Our Favorite American Cities for Camping

For many Americans, the glow of a campfire surrounded by fresh air, a star-filled sky and a small circle of friends has never seemed more appealing. Nearly 85 million Americans took to life beneath the stars in 2023, joining another 20 million first-time campers since 2021, according to an annual report by camping platform The Dyrt.

But you don’t have to get far from civilization to snag a slice of the great outdoors. We sourced data from ApartmentGuide.com — balancing population density with campground proximity — in conjunction with experience from real-world experts to find the best American cities for camping.

A one-time home to Hollywood’s Western movie boom, Lone Pine remains one of the best places to get acquainted with the spirit of the West. Nestled below the pinnacle of Mount Whitney, Lone Pine is a portal to hiking on the mountain and camping in the resplendent Alabama Hills. Here, travelers can camp among the boulders that Wild West icons like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Clayton Moore roamed on the silver screen. And while most campsites in the Alabama Hills are primitive, they are also free.

Campers looking for a more refined experience can tie their RVs up at Tuttle Creek Campground that includes access to potable water for a nominal fee.

Know before you go: Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the Lower 48 towers above Lone Pine. A permit from the U.S. Forest Service is required to summit the 14,505-foot peak.

Few cities have ridden the wave of Instagram-fueled social currency higher than Jackson, Wyoming. But this beautiful — and famously affluent — hub of outdoor recreation on the doorstep of Grand Teton National Park is still one of the best base camps for adventure in the country. Dispersed campsites on Shadow Mountain give visitors views of Wyoming’s rolling hills and the Tetons. Perennially booked Jenny Lake Campground gives RV lovers a chance to sleep beside an idyllic, alpine lake. Meanwhile, Lizard Creek Campground puts campers within an easy drive of Yellowstone National Park’s gates.

Know before you go: Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park border one another. Each offers enough outdoor adventure for multiple days' worth of activities.

On the doorstep of the Chattahoochee National Forest, the quaint city of Clayton has become a booming hotpot for outdoor adventures as the home base for Wander North Georgia outdoor store. Nearby campgrounds welcome travelers to set up shop near the babbling, Blue Ridge Mountain waterfalls of Sarah’s Creek Campground or high atop the Appalachian foothills with sweeping views of the city at Black Rock Mountain State Park.

Know before you go: The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is within arm's reach at Springer Mountain.

Watch the sunset over cerulean shores beneath Grand Traverse Lighthouse or scour the shoreline for Petoskey stones not far from Traverse City. This northern Michigan gem is a gateway to spectacular camping along the Great Lakes and stunning smaller ones like Lake Interlochen. Traverse City itself is the hub of Michigan's surprising wine country and a historical focal point for the Great Lakes brimming with restaurants and museums.

Know before you go: Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails (TART) have turned more than 60 miles of railroad into cycling and walking paths.

Arizona is home to some of the most well-maintained state parks in the nation and few shine as brightly as Gilbert Ray Campground on the outskirts of Saguaro National Park. With a backdrop of mesmerizing mountains and towering cacti, Gilbert Ray is one of the best places to park an RV in the southwest. But it’s far from the only campground near Tuscon.

Nearby Catalina State Park allows tent campers to nestle up next to a saguaro cactus, and an abundance of private campgrounds encircling the city means travelers are almost guaranteed to find a site.

Know before you go: Summer temperatures can easily top 120 degrees F. Tucson is best enjoyed during cooler months.

Hovering on Tennessee’s southeastern border with Georgia, Chattanooga’s happening downtown sits just minutes from a quiver of camping opportunities in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Prentice Cooper State Forest gives campers panoramic views of serpentine bends on the Tennessee River, while nearby Lookout Mountain puts campers within arm’s reach of North Georgia’s bountiful trails and waterfalls. Farther afield, camping and whitewater rafting collide on the renowned Ocoee and Nantahala rivers in Cherokee National Forest.

Know before you go: Ever wanted to see Rock City? It's on top of Lookout Mountain just above downtown.

Straddling Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, the picturesque state capital of Wisconsin is a hotbed for winter ice fishing, as well as year-round cycling and running.

Warm-weather campers have instant access to canoe and kayak rentals at Capital Springs State Recreation Area while setting up shop at the adjacent William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park. Meanwhile, travelers can hike sections of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail while bunking down in one of more than 420 campsites at nearby Devil’s Lake State Park.

Know before you go: Winter visitors can rent an ice shack for a true taste of Wisconsin life.

Northwest Arkansas is a wonderland of state parks and campgrounds hidden amongst the valleys and rolling peaks of the Ozark Mountains. Beaver Lake, just outside of Fayetteville, is bristling with shoreline campgrounds like Horseshoe Bend Campground and Beaver Lake Hideaway Campground. The nearby Ozark-St.Francis National Forest hides a honeycomb of top-notch hiking and mountain biking trails with convenient access to mountainside campsites like those at Withrow Springs State Park.

Know before you go: Fayetteville is the home of the University of Arkansas. Anticipate heavy traffic during football season.

The upstate epicenter of Albany sits at the doorstep of the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains. Private campgrounds like Upper Shire Campsites provide cabins, tent sites and RV hookups for travelers itching for their own, tranquil slice of Middle Earth in the Hudson Valley. Public campgrounds abound in the Catskills, where Devil’s Tombstone Campground and Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds put travelers in the bootprints of lore.

Know before you go: The song "Yankee Doodle" was penned at Crailo State Historic Site in Albany.

Camper vans and truck toppers are nearly ubiquitous in Bend, a city immersed in an astonishing landscape rich with geologic history and natural beauty. World-class camping begins just minutes from town in Bend, where the Deschutes National Forest provides campers the opportunity to sip a local craft brew around a campfire flickering over the forest’s namesake river.

A short drive from the city limits, Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument provides a stunning backdrop for fishing, hiking and camping on the shores of twin lakes that flank an ancient lava flow.

Know before you go: Bend is home to the last Blockbuster Video remaining in America. Travelers can still rent their favorite movies there.

Vermont’s Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest beckons adventurers just outside of the quaint confines of Woodstock. Here, a historic square lined with cozy coffee shops and cafes serves as a jumping-off point for camping trips along the rippling, clear streams of the Appalachian hills. Campgrounds at Quechee State Park offer hookups for RVs, while dispersed camping gives off-the-grid travelers the opportunity to sleep beside brooks rumored to be speckled with gold.

Know before you go: Gold panning is no joke in the Green Mountains. Some neighbors may choose to be left alone.

Fort Bragg holds the keys to Redwood State and National Parks while also doubling as a hub for the spectacular California coastline at Mendocino, just 15 minutes south. Truck, tent and van campers will feel right at home in Van Damme State Park, where beach access makes surfside hikes and fishing trips a breeze. Meanwhile, the developed campgrounds of Redwood State and National Parks provide RV-friendly slots for late nights under the canopy of North America’s tallest trees.

Know before you go: Wildfires are common in Northern California and can impact campground availability as well as road conditions.

Legendary breweries, unfettered views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a lively folk art scene have helped Asheville skyrocket as an outdoor recreation hub in recent decades. An embarrassment of natural beauty in surrounding areas like the Pisgah National Forest, Nantahala National Forest and nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park make this city the perfect jumping-off point for forays into the wild.

The Asheville West KOA provides familiar amenities road trippers have grown accustomed to, while campsites in the Pisgah National Forest provide easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Know before you go: The blue hue of Asheville's mountains comes from isoprene, a chemical released by trees.

Teetering on the shores of Lake Powell and the border of Arizona and Utah, the city of Page is a gateway to an astonishing array of camping opportunities. Travelers here can make a 20-minute jaunt over the state line to experience luxury glamping at Lake Powell — Grand Staircase Under Canvas, hire the services of a houseboat for beach camping on the shores of Lake Powell or pitch a tent at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Know before you go: A guide is needed to see famed Antelope Canyon, which sits within the borders of the Navajo Nation.

San Francisco camping is synonymous with nearby Marin, where a quick trip over the Golden Gate Bridge will put you on the doorstep of numerous campgrounds with views of the skyline. Kirby Cove Campground (above) and Bicentennial Campground usually grab the spotlight here, but if you can snag a spot on Angel Island — in the middle of San Francisco Bay — you’ll be in select company with 360-degree views of one of America’s most beautiful urban landscapes.

Know before you go: Advanced bookings are recommended for the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry.

Duluth is the closest major city to one of America’s great wetlands — The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This legendary labyrinth of lakes is transected by some 1,200 miles of canoe trails hiding 2,000 designated campsites. It may be the best place in America to “get lost” within arm’s reach of civilization.

Even closer to town, Fond du Lac Campground, Jay Cooke State Park and the Cloquet Valley give land lovers comfortable places to sleep under the stars.

Know before you go: Northern Minnesota snowfall sometimes lasts until the end of April.

Best known for champagne powder snow and Sundance Film Festival, Park City has earned its reputation as a winter sports town. But camping, it turns out, is absolutely incredible in the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. Settle in at one of hundreds of developed, lakeside campsites at Jordanelle State Park. Build a summer base camp for mountain biking at Park City RV Resort or cozy up around a fire pit at Wasatch Mountain State Park.

Know before you go: Park City is home to one of the most elaborate 4th of July parades in Utah.

The home of some of America’s most advanced national laboratories is also a hotspot for camping. Valles Caldera National Preserve lures outdoor adventure seekers from Los Alamos to the rim of a prehistoric volcano brimming with geologic history, lush meadows and a nearby labyrinth of forest roads on public land offering RV-friendly campgrounds as well as free, dispersed campsites in the neighboring Santa Fe National Forest.

Know before you go: The Los Alamos Summer Concert Series serves up free, live music at an outdoor amphitheater yearly.

Just over the bridge from Portland, Oregon, is Vancouver, Washington, serving as a gateway to Mount St. Helens and Bigfoot country proper. This popular Portland suburb is actually one of the largest cities in Washington State, and while the surrounding Cascades are dripping with dreamy campsites, nearby sites like Battle Ground State Park, Sunset Falls Campground and Dougan Creek Campground give visitors to Vancouver plenty of local options with access to urban amenities.

Know before you go: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, seen here, offers a series of walking trails that are wheelchair accessible.

The short stretch of sand surrounding Vista, California — just north of San Diego — harbors nearly a dozen formal campgrounds. Each offers its own unique slice of surf or forest, like South Carlsbad State Beach Campground, seen above. As always, California scores high marks for campers thanks to its impeccable weather on most days and an abundance of sites to choose from. Just be sure to book your slot early, as some state parks can have extensive waiting lists.

Know before you go: Day-use visitors to South Carlsbad Beach will need to walk over from the Batiquitos Lagoon parking area.

West Texas is a wilderness haven, and the city of Odessa serves as an oasis amid the landscape of tumbleweeds and ranch lands. Tucked in between, you’ll find cottonwood-lined creeks like those at Balmorhea State Park or Willow Draw Campground. It’s here that the Odessa area shines, offering plentiful watering holes to serve up a break from the southern heat and an escape from the asphalt jungles elsewhere in the state.

Know before you go: Odessa is more than five hours by car from either Austin or Dallas, if you're planning a side trip.

High up in the Sierra Mountains, the placid blue waters of Lake Tahoe empty into one place: the Truckee River. It's here in Sparks, Nevada — on the outskirts of Reno — that campers can get up close with a new view of Tahoe's famous waters. Campers at sites like the Sparks Marina Park can take a ride on the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway, which hugs the Truckee as it meanders through the middle of town.

Know before you go: The Truckee terminates at Pyramid Lake, about an hour north of Sparks. It's a landscape as stark as Tahoe is lush.

Craggy peaks and rolling, mountaintop views of Monterey Bay await campers who make their way to Fremont Peak State Park near Salinas. Meanwhile, legendary Laguna Seca Raceway lies just a stone's throw away from the RV-friendly campsites at Laguna Seca Recreation Area. These sites, partnered with Hollister Hills State Recreation Area where visitors can race dirt bikes, ATV's and 4x4s to their heart's content, and the winding coastal roads of US 101 make Salinas a destination camping area for motorheads.

Know before you go: The area south of Salinas to San Luis Obispo is a honeycomb of parks with bountiful camping opportunities as well.

Jaw-dropping views of the Rocky Mountains await just outside of Durango. This historic railroad town serves up scenic rail rides through the Rockies via steam train. But the real stars of the show here are the hundreds of square miles of wilderness at its doorstep. Haviland Lake Campground gives summertime visitors access to icy, alpine swims in the San Juan National Forest.

Meanwhile, Alpen Rose RV Park sits just two miles from downtown Durango, and dispersed camping is open for all in Hermosa Creek Special Management Area.

Know before you go: The Animas River flows through Durango and is famed for rainbow and brown trout fishing.

Rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking adventures await campers in the Montana hub of Billings. Summer months offer a reprieve from the state's famously harsh winters. Campgrounds like the Billings KOA provide hot showers and meal service, while lakeside tent sites like those at Cooney State Park and Yellowstone River Campground are just a short drive from town.

Know before you go: Montana is grizzly country so bring bear canisters and know how to camp around these curious predators.

The Sunshine State is brimming with wildlife and campgrounds, and the surfside city of Hollywood scores high on the list for its proximity to campsites like Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park and Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, where guests can kayak with alligators and canoe through mangroves. Mountain bikers can get their gears going on the edge of the Everglades at Markham Park, while some of the best disc golf around can be found at Easterlin Park.

Know before you go: South Florida camping weather is best between November and April, when nighttime temperatures dip into the 50s and 60s.

The Sonoran Desert is a playground for horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and even kayaking. The Phoenix suburb of Mesa has abundant campgrounds offering access to each of these outdoor adventures. Usery Mountain Regional Park places campers near the iconic Wind Cave Trail and features an archery range as a bonus activity. Nearby McDowell Mountain Regional Park is a haven for RVs, and Tonto National Forest gives campers plenty of room to spread out and completely escape civilization.

Know before you go: Wear light-colored clothing to help ward off the area's yellowjackets.

What does it take to score the top spot on ApartmentGuide.com's Best American Camping Cities list? The camper's oasis of Ventura is a gateway to the Santa Cruz Del Norte Backcountry, where remote campsites await coastal backpackers. Meanwhile, Channel Islands National Park, above, puts campers in a marine landscape above some of the best scuba diving in North America. And RV campers in Ventura will find themselves in a beachside paradise at Rincon Parkway, a 127-site campground on the Pacific Coast Highway with million-dollar sunset views, surfing and fishing.

Know before you go: The Channel Islands National Park Visitors Center is located on mainland California in the heart of Ventura.