From stunning vistas and views to thousands of miles of hiking, backpacking, and biking trails, America’s national parks are home to some incredible outdoor opportunities. And if you’re a camping enthusiast, there’s no better place to head when the weather warms up than one of these sprawling destinations full of wildlife, natural beauty, and some amazing campgrounds.
With a whopping 63 national parks available to visit and more than 84 million acres to explore across the national park sites, there’s so much to discover – and so many different camping experiences you can try.
If you’re ready to hit the road and try out new (or even familiar) campgrounds at national parks, then you won’t want to miss the following five picks. These national parks offer some stellar camping choices – and there’s something for everyone.
Yosemite National Park, California
Sure, Yosemite might be one of the most popular national parks in the country, but campers flock here year-round because it’s such an amazing expanse of natural space. With miles of varied landscape, you’ll find forests filled with towering redwoods, valleys with incredibly scenic sights, meadows stuffed with wildflowers, and mountains topped with snow-capped peaks -- all within a single national park.
Camping Options
Yosemite is home to 13 different (and highly popular!) campgrounds across its 1,100 square miles of land. Each campground offers something different, both in its surrounding landscape and activities.
Keep in mind: All of Yosemite’s in-park campgrounds operate on a reservation system for the most popular months of the year (April through October), and they book up fast. While some campgrounds offer reservations up to five months in advance, others are on a rolling two-week basis – meaning you may be able to nab a site even in the middle of summer.
Activities to Try
Because the park lands of Yosemite National Park are so varied, you can do almost anything here. Hike to towering waterfalls, climb landmark cliff faces, and even take part in water activities like paddleboarding or rafting along the Merced River. If you’re interested in cycling or scenic drives, there’s also plenty to see.
Glacier National Park, Montana
You might not expect to see a whole lot during the summer at a place called Glacier National Park, but this expansive destination in Montana is well worth a visit during the warmest months of the year. Featuring sweeping views that are so amazing they inspire even the most amateur photographers to try to capture the scenery, this national park is home to stunning mountainscapes, incredible wildlife (keep an eye out for mountain goats!), and inviting lakes.
Camping Options
With 13 different campgrounds dotted throughout its acreage, you have plenty of options to pitch a tent or park your RV. However, only three of those campgrounds actually accept reservations – so you won’t be able to plan ahead unless you opt for one of these destinations. You can book a spot on a rolling basis, anywhere from 6 months to four days in advance of your visit.
While pretty much every campground within this Montana national park is a standout spot to stay, there are different sites located close to different types of landscape (i.e., lakeside, riverside, etc.). Additionally, if you’re early in the season, some campgrounds may have a delayed opening due to snow.
Camco Fire Pit
One of the absolute must-do activities at Glacier National Park? Driving! Check out Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50-mile stretch of road that’s absolutely legendary -- and it’s only cleared to drive from start to finish during the summer when there’s no snowfall.
The route will take you through the famed Logan Pass, bringing you into the mountains and up close to local wildlife like bighorn sheep. If you’d prefer to get out and be active in your natural surroundings, there are more than 700 miles of hiking trails designed to suit every experience and endurance level.
Acadia National Park, Maine
If you’re looking for a summertime escape that’ll take you off the beaten path, visit Acadia National Park in Maine. More remote than many other national parks, it’s definitely a hike to reach – but once you arrive, you’ll see exactly what makes it to special.
Set against a rugged coastal backdrop, this is a park that spans Maine’s shoreline and offers plenty of visual intrigue, from its unique coastal fjärd (the only one on the Atlantic Ocean’s coastline) to its granite-topped mountains, rocky shores, and secluded forests. As an added perk, anyone who’s a fan of the beach will absolutely love Acadia National Park, especially during the summer when both the weather and water warm up.
Camping Options
Because Acadia National Park is more remote, there aren’t a whole lot of campgrounds available to visit. There are just two on Mount Desert Island, which is the area that most of the park sits within, and one located on the Schoodic Peninsula. The camping sites offer stunning scenery from just about every angle, but there are no electric, water, or sewer hookups available.
You can find two “exterior” options located outside of the national park grounds, Bar Harbor and Mount Desert, if you don’t want to go without hookups of any kind. Additionally, you always have the option of staying in one of five lean-to shelters on Isle au Haut.
Activities to Try
Home to 45 miles of carriage roads that date back to 1913, hiking and biking are two of the best activities to try while you’re visiting Acadia National Park. And with so much shoreline and a number of waterways, you also won’t want to miss the opportunity to swim or boat while the weather is sunny and warm. If history is more your speed, this is a great national park for checking out historic landmarks, too, like lighthouses, memorial paths, bridges, and more.
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Spend a summer on the lake – well, multiple lakes! – and head to Voyageurs National Park. Located in Minnesota, the Land of 1,000 Lakes, this national park lives up to the state’s nickname with a whopping 30 lakes within its borders.
It’s a natural water playground during the summer, offering plenty of coastline and an impressive 900 islands to visit. Plus, all of the waterways are interconnected, allowing you to traverse Minnesota’s gorgeous natural landscape and see everything from hardwood trees to southern boreal forests, all via boat, kayak, paddleboard, and more. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as you may spot a moose, loon, or white-tailed deer while you’re splashing around.
Camping Options
Because Voyageurs is a water-based national park, all of the available campgrounds – and campsites – require a watercraft to access. Unsurprisingly, this park sees a whole lot of activity during the summer, which means you’ll need a reservation or permit to camp here, too.
There are three types of campgrounds within the national park’s borders:
frontcountry (sites located on the waterways)
backcountry (secluded sites that require boating, then hiking in from a trailhead)
primitive (hiking in required)
If you’re looking for a more convenient campground that will allow you easier access, there are also nearby drive-in camping options. They’re located outside of the national park itself, but they welcome cars, campers, and RVs of all sizes and are just a brief drive away from all of the attractions at Voyageurs.
Activities to Try
Water is the name of the game at Voyageurs National Park, making it the ideal place if you want to swim, kayak, boat, fish, or participate in any classic summertime lake fun. You can rent boats to cruise, paddle, or even stay aboard (there are multiple houseboat rentals available).
It’s also a great destination for those who want to hike and birdwatch. There are plenty of hiking trails, including a 1.75-mile ADA-accessible trail that brings you right to great nature-watching spots where you can catch one of the 240 different bird species.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
You might not expect to find a whole national park filled with stunning vistas and sprawling views right near a bustling city, but that’s part of what makes Shenandoah National Park in Virginia so special.
Located just 75 miles and a short drive from Washington, D.C., it’s a relaxing natural getaway from everyday life. And it’s ideal for summer camping, thanks to the incredible wealth of hiking trails you’ll find within the park limits (many of which include waterfalls you can cool off under). Set against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah is home to beautiful flora and fauna, plus an incredible array of local wildlife.
Camping Options
You’ll find five campgrounds within this national park, all of which put you right in the heart of its natural beauty. Campgrounds open in early spring and welcome visitors until late fall. The availability varies, as each campground will change up its system throughout the year depending on demand. Some may accept advance reservations, others may not; summer is the most popular season, though, and the grounds can get crowded come late May and June. Just keep in mind that some campgrounds are tent-only, and none offer hookups (meaning if you drive in your camper, amenities will be limited).
Activities to Try
Trails are one of the highlights of Shenandoah National Park. With more than 500 miles of hiking and biking trails, you can explore every inch of this natural wonder – and there’s something for everyone, from smooth easygoing walking trails to rocky, boulder-filled ones that are tougher to master. There’s also a number of beautiful drives you can take that’ll wind you through the forests, sweeping landscapes, and wetlands of this national park.
One of the best activities, though, is catching the wildflowers that bloom in spring and stick around into fall. Home to an incredible 862 wildflower species, Shenandoah provides the chance to see some incredible flower-filled views that paint the hillsides in rainbow hues. And you’ll also want to keep an eye out for local wildlife, too, like