12 Best Scenic Campgrounds in the US

Though there are scenic campgrounds all across the country, these are some of the best scenic campgrounds we have either stayed at or have heard about through other RVers, or even seen while we have been visiting national parks. Some of these campgrounds are rustic and don’t have hookups, while others are pretty fancy and have tons of great amenities.

Yosemite Upper Pines – Yosemite National Park, California

Just one of 13 campgrounds within Yosemite National Park, Upper Pines is located in Yosemite Valley and has views of both El Capitan and Half Dome. There are 238 sites with space for tents, RVs up to 35 feet, and trailers up to 24 feet; December to mid-February, only the first two loops are normally open (about 50 campsites). Each site features a fire ring, food locker, picnic table and is near bathrooms with flush toilets. Upper Pines gets very crowded so you will most likely be close to your neighbor, but the views and vicinity to walking trails are worth it!

Location: Yosemite Valley, near Half Dome Village (formerly Curry Village), at 4,000 ft (1,200 m) elevation

Season: All year

Utilities
Hookups: No
Dump station: Yes (at the entrance to Upper Pines)
Groceries: Nearby (Yosemite Village and Half Dome Village, formerly Curry Village)
Showers: Nearby (Half Dome Village, formerly Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp)

Regulations
Pets: Permitted (must be on a leash at all times)
Fires: Wood fires are permitted all year, however, from May through September, campfires in Yosemite Valley are only allowed between 5 pm and 10 pm (campfires are allowed at any time from October through April). Charcoal fires are allowed at any time.
People per site: A maximum of six people (including children) are allowed per campsite. There is no limit on the number of tents (as long as they all fit into the campsite).

Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, NV

With its sandstone rock formations, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back 2,000 years, Valley of Fire State Park is a popular area to visit. The visitor center offers information about the history and geology of the park and surrounding areas. Aside from the amazing rock formations and arches, wildlife such as bighorn sheep, roadrunners, coyote, desert kit fox and many birds and lizards can be found in this area. There are two campgrounds with a combined total of 72 units. All campsites are available by reservation. A camping limit of 14 days in a 30-day period is enforced.

• RV sites with power and water hookups
• Shaded tables
• Dump station
• Restrooms and showers
• Grills
• Visitor center and gift shop

Activities:

• Hiking
• Biking
• Rock climbing
• Wildlife and bird watching

Shenandoah National Park, Luray, VA

Shenandoah encompasses over 200,000 acres of land and is home to abundant wildlife like black bears, deer, bobcats, turtles, and a wide variety of birds including wild turkeys and barred owls. If you want to view mountains, waterfalls, wildflowers and beautiful sunsets while camping (who doesn’t?) make your reservation at one of the three reservable campgrounds. Note that not all sites within the campgrounds can be reserved, and the fourth campground is first-come, first-served only. Campgrounds are open from early spring until late fall. There are no hookups, but water and a dump station are available.

Loft Mountain Campground – This campground has the best views, and two waterfalls and walking trails are nearby. Some sites are reservable, some first-come first-served.
Big Meadows Campground – As the name implies, Big Meadows is near open meadows making it a good place for stargazing. All sites are reservable. This campground is close to the most popular destinations in the park, including the Byrd Visitor Center.
Mathews Arm Campground – Located in the northern end of the park just 2 miles away from Elkwallow Wayside, with camping supplies and food service. This wooded area is pretty in the fall when leaves are changing colors. Some sites are reservable, some are first-come first-served.
Lewis Mountain Campground – The smallest campground with only 30 sites and first-come first-served only. If you’d like more privacy, then this is the best option. Located right on the Appalachian Trail.

Acadia National Park – Bar Harbor, ME

Though we did not camp within the national park, we stayed nearby and can say positively that any of the campgrounds within the park offer spectacular views, great hiking and rock climbing if that’s what you like! Acadia is one of the top ten most popular national parks to visit in the U.S. With mountains, shoreline, abundant wildlife, forest, lakes and ponds and dark skies for fantastic stargazing, this is definitely one of the most beautiful areas to visit. There are some great bike trails within the park as well; we enjoyed a long ride through the park with a stop at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant. Choose from three campgrounds that have RV sites:

• Blackwoods Campground – 60 RV sites as well as 221 tent sites. Located in the southeast area of Mt. Desert Island. No hookups but flush toilets, potable water and a dump station are available and sites include fire rings and picnic tables.
• Seawall Campground – 59 RV only sites and 43 tent only sites. Located in the southwest region of Mt. Desert Island, sites are within walking distance of the coast. No hookups but flush toilets, potable water and a dump station are available.
• Schoodic Woods Campground – Some RV sites with electric hookups only, some with electric and water hookups. Drive up or walk-in tent sites. This is the only campground on the Schoodic Peninsula.

Big Bend National Park – Texas

Big Bend makes my top 10 list of must-see places in the U.S. Again, we did not stay at a campground within the park but there are four developed campgrounds within Big Bend National Park to choose from. At any of them, enjoy this International Dark Sky area and be sure to visit when there is a new moon so sky viewing will be at its best. Big Bend is 801,163 acres in area and we kept busy for an entire month here without even seeing half of it. Hike in the mountains or the river canyons, see the desert and the wildlife, canoe or kayak down the Rio Grande or even take a day trip to Mexico.  There are no campgrounds that don’t have spectacular views so choosing one just depends upon your preferences. Two of them are near the Rio Grand, one in the Chisos Mountains, and one is an Aramark campground with more amenities.

• Chisos Basin Campground – Near some of the most popular hiking trails in the park. Only RVs 24 feet long or less and trailers 20 feet long or less can stay at this campground due to the narrow and winding access roads.
• Cottonwood Campground – A small, quiet lesser-known campground on the west side of the park. There are only 22 sites here, available by reservation only.
• Rio Grand Village RV Park -The only campground with full hookups, this is and RV only park (no tent camping). There are only 25 sites, all back-ins. Amenities include flush toilets, coin-operated showers and a camp store.

Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain,Wilmington, NY

Enjoy views of the Adirondack Mountains at this KOA campground which is also located near the Ausable River and Lake Placid. Explore the area on one of the many hiking / biking trails, or paddle on the river (kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals are available at the campground). Hiking trails will take you past streams, waterfalls, rock formations and views of the mountains. The campground has RV sites, tent sites, cabins and motel rooms. Campground amenities include:

• Kayak, canoe and stand-up paddle board rentals
• KampK9®dog park
• Pocket Park with a community fire pit, corn hole, ladder ball and grills
• Hiking and biking trails around the campground
• Game room
• Gem mining
• General store

North Cascades, Sedro-Woolley, WA

Located in the Cascade Mountains in the northwest region of Washington, the national park is one of the most ecologically diverse national park areas in the U.S. The park is home to some of the rarest land mammals in North America such as the Canada lynx, wolverine, and grizzly bear, black bears, mountain goats and birds such as the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet find suitable nesting habitat in the park. Seventy species of mammals, seven reptiles, twelve amphibians, thirty-one species of fish, and over two hundred species of birds have been documented in North Cascades. Campgrounds within the park:

• Newhalem Campground – tent and RV sites, no hookups but dump station, flush toilets and potable water available
• Gorge Lake Campground – primitive campground with no amenities, tents or small RVs and trailers up to 30 feet in length.
• Goodell Creek Campground – limited development campground, tents or small RVs and trailers up to 20 feet in length
• Lower Goodell Creek Group Campground – Each group site has 5 tent pads, a pavilion with picnic tables, and a fire grate. Maximum capacity is 50 people and 20 vehicles per site. Lower Goodell sites can accommodate RV’s. Vault toilets and garbage service is provided. There are no hook-ups or potable water.
• Colonial Creek North Campground – 41 campsites in this limited development campground located on Diablo Lake. Maximum RV or trailer length is 25 feet.
• Colonial Creek South Campground – No hookups but a dump station, flush toilets and potable water are available. Maximum RV or trailer length is 36 feet.

Things to do in North Cascades National Park:

• Hiking
• Biking
• Boating
• Mountaineering
• Wildlife Viewing
• Horseback Riding
• Fishing

Trailer Village RV Park, Grand Canyon, AZ

Located within Grand Canyon National Park near the south rim (one mile), this park has a great high desert landscape. Full hookups and some sites that accommodate RVs up to 50 feet make this an ideal spot to stay while enjoying all that the Grand Canyon has to offer. A free shuttle takes visitors to different points along the south rim including the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Amenities to enjoy here:

• Free shuttle that runs every 15 minutes
• Full hookups
• Pets allowed
• Grill
• Picnic table
• Coin-operated laundry
• Coin-operated showers
• Canyon Village General Store and Deli (1/2 mile away)

Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, Felton, CA

Camp in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains! Also located on the San Lorenzo River, not only will you be able to enjoy the redwoods, you have the sights and sounds of the river as well. The climate is mild with average summer day time temperatures in the mid seventies to mid eighties, winter in the mid fifties and spring in the mid sixties. The majority of precipitation is between November and April. Amenities to enjoy:

• Located in the quiet of nature yet close to Santa Cruz beaches, boardwalk and shops
• Riverside campsites
• Hiking and biking trails
• Clubhouse with deck overlooking the river
• Community BBQ
• Playground
• Full hookups
• Showers

Moose Hillock Camping Resort, Lake George, NY

Located within the Adirondacks, this campground offers not only wonderful views but also a ton of family-friendly amenities like their “Aloha Pool”. RV sites are large and private with natural boundaries of trees and greenery. Feel like you’re out in nature while also being close to Lake George Village, Six Flags, and shopping. Some of the unique amenities include:

• Two outdoor movie screens – one by the pool, one in the meadow area
• Large outdoor heated pool with caves, waterfalls, waterslides and fountains
• Beachside cafe
• Entertainment pavilion
• Hiking and biking trails
• Arcade
• Playground
• Volleyball court
• Basketball Court
• Multiple lanes of horseshoes

Camp Fimfo, New Braunfels, TX

Nestled in Texas Hill Country, there are several ways to enjoy the views from Camp Fimfo. With 1,000 feet of frontage on the Guadalupe River, the campground has access for fishing, swimming or wading in the creek. Try the zipline adventure over the Guadalupe River, or the “Cliff Carver” – an Alpine coaster that allows riders to control speed of the sled that takes you down a mountain while you enjoy views of the hill country. Other amazing amenities to enjoy at Camp Fimfo:

• Two swimming pools
• Splash playground
• Water slides
• Mini golf
• Spa tubs
• Pickleball
• Volleyball
• Swim-up bar
• Dog park
• General store
• Tavern
• Restaurant

Salt Creek Recreation Area, Port Angeles, WA

Salt Creek is located just outside of Olympic National Park and overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca and mountains. The park provides access to Tongue Point and Striped Peak along with sandy beaches, upland forests, rocky bluffs, and several trails. The recreation area complete with a baseball field, basketball court, picnic shelter, playground, and horseshoe pits is also available for use. There are 92 total scenic campsites; Utility sites numbers 1 to 39; Non-utility campsites numbers 40 to 92. Two ADA accessible campsites are available, number 39 and number 71. Some of the activities to enjoy in this area:

• Walking along Crescent Bay
• Exploring Crescent Bay’s sea stack
• Visiting Tongue Point Marine Life Sanctuary
• Spotting marine mammals and wildlife
• Hiking to a hidden cove and a small waterfall
• Hiking Striped Peak Trail

Have a favorite campground you’d like to share? Enter it in the comments below! As always, thank you for reading! For more articles on camping destinations, see https://newliferv.us/category/destinations/