5 Best Places to Camp in the United States

Preface
America is large enough to hold a lifetime of skies. This concise guide names five places where a tent, a prudent plan, and a steady heart will reward you richly.

1) Yosemite National Park, California

Why it endures: Glacier-scoured granite, waterfalls in symphony, nights pricked with austere stars.
Signature campgrounds: Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines (Valley access); Tuolumne Meadows (alpine quiet when open). Book far in advance.
Best season: Late spring–early fall; peak waterfalls May–June.
Don’t miss: Mist Trail to Vernal/Nevada Falls; Glacier Point at dusk.
Cautions: Bears are clever—use lockers; valley traffic requires early starts.

2) Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Why it endures: A saw-toothed skyline rising clean from meadow and lake—spare, magnetic, unforgettable.
Signature campgrounds: Jenny Lake (iconic, limited), Signal Mountain (lake views), Gros Ventre (big-sky openness).
Best season: June–September.
Don’t miss: Sunrise along Mormon Row; loop around Jenny Lake with a detour to Hidden Falls.
Cautions: Afternoon storms and cold nights even in July; carry layers and bear spray.

3) Acadia National Park, Maine

Why it endures: Atlantic light, granite headlands, and spruce that smells of rain and salt.
Signature campgrounds: Blackwoods (near Park Loop Road), Seawall (quieter, ocean-facing).
Best season: September–October for clear air and fiery maples; summer for sea breezes.
Don’t miss: Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain; coastal walk between Sand Beach and Thunder Hole.
Cautions: Fog arrives without ceremony; pack a warm, dry layer.

4) Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina

Why it endures: Blue ridges layered to the horizon; the country’s most biodiverse temperate forest.
Signature campgrounds: Cades Cove (wildlife and history), Elkmont (riverside hush).
Best season: April–May for wildflowers; October for color; winter for solitude.
Don’t miss: Alum Cave Trail toward Mount LeConte; Cades Cove Loop at dawn.
Cautions: Humidity and sudden showers—ventilated rain gear is wisdom, not luxury.

5) Olympic National Park, Washington

Why it endures: Three worlds in one—glaciered peaks, moss-laden rainforest, and tide-etched coast.
Signature campgrounds: Hoh Rain Forest (ferns and velvet silence), Kalaloch (clifftop Pacific views), Heart O’ the Hills (gateway to Hurricane Ridge).
Best season: July–September for dry spells; shoulder seasons for moody drama.
Don’t miss: Hall of Mosses; sunset at Ruby Beach; Hurricane Ridge on a crystalline morning.
Cautions: Forecasts are suggestions; carry real rain protection.

Logistics & Etiquette (Read before you go)

• Reservations for popular campgrounds can vanish within minutes—create accounts beforehand and set reminders.

• Store food properly; respect closures; keep fires small and legal.

• Leave No Trace: pack out micro-trash, stay on durable surfaces, yield with grace.

• Safety is conservative, not timid: check weather, tell someone your plan, and carry a paper map.