25 Best State Park Campgrounds

By VacationIdea Staff on March 6, 2023 - Updated

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State parks throughout the United States are a great way to experience the great outdoors and numerous beautiful and interesting natural scenery the country has to offer. Camping in these state parks provides an opportunity for families and friends of all ages to explore nature and spend a night under the stars, whether it’s camping on a beach by the ocean waters, enjoying the solitude of the mountains, or escaping to warmer climates during the winter. There’s plenty of options when it comes to the nation’s best state park camping.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Anastasia State Park

Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, Florida features over 1,600 beautiful acres of ancient sand dunes, maritime hammocks, tidal marshes, and unspoiled beaches that make the grounds a captivating place for a camping experience out in an amazing expanse of nature. The wildlife here seem to love the park just as much as visitors do, with numerous wading birds along Salt Run. Guests can also see wildlife at the beach from either a kayak or a canoe, as well as along the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail. Nearly 140 campsites can be found only a short walk from the beach.

300 Anastasia Park Rd, St. Augustine, FL 32080, Phone: 904-461-2033

2.Blackwater Falls State Park

Located in West Virginia, near the town of Davis, Blackwater Falls State Park gets its name for the Blackwater River’s falls, where amber-hued waters cascade down five stories before twisting and tumbling through a gorge measuring eight miles in length. In addition to camping, visitors in Blackwater Falls State Park can also experience several other outdoor recreation activities, such as fishing, biking, hiking, and more. There are sixty-five trailer and tent campsites in total at the park, with thirty campsites including electric hookups. The campground also has a bathhouse with showers, a dumping station, and a laundromat.

1584 Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 26260, Phone: 304-259-5216

3.Blue Bell Campground

The Blue Bell Campground is located within Custer State Park in the city of Custer, South Dakota. The campground is a great destination to unwind and relax after a busy day of exploration. With just thirty campsites for both RVs and tents, this state park campground offers a quieter camping experience. In addition to the campsites, Blue Bell Campground also offers a bathhouse, trail rides at the Blue Bell Stables, and ranger programs held in the amphitheater. There is plenty more to do in Custer State Park than just camping, including scenic drives, hiking trails, and much more.

Lame Johhny Rd, Custer, SD 57730, Phone: 605-255-4515

4.Bullards Beach State Park

Bullards Beach State Park is a family-oriented, large park just two miles outside of Bandon, oregon. The park’s campground is protected from strong ocean breezes, situated among the shore pines. There are three different loops of sites for camping, each equipped with electric and water hookups. Bullards Beach State Park also offers 13 Yurts, with six allowing pets. For equestrian campers, the horse camp offers access to the dunes and beach. The biker/hiker camp provides storage lockers and solar-powered USB charging ports. The park itself is known for its excellent crabbing and fishing opportunities along the Coquille River.

Bullards Beach Rd, Bandon, OR 97411, Phone: 541-347-2209

5.State Park Campgrounds: Cherry Creek State Park

Cherry Creek State Park, located in Aurora, Colorado, is Denver’s spacious and natural backyard playground with rolling hills and prairies. The campground here features both basic tent sites and full hookup, deluxe campsites with twenty, thirty, and fifty-amp service. All of the sites require campers to make a reservation. Other amenities at the campground include a seasonal dump station, laundry facilities, and shower facilities. Along with camping, Cherry Creek State Park offers plenty of activities for visitors, such as picnicking, camping, and more unique and difficult to find activities, like a family shooting range, horseback riding, and model airplane flying.

4201 South Parker Rd, Aurora, CO, 80014, Phone: 303-693-3957

6.Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Visitors are welcomed by rippling, rust-colored sand arcs upon entering the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kanab, Utah. These arcs are contrasted by steep red cliffs, pinion pines and juniper trees, and blue skies, making the park an amazing destination for scenic drives, photography, camping, or even just “playing in the sand.” Coral Pink Sand Dunes has a campground with twenty-two campsites within a gorgeous desert environment of junipers and surrounded by the park’s coral pink sand. The sand dune field of the Colorado Plateau is one geological feature visitors should make sure not to miss during their stay.

12500 Sand Dune Rd, Kanab, UT 84741, Phone: 435-648-2800

7.Davis Mountains State Park

Davis Mountains State Park is a historic and beautiful park located up in the mountain terrain of Fort Davis in West Texas. Visitors can learn about the park’s history and the nearby frontier fort, explore miles of hiking trails, and camp out beneath the starry night sky among several other outdoor recreation activities. The park provides a remote and unique destination for all kinds of adventures, whether it’s geocaching, stargazing, camping, scenic drives to take in the mountain scenery, horseback riding, mountain biking, backpacking, hiking, or simply enjoying nature. Accommodations include campsites and the 39-room historic Indian Lodge.

TX-118, Fort Davis, TX 79734, Phone: 432-426-3337

8.State Park Campgrounds: Doheny State Beach

Known as the first state beach in California, Doheny State Beach in Dana Point is one of the state’s most popular state beaches, attracting nearly one million people every year. At the southern end are the campgrounds, including campsites just steps from the sandy beach. At Doheny State Beach’s north end are volleyball courts, picnic facilities, a 5-acre lawn, and a surfing beach. There is also a visitor center featuring several aquariums and tide pools at the state beach, as well as opportunities for surf fishing. Other activities include hiking trails, bike trails, fishing, swimming, wildlife viewing, and geocaching.

25300 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629, Phone: 949-496-6171

9.Farragut State Park

Located in Athol, Idaho, the Farragut State Park is situated at Lake Pend Oreille’s southern end within the beautiful natural scenery of the Coeur d' Alene Mountains. Along with the unique scenery, the park offers plenty of history and recreational activities, including biking, hiking, fishing, and disc golf. Farragut State Park is also home to more unique amenities and facilities, such as equestrian facilities, a radio-controlled airplane field, and the Museum at the Brig. The campground provides more than 250 campsites, several of which include electric and water, as well as a modern shower house with restrooms.

13550 E. Hwy. 54, Athol, ID 83801, Phone: 208-683-2425

10.Fort Stevens State Park

Formerly the primary military fort of the Harbor Defense System between the Civil War era through World War II, Fort Stevens is now an approximately 4,300-acre state park that offers opportunities for camping and many other recreational adventures. The historical military fort, a historic shipwreck, wildlife viewing, hiking and biking trails, beach combing, camping, a picnic area, boating, and lakes for swimming, canoeing, and fishing all help make Fort Stevens State Park a truly diverse park. The campground features six tent sites, eleven deluxe cabins, fifteen yurts, 302 electric campsites with water, and 174 full hookup campsites.

100 Peter Iredale Rd, Hammond, OR 97121, Phone: 503-861-3170

11.Holland State Park

Holland State Park in Holland, Michigan provides campers with a choice of two different spacious campgrounds. Situated between sand dunes within fifty beach of the swimming beaches, the Beach Campground consists of 31 full hookup campsites and 98 paves sites. The Lake Macatawa Campground features more than two hundred campsites, including wooded and grassy sites, close to the pier boat launch, the beach, and the bike path. It’s also the closest campground to the entrance and just around half a mile away from Lake Michigan. Holland State Park also offers a camper cabin with views of the Holland Channel.

2215 Ottawa Beach Rd, Holland, MI 49424, Phone: 616-399-9390

12.John Bryan State Park

John Bryan State Park is western Ohio’s most scenic state park, located only a mile away from the town of Yellow Springs. This park encompasses more than seven hundred and fifty acres and features a spectacular limestone gorge that has been cut over hundreds of years by the Little Miami Scenic River. Part of the gorge itself has been named a national natural landmark. The John Bryan State Park offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities, such as picnicking, canoeing, fishing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, and camping. Four-legged friends are welcome to visit the park as well.

3790 Ohio 370, Yellow Springs, OH 45387, Phone: 937-767-1274

13.State Park Campgrounds: Kohler-Andrae State Park

Located in the town of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the Kohler-Andrae State Park is a scenic gem along the shores of Lake Michigan, providing a peaceful camping destination for people of all ages. The pet-friendly park grounds include almost 150 family campsites, a camper cabin for visitors with disabilities, one Tepee, two group campsites, and slightly more than fifty sites with electric hookups. Every campsite includes a picnic table and a fire ring, and canvas and pole tepees are available for rental during the summer months.The Sanderling Nature Center is open between the months of May and October.

1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081, Phone: 920-451-4080

14.Lake Thunderbird State Park

Lake Thunderbird State Park in Norman, Oklahoma offers a great camping destination with a wide array of recreational and water activities. The state park also consists of two swimming beaches, nine boat ramps, and two marinas. Overnight accommodations at Lake Thunderbird include more than two hundred primitive campsites and RV campsites, including thirty with full hookups. There are also modern restroom facilities, picnic tables, playgrounds, and even an archery range. The park’s campground is open twenty-four hours, every day of the year. Lake Thunderbird State Park also features equestrian, biking, and hiking trails, picnic shelters, and a nature center.

13101 Alameda Dr, Norman, OK 73026, Phone: 405-360-3572

15.Camping Near Me: Manchester State Park

The Manchester State Park just outside of Port Orchard, Washington makes for an ideal getaway for both Puget Sound campers and day-trippers alike on a trip to the state’s Kitsap Peninsula, particularly among maritime and military buffs. Manchester State Park is especially well known for its large brick structure, once a warehouse for torpedoes. During World War II, the fort here stocked an underwater minefield. Today, the grounds are now a state park that offers opportunities for camping, diving, swimming, hiking, and kayaking. The 128-acre campground features beautiful views, restroom and shower facilities, horseshoe pit, and a volleyball court.

7767 E. Hilldale Rd, Port Orchard, WA 98366, Phone: 360-871-4065

16.Tent Camping Near Me: North Fork Campground

The North Fork Campground in the White River National Forest is situated high up within the towering aspen grove along the Colorado Rocky Mountains western slope, providing a perfect setting for campers looking for a place for relaxation and recreation. There are almost forty standard campsites that are able to accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents. The majority of the campsites open to the river valley and are widely spaced out. Wild roses and a heavy tall grass understory provide privacy. The North Fork Campground provides drinking water, vault toilets, campfire rings, and picnic tables, as well as firewood.

County Rd 8, Meeker, CO 81641, Phone: 970-927-0107

17.Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a very popular state park campground that offers nearly two hundred campsites located either near or on the Big Sur River, including both tent sites and RV sites. Every site includes a picnic table, a half-grill, a fire pit, and parking space for one car at least. There are no hookups provided at any of the campsites, but there are toilets and hot showers within walking distance. The Campfire Center hosts a variety of programs in the evening during the weekends in the peak season. Park activities include hiking, wildlife viewing, biking, and nature trails.

Pfeiffer Big Sur Rd, Big Sur, CA 93920, Phone: 831-667-1112

18.State Park Campgrounds: Rockhound State Park

The Rockhound State Park features a rugged slope setting thanks to the Little Florida Mountains. Located near Deming, New Mexico, the park boasts a tranquil campground, displays of colorful wildflowers, unique geological features, and miles of trails. The gorgeous natural scenery of Rockhound State Park’s Spring Canyon area in particular offers a serene setting for picnicking and hiking. The campground features nearly thirty developed campsites, twenty-three sites with electricity, a dump station for RVs, group campsites, and water. There are also vault toilets, showers, and restroom facilities at the campground, and a visitor center and gift shop in the park.

9880 Stirrup Road SE, Deming, NM 88030, Phone: 575-546-6182

19.State Park Campground: Salmon Lake State Park

Salmon Lake State Park in Seeley Lake, Montana is situated on the Clearwater River, nestled between the Swan Mountain Range and the Mission Mountain Range. The area offers a peaceful and beautiful setting for both camping and water=based outdoor recreational activities. The woodland campground features a setting of Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, western larch in which visitors will find twenty-four campsites. There is also a bike-bike site with a covered picnic area, electrical outlets, a bicycle maintenance stand, potable water, bear-resistant food lockers, a fire ring, a bicycle rack, and space for up to ten tents.

2329 Hwy. 83 N, Seeley Lake, MT 59868, Phone: 406-677-3731

20.Campgrounds Near Me: Sinks Canyon State Park

The campgrounds at the Sinks Canyon State Park provides a great base for exploring the natural beauty of land near Lander, Wyoming. Campers can sit around a campfire beneath the starry sky and simply relax and enjoy being out in the “Great Outdoors.” From each campsite, visitors can explore the miles of hiking trails or head down to the river from a bit of fishing. Several small campgrounds are located throughout canyon along the river, with campsites including pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. These campgrounds include the Sawmill Campground, the Sinks Campground, and the Popo Agie Campground near the Visitor Center.

3079 Sinks Canyon Rd, Lander, WY 82520, Phone: 307-332-6333

21.Campground Near Me: Standing Stone State Rustic Park

Standing Stone State Park is nestled within the Cumberland Plateau’s Standing Stone State Forest near Hilham, Tennessee. The park gets its name from the massive rock that stands upright twelve feet high on a sandstone ledge, named appropriately as the “Standing Stone.” This stone supposedly acted as the boundary line between two different Indian nations. When it originally fell, a portion was set on an improvised monument in order to preserve it. The campground consists of almost forty campsites with electricity, water, picnic table, and grill. There are also over eight miles of hiking trails throughout the park.

1674 Standing Stone Park Hwy, Hilham, TN 38568, Phone: 931-823-6347

22.State Park Campground: Tumalo State Park

Located along the Deschutes River around four miles outside of Bend, Oregon, Tumalo State Park offers a campground with a season biker/hiker area, two group seasonal camping areas, seven yurts (two of which are pet-friendly), fifty-four tent campsites, and twenty-three full hookup campsites. Shower facilities, flush toilets, a recycling station, playground, and drinking water are also available for campers to use at the Tumalo State Park campground. Firewood and ice are available for sale as well. Tumalo State Park provides an array of evening programs for visitors at the amphitheater, along with a Junior Ranger program for kids.

64170 OB Riley Rd, Tumalo, OR 97703, Phone: 541-382-3586

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23.Campground Near Me: Upper Madera Canyon Campground

The Upper Madera Canyon Campground outside of Marfa, Texas is the only campground within the Big Bend Ranch State Park, other than the Grassy Banks camping area, that is able to accommodate RVs. However, the term “trailer camping” is a little generous here, as there aren’t any electric or water hookups available. The Upper Madera Canyon Campground offers a great camping experience for anyone who prefers to stick to the basics when it comes to camping, as the only actual amenities provided at the primitive campground are picnic tables and a self-composting toilet. It does provide river access and stunning canyon vistas though.

1900 Sauceda Ranch Rd, Marfa, TX 79845, Phone: 432-358-4444

24.Campgrounds Near Me: Van Damme State Park

The Van Damme State Park in Little River, Claifornia is just a few miles away from Mendocino along Highway One. This beautiful park provides opportunities for camping throughout the entire year, a fern-filled lush forest, and a scenic beach. The highway actually runs through the middle of the park and separates the Fern Canyon trail head and the park’s campground on the east from the parking lot and beach on the west. Along with camping, Van Damme State Park is also great for kayaking, jogging, birding, biking, hiking, and more. Kayaks can be launched in the protected cove.

8001 CA-1, Little River, CA 95456, Phone: 707-937-5804

25.Camping Near Me: Warren Dunes State Park

Located in Sawyer, Michigan, Warren Dunes State Park offer almost two thousand acres full of outdoor recreation opportunities along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. The park’s rugged dune formation rises up approximately 260 feet and provides amazing views, as well as an excellent opportunity for hang gliding. There are also three miles of pet-friendly shoreline, a beach swimming and playing in the sand, and miles of trails for hiking open year-round. The campground consists of thirty rustic campsites and two hundred modern sites. A concession stand offers drinks and food and visitors can rent paddle boards and kayaks as well.

12032 Red Arrow Highway, Sawyer, MI 49125, Phone: 269-426-4013