The 13 Most Breathtaking Places To Camp In The United States

Camping is an American pastime. From the days on the frontier, when camping was a means of survival, to today, where some Americans choose to live their entire lives traveling between campsites, the tradition of pitching a tent in a beautiful place is essential to the American character. And if there is one thing that makes the United States uniquely different from any other country, it is the raw, rugged, natural beauty of our 50 states. Luckily for us, we can camp in nearly all of them.

We're going to take you on a tour of the most breathtaking places to camp in the United States. But instead of following the sun and going east to west, we're going to do it a little differently and go west to east. From the sun-drenched, tropical beaches of Hawaii to the shores of Maine's largest lake, these stunning campgrounds will have you packing your bags and making travel arrangements the moment you've finished reading.

The natural wonders of the United States are displayed prominently through our national parks, public lands, state forests, and conservation areas. Each of these 13 picks takes advantage of these places, from popular, well-known campsites to more remote hidden gems. Regardless of where you choose to go, you'll certainly be in for breathtaking natural splendor at any one of these amazing places.  

By far the most remote U.S. state, Alaska offers something you can't find anywhere else. It's pure wilderness, containing some of the most iconic natural landmarks in the entire country, like Mount Denali and Kodiak Island. So, if you're looking for something even more remote than the Nāpali Coast, look no further than Bartlett Cove Campground.

Part of Glacier Bay National Park, Bartlett Cove offers some pretty unique amenities for a campground. As you are in the middle of one of the most densely populated areas for bears in the world, Bartlett Coves has bear-proof food storage that will keep your essentials safe from the huge, hungry wanderers. Composting toilets are another unique feature of the campground. While there is no fee for camping, you still need to fill out a permit application confirming that you understand the rules. You can stay for 14 days at a time, and a maximum of 30 days out of the calendar year.

Set yourself up on the beach and gaze out across the gorgeous glacial water that gives Bartlett Cove such a reputation for beauty. Visiting in summer is your best bet for great temperatures and access to wonderful outdoor opportunities such as hiking, kayaking, and swimming. Firewood, fire rings, and a warming shelter are available if the weather turns. Overall, if you don't mind a good hike, Bartlett Cove is the place for you.

Between mountains, streams, forests, and valleys, Idaho is filled with beautiful scenery that any camper would be happy to pitch a tent in. As camping is one of Idaho's most cherished traditions, you will find no shortage of breathtaking places to park your camper and get a fire going. However, there might be none more beautiful than Glacier View Campground.

Part of the Sawtooth National Forest in southern Idaho, Glacier View Campground has some beautiful frontage on Redfish Lake and, does indeed, come with views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains, which were carved by glaciers thousands of years ago. With 64 campsites to choose from, this 756,000 acre park is at your doorstep — or tent step. Canoeing, fishing, hiking, and cycling are just a few of the adventures you can experience from your base of operations.

This is a seasonal campground open only from May to September. Dump stations, equestrian stables for those riding horses, flush toilets, water filling stations, and playgrounds are all available on site. You can also rent boats at the Redfish Lake Lodge and spend a day on the water. Reservations are accepted, but first come first serve is more common.

The state of Michigan is one of the most geographically unique in the entire country. It is comprised of two separate peninsulas that jut out into the Great Lakes. One is in the shape of a mitten, while the other stretches eastward from Wisconsin. This is the Upper Peninsula, a relatively remote wilderness that has enchanted the likes of Ernest Hemingway with its trout streams and deep woods. It is in this wilderness that Tahquamenon Falls State Park is located.

Covering nearly 50,000 acres and containing over 35 miles of hiking trails, Tahquamenon is a camper's dream. It's secluded enough to make you feel like you've gotten away from the busy pace of daily life, while also providing many modern amenities such as phone charging stations, water and food purchasing areas, boat ramps, flush bathrooms, and picnic tables.

The breathtaking highlight of the park are the falls themselves, which are one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, at 200-feet wide. You can get close to the Upper and Lower Falls, where the water has an amber hue thanks to the natural chemicals leached out of the fallen cedar and spruce trees. You can get a great riverside view of the Lower Falls and camp right near the water. Fishing, skiing, canoeing, hunting, snowmobiling, and hiking are all in great supply at Tahquamenon.

If it's desert camping you're after, head on down to the Monument Valley of Arizona. Red sand stretches out across the horizon and sandstone bluffs emerge from the ground and stretch high into the sky. Part of the Navajo Tribal Park, which is situated in northern Arizona just on the southern border of Utah, Monument Valley is sacred to the Navajo people and offers some breathtaking desert views and astounding nature. Any visit there is directly supporting Navajo land and culture.

Across the nearly 30,000 acres of scrub brush, sands, and amazing rock features, are numerous places to camp. Cottonwoods Campgrounds, Tsaile Lake Campground, and an RV park in Tuba City offer diverse landscapes and amenities with plenty of access to the surrounding valley. You certainly won't be at a loss for where to stay. Tsaile Lake is a particularly beautiful spot, with views of the lake and surrounding mountains. This is the most primitive camping area of the lot, so you'll need to bring your own water and firewood. 

Some of the most famous formations in Monument Valley include Organ Rock, De Chelly, and Moenkopi. Their red sandstone color stands out in the blaze of day, but is particularly magical in the evening or early morning. Any one of the several camping areas of Monument Valley will put you within sight of these majestic places.

Assateague State Park in Maryland is quite special. This park is a coastal sanctuary for ocean-loving campers — and wild horses. A special breed of horse that are extremely friendly and more than willing to approach cars and campsites, the horses of the island are the expansion of an original herd that was introduced to the area in 1968. The original herd of 28 horses has today grown into several hundred horses, all of whom wander the island.

Part of Maryland's National Seashore, Assateague Island offers camping in the bay, on the ocean, and even in the horse area. The fees range depending on the area you choose to camp in, and offer multiple amenities. Some sites are first come first serve, while others can only be taken up by reservation.

The ocean is never far away from any campsite, so you can easily go swimming, comb the beach, or just relax in the sand. If you've got a boat or kayak, you can also paddle around the island and set up camp at a number of backwoods camp sites that are only accessible by boat or foot. It's an amazing location with an equine feature that is truly unique to the area.

Just a few hours north of Boston is the wide expanse of New Hampshire's White Mountains. Arguably the most tourist trafficked area of the state, the nearby towns of Conway, Woodstock, and Lincoln offer expansive views of the Presidential Range, as well as several shopping and dining opportunities. With countless places to camp and explore, there is something for every level of outdoorsman in this iconic New England forest.

One of the most unique places to camp in the White Mountains is Huttopia Campground. This is glamping at its finest. You can rent a "hut" on Iona Lake and be host to a full range of outdoor activities such as fishing, canoeing, snow shoeing, and hiking. The place also comes equipped with a heated pool, pre-made meals, and playgrounds for children. It's a 50 acre campground and has over 100 hut sites to choose from.

There are several other places to camp or rent cabins in the White Mountains. All are within easy drives to some of the most wonderful scenic locations and trips in all of New Hampshire. Some such wonderful locations include Mount Washington and the Cog Railway, the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, Lost River Gorge, and Loon Mountain.