State parks offer a wide range of outdoor recreation. JL Jahn / Alamy Stock Photo, Credit: Californians are spoiled for choice when it comes to jaw-dropping campsites, yet landing one of the two spots inside this state park is considered the pinnacle of achievement for coastal campers. Make sure you know where your kids are and what they are doing. More into waterfalls? Camping and the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health authorities in consultation with NPS Public Health Service Officers, some national parks and facilities have temporarily closed. Park a towel and soak up the sun at Cape Henlopen, or head into historic Lewes for barbecue from Savannah’s Deli and cones of fresh Hopkins Farm ice cream. At this time, State Parks is not taking new reservations through June 15, 2020. In Vermont’s forested Green Mountains, Smuggler’s Notch once served as an illegal trade route, an escape for fugitive slaves and a bootlegging thoroughfare during Prohibition. Camp in the Pine Creek Campground, reserve a tee time at one of the four popular 18-hole golf courses or hike, bike, ATV or horseback ride on miles of mountain trails. There may be plants with thorns or stickers. Mountains of sand may not be the first thing that comes to mind in Colorado, but the nation’s largest dunes soar over 700 feet into the sky at this popular park. From remote beaches accessible only by boat to rugged canyons best explored by canoe, these are the best places to camp in every single state. Length of stay is another factor to consider. Considered the crown jewel of the park’s west coast, campers pitch their tents right on the sand of this Pacific Northwest beach. State park campgrounds offer the RVer a wide range of opportunities for outdoor recreation. We will continue to review operations on a daily basis and make additional operational changes as may be deemed necessary for protection of public health. Hornbil Images / Alamy Stock Photo, The Best Place to Camp in Each of the 50 States. Escape the throngs at this tent-only campground, then hit Big Creek Trail to Mouse Creek Falls, a popular swimming hole and breathtaking spring wildflowers. All maps are printable. When conditions are right, you might catch the aurora borealis. An Annual Pass is available for Louisiana State Parks that allows for unlimited day-use at all sites for all people in one non-commercial vehicle. Lake Bemidji State Park, located 4.5 hours north of the Twin Cities, is one of the best. Located in Bladen County 50 miles northwest of Wilmington, Singletary Lake State Park was developed as a group camp but has recently expanded public access for hiking, fishing, and paddling. Even better, this high-elevation campground gives you a head start on some of the park’s best day hikes, so you can make it to and from milky-teal Grinnell Lake or Ptarmigan Falls with daylight to spare. Most other state parks allow only limited RV camping stays. Spot pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, elk, burros and bison inside this scenic state park, where the herd numbers about 1,300 and the annual roundup draws crowds. Learn More Promised Land State Park Follow the trails inside this Ohio park from photo opp to photo opp, and when the stone stairs to reach the high-up rock house don’t feel daring enough, book a zip line tour and soar through the canopy. Pull on your hiking boots, fish for your dinner, or just plant yourself in a camp chair with a good book. Pitch a tent or pull your RV into one of more than 300 sites just above the dunes on this barrier island. Getty Images, Credit: Here you can marvel at some of the state’s most stunning natural wonders and enjoy an array of outdoor adventures.While there are many gorgeous state parks in the Lone Star State to choose from, these are our top picks for those you definitely want to see at least once in your lifetime. The westernmost point in the state, Cape Blanco juts out into the Pacific like a thumb, the 147-year-old lighthouse atop its cliffs warning ships away from the shore. Today, it’s a woodsy playground, where visitors hike rugged trails or brewery hop in nearby Stowe before bunking in wooden lean-tos with stone fireplaces built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Park City is only about 20 minutes away, and the park has nice views of the Jordanelle Reservoir. Less than two hours from Chicago is a landscape of sandstone canyons and waterfalls utterly at odds with the Illinois prairie. RV camping facilities go from nothing to everything in State parks. Rent kayaks, paddle boards and bikes onsite, or sign up for a surf class to practice catching waves. Don’t miss the gap itself, a notch in the Kittany Ridge cut by persistent waters. Borrow a kayak, canoe or mountain bike free of charge, or hit the trail to 250-foot OK Slip Falls or the Snowy Mountain fire tower for magnificent views of the surrounding hills. Non-residents pay $70. The campground is equipped with Wi-Fi and a heated bathhouse. Florida's state parks have plenty of options for camping throughout the state. Twenty sites set on the sand offer sun, sea and little else, though that’s more than enough when the setting is this lovely. Start your day with a hike on Lost Mine Trail, then cross the river into Boquillas, Mexico for tacos and beers before sleeping under the stars at this high-altitude campground encircled by rocky cliffs. Hosted by Kellee Edwards. of Parks. Fees vary widely from state to state, and even campground to campground. We are taking reservations for overnight stays up to five months in advance. Our main priority is the safety of our guests and staff. The campground’s namesake arch is one of the premier attractions, but you’ll also find petrified trees, narrow slot canyons and ancient petroglyphs, like the one at Valley of Fire’s second campground, which is better suited to RVs and trailers. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Dedicated to environmental education, hit pause and appreciate the wilderness around you at this non-profit wildlife refuge. If you make reservations for RV camping in a state park, be sure to check out the rules about minimum duration of stays. Straddling a thousand-foot gulch on the western flank of Lookout Mountain, this lofty park offers panoramic views worthy of its mystical name. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. For the latest information on COVID-19 in Oregon, visit the Oregon Health Authority.Resources for reopening and “Building a Safe and Strong Oregon” are available on Governor Brown’s website.For the latest Oregon State Parks updates, visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page.. Visit The legend is at the bottom of the page. That position also grants the park magnificent views of the Oregon Coast, especially when sunset dyes the landscape in rosy hues. On the East Fork of the Black River, the shut-ins—an Ozark word for confined, rocky river—double as a natural waterpark, where summer finds kids shooting down small rapids and splashing in crystal clear pools. Hiking trails, fishing, rock climbing, rock hounding, geocaching and even golf are just some of the recreational activities available. Paddle past waterfalls, rocky islands and the occasional moose out for a swim, then bed down at one of more than 2,000 designated campsites where the million-acre wilderness becomes your beautiful backyard. on Oahu’s north shore at this campground paradise, petite campground in the Sawtooth National Forest, a landscape of sandstone canyons and waterfalls utterly at odds with the Illinois prairie, find a site to fit their needs among Brown County’s 400-plus posts, secluded camping on Ames Island in Muscongas Bay, four ferry-serviced islands in Boston Harbor, Hike the three miles to this rustic campground, Base yourself in a cottonwood-shaded site along the Little Missouri River. The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Justin Meissen/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0. COVID-19 Response FAQ Some parks are open for day-use and camping, with reduced services. While summer days bring crowds, as soon as the sun sets, you’ll practically have the place to yourself. Kentucky POWs can camp for free if they obtain a POW card issued by KY Dept. Hike the three miles to this rustic campground, passing waterfalls and an inland lake on the way to an idyllic crescent of golden sand. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Wooded sites fill up with visitors who spend their days on nearby trails or tubing down the Little River, which runs right through camp. Alabama —Outpost at Gulf State Park … You are responsible for the safety of your children. Louisiana State Parks. Downtown Helen. Serrated peaks provide a dramatic backdrop to a lake-dotted valley where bison, elk and moose meander. In winter months, ski, snowshoe or snowmobile through the alpine terrain. Some state parks permit long term RV stays while others restrict how long you can camp. Just steps from your tent or RV, the Big Meadows Lodge offers ranger-led twilight hikes, astronomy programs and a full-service restaurant and bar. The Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Park Guide is a handy resource for planning a spring break, summer vacation or family reunion. Fishing, picnicking, boating and hiking are but a few of the possibilities available. Goosenecks state park in Utah has dispersed RV camping locations with no facilities and no charge, while Chatfieled State Park in Colorado has full RV hookup campsites available. For a true Southern experience, Lake Bistineau beckons. But the real attraction is below, where a steep trail descends into the canyon past a pair of dramatic waterfalls and murky caves awaiting willing adventurers. From beach camping to mountain RV full hookup sites, state parks offer every type of camping destination. You are a visitor in wildlife's home. With campgrounds in the most historic and scenic places in the country, the NPS offers some of the best places for RV camping. National Park Service Logo National Park Service. Try your hand at candle dipping, pottery turning, lye soap making, or welding. Courtesy of Camp Orenda, Credit: When you choose state park campgrounds, you get a lot more than just a campsite. Lighthouse views and one of Delaware’s best beaches steps from your tent. Lakeside sites along a 9,000-acre reservoir mean campers at this central Kansas state park wake to lovely water views and days spent navigating the shoreline in kayaks or kicking up dust on the 25-mile bike trail. California State Parks, State of California. Come for the bayous, stay for the beach. Base yourself in a cottonwood-shaded site along the Little Missouri River, and don’t be surprised when hulking bison amble past your tent or trailer. . North - South - East - West. Drop-in visitors are always welcome as long as space is … Rent a kayak or BYO, then keep an eye out for puffins and harbor seals en route to this rugged speck just off the coast where amenities are scarce but views are plentiful. Inside the Delaware Water Gap’s 70,000 acres, you’ll discover a world of mellow waters, ancient lakes, swooping eagles and mountain vistas. Four-wheel-drive RVs, that is. In one direction, the Boston city skyline, glittering and proud. Tribune Content Agency LLC / Alamy Stock Photo, Credit: Cavan Social / Alamy Stock Photo, Credit: All North Carolina state parks are closed on Christmas Day, December 25. Plan a float trip and absorb the scenery at a leisurely pace, pausing for hikes to visit Lost Valley’s caverns or the 200-foot Hemmed-in Hollow falls. By day, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site that served as a cultural center for the Pueblo people more than 1,000 years ago. Learn more about the wildfire crisis in Oregon. Courtesy of Carolina Heritage Outfitters, Credit: The free booklet is filled with tips on the best hiking trails, fishing spots, cabins, wedding venues and campsites. In a state full of natural riches, Glacier Bay is a marvel, home to lofty peaks, humpback whales, 700 miles of coastline, and blue-tinged glaciers that calve directly into the sea. This 800,000-acre park includes such diverse landscapes as the Chisos Mountains, Chihuahua Desert and Rio Grande River. Spend your days kayaking along the coast, biking inland trails, or scanning for manatees and dolphins, then wave the day trippers goodbye and crash in one of 30 primitive campsites where the rhythm of the surf will lull you to sleep. Credit: There’s also a swimming pool, miniature golf course, a sandy beach, nature trails, and a large … State park campgrounds are popular destinations for RV campers because most offer at least an electrical hookup, and many have full water, electric, and dump facilities. If you’re feeling fancy, the restaurant at the nearby lodge serves a five-course dinner that’s not to be missed. Here you’ll find about 115 tent, trailer, and RV campsites, as well as 16 backcountry campsites, a group camp that sleeps 75, and a pioneer campground. If you’re looking for a reason to dust off your headlamp or fire up the RV, every single state in the U.S. boasts remarkable landscapes where you can bunk for the night. Colorado has state park campgrounds with full RV hookups available, and some sites with only electricity. State Parks is working with locals on a phased and regionally driven approach to increase access to park units only where compliance with state and local public health ordinances has been achieved. The campground offers electric hookups, and when you’re sick of the great outdoors, the historic lodge built by the Civilian Conversation Corps serves a mean Sunday brunch. 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