What’s better than camping? Waking up to the crisp, cool air, spending the day hiking or on a lake, stuffing yourself with s’mores around the fire. Sure, you have to deal with bugs, having a stiff back and by the end of it you’re probably stoked to run home to a decent shower. But with a long weekend approaching, camping is the perfect way to peace out from the noise and pollution of the city and enjoy some much needed time in nature. We think these beautiful campsites will entice even the most reluctant camper to pull out their sleeping bags and hit up Mother Nature.
 Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
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Choosing a photo for this Californian campsite was a difficult task. We could probably pop a dozen photos in this post just from this one park. If Redwoods are your thing, you have to check out Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. You can camp smack in the middle of a Redwood Grove and spend your days getting lost among the giants.
Not only is the State Park a beautiful place to camp, but the journey there is absolutely gorgeous. If you want to travel by train or bus, you can get a connection from either Portland, Oregon or San Francisco, California to Medford, before making the trek in.
Dry Tortugas National Park
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Not a woodsy person? No problem, Dry Tortugas National Park is located right on the beach of the Garden Key Island off the coast of Florida. Snorkeling here is a must as it sits on one of the largest barrier reefs in the world!
Stateline Campground
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Stateline Campground in Utah is a bit out of the way and probably suits more experienced campers (don’t expect a convenience store nearby), but the sites are free of charge and your efforts will be rewarded. Not far from the campsite is the start of the Wire Pass trailhead (pictured above). Doesn’t get much better than that.
Wyalusing State Park
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Am I the only one who thinks of Wisconsin as just a big piece of cheese? Yes? Well not anymore after reading about camping in the Wyalusing State Park. This gorgeous campground is perfect for families who want to spend their days hiking or biking the lush green trails. Don’t miss where the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers merge together.
James Island County Park
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More of a city person than a camper? At James Island County Park in South Carolina you can have the best of both worlds! This site offers a roundtrip shuttle to the historic district of Charleston in case you need a quick fix of city living. The park is also just 10 minutes from gorgeous Folly Beach.
Big Sur
Last, but not least, my personal favorite;Â Big Sur. I could go on and on about the majestic redwoods, dramatic cliffs and poignant blue ocean, but you really have to see this place for yourself. Trails range from easy to expert and for those that just want to lounge, the beaches are gorgeous. Even after visiting this place a few times it never fails to take my breath away.
What’s your favorite campsite in the US, or around the world?
Nice article, I go camping in the UK every year with my family which is nice but these places look amazing. I think my favourite out of these would be Big Sur. It sounds like a great place to pitch a tent and get away from it all 🙂
Big Sur is my favorite as well! It’s so beautiful everywhere you explore. IF you’re in California, its a must see!
My favorite camping location is Lake Chelan in Washington State. It’s beautiful and has a plethora of options for those that want water or don’t. Great list, I miss camping in the US. May have to go home for next summer to get some camping in!
Cool! I’ve never heard of Lake Chelan. If we get to Washington, we’ll check it out! Camping is just the perfect summer activity. So fun!
Great post. Something I would love to do when going to the US 🙂
Definitely check these sites out!
There really is something magical about camping isn’t there. I associate camping with woodland, so Jedediah Smith, Big Sur and Wyalusing State Park really appeal to me (just three of the six then!!!). I think the late nights around a fire and the early morning crispness are so appealing 🙂
Yep! Exactly- “late nights around a fire and the early morning crispness.” You hit the nail on the head. Coming home smelling like campfire, feeling refreshed- it’s the best!
What a great list! I will take the ones with the beach please! Stateline camping ground would also have to go on the list as I have an on-going wanderlust over Buckskin Gulch which is not too far from it.
I’ve only been camping on the beach once, but it was super fun! Just a bit messy with all the sand. I’ll have to look up Buckskin Gulch. Thanks for commenting!
What a great list! I will take the ones with the beach please! Stateline camping ground would also have to go on the list as I have an on-going wanderlust over Buckskin Gulch which is not too far from it…
Great list and loved seeing Dry Tortugas National Park on there. We just got back from the Keys and had an amazing experience flying out and spending a day here. I had no idea you could camp there. The water is devine, however, I didn’t snorkel out to far after seeing a crocodile. It’s an amazing place!
Ah! Crocodile?? In the water? OMG! That sounds terrifying! Other than that though, the place looks gorgeous! I’m jealous you got to snorkel out there!