7 US National Parks With The Best Campgrounds (2024)

The US is home to many beautiful destinations, but nothing captures the attention of avid adventurers like its stunning national parks. In 2023, the U.S. National Park Service welcomed 325.5 million recreation visits in the 400 national park units, which is a 4% increase from the previous year. There are many ways to experience the beauty of these natural wonders, from hiking their spectacular trails to exploring their scenic drives.

While many travelers would prefer spending their nights in the hotels within (or near) the USA's beautiful national parks, others don’t want to miss the incredible feeling that comes with waking up to birdsong, breathing clean mountain air, and being surrounded by nature in all directions. Indeed, vamping in national parks is an entirely different kind of adventure.

Camping is also a great way of beating crowds and enjoying some of the most breathtaking sunsets at the end of the day. Discover the US national parks with the best campgrounds, from Glacier National Park to Acadia National Park.

7 Glacier National Park, Montana

There are 13 campgrounds in this park

From some of the best hikes in the US to impressive wildlife viewing opportunities, Glacier National Park has a lot to offer. It boasts 13 campgrounds, many of which are available by reservation and a few on a first-come, first-served basis. The park’s sheer size and multiple adventure opportunities make camping the best way to make the most of your visit.

At $30 per night, this is one of the cheapest US national parks for RV-ers. Visitors who wish to pitch their tents will also enjoy unforgettable camping experiences surrounded by stunning scenery and fascinating wildlife (that's because Glacier is among the USA's best national parks for wildlife viewing!).

Apgar Campground is one of the top-rated campgrounds and is believed to offer a true glacier experience. Situated along the famous Going-to-the-Sun-Road, which is among the most scenic drives in Montana, it is the park's largest campground and offers amazing camping experiences for both RV and tent campers.

6 Yellowstone National Park

America’s first national park is home to 12 campgrounds with more than 2,000 campsites

Spanning an area of 3,468 square miles, Yellowstone was established in 1872, making it the first to exist out of all the oldest national parks in the United States. It’s among the most visited national parks, too, attracting about four million tourists every year.

The park has the most geysers in the world, with the Old Faithful being the most famous. It is also home to some of the most gorgeous natural hot springs in the country. Beyond its geological features, Yellowstone comes with multiple opportunities for outdoor recreation, from hiking to scenic driving to fishing.

The best way to get in touch with Yellowstone’s natural beauty is camping in one of its 12 amazing campgrounds, Mammoth, Norris, and Canyon Campgrounds being the most convenient for enjoying much of the park.

5 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina/Tennessee

There are 11 developed campgrounds within this beautiful national park

The Great Smoky Mountains is number one out of all the most popular national parks in the USA and welcomed 13.3 million travelers in 2023.

It’s loved for its endless recreational opportunities, rich history, and incredibly diverse wildlife, but the fact that it has a major US roadway, referred to as the Newfound Gap Road, one of the most scenic drives in the Smoky Mountains, running through it, also makes it easily accessible.

This US national park is home to 10 amazing campgrounds, with Cades Cove Campground, home to 161 campsites, being the most popular. Another great campground is Deep Creek, which allows vacationers to enjoy tubing along the rushing rivers at Deep Creek.

4 Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

This US national park offers six beautiful campgrounds

So many things attract people to Grand Canyon National Park, including its spectacular natural beauty and geological features. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the park offers a magical escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, coming with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, fresh air, and plenty of outdoor adventures.

It’s home to five amazing campgrounds, two of which are within the North Rim boundaries; four are located on the park’s South Rim. Mather Campground, the Grand Canyon’s main campground, is nestled near the Grand Canyon Village and the park’s main visitor center and comes with more than 300 campsites to choose from.

RV-ers can opt for Trailer Village RV Park, which comes with 123 sites and is situated right next to Mather Campground. Both campgrounds are open year-round.

3 Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

This park is home to five established campgrounds

Rocky Mountain National Park attracts almost five million travelers every year, with its captivating natural scenery and multiple outdoor activities being the major draws. It preserves a section of the Rocky Mountains, one of the most magnificent mountain ranges in Colorado, and offers impressive wildlife spotting opportunities, spectacular trails, scenic drives, and more.

This park attracts more than four and a half million tourists every year, and while there are numerous ways to experience its beauty, nothing beats camping in one of its five established campgrounds. The most popular campground is Morain Park in the Bear Lake Corridor. It has 244 campsites, including RV, tent sites, and group sites.

2 Zion National Park, Utah

This US national park has three campgrounds to explore

Zion National Park's diverse topography, picturesque waterfalls, amazing canyons, scenic rivers, and some of the tallest sandstone cliffs in the world make it one of the most gorgeous natural wonders in the U.S. It’s home to more than 100 miles of scenic hiking trails, amazing wildlife spotting opportunities, and scenic drives.

The park offers endless adventure, and camping is the ultimate way to stay close to all the action. There are three excellent campgrounds in Zion National Park: Watchman Campground and South Campground, both located at the park’s south entrance. Lava Point Campground is an hour from Zion Canyon.

1 Acadia National Park, Maine

This Maine National Park is home to four campgrounds

Famous for its scenic hiking trails, beautiful drives along the Atlantic coast, and amazing beaches for swimming, Acadia National Park offers memorable adventures. With nearly 2.2 million summer tourists, it’s among the US national parks that see the most visitors in the summer.

Acadia is one of the US national parks with the best camping, thanks to its campgrounds' easy access to the ocean. Blackwoods and Seawall on Mount Desert Island are not only the largest campgrounds, but they also offer access to many popular sights in the park and are nearest to Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park's gateway town.