Everyone has a favorite campsite but my guess is that one of those favorites is in a National Park. Here is a list of our country's ten best National Parks. Head out and experience them for yourself. Got kids? What are you waiting for? Make it your goal to take your kids to see them.
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. You don't need reservations to visit or enter Yosemite National Park, but reservations for lodging or camping are essential if you plan to spend the night in the park.
Acadia National Park, Maine
You can hike and bike on more than 130 miles of trails. Get ranger led tours along this dramatic coastline in the Acadia National Park. You can camp in many places but these are most popular: Blackwoods Campground or Seawall Campground.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size; 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep. Here are details for camping at the South Rim and the North Rim of the canyon.
Rocky Mountain National Park
With five drive-in campgrounds Rocky Mountain National Park provides a variety of camping experiences. Three campgrounds, Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, and Aspenglen, are on the reservation system. Longs Peak and Timber Creek campgrounds are on a first-come first-served basis. Backpackers may choose from over 200 backcountry campsites when they apply for their backcountry camping permits.
Redwoods National Park, California
Stand at the base of a pacific coast redwood and the huckleberry bushes tower over you. Watch statuesque Roosevelt elk grazing in the prairies. Observe the tail of a female Chinook salmon heave skyward as she makes a nest for her eggs. Redwood National and State Parksoffer four developed campgrounds, three in the redwood forest and one on the coast. Reservations are required for most sites, so plan ahead to best enjoy this rewarding experience in a spectacular setting!
Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri
Two of America’s clearest and most beautiful spring-fed rivers make up the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first national park area to protect a wild river system. Enjoy the rivers and camping in this beautiful scenic area.
Death Valley National Park, California, Nevada
A superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, water-fluted canyons and 3 million acres of wilderness. Death Valley is home to the Timbisha Shoshone people and to plants and animals unique to the harshest desert. There are nine campgrounds and miles of trails to discover.
Zion National Park, Utah
Located on the Colorado Plateau, but bordering the Great Basin and Mojave Desert Provinces, Zion is home to plants from each region. To experience Zion, you need to walk among the towering cliffs, or challenge your courage in a small narrow canyon. Zion National Park has three campgrounds. Southand Watchman Campgrounds are in Zion Canyon. The Lava Point Campground is about a 1-hour drive from Zion Canyon on the Kolob Terrace Road.
Badlands National Park, Montana
People are drawn to the rugged beauty of the Badlands. These geologic deposits contain one of the world's richest fossil beds. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here. Experience Badlands National Park overnight and enjoy its breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, colorful flowers, bountiful wildlife, and rugged scenery from one of two campgrounds available in the park: Cedar Pass Campground and Sage Creek Campground.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park was designated our nation's 10th national park on May 11, 1910. Glacier has over 700 miles of hiking trails and 13 different campgrounds with 1009 campsites to choose from. Of these Fish Creek and St. Mary require reservations.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Yellowstone has a designated backcountry campsite system, and a Backcountry Use Permit is required for all overnight stays. You can find additional information on the other 12 campsites here.
While this is a great list of national parks and it normally takes years to see them all, there are national forests and wilderness areas from coast to coast that are waiting to be explored.
While you are out there please remember to follow good camping etiquette. Please visit Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly to learn more about protecting our wilderness areas for future generations.
