A gorgeous lakeside location and all the modern amenities collide at this RV site and campground on the banks of Neely Henry Lake in northeast Alabama. The well-tended site offers full electric, water and sewer hook ups, as well as Wi-Fi and decent bathrooms. A stay at Greensport RV Park and Campground is all about fishing, boating, picnicking and swimming, whether in the lake or the site’s pool.
Just around six miles (10km) south of the visitor centre for the vast untamed wilderness that is Denali National Park, this family-run resort is a good choice for those looking for easy access to the preserve without embracing wilderness camping. Campers have a choice of 18 RV sites – complete with electric and water hook-ups – or 20 riverside tent sites, all with access to bathrooms, a central cooking shelter with campfire circles and laundry facilities. Denali Grizzly Bear Resort has tent cabins available too.
It’s all about the views, both day and night, at Navajo-owned The View Campground, located on the Navajo Nation and the Navajo Tribal park at Monument Valley. There are RV sites (non-powered) or wilderness tent sites, all with access to toilets and shower facilities. Follow sandy hiking trails to the sandstone buttes, watch otherworldly sunsets across the valley then, after cooking up a storm by the campfire, sit back and gaze up at the star-spangled sky.
Shady by name and nature, scenic Shady Oaks Campground in the heart of the Ozarks sees RV and tent campers set up beneath oak trees in large sites with all the hook-ups. Open year-round, there’s a little camp store, playground (with splash pad for hot days), laundry facilities, propane-fill station and games room. But the real fun lies a short drive away: the Buffalo National River is a hive of outdoor activities including kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing, rock climbing and mountain biking.
On the southwest side of Lake Siskiyou, this well-maintained camp has sensational views across to Mount Shasta and the Shasta Trinity National Forest. It’s all about having fun in the great outdoors at Lake Siskiyou Camp – you don’t even need to worry about setting up your camping stove as there is a restaurant and bar onsite and a store selling ice, firewood, cold drinks and ice cream. There’s a bait shop for fishers too, bike hire, stand-up paddle board and kayak rentals and an inflatable Splash Zone on the lake during the summer months.
Whatever your camping bent, you’ll be well catered for at Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains, a brilliant base for exploring the Colorado Rockies year-round. You'll find deluxe RV sites with all the hook-ups and grassy tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits. There are glamping options too: Airstreams, cabins and luxury covered wagons for those wishing to channel their inner Laura Ingalls Wilder. On site there is a pool, hot tub, bowling alley, yoga lawn, restaurant and live music, among other amenities.
The kids, the dogs and the grandparents – everyone will love camping out under the pine trees in this back-to-nature family-focused site on the edge of the Pachaug State Forest. As well as tent pitches, the aptly named Nature’s Campsites has RV sites and cabins. Spend days enjoying its two swimming pools, fishing or kayaking on the lake, swinging in the trees or following hiking trails into the forest. Look out for special summer events like outdoor movie nights and hayrides too.
With a spectacular setting at the point where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Henlopen has some sensational sandy beaches. Spend days crabbing, swimming or seabird spotting then head back over the dunes to sleep. The state park’s campground is set prettily among the pine-covered dunes right next to the Walking Dunes Trail. The tent sites are walk-in (so pack light), with some suitable for RVs with hook-ups, plus cabins. There are washroom facilities on site.
Sink your feet in the sand, slip into the calm waters of Santa Rosa Sound and fall asleep to the sound of the oak and magnolia trees rustling overhead. A camping trip to the Hideaway, a boutique campground with both tent and RV sites, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is as idyllic as it gets. When you’re not enjoying its private beach, kayaking or fishing from the pier, the site has plenty of options for good old-fashioned fun: think volleyball, cornhole, ping-pong ball and tree swings.
Cumberland Island, a windswept, dune-packed barrier island along Georgia's southern coastline, has several camping spots – but the standout site is the Stafford Beach Campground. It's back to basics here, but it's well worth it, as walk-to tent sites are nestled beneath gnarled trees dripping in Spanish moss. You'll be moments from a sandy beach too – one that's often visited by Cumberland Island's famous wild horses. There are also flushing toilets, cold showers and fire rings with grills.
Opt for a yurt, a 'tentalow' with beds, or pitch your own tent or vehicle at this laid-back camp, right by the white sands of Anahola Bay on the northeast coast of Kauai. Sites at Kumu Camp are unpowered, but the pretty and lush site has bathroom facilities and (patchy) Wi-Fi. But you won’t be checking your phone, as this special spot is all about enjoying the beach, watching the sunset, gathering around the campfire and falling asleep to the sounds of the ocean.
Nestled in the Wood River Valley of central Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, scenic Sun Valley sings in both summer and winter (it’s a top destination for winter sports enthusiasts). Camping is a fabulous way to experience its raw beauty and Meadows RV Park allows you to do it in comfort with full hook-up sites, bathrooms, laundry facilities and Wi-Fi. It’s right by Wood River Trail, so take bikes. The super-dark, star-filled night skies are impressive too.
Lovely and leafy with a large outdoor pool, mini golf course and lake for paddling around, this full-service campground has wholesome family vacation written all over it. Go for a tent site and you’ll have a picnic table and firepit to use or RV owners can opt for a range of sites from basic to deluxe. Sun Retreats Rock River is a fantastic launch pad for exploring the waterways and historic towns of Illinois’s Great Rivers Country.
With hiking trails laced around its hills, mountains and ridges, Brown County State Park is one of the best places to go hiking and backcountry camping in Indiana. In summer seek out secret swimming spots and in fall go for glorious hikes among trees that glow in the low sun and cosy up by the campfire. There are 401 electric sites at the park’s Buffalo Ridge, Taylor Ridge and Raccoon Ridge campgrounds, as well as non-powered ones. There are shower rooms and a store at the entrance too.
Choice is one of this large family-friendly KOA campground's biggest assets, from its range of accommodation (tent sites, glamping sites, RV sites and cabins) to the host of activities on offer. It has a fishing pond, heated pool, two dog parks, jumping pillow, trampoline basketball and paddle boats. If you can tear the kids away, its location is pretty choice too: its surrounds are lovely and rural, but it’s close to capital Des Moines.
You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to pitching up at Cedar Bluff State Park, a wooded tract of wilderness set along the shores of the Cedar Bluff reservoir in Kansas’s Smoky Hills region. The peaceful park has some 96 campsites, with two large shower houses and picnic areas, and there are also numerous undesignated areas where you can set up for the night. Fishing, paddling, jet skiing and shooting the breeze are what camping trips here are all about.
Lakefront lounging, following forest trails into the mountains and campfire cookouts are highlights of a stay at Zilpo Campground, set within the Daniel Boone National Forest. Pitches are dotted around the wooded shores of Cave Run Lake, located in the eastern highlands region of Kentucky. As well as sites for tents, there are RV sites with electric hook-ups and cabins.
All the thrills and spills are on offer at this large full-service RV and cabin resort set between Lafayette and Baton Rouge. It has three pools (including an adults-only one with a swim-up bar), waterslides, a splash pad and a hot tub. There are places to eat, a store, playgrounds, a cinema and oodles of activities for the kids. So, come rain or shine, you’re guaranteed to have happy campers at Cajun Palms.
Take your pick between large, wooded sites under the shade of cathedral pines or smaller lakeside sites (many with electric, water and sewer hook-ups), then settle in to enjoy this special and secluded camping spot in western Maine. Summer brings with it a host of games and activities on site, but days are easily filled at Papoose Pond simply messing about on boats and swimming in the lake or the on-site pool.
Tent and RV sites nose right up to shimmering Chesapeake Bay at this campground in eastern Maryland. There's two-point hook-up with water and electricity for RV owners and all guests can keep busy with the games room, sports courts, kids' playground and campfire pits. Best of all, though, are the epic sunrises and sunsets that light up the bay – get front row seats with a waterside plot and a well-placed camping chair.
As the only campground on Martha’s Vineyard, this family-run site can get booked up. The wooded grounds make for lovely sun-dappled pitches where tents, pop-up trailers and campervans are welcome. Most have water and electric hook-ups and all come with picnic tables and fire rings for al fresco cook outs. There are rustic log cabins too, as well as a playground, a camp store and rental bikes to peddle off around the island’s many bike paths.
Load up on supplies and slip away for a few secluded days lapping up views of Lake Superior. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has three rustic drive-in campgrounds: Little Beaver Lake (eight sites), Hurricane River (21 sites) and Twelvemile Beach (36 sites). The latter is the best option for water views thanks to its scenic setting on a sandy bluff above the lake. This campsite is all about the location as, bar a table, fire ring and pit toilet, there are no amenities. But who needs showers when you can go for a dip in Lake Superior?
Central Minnesota is laced with lakes, rivers and streams, creating perfect settings for a camping weekend. Go fishing, boating or paddling across Turtle Lake and into the larger Partridge Lake, from Camp Holiday Resort & Campground, then bed down to sleep under the trees. The long-running family-owned site is a firm favourite with outdoor adventurers, with sites ranging from full hook-ups to primitive tent sites. There are laundry facilities, a games room and a store too.
Pitch up at this beautiful park on the Gulf Coast for top-notch camp facilities and gorgeous Gulf Coast views. The sprawling site has 206 premium pitches, 70 overflow campsites on a grassy field overlooking the water, and 25 primitive sites. If you don’t have the kit or are more of a glamping kind of camper, Tentrr offers platform tent setups, complete with a picnic table, Adirondack chairs and fire pit (pictured). There are also playgrounds, nature trails and a seasonal waterpark right next to the campground.
Set among the Ozarks, this family-run (and extremely kid-friendly) park is located on a small farm. Ozark Farms has the full array of sites, from secluded creekside spots to partial and full electric hook-ups, so you'll soon find a spot that suits you. Spend days exploring the land, meeting the animals and visiting the veggie gardens. It’s five minutes to Fugitive Beach, a quarry turned waterhole with slides and sand that’s brilliant fun on a hot day.
A spacious and wooded site, Apgar is just the place to immerse yourself in the incredible beauty of Glacier National Park. It's the park's largest campground and is a prime spot for accessing hiking trails to Lake McDonald and the Going-to-the-Sun Road. During summer, ranger-led talks are held in the campground’s amphitheatre in the evenings.
It’s the added extras that makes Camp A Way a sure fire hit with its campers, especially little ones. Fun times are guaranteed thanks to the heated pool, water slide and water balloon station. Bikes and pedal karts can also be hired to whiz around the site and there are opportunities to have a go at gem mining. Adults and dogs aren’t neglected, though, with an indoor spa and a huge dog park. The leafy site offers cabins, full hook-ups for RVs and creekside tent sites.
Swim, picnic, snooze, repeat. Lazy sun-kissed days on the sand or under the pines is what camping by Lake Tahoe is all about. Set by the lovely sandy Nevada Beach on Tahoe’s east shore, the wooded Nevada Beach Campground is managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin US Forest Service, with sites for both tent and RV camping. It’s basic but beautiful with picnic tables, campfire rings and charcoal barbecue grills for each site along with communal flush toilets and drinking water.
Once you’ve set up your camp somewhere along Saco River, this family campground promises long languorous days by (or on) the river. There’s kayak, canoe and tubing rental nearby and a private sandy beach for catching the sun. RVs and tents are accommodated at The Beach Camping Area with both hook-ups and primitive sites while the playground should keep the kids amused when they’re not in the water.
Farmyard feels with all the perks of a resort-style campground are what sets Sun Retreat Pleasant Acres Farm apart. Pop along to meet the furry locals at the animal petting area and look out for a raft of rural activities including hayrides, cow milking and sheep shearing. The pool and hot tub beckon on hot days while the clubhouse, arcade and game room are the place to be on rainy ones. For more fun on the farm, head to Lusscroft Farm, a New Jersey state historic site just nearby.
Lovely, landscaped and with lots of space, this campground in the Angel Fire Mountain Resort in northern New Mexico is at the luxury end of the market and a popular pick for people road tripping through the Rockies. There is a clubhouse, laundry, 'luxury' bathhouse, Wi-Fi and concierge services to help you book all those mountain adventures. Depending on where your site is, you can sit back and soak in the views of the peaks or valley looking out for elks (there are plenty around).
Swap everyday life for this leafy enclave in the Catskills. Pitch a tent, park an RV or cosy down in a cabin: all the choices are on offer with plenty of room, hook ups and fab facilities. Go for the Ledges sites to camp in seclusion, tucked away by an ancient rock wall; choose River’s Edge to kip by the Plattekill Creek or loved-up campers should secure a spot in Lover’s Lane, a couples-and-tents only corner. There’s a general store, pool and place to buy soft-serve ice cream. Bliss.
For an action-packed family camping trip steer a course to Golden Valley. This popular spot has something for everyone with 20 different types of cabins, glamping tents, a range of RV sites and classic tent sites. The activities are endless with playgrounds, pools, a waterpark, lake for water sports, hiking trails, ball game courts and its new alpine coaster. One thing’s certain – you’re all bound to sleep well after all that exertion.
Itching for some fresh air and stirring scenery, then Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the place to be. Behold the bewitching badlands of North Dakota by staying at Juniper Campground, situated on the banks of the Little Missouri River. One of two in the park, it’s a down-to-earth affair that accommodates tents and both vehicles and RVs. There are no hook-ups and few facilities but it’s right next to the trailheads for several stunning hikes where wildlife sightings abound.
Summer camping is pitch perfect at this wooded lakeside site in Ohio’s beautiful Hocking Hills. Dotted in among the trees, sun-dappled tent sites are in prime position for evening drinks watching the sun set over Lake Logan. Campbell Cove also has generous sites for RVs and cabins. Days are about fishing, swimming and kayaking or following hiking trails to discover caves, cliffs and waterfalls. Handily, the resort has a pool, playground and store.
History buffs will love this hidden away campground on top of Poteau Mountain. The 55-acre Heavener Runestone Park is home to a large sandstone with carvings, thought by many to have been made by Vikings who used it as a boundary marker. Campers can nab one of the few pitches with RV hook-ups or seek out the secluded primitive campsites deeper in the park. There is a shower house and toilets, shop, waterfall, nature trails, picnic areas and, best of all, breathtaking views of the sunset from its lofty lookout points.
You can’t get much closer to the mighty Pacific Ocean than at Oceanside RV Resort on Oregon’s stunning Coos Bay. Swim, paddle, spot sea creatures in tidal pools and explore trails through dunes and forests then return to share your adventures over the campfire. The lovely campground has RV sites, cute cottages and a choice of tent sites – go for the oceanfront ones to wake to the sound of the water calling.
You can rely on Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts to bring the fun and this one in Quarryville, in Southern Lancaster, is no exception. Find the perfect spot for your RV or tent among its 63 wooded acres, which connect to a lovely county park, then seek out the water zone, pools, hot tub, giant jumping pillow, laser tag and nature trails along Stewart Run Creek. The kids will love making new friends over s’mores at the communal firepit before bed.
On summer weekends Aquidneck Island is a magnet for families and day-trippers who come to explore historic Newport and spend lazy days on its beaches. If you want to stay for longer, Newport RV Park (formerly known as Melville Ponds Campground) in Portsmouth makes for an affordable and pretty base with roomy sites for RVs and tents along with some airstreams for those who like things a little more glam. It has a store, hot showers and the nearest beach, Sandy Point, is a short drive away.
Myrtle Beach has something for every camper, from small to mega-resorts such as Ocean Lakes, the largest of the lot. Set on the southern end of the beach, it has 859 campsites and 2,572 annual lease sites across 310 acres with nearly one mile (1.6km) of beachfront. Don’t worry about feeling crowded though, the sites are spacious and there are five well-tended bathhouses. And, of course, it has oodles of activities, shops and restaurants. It even has its own nature centre where kids can find out about any shells, fossils or sea life they discover.
Should you wish to experience the savage beauty of South Dakota’s Badlands in solitude, backcountry camping is allowed anywhere in this park. Or enjoy a few creature comforts as you revel in its extraordinary landscapes at the park’s Cedar Pass Campground, which has 96 sites, including spots for RVs with hook-ups. It’s walking distance to Cedar Pass Lodge’s restaurant and there are bathrooms with showers, drinking water and a store for supplies.
Not such a fan of pitching a tent? Let someone else do it for you while enjoying the benefits of kipping outside. Glamping specialist Under Canvas’s Great Smoky Mountains camp is a sensational spot with stylish safari-style tents, complete with comfy beds and all the kit you need, dotted under trees. Spend days hiking around the Smokies and return to camp for live music, delicious food and complimentary s’mores around the campfire.
Life at camp is sweet at this family favourite on the Guadalupe River, especially on sunny days when its pools, waterslides and swim-up bar really sparkle. As does the river, where campers can go tubing or fly fishing. Camp Fimfo has a choice of places to eat, a store and a host of seasonal activities, including movies under the stars. It caters for all with sites for RVs and tents along with cabins, including some super-cute A-frame riverside cabins.
This Sun Outdoors resort in Moab has it all: sites for tents and RVs, cosy one-bed casitas and top-quality amenities. But best of all is its superb location in Utah’s stunning red rocks country. It’s just minutes from the Arches National Park, where you can spend days hiking, climbing and rafting. After a BBQ dinner, gather round the communal firepit and gaze up at the clear night sky. Don’t miss a family snap by the site’s old wooden church before you hit the road, it was used as a prop in westerns.
Snuggled among white pine trees where owls, woodpeckers and white tail deer are frequently sighted, campers get a true back-to-nature experience with the bonus of convenience at this laidback site . All of Tree Farm's sites have hook-ups and the shops and restaurants of Springfield are mere minutes away. There is a common room, play areas with games, free delivery service of firewood, ice and camp supplies plus communal firepits for chats and s’mores. There might not be a pool, but ask nicely and the staff will tell you where to find some secret wild swimming spots.
A perfect pitstop for families road tripping along the Blue Ridge Parkway, this Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort lies right in the mountains near the Luray Caverns and spectacular Shenandoah National Park. The only problem may be persuading the kids to get back in the car after they’ve discovered the joys of the splash pad, three pools, water slides, pedal boats, jumping pillows, laser tag and outdoor movie theatre.
Lying along the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway in Yakima Valley, Whistlin' Jack's Outpost & Lodge is a special spot to camp. Set up a tent or drive your RV into the forest to relax under old growth pine trees and drink in the peace and tranquillity of this well-planned and maintained site by Naches River. Campers have access to the main lodge, which dates back to the Fifties, where they can find a well-stocked grocery store, historical bar and riverside dining.
For endless outdoor adventures take a running jump to this high-energy resort right next to New River Gorge National River. All the options are here from lovely cabins of varying sizes to RV and tent sites – bring your own gear or rent a tent (it’ll be set up for your arrival). There are 1,500 acres to explore in this private resort, from rock climbing walls and rafting to mountain biking and mud obstacle courses. Summer sees a huge water park set up on the spring-fed mountain lake with slides, ziplines and inflatable water toys as well as musical festivals.
If waterside camping floats your boat, pitch up at this pretty resort right on the Lower Wisconsin River. It has sites for tents (both powered and primitive) and RVs along with cabins. Little ones will love paddling in Liza’s Lagoon, a shallow pond with inflatables while older ones will want to launch themselves downriver on tubing adventures. If you can tear them away from the water go for hikes or bike rides. Failing that, entice them out with the promise of pizzas by the river. The restaurant has live music in the summer.
It’s hard to imagine a more dramatic spot to park your RV or pitch your tent than the Fremont Canyon Campground, set at the mouth of Fremont Canyon under its rose-hued cliffs. Bar toilets and picnic tables, there are no frills at this rustic campground, just raw natural beauty wherever you set your gaze. There’s a reason the site is popular – the sense of isolation, rugged beauty and total absence of Wi-Fi keeps attracting visitors back.
Now take a look at 10 of the most spectacular campsites in US National Parks