The LL Bean parkfinder mentioned below is a very interesting, flexible tool. mjh
Dollars and Sense: State Parks for Bargain Vacation | nmmarketplace.com
By David Uffington, Published June 2012
State parks can be a bargain for a tight vacation budget: Once you pay the entrance fee, most of the activities in the park are free. Most states have at least one park; some have dozens when you add in historical or memorial spots, wildlife refuges, natural monuments and recreation areas.
One of the best online park finders is the one created by LL Bean, the outdoor gear store. They’ve accumulated information on thousands of state parks, making it easy to find just the right park experience.
Go online to www.llbean.com/parkfinder/search and type in the location you’re interested in (by ZIP code or city and state) or the name of park.
If you search by location, you’ll see a number of flags on the map, each indicating a different park. You can filter your search by activities (boating, camping, fishing and more) or by distance from you. Mouse over each flag for the name of the park, and click for more information. You’ll find the address, phone number, park website and driving directions, as well as the activities the park supports. What you won’t find is the associated fees. For that you need to click through to the park’s website.
Dollars and Sense: State Parks for Bargain Vacation | nmmarketplace.com