Camping is one of the best ways to truly see the natural world in all of its glory.
Camping in some of the most gorgeous areas in the world will give you a new perspective about some of the amazing places you can find and visit in an otherwise “regular” life.
But what about in your own “backyard?” What are the best camping spots in the United States?
There are so many locations in the U.S. that have fantastic camping adventures awaiting you. So, before you back up the vehicle, let’s take a look at 8 of the tops spots!
Throughout all 50 states, there are certainly many amazing areas to explore. Although we cannot get to all 50 states in this article, we’ll cover some awesome camping opportunities for you to consider below.
So, without further adieu, let’s cover the best camping locations in the U.S. right now!
Click any location in the list below to jump straight to it!
- Glacier National Park
- Arches National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Assateague Island
- Biscayne National Park
- Badlands National Park
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park boasts not only majestic mountain views, but 13 campgrounds as well.
Located in the Rocky mountains of Montana, Glacier National Park is one of the most underrated camping destinations in the country. With incredible mountain landscapes and other natural features, everywhere you look, you will be surrounded by beauty.
Throughout this huge national park, there are 13 campgrounds and hundreds of individual sites to enjoy. So, there is plenty of room for everyone. And, If you like hiking, there are over 700 miles of hiking trails stretching through many areas and ecosystems.
Overall, Glacier National Park is a quiet, serene location to camp in the United States that has tons of fun opportunities and so much scenery to enjoy.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park, in Utah, is famous for its beautiful natural rock structures and great hiking.
Due to the natural rock structures and mountainous areas, Arches National Park is a site to behold. This is one of the more exclusive opportunities as there are only 50 campsites at the Devils Garden campground.
However, Moad, Utah is known for its other camping opportunities, but they will be off the main property. The park gets its name from the natural rock arches that are all over the property. This is a great place to hike and explore while taking in this area’s natural beauty.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park is an absolute must-see location, but be sure to plan ahead!
No list of the best camping locations in America is complete without mentioning one of the natural wonders of the world. The Grand Canyon is certainly one of the most impressive places in the entire world.
Camping in Grand Canyon National Park can happen in four developed campgrounds. If you would rather rough it, you can enter the backcountry on a permit if you are able to secure one.
Now, all of these opportunities fill up quickly, so the earlier the better in terms of planning.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park has over 100 individual campsites.
Joshua Tree National Park is a great destination to camp in for a number of reasons. The biggest of which is the location. Located in California, this park is a few hours drive from cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.
When you can get away from the big cities easily and access natural beauty like this, it is a game changer.
In terms of parking at the actual park, there is plenty of room. There are over 100 individual sites with a few off-site places offering spots as well.
Temperatures in this part of the country get insanely high in the summer, so you might consider planning your trip during the other three seasons to get the best experience possible.
Assateague Island
Looking for an island with wild horses… Assateague Island is the place to see! (photo credit: National Park Service)
Located off the coast of Maryland sits Assateague Island. This is a natural paradise with nearly 40 miles of coastline and plenty of beach camping available.
Assateague Island is a place not too many people away from the east coast know about, so it is a bit of a hidden gem, at least on the national level.
A super unique factor of Assateague Island is the population of wild horses that inhabit it. These are gorgeous horses that roam the island and frequent the various campgrounds on the beach. This is a really unique experience that does not happen much in the United States, especially on the east coast.
Biscayne National Park
The Florida Keys may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering camping locations, but they are home to the beautiful Biscayne National Park (photo credit: Biscayne National Park Institute)
Further down the east coast and around the tip of Florida sits Biscayne National Park in the Florida Keys.
The Florida Keys is a series of gorgeous islands and land masses connected with one major road down from the mainland. As you work your way down, there is so much natural beauty to enjoy.
One of the focal points along the way is Biscayne National Park. There are not many areas where you can see a large city and also have the natural features such as this park. With downtown Miami off in the distance, you can pitch a tent and enjoy southern Florida life all in one location.
There are two campgrounds in the park, but both are on individual keys and have to be accessed by boats.
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is a great location for backpacking and seeing incredible views like this.
In order to make the Top U.S. Camping Spots list complete, we need an entry or two in the midwest. One of the most impressive of which is Badlands National Park in South Dakota. This is a large park that harbors incredible views and hiking opportunities.
In terms of camping, there are two campgrounds on the property and one of them is only accessible through the backcountry. So, if you would like to do some backpacking, you are covered in areas that cannot be reached by RV travellers and others.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has three drive-in campgrounds. (photo credit: Tim Trombley)
Michigan is a very underrated destination when it comes to natural beauty. However, it’s home to the beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Here, there are three picture-esque campgrounds that are actually drive-in sites. This means that you pull your vehicle into a spot and enjoy the park.
Between the three campgrounds, there are a total of 65 sites and each one requires a reservation to secure the spot. The gorgeous rocks pictured above are only a short paddle or boat ride away.
Closing Thoughts On Best U.S. Camping Locations:
Although these are several of the top locations to camp in the United States, this really only scratches the surface as to what there is to explore. However, this is a great starting point.
Each of these locations brings something unique to the table, and camping on-site puts you in the very best position for enjoying it all fully, whether solo camping or with friends and family.
Enjoy these best locations to camp in the United States! Good luck, and happy camping.
