Six Great Camping Spots Across the United States
There is no single best campsite for every trip. A coast trip, a desert route, and a mountain weekend all have a different feel. These six National Park Service campgrounds are ideas to explore across the country, each paired with a landscape and a style of stay.
Conditions, closures, permits, reservations, and road access can change. Check the destination’s official page before travel for current notices and campsite details.
Blackwoods Campground, Acadia National Park — Maine
For a wooded coastal stay, look at Blackwoods Campground on Mount Desert Island. The National Park Service describes its sites as wooded and within a ten-minute walk of the ocean. It could suit campers who want a forested place to return to after exploring Acadia’s shoreline and trails.
Mather Campground, Grand Canyon National Park — Arizona
If your trip centers on the South Rim, Mather Campground is near Grand Canyon Village. The NPS lists it as a large campground without hookups, with shuttle service in the developed South Rim area. Campers who want a base for viewpoints, visitor facilities, and day walks may find that setting convenient; check the linked page for current facilities and reservations.
Kalaloch Campground, Olympic National Park — Washington
For Pacific coastline and ocean air, consider Kalaloch Campground, an oceanside campground with some sites overlooking the water. Nearby Kalaloch and Ruby Beach bring coastal scenery and tidepooling at low tide. This could be a good fit for campers who enjoy beach walks and watching the changing shoreline; check tide guidance before heading out, since tides affect safe routes along the coast.
Cades Cove Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Tennessee
For a mountain-valley setting with history and wildlife viewing, Cades Cove has an 11-mile, one-way scenic loop around the valley, passing hiking routes and historic buildings. Cades Cove Campground is a fit for campers who want to combine time at camp with a scenic drive, short walks, and visits to historic sites.
Chisos Basin Campground, Big Bend National Park — Texas
For a mountain setting inside a desert park, Chisos Basin Campground sits at about 5,400 feet in an open woodland. The NPS highlights views of Casa Grande and Emory Peak, with popular trails nearby. It may appeal to hikers who like a high-elevation base and want to experience how Big Bend’s mountains differ from its open desert. The park notes construction in the basin and possible visitor-access disruptions, so check current alerts before planning around this area.
Mammoth Campground, Yellowstone National Park — Wyoming
Mammoth Campground sits among scattered juniper and Douglas fir near Mammoth Hot Springs, hiking, and fishing. It could suit campers interested in Yellowstone’s North Entrance area and a mix of open sagebrush and tree cover. The park’s current page identifies it as its only campground open year-round; that does not mean all park roads, services, or facilities operate year-round, so check current operating information before travel.
Match the spot to your trip
Before picking a campground, decide what kind of stay you want: a walkable coastal base, a shuttle-served park village, a quiet shoulder-season visit, or a route with more remote-feeling scenery. Then check whether the site fits your group, vehicle, dates, budget, and comfort with available facilities.
Reservations and local rules are part of campsite choice, too. Review current fire restrictions, food storage, water and waste directions, pet rules, and any permits. Our campsite selection guide covers reading the ground and choosing a low-impact place to pitch; our trip-planning guide has a pre-departure checklist.
The places above are starting points, not a ranking. Use each park’s official page to confirm what is open and permitted when you go, and choose the landscape and travel style that suit your own group.
Official campground information
- National Park Service: Blackwoods Campground, Acadia
- National Park Service: Camping at Grand Canyon
- National Park Service: Camping at Olympic
- National Park Service: Visiting Kalaloch and Ruby Beach
- National Park Service: Cades Cove
- National Park Service: Cades Cove Campground
- National Park Service: Chisos Basin Campground
- National Park Service: Mammoth Campground, Yellowstone
- National Park Service: Yellowstone operating dates