The Best U.S. National Parks for Camping

Fish Creek Campground, Glacier National Park

Address: Fish Creek Campground Rd, West Glacier, MT 59936, USA

Located in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park is a spectacular place to go camping. It is filled with glacier-carved peaks and beautiful valleys running to the Canadian border. Glacier National Park attracts over 2,908,458 million visitors annually and has more than 1,000 plant species, 130 lakes, and hundreds of animal species. In addition, there are over 700 miles of hiking trails, and other activities include cycling, fishing, backpacking, boating, and camping.

The park has 13 front country campgrounds to choose from, so you are bound to find one that will suit your needs. Fish Creek Campground is the second-largest campground and one of the most popular camps, with 178 sites and four sites for tents only. Furthermore, the park accepts reservations up to 6 months in advance and cancellations up to four days before your arrival. It is advised to book early, as the grounds fill up quite quickly during peak season.

Fees: Campsite capacity is limited to two vehicles and eight people, with a maximum of two tents per site. $30.00

Amenities:

• Trash collection (seasonal)
• Food storage lockers (seasonal)
• Picnic tables and fire rings are provided.
• Flush toilets (seasonal)
• Shower types: hot (seasonal)
• Staff on site (seasonal)
• Amphitheatre (seasonal)
• Dump station (seasonal)
• Potable water (seasonal)
• RV allowed, yes

Elkmont Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Address: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont Cg Kiosk, Elkmont Campground Rd A, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, United States

Elkmont Campground is the busiest and biggest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The summers are hot and humid, and the winters are mild. It is the closest family campground to Sugarland’s and is open between March 8th and December 1st. The beautiful mountain views, forests, and waterfalls are a must-see for campers. In addition, other activities include hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and visiting historic buildings. Jacks Creek and the Little River entwine through the campground, offering campers swimming and fishing holes.

Furthermore, the park has options for backcountry camping and 10 front country campgrounds. There are 200 drive-up sites and nine sites that are wheelchair-friendly.

Fees: $30 per night per site. Up to six people per campsite.

Amenities:

• Trash collection (seasonal)
• Food storage lockers (seasonal)
• Camp store (seasonal)
• Ice for sale (seasonal)
• Firewood for sale (seasonal)
• Staff on site (seasonal)
• Amphitheatre (seasonal)
• Potable water (seasonal)
• Fires (only in the permitted fire rings provided at each campsite)
• Toilet type (flush toilets, seasonal)
• Showers (none)
• RV allowed, yes

Lower Pines, Yosemite National Park

Address: 9024 Southside Drive, Yosemite, CA 95389

If you are looking for a gorgeous scenic spot, then Yosemite National Park has a wide variety of beautiful campgrounds. There are three Pines campgrounds. Lower Pines is the smallest campground, with only 73 sites, while North Pines has 80 sites. Upper Pines is larger and has 235 sites; however, during the peak season, it can feel a little overcrowded, making it difficult to find a campsite and also waiting longer for facilities and services. All three of these campgrounds are close to the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Here you can see the beauty of Yosemite with views of the El Cap and Half Dome. Furthermore, these campgrounds are all within biking or walking distance of the showers, Curry Village, and Yosemite Village. To ensure you get a campsite, it is best to book five months in advance.

Fees: Regular sites are $36.00 and double sites are $60.00. Maximum of six people per site and two vehicles.

Amenities:

• Cell phone reception (seasonal)
• Trash collection (seasonal)
• Food storage lockers (seasonal)
• Staff on site (seasonal)
• Fire-ring charcoal fires are allowed at any time. Campfires are permitted at any time during October through April. However, from May through September, campfires are only allowed between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Yosemite Valley.
• Picnic table
• Toilet types (flush toilets, seasonal)
• Amphitheatre (seasonal)
• Potable water (seasonal)

Watchman Campground, Zion National Park

Address: UT-9, Springdale, UT 84767, United States

Are you a keen camper looking to connect with nature? If so, Zion National Park is the perfect destination, with towering red cliffs, diverse scenery, and 68 species of mammals. Zion National Park has three campgrounds to choose from. Lava Point Campground has six ancient campsites, vault toilets, and trash cans, but no water. South Campground is closed at the moment due to rehabilitation work.

However, the most popular campsite is Watchman Campground. Tents and electric campsites are available year-round. Campsites are full during the peak season. It is advised to reserve your spot up to 6 months in advance. Watchman Campground features 95 sites with electricity; however, no generators are allowed. There are 69 tent-only sites, 18 tent-only walk-in campsites, and group sites that can accommodate 9–40 people. Activities near the campground include biking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, off-roading, climbing, swimming, whitewater paddling, and wildlife watching.

Fee: The fees vary between $10 and $130 per night. Check back to their site for updates.

Amenities:

• Cell phone reception, yes (all year round)
• Amphitheatre (seasonal)
• Trash collection (all year round)
• Dump station (all year round)
• Staff on site (all year round)
• Potable water, yes
• Picnic table, yes
• Fire ring, yes

Bridge Bay Campground, Yellowstone National Park

Address: 260 Bridge Bay Campground Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA

The United States’ first national park, Yellowstone, is 3,468.4 sq mi. It is filled with abundant wildlife, gorgeous geysers, mountain ranges, hiking trails, campsites, and wonderful hot springs. It offers campers a unique outdoor experience with plenty of activities to look forward to. There are 12 different campgrounds with over 2000 campsites to choose from, all with different amenities to meet your needs. 

1. Bridge Bay: 431 sites
2. Canyon: 272 sites
3. Fishing Bridge RV Park: 310 sites
4. Grant Village: 429 sites
5. Madison: 276 sites
6. Indian Creek: 70 sites
7. Lewis Lake: 84 sites
8. Mammoth: 82 sites
9. Norris: 139 sites
10. Pebble Creek: 27 sites
11. Slough Creek: 16 sites
12. Tower Fall: 31 sites

Furthermore, some campsites are more popular than others, depending on your needs. All campsites must be booked in advance, except for Mammoth Campground, which offers first-come, first-served sites from October 15–April 1. Madison, Grant Village, and Bridge Bay offer group sites with an assigned leader. Depending on the size of the group, fees range from $165 to $474 per night. The other campgrounds are priced between $20 and $99, and some sites also charge taxes. You can view the prices here.

A highly recommended campground is Bridge Bay, which is located near Yellowstone Lake, which is one of the biggest, high-elevation (7,800 feet) fresh-water lakes in North America. If you are looking for a campground with the most amenities, then Bridge Bay will be a wonderful option.

Amenities:

• Cell phone reception (seasonal)
• Trash collection (seasonal)
• Food storage lockers (seasonal)
• Camp store (seasonal)
• Ice for sale (seasonal)
• Firewood for sale (seasonal)
• Staff on site (seasonal)
• Amphitheatre (seasonal)
• Dump station (seasonal)
• Potable water (seasonal)
• Flush toilets (seasonal)

Activities near Bridge Bay include biking, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, paddling, wind sports, snow sports, swimming, wildlife watching, and whitewater paddling. Finally, the gorgeous natural features you will find at Bridge Bay include waterfalls, swimming holes, rivers, hot springs, lakes, caves, and forests.