The Best Campsite in Every State
Updated: Dec. 02, 2022Looking for a perfect place to pitch your tent or roll up your RV? Check out these stunners in every state in America.
Alabama: Gulf State Park
If you love the water, Gulf State Park has several options for keeping you cool—its own swimming pool, several campsites that sit right along Middle Lake, and a killer location just a mile from the powder-white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.
Alaska: K’esugi Ken Campground
This campsite, located within the 325,240 acres of Denali State Park, offers stunning views of the highest peak in the United States from several of its campsites. K’esugi Ken’s campgrounds are nicely spaced out to offer privacy, have electrical hookups for RVs (not a common thing among Denali sites), and access to the new Curry Ridge Trail, where you can get wow-worthy looks at the mountains—and may even run into moose and bears.
Arizona: North Rim Campground
If you want to camp the Grand Canyon, the North Rim Campground lets you enjoy one of America’s natural wonders without braving the South Rim crowds. The spacious campsites are nestled among ponderosa pines and aspens, and many have views of the canyon, just a mile’s hike from the campground. While you can rough it, nearby amenities include showers, laundry services, and a general store.
Arkansas: Petit Jean State Park
The first state park in Arkansas is this wooded wonder, with Petit Jean Mountain as its centerpiece. No matter what your camping style, you can do it here—a 24-room lodge with a restaurant for the glampers, 33 cabins and four yurts for families or groups, and slots for RVs and tents. The campsite has lavish amenities, including two pools, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts.
California: AutoCamp Yosemite
If your idea of camping it isn’t exactly roughing it, the AutoCamp may be just your speed. Billed as “the spirit of camping with the comfort of a luxury hotel,” these campsites (in Yosemite and also among the redwoods on the Russian River or near Santa Barbara) offer the options of luxury tents, decked out Airstream trailers or cabins. Most come outfitted with Tempur-pedic beds, spa-inspired bathrooms stocked with specialty bath and beauty products, and even TVs in some accommodations. And did we mention the wine tastings and yoga? No surprise, here, Yosemite is home to one of the 15 wow-worthy campsites to add to your bucket list.
Colorado: Steamboat Lake State Park
A spectacular view of Hahn’s Peak is just one of the selling points of this scenic campsite, which offers cabins, RV hookups, and a marina if a boat’s more your speed. With year-round camping, you can enjoy winter sports like snowshoeing and ice fishing. And you’re just a short drive away from Steamboat Springs, if you feel the need to get back to city life.
Connecticut: Nature’s Campsites
Located in the middle of Pachaug State Forest, the largest woods in Connecticut, this nearly 50-year-old campground has a little something for everyone in it—including a pool, basketball courts, paintball fields, and Wi-Fi. If you don’t have an RV or tent, rent one of their cabins—or the adorable 1928 caboose that offers all the comforts of home, including its own kitchen and air conditioning.
Delaware: Delaware Seashore State Park
It’s all about location, location, location at this stellar state park campsite, located on a small strip of barrier island along the Delaware coast, right between two of Delaware’s best beaches, Rehoboth and Bethany. The campgrounds offer beach access with a lifeguard on duty during the summer, free naturalist programs and tours, and Mobi-Mat equipment, which makes the beach accessible to people with wheelchairs.
Florida: Manatee Springs State Park
Head to this spring that feeds the Suwannee River during the cooler months, and you may catch a glimpse of the namesake aquatic animal keeping cozy in the 72-degree water. Scuba diving and snorkeling are allowed in the springs, along with canoeing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Camping newbies can rent the equipment on-site at the state park.
Georgia: Stephen C. Foster State Park
Explore natural wonder Okefenokee Swamp at Stephen C. Foster State Park, where you’ll get a glimpse of alligators, turtles, and bears during the day, and a glittering star show in the dark sky at night. The campground offers pontoon boat tours, or canoe and kayak rentals so you can set out on your own. Cabins are available to rent, alongside the traditional campsites.
Hawaii: Namakanipaio Campground
Sleep among the eucalyptus trees—and 4,000 feet above the ocean waves—at this campsite, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, not too far from the Kīlauea caldera. Don’t feel like lugging all your equipment aboard a flight? You can book one of their charming cabins, or rough it in one of their tents—which they’ll set up for you with an air mattress and hotel linens and a pair of camping chairs. Here are more active volcanoes you can actually visit.
Idaho: Ponderosa State Park
Bask in gorgeous views of Payette Lake from this state park, located on a peninsula that juts into the lake. Deluxe cabins are situated along the lakeshore, with space for RVs and tents. There’s canoeing and kayaking available, and Nordic skiing in the winter.
Illinois: Illinois Beach State Park
Get beachfront camping along Lake Michigan at this campground, with six-and-a-half miles of shoreline. You’ll find 244 campsites, along with a 96-room lodge, to enjoy the 4,160-acre park, with gorgeous hikes, nature programs, fishing, and swimming.
Indiana: Turkey Run State Park
Set among sandstone gorges and canyons, with Sugar Creek running through its center, there’s a little something for everyone at this state park campsite. Hiking and horseback riding trails run along cliffs and through hemlock groves, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool and tennis, basketball, and beach volleyball courts are among the more modern amenities.
Iowa: Riverview Ridge Campgrounds
TripleBlaze ranked Riverview Ridge one of the best campgrounds in Iowa. Located 20 miles from the caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park, there’s plenty to enjoy on-site at Riverview Ridge, including ten miles of hiking trails, fishing, water tubing, kayaking, and more.
Kansas: Wilson State Park
Set on picturesque Wilson Reservoir, this state park campground is consistently a top-rated pick in Kansas in Google’s reviews. It offers plenty of water-related activities. including fishing and waterskiing.
Kentucky: Carter Caves Campground
Go underground to see some of the most spectacular sights in this grand campsite—the largest concentration of caves in the state, with guided tours available of X-Cave and Cascade Cave. If you’re not into spelunking, you’ll also find rock climbing, gem mining, canoeing, and horseback riding on site. In addition to tent and RV camping, you’ll find 28 rooms with balconies overlooking the woodlands in the lodge. Looking for that summer camp experience? Adults can enjoy a throwback to those outdoorsy getaways at these adults-only camps.
Louisana: Grand Isle State Park
Get a prime beachfront locale along the Gulf of Mexico on this barrier island state park right where the Mississippi bayous meet the Gulf. Fishing, lazing on the beach, or wildlife spotting in the lagoons are popular pastimes. Grand Isle State Park offers free wi-fi and laundry facilities for campers.
Maine: Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment
This 600-acre preserve in Freeport offers families an opportunity to enjoy a little bit of everything. Check out the coast of Maine, where a sea kayak can bring you up close and personal with an osprey preserve and the occasional harbor seal. Tour the onsite farm (and sign up for the farm camp for kids) and enjoy some farm-to-table fare at the center’s cafe. And nature lovers can hike along the campsite’s ample wooded trails. When you’re ready to get back to the hustle and bustle, you’re just a hop, skip and a jump to downtown Freeport, LL Bean’s headquarters, for shopping, restaurants, and more.
Maryland: Assateague State Park
The wild horses may be Assateague State Park’s claim to fame, but the beachside camping enables you to enjoy all sorts of wildlife—including plenty of dolphins swimming along the shore. Rackliffe House, an 18th-century plantation—one of the only remaining of its kind—is available to tour.
Massachusetts: Shawme-Crowell State Forest
Voted best campground in the state by Yankee magazine, this 700-acre forest on the western shore of Cape Cod lets you camp in the woods, just a short stroll from the gorgeous sands of Scusset Beach. Yurts can be rented if you don’t have the right camping gear. Onsite, you’ll find basketball courts, a playground, and a nature center.
Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Situated on Lake Michigan, the sweeping dunes rise more than 400 feet above the Great Lake. There’s lake swimming, canoeing, hiking, and tubing available, along with a maritime museum and blacksmith shop to explore if the weather’s lousy. Four different campgrounds accommodate campers, including some for RVs. Check out these other amazing campgrounds at National Parks.
Minnesota: Bear Head Lake State Park
Lakes are the big draw for this Northwoods park, located near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Water-based activities are a big draw, including paddleboarding, canoeing, fishing, and more. Camper cabins and a guest house are available for those who aren’t ready to rough it.
Mississippi: Davis Bayou Campground
Voted best campground in the state by Travel + Leisure, Davis Bayou lets you hike or canoe through the bayous, where you’ll get up close and personal with alligators and armadillos. Saltwater fishing, guided tours, and boating are also available. Discover the top spots for RV camping in every state.
Missouri: Mark Twain Cave & Campground
Located in Hannibal along the mighty Mississippi, this campground offers plenty of ties to the legendary author’s classics. The campsite has two caves for exploring (including the one where Twain imagined the fictional Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher get lost), along with an onsite winery, and a place where you can try mining gemstones and fossils.
Montana: Under Canvas Yellowstone
Give your Yellowstone camping experience an upgrade at this glamping site just outside the entrance of Yellowstone National Park. You’ll get gorgeous views and luxury accommodations in tipis or safari tents, which come with king-sized beds, dressers, wood stoves, and private bathrooms.
Nebraska: Chadron State Park
Head to Nebraska’s Pine Ridge area for its state park, which is noted for more than 100 miles of gorgeous hiking and biking trails. Archery, boating, fishing, horseback riding, and tennis and volleyball courts can keep you busy when you aren’t hitting the trails.
Nevada: Kershaw-Ryan State Park
Considered an “oasis in the desert,” this canyon park attracts plenty of local wildlife with its wild grapevines, fruit trees, and willows, along with a spring-fed wading pool for kids. (Watch for wild horses and deer coming in for a little R&R, too.) You’ll find 15 campsites stocked with shade ramadas, picnic tables, fire pits, and grills.
New Hampshire: White Lake State Park
Take a dip (or catch your dinner) in gorgeous White Lake, a pristine glacial lake at this scenic campground in the White Mountains. Daily kid-friendly activities like guided hikes and wildlife viewing make it a perfect spot for family camping. Come back in the winter for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
New Jersey: Seashore Campsites & RV Resort
Stay near pretty Cape May at this amenity-packed campsite, which offers swimming pools, miniature golf, beach access, fishing, a fitness center, and basketball and tennis courts onsite—and all the charms of Cape May a short ride away.
New Mexico: Cosmic Campground
Set in Gila National Forest, Cosmic Campground was named the first Dark Sky Sanctuary in the U.S. Forest Service, making it the perfect place to do some serious stargazing. Red filtered light is used to allow campers to see, without spoiling the light show from above.
New York: Camp Orenda
Spend the night in canvas-walled cabins, while you spend your days canoeing, hiking, or biking around the Adirondack Mountains at this luxe campground. The bathrooms are no ordinary camping experience, with heated seats, (heated) open-air showers, and eco-friendly toiletries—that’s glamping at its finest!
North Carolina: Mount Pisgah Campground
The legendary Blue Ridge Parkway leads to this lovely campground, set in the mountains of North Carolina. RV and tent camping is allowed, and Pisgah Glamping offers canvas platform tents with queen beds, charging stations, and even coffeemakers. You’ll find gorgeous hikes along the way, including favorite trails of the Vanderbilts, who built the Biltmore Estate here, the most famous house in North Carolina.
North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Keep your eyes peeled for some of the most iconic American animals at this campsite in the Badlands of North Dakota—wild horses, elk, prairie dogs, bison, and golden eagles are regularly spotted. Named for the president who founded our National Park Service, the park has three campgrounds, including one that allows camping with horses, along with allowed backcountry camping.
Ohio: Hocking Hills State Park
Eye candy makes this state park in the southeastern part of the state a must-see, with its waterfalls, gorges, and fields of wildflowers. Adventure lovers can enjoy archery and a brand new disc golf course, hiking along nearly a dozen trails, along with a nearby zip lining activity.
Oklahoma: Beavers Bend State Park
Fly fishing is a top draw at this state park set along Broken Bow Lake and Mountain Fork River—though watersports, golfing, and hiking also entice visitors. Campers can choose from rustic tents and RV sites or enjoy breathtaking views of the lake from the rooms in Lakeview Lodge.
Oregon: Wallowa Lake State Park
Rated one of the top campgrounds in Oregon by Sunset magazine, this campsite is nestled between snow-capped mountains in the northeastern part of the state. Yurts are available if you don’t have your own camp gear, and you’ll find hiking, horseback riding, fishing go-carts, mini-golf, and a tramway ride to the peak of 8000-foot-high Mount Howard right here.
Pennsylvania: Cherry Springs State Park
Really get a good look at the night sky at this dark-sky sanctuary, which allows crystal-clear views of the Milky Way. The rustic campsite near the Susquehanna Trail offers picnic tables and fire rings, and excellent hiking.
Rhode Island: Ashaway RV Resort by Zeman
This luxury RV resort, ranked tops in the state by Yankee magazine is centrally located, less than 15 miles from Rhode Island’s beaches; Mystic, Connecticut; and Foxwood Casinos. But the park itself has plenty to keep you busy, including basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts; a handicapped-accessible pool, a kiddie splash park, and an arcade for those rainy days.
South Carolina: Edisto River Treehouses
Live out your treehouse dreams in these cabins set up in the canopies, accessible only by canoes. The treehouses come stocked with futons, cooking gear, and oil candles, and work for parties of two to eight people. Not far off of Interstate 95, they serve as the perfect home base for exploring the wildlife refuge, where you’ll find owls, bullfrogs, alligators, and osprey. Those who like their outdoor experiences with a bed and a roof should check out the most popular Airbnb in every state for private treehouses and rustic cabins.
South Dakota: Badlands National Park
There’s plenty of good things in the Badlands for campers—the area was home to rhinos and saber-toothed cats who left behind a treasure trove of intriguing fossils to explore, and the dramatic craggy rock formations and grassy prairies are a photographer’s delight. Throw in majestic wildlife like bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and bobcats, and dark skies that allow for serious stargazing, and you’ll find plenty to keep you busy, whether you enjoy the two campgrounds or head out for a backcountry adventure.
Tenessee: Fall Creek Falls State Park
The campgrounds at Fall Creek Falls offer a number of dramatic waterfalls to explore, including Fall Creek, one of the tallest falls in the eastern United States. Campers can enjoy a slew of activities, including a canopy challenge course, an Olympic-sized pool, and 18 holes of championship golf, alongside more traditional camping activities. Find the most gorgeous waterfall in your state.
Texas: Chisos Basin Campground
Get a little geographic variety in Big Bend National Park, which offers mountains, desert, and the Rio Grande. The campground is perfect for hikers, as it’s in the center of some of the top Big Bend trails. Discover the best pet-friendly National Parks.
Utah: Watchman Campground
Nestled among the sandstone cliffs in Zion National Park, Watchman Campground was voted the top Utah campground on Foursquare. Make reservations early—the campgrounds book up months in advance. History buffs can check out archaeological sites filled with petroglyphs and rock paintings, while dramatic stone arches and intriguing animals like bighorn sheep delight the scientists.
Vermont: Smugglers’ Notch State Park Campground
Voted top campground by Yankee magazine, Smugglers’ Notch earned its name because this narrow Green Mountain pass was the perfect place to sneak former slaves seeking their freedom north or illicit alcohol south across the Candian border. Use the campsites’ lean-tos to make your tent camping more comfortable, and enjoy hiking, exploring caves, and biking around the gorgeous scenery.
Virginia: Shenandoah River State Park
Avoid the crowds at the Shenandoah National Park in favor of this state park, which features gorgeous riverside campsites and 24 miles of trails, along with stellar fishing and swimming. Adventurous types can get a whole new view of the area with canopy ziplining.
Washington: White River Campground
Voted by Seattle Magazine as best for views, the White River Campground offers 112 campsites in Mount Rainier National Park, near the Glacier Basin Trail and Sunrise, the highest visitor center on Mount Rainier. Mountain climbing and hiking are the top activities for campers, and it’s easy to get a glimpse Emmons glacier from here.
West Virginia: Seneca State Forest
West Virginia’s largest forest offers nearly 13,000 acres of woods for hiking and biking, along with placid Seneca Lake for swimming and fishing. Choose from secluded campsites with fireplaces, pioneer log cabins, or if you’re lucky, stay in the Thorny Mountain Fire Tower, which offers panoramic views of the forest from a 65-foot tower.
Wisconsin: Apostle Islands National Seashore
The perfect campground for those who love to rough it, these primitive campsites, set on 21 islands in Lake Superior, are only accessible by water. The water provides activity options like sailing, fishing, and kayaking. Explorers can scuba dive around the sandstone sea caves on four of the islands, along with the shipwrecks four different ships that sank in the late 19th and early 20th century. Keep an eye out for these creepy things found under the ocean.
Wyoming: Colter Bay
This popular camping spot in the Grand Teton National Park offers tent cabins for rent in addition to a slew of campsites sprinkled amongst the pine trees. From this home base, you can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, fishing, swimming, hiking—along with easy access to Jackson Hole nearby. When you’re planning your trip, remember campsite reservations at National Parks are one of the summer vacations you need to plan way in advance.
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