Camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but it’s also a lot of work. You need to pack all your gear, plan routes and set up camp in advance.
If you’re looking for a more traditional camping experience near where you live, here are 21 Best Places to Camp in 2023 that offer great campsites:
Here are the 21 Best Places to Camp
1. Mount Whitney, California
Mount Whitney is not only the highest point in California but also the highest point in America. At 14,494 feet above sea level, it’s a little bit of an eye-opening experience to be so high up and see all around you.
The weather can be unpredictable here—it’s always changing and getting colder as you climb higher up into the mountains.
You’ll want to bring layers of clothes with you: some warm ones for nighttime chilliness; others so that your sweat doesn’t freeze on cold days; still, others just because they look cool (and who knows? Maybe they’ll keep you warm).
2. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California and is one of the most popular destinations for hiking, backpacking and climbing. The park boasts over 800 miles of hiking trails that range from easy strolls to rugged boot paths.
The park offers a variety of lodging options including yurts, cabins and campgrounds but only about 40% of visitors choose to stay on-site during peak season (May through October).
The main attractions include:
- Half Dome – A granite dome with a vertical face measuring 2,000 feet above sea level that has been dubbed as “The Grandest Of All Peaks” by John Muir; it’s also known as El Capitan or Old Glory Peak because it was named by two pioneers who were scouting routes up its slopes during gold rush days
3. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park, and it’s also one of the largest, most popular and most visited national parks in the United States. It’s located mostly in Wyoming but with small portions extending into Montana and Idaho.
While there are many great campsites within Yellowstone National Park itself (the Mammoth Hot Springs area being a favorite), you can find additional camping opportunities nearby if you’re willing to travel out onto public lands or even private property near by.
4. Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park is located in southwestern Utah and named after the biblical place of refuge. The park is home to many caves, including the famous Kolob Caves, which are often explored by cavers. Other notable features include Angel’s Landing and
The Narrows (the latter being better known as “The Subway”). Both canyons offer stunning views from above as well as from below; if you’re feeling adventurous enough to go hiking through either one, be sure not to forget your camera!
5. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and attains a depth of over a mile. With its length and width, it is one of the world’s best known canyons; it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
The Grand Canyon has been called “the colossus among all bays”. It is one of America’s 14 national parks and preserves important Native American artifacts as well as being home to many species that are endemic to this region including wolves, jaguars (cats) and eagles.
6. Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park is a national park located in the eastern part of Maine, United States. It was established as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 and became Acadia National Park on October 26, 1919.
The park is named for the French explorer Louis-Armand de Vignolles (1657–1718), whose French name for this region means “the abode of wildflowers”.
7. Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park is located in the northwest corner of Montana, along the Canadian border. The park covers over 1,000 square miles and is home to more than 700 lakes and
ponds; hundreds of glaciers; an abundance of wildlife; and some of America’s most spectacular natural beauty. With its vibrant green forests and stunning mountain vistas, Glacier has long been considered one of America’s premier parks.
The park is home to several different ecosystems including: coniferous forest; deciduous forest (which includes aspen); prairie grasslands; alpine tundra (a barren high-elevation climate that only supports lichens);
subalpine fir/spruce forests at lower elevations where summer temperatures average 60 degrees Fahrenheit or less with winter lows dropping below zero degrees Fahrenheit
8. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park is a gorgeous place to visit. It’s known for its beautiful vistas and breathtaking views of the Front Range mountains. The park has a wide variety of terrain and climates, which makes it an ideal destination for camping groups looking for something different than their usual destinations.
You can camp on high-elevation meadows in late spring or early summer or look down at snow-capped peaks from your campsite during winter months (and all three seasons). There are plenty of hiking trails throughout the park as well as some great opportunities for mountain biking and fishing!
If you’re looking for something more low-key than backpacking through rugged terrain with heavy packs on your back then this might not be the best choice for you;
However, if you’re looking forward to spending time outdoors communing with nature then this could be right up your alley!
9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It’s also a paradise for outdoor lovers and campers alike, with plenty of options for getting away from it all.
If you’re looking for a little more adventure than just sleeping under the stars, there are plenty of hiking trails to take you deep into this forested wonderland. For those who would rather spend their time relaxing around a fire pit or in front of an open fire pit (or both),
there are also several sites available at which to pitch your tent—and even some lakes where fishing can be done right next door!
The park is open year-round so whether you want to visit during summer months or wintertime months (which are mostly dry), there will always be somewhere within its borders where you can go off grid without having any serious issues with rain or snowfall getting in between those plans
10. Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California, near the city of Twentynine Palms. The park was established in 1938 and named after a unique type of tree that grows throughout its expanse: the Joshua tree. The landscape ranges from coastal desert scrub to flat, rocky terrain with steep canyons and rock formations.
Joshua Tree National Park offers many opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing and horseback riding along with wildlife viewing opportunities such as spotting wild horses on their way through your campsite or watching for snakes slithering along trailsides during springtime when temperatures rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius).
11. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is the highest elevation national park in the lower 48 states and one of the most beautiful places to visit. Located on the Wyoming-Idaho border, this remote area has over 2 million acres of protected forestland and wildlife habitats.
The park offers hiking trails for all levels of fitness, including those who need help getting around due to their condition or injury.
There are several ways to get here: you can fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), which is located 18 miles south of Grand Teton Village; drive north on Route 26/Teton Highway until it ends near Jenny Lake; take U.S Route 26 West through Moose Junction toward Dubois Junction;
continue south along State Highway 27 until reaching Moose Creek Road; turn left onto Stillwater Road; follow signs leading up North Fork Road toward Saddlestring before turning right onto Yellowstone Loop Drive which leads all the way back into downtown Cody where there are plenty more options for camping nearby!
12. Big Sur, California
Big Sur is a region in the state of California, located along the Pacific coast. It’s known for its natural beauty and has been home to many parks and trails since the 19th century. The area has a long history of human settlement, with Native Americans living there as far back as 8,000 years ago.
Today Big Sur features some of the most beautiful beaches in all of America—and they’re not just for sunbathing! You can also hike on trails that lead through redwood forests or explore abandoned gold mines (if you’re into that sort).
If you like nature but still want to stay close enough to civilization that there’s something going on almost every night of your trip—Big Sur has it covered!
13. The Adirondacks, New York
The Adirondacks is a mountain range in upstate New York. It’s the largest park in the contiguous United States, and it’s home to over 100 peaks over 4,000 feet in elevation. The best part of this place? You can camp anywhere!
There are plenty of places to go kayaking or fishing here—and if you’re looking for something more adventurous than that (and braving the elements), there’s also hiking trails and ATVing opportunities available as well.
14. The Ozarks, Arkansas
The Ozarks are a rugged, forested mountain range in the southern United States. They’re home to many natural wonders and historic sites, including the highest waterfall in Arkansas (the Pinnacle), Civil War battlefields and other historical sites like Horseshoe Bend National Military Park.
The Ozarks have many caves and caverns, including seven of the nation’s 10 deepest caves.
The Ozarks are also home to many protected areas, including the Buffalo National River, Crooked Creek Wilderness, and the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area.
15. The Boundary Waters, Minnesota
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a vast area of lakes and rivers in northern Minnesota. It’s the perfect place for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing—and it’s also a great place to camp.
The BWCAW has more than 1,700 miles of trails that are open to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders as well as paddlers looking for solitude on their adventures through the wilderness.
The BWCAW is a great place for canoeists and kayakers to enjoy the serenity of nature. The area has more than 1,700 miles of trails that are open to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders as well as paddlers looking for solitude on their adventures through the wilderness.
16. The Everglades, Florida
The Everglades National Park is a national park in Florida, United States. It is the third-largest national park in the lower 48 states after Death Valley and Yellowstone. The park protects the southern 20 percent of the original Everglades (the remainder being protected by two smaller parks).
This land has been degraded for decades by agriculture, commercial development, and drainage projects aimed at increasing crop production and sugarcane cultivation.
In addition, it has been subjected to repeated damage from hurricanes (including Hurricane Andrew), which have destroyed portions of its unique ecosystem throughout history.
The area contains many different ecosystems including tropical hardwood hammocks; sawgrass prairie; mangrove swamps; cypress dome forests; and freshwater wetlands such as shallow ponds that either dry up annually or remain permanently wet during rainy seasons only
17. The White Mountains, New Hampshire
The White Mountains National Forest is a United States National Forest that encompasses the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Located on the border with Maine and
Massachusetts, it extends from the Canadian border to Jackson Hole and is bordered on its eastern side by Concord, New Hampshire, and Manchester.
The forest covers 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha) and contains two high peaks: Mount Washington (6288 feet or 1911 m), which has been called “the windiest place on earth” by weather experts; and Mount Adams (6700 ft or 2053 m).
18. The Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
The Shenandoah Valley is a beautiful place to go camping. It’s located in Virginia and there are many different types of campsites in the valley. You can go camping in spring, summer, fall, and winter. There are many different activities you can do while there as well!
There are many different types of camping in Shenandoah Valley. You can go camping in a tent, or you can stay at one of the many cabins that are available to rent. There are also campsites with RV hookups and even primitive sites for backcountry camping.
19. The Great Lakes, Michigan
The Great Lakes are a series of interconnected freshwater lakes located in the upper midwestern region of the United States and the southern portion of Canada.
The five Great Lakes (Ontario, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Superior) cover a combined surface area of 93,000 square miles (245 km2). They are sometimes called “the inland seas” because they are so large.
The lakes have been important since prehistoric times as routes for travel and trade between Europe and North America. They were declared to be protected areas by President Franklin D Roosevelt in 1940;
this designation protects them from pollution by industry or agriculture within state boundaries but does not extend across state lines.
20. The Gulf Islands, British Columbia
The Gulf Islands are located off the coast of British Columbia, in the Strait of Georgia. They’re a chain of islands that make up an archipelago with over 100 islands and islets.
The climate is temperate—cooler than coastal British Columbia but not quite as chilly as Vancouver Island or Prince Edward Island. This means there’s a lot to do on these islands: hiking trails, sandy beaches and natural wildlife galore!
There are plenty of campgrounds available throughout this region if you’re looking for peace and quiet while exploring nature at its finest (and if you don’t mind having a little bit more activity).
21. The Canadian Rockies, Alberta
The Canadian Rockies are a mountain range in western Canada. They are part of the Pacific Cordillera and are the southernmost part of this mountain system. The Canadian Rockies include five provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The area has many popular tourist destinations including Banff National Park (Canada’s oldest national park), Lake Louise (the highest point in both Canada and North America) and Jasper National Park (home to Mount Edith Cavell).
22. The Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a mountain range in the eastern United States. The range runs from northern Georgia to southern Pennsylvania, and it’s part of the Appalachian Mountains. These mountains are home to some of America’s most beautiful scenery,
including waterfalls, hiking trails and even protected wilderness areas where you can find wildlife like bears or elk (if you’re lucky). Camping is popular here because there are so many places to stay off-grid—no electricity lines for miles!
There are plenty of campsites within easy driving distance from Asheville that offer amenities such as bathrooms with showers (or none at all), running water and fireplaces for cooking meals over open flames—all things that make camping fun!
Conclusion
Camping is a great way to enjoy nature and get out of the city. It can also be a fun activity for families, with activities such as camping trips or even just going on walks together around the campsite.
If you’ve never camped before or want to try something new, these are some great places in 2023 that will give you plenty of options for getting outdoors without having to leave home!
