving into,” Koep said. “A photo doesn’t tell you if your site will fit your rig or if the road is too tight.”
That gap between what travelers needed and what existed inspired Koep to build a platform that would let people preview a campground as if they were already there. Campground Views launched in 2012 with a straightforward goal that continues to guide the company today: help more people experience the outdoors with confidence.
The Early Vision That Set The Foundation For Outdoor Travel Innovation
The way it works
Campground Views
Before Koep ever created a tool for campers, he built a thriving digital marketing company that specialized in SEO and Google Maps visibility. He helped local businesses gain traction in crowded markets, and over time became an expert in how people search for places and make decisions online. Combined with his MBA from Pepperdine University, he had both the analytical skill and business training needed to understand what a next-generation travel platform required.
But the real education came from the road. Living full-time in an RV exposed Koep to the emotional side of outdoor travel: the anticipation, the planning, the uncertainty. He talked with families at picnic tables, retirees navigating their first cross-country trip and new campers who were excited but hesitant. Almost everyone mentioned the same frustration. They did not know what the campground would look like, how sites were arranged or whether the property could accommodate their specific needs.
“That uncertainty is the biggest hindrance,” Koep said. “When people can’t visualize a place, they hesitate or stay home.”
Campground Views was designed to remove that guesswork while bringing clarity to an industry that had been slow to adopt modern digital tools. Koep saw not only the traveler’s challenges but also the struggles of campground owners who wanted to reach the right guests and show their property accurately. A visual platform that benefitted both sides became the natural solution.
Building Technology That Solves Real Outdoor Travel Problems
Campground Views built its own visual engine from scratch instead of repurposing an existing tool. The goal was to create a system that could simulate the experience of driving through a campground, not just clicking through still images. Over the years, the company has developed thousands of 360-degree virtual tours that travelers can navigate at their own pace. They can see the angles, the spacing, the turns and the exact spot where they would set up.
The platform also includes a deep database of more than 3,500 campgrounds, RV parks, RV resorts and public lands across North America, along with detailed information on 25,000 additional points of interest. It is one of the most comprehensive mapping tools in the outdoor travel market.
“Our platform helps families enjoy the journey while avoiding unwelcome surprises,” Koep said. “The more information you have, the safer and smoother the trip becomes.”
This clarity has become especially valuable as RVs grow larger, campground demand increases and newer travelers enter the market without decades of experience. What once felt like a niche tool for RV enthusiasts has become an essential planning resource for a broader cross-section of travelers.
A New Browser Experience Designed For Today’s Outdoor Travel Planner
This year marks the most significant update to Campground Views since its launch. The company has rolled out a fully redesigned browser experience that gives users a more intuitive way to plan trips. The navigation is cleaner, the visuals load faster and the platform now allows travelers to create personal accounts, save favorites and assemble their own itineraries.
The goal is to meet travelers where they are. Many people begin planning on a laptop, then switch to a mobile device and then revisit their ideas days later. The new browser tools make that process seamless. Users can bounce between virtual tours, campground details and saved lists without losing their place.
“With this new browser version, we are giving travelers the ability to visualize their next trip, plan with confidence and make informed decisions,” Koep said. The redesign turns Campground Views into an end-to-end planning platform rather than a standalone discovery tool.
Expanding The Ecosystem Supporting Modern Outdoor Travel
An RV sits parked along the Beartooth Highway near the Wyoming and Montana border as purple and green aurora lights sweep across the night sky.
Campground Views
The relaunch includes new categories that reflect the realities of outdoor travel today. Campground Views now features certified RV service stations, RV resorts and a wider selection of national and state parks. These additions acknowledge that outdoor travel is not only about the destination but also the logistics that support it.
Families want a campground with a layout that works for children. New RV owners want to know where they can get mechanical support. Retirees who spend months on the road want amenities that feel like home. The updated platform aims to tie these elements together so that travelers can plan their route with confidence.
“This platform is not just for finding a campsite,” Koep said. “It is for understanding the entire journey.”
Why Virtual Tools Are Becoming Essential To Safer Outdoor Travel
An RV sits at a quiet clearing in the Big Horn Mountains under a bright blue sky.
Campground Views
The numbers underscore the growing demand for clarity. In July 2025, Campground Views recorded almost one million unique tour views, a figure that reflects the changing habits of modern travelers. More people are planning long-distance outdoor trips, and they want precision before they commit. They want to know if their truck can make the turn, if their slides will clear the trees and if the site they booked will feel private or cramped.
Safety is a recurring theme. That includes the safety of navigating narrow roads, the confidence of knowing what amenities are nearby and the reassurance that a campground matches the expectations set online. Virtual tours do not replace the experience of being outside, but they remove unnecessary stress from the planning stage.
“For years, the biggest barrier to outdoor adventure has been not knowing,” Koep said. “We are removing that barrier.”
The Name Behind The Mission To Transform Outdoor Travel
A child stands beside a campfire in front of an RV at dusk in the Big Horn Mountains as tall pines frame the backcountry campsite.
Campground Views
Koep’s credibility comes from a rare mix of professional expertise and lived experience. He understands the digital ecosystem that powers travel decisions and he understands the realities of the road because he lived them. Traveling full-time exposed him to both the joys and challenges of life outdoors, and those insights inform the platform he continues to build.
Today, Koep is based in Sundance Wyoming yet still spends significant time traveling to evaluate campgrounds firsthand. He sees the outdoors as a stage for connection. Families gather around a fire. Friends meet on trails. Parents teach kids how to stargaze. He believes the right tools can help more people find those moments.
“Camping is a way to build lasting family memories,” Koep said. “If we can help more people step outside with confidence, we have achieved something meaningful.”
As outdoor travel continues to evolve, Campground Views is positioning itself as a guide, a map and a planning engine for the next generation of adventurers. The company’s newest updates signal a future where the unknown does not hold people back but invites them into the landscape with a clearer view and a stronger sense of ease.
Campground Views is helping travelers reach that future, one virtual tour at a time.
