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Camping within the national parks is part of the overall park experience, allowing you to feel at one with nature and really escape from modern life. And in every case, you’ll save on travel time, not to mention having to queuing at the park gates each day – meaning more time to explore. Our top tip when camping at any national park is to book as early as possible. Some of the more popular parks like Yosemite book out literally 6 months in advance, so if you can plan well ahead, do so. If places appear fully booked, however, don’t give up hope! Most parks reserve a few first-come, first serve sites and you may get lucky if you arrive early enough to secure one. Other campgrounds also have last-minute cancellations, so keep checking rec.gov for updates in the days leading up to your visit. We truly loved every national park camping experience we’ve had, so narrowing it down to 5 was hard – but here they are!
1. Mather Campground, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Located in the South Rim Village, Mather Campground is a forested paradise. You will be camping beneath ponderosa pines and juniper trees, so everything smells incredible. There are 327 sites at Mather, but each site is spaced well apart from the next. All sites feature a fire ring with a cooking grate and a picnic table. There are drinking water spigots located throughout each loop, and several flushing toilet blocks. At the camp entrance you will find coin-operated hot showers, laundry facilities and a camp store. There are no hook-ups here, so keep that in mind if you’re traveling in an RV. Without a doubt, the best part about Mather is the wildlife. You’re almost guaranteed to see elk wander through your campsite, and will likely see mule deer and ravens too. We even saw a group of javelina run past at dusk! The other benefit to staying at Mather is the proximity to the South Rim. There is a free shuttle that stops right outside the camp entrance and will have you at the visitor center in 5 minutes. You are also just moments away from the village general store, which stocks just about everything you could need. We highly recommend staying here if you have the chance!
2. Cougar Rock Campground, Mt Rainier National Park, WA
This picturesque campground is found in the southwest section of the park, adjacent to the rushing Nisqually River. This is the perfect place to stay when checking out the Paradise area of the park, as it is on the way to the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center and close to several hikes. It is also only 2 miles from Longmire, where there is an information center, general store and more hikes. There are 173 sites available, each separated by towering trees so you have your privacy. This is a more rustic campground than others, with older facilities, although there are flushing toilets, running water and a dump station. Each site has a picnic table and concrete fire platform. We found our site to be a little on the small side, so keep that in mind if traveling with a big rig. You can have dogs here, but they do need to be on a leash at all times. Finally, foxes are known to frequent Cougar Rock, so keep your food secure!
3. Sage Creek Campground, Badlands National Park, SD
Staying at Sage Creek is like stepping onto another planet. The best part? This national park campground is completely free! There are 22 sites available, all on a first-come, first serve basis, but we had no trouble securing a site arriving late on a summer weeknight. Be prepared for a long, slow and dusty drive to get here – the camp is located an hour from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center on a partially gravel road – but we promise it’s worth the trip. Not only is the drive beautiful (picture desolate plains, incredible rock formations and multi-colored slopes and peaks), but the campground itself is stunning. Located on a flat, grassy field with badlands in the distance, you’ll be camping beside a shade shelter and picnic tables. Bison will roam near the campground – or even walk right through it – and you can whittle away hours watching the prairie dogs that have established a town right beside the road. We fell asleep to coyotes howling in the distance! There are three things to keep in mind when camping here: First, it’s very basic. No running water or flushing toilets. Second, there is no privacy, as there aren’t any trees or greenery separating the sites. In saying that, the sites are a decent length apart, so you won’t be staring into your neighbor’s tent. Third, it gets extremely hot during the day. Even with the shade shelters, this is not the campground to hang out all day at. Use it as a beautiful base for the night, a place to cook your breakfast, then spend the day exploring.
4. Wawona Campground, Yosemite National Park, CA
Wawona lies at the south end of Yosemite, on the banks of the South Fork Merced River. Like every inch of Yosemite, it’s beautiful – dotted with enormous ponderosa pines and fragrant cedars, with the sound of the river in the background. Each of the 94 sites has a picnic table, fire ring and bear bin. There are no hook-ups, but there is potable water and flushing toilets. Although it’s a 45 minute drive from Yosemite Valley, the journey is breath-taking and you will feel like you’re away from the crowds when you arrive. There are scenic lookouts on the way, and you may see bears and other wildlife in the forest framing the road. You’ll be close to several hikes, the Wawona swimming hole and the famous Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees. The Wawona Hotel is only a mile away, where you can fuel up and purchase essential items at the general store. We also stayed at Hodgdon Campground, which is conveniently located just after the Big Oak Flat park entrance. This was another beautiful campground and we would stay there again, but the sites were smaller and less private than Wawona, and the facilities were a little crowded.
5. Moraine Park Campground, Rocky Mountains National Park, CO
Escape into nature at this stunning Colorado campground. Adjacent to Beaver Meadows, you’ll be spoiled with views across the lush valley, to the dense forest and mountains beyond. Just 15 minutes from the bustling, well-stocked town of Estes Park, Moraine is moments from the nearest visitor center. It’s also on the doorstep of several of the park’s most popular walks, including the Cub Lake Trail, which moose often frequent. It’s common for mule deer to wonder through the campground, and if you sit out by Beaver Meadow at dawn or dusk, you might see a herd of elk grazing. Each site has the usual fire ring and picnic table, plus shared bear bins. There are no hook-ups, but there are various water spigots, as well as flushing toilets, dish-washing stations and a dump station. There are no showers, but there are stalls with hooks for hanging your own solar shower.