Top 5 Camping Destinations

Where to pitch the tent?

Exploring the unknown is always an adventure waiting to happen. Whether it be wandering through the wilderness, capturing breathtaking scenery or relaxing by the fire, the outdoors is a great place to pitch a tent and simply enjoy the fresh air. That is what camping is all about. Learn about the top 5 greatest places in the country to set up camp. Be ready to grab your gear and get on the road for a weekend escape to one of our top 5 camping destinations.  

-Acadia National Park: Maine-

There are very few places in the world that can offer the amenities of Acadia National Park. Since it is located on Mount Desert Island in The Pine Tree State of Maine, it is covered in over 17 million acres of forest which sounds like heaven to any avid hiker. If hiking is on your agenda, then be sure to hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain which is the tallest point along the east coast. If you plan accordingly you can hike the mountain just before sunrise and once you reach the top you can be the first person in the United States to see the sun that morning. If hiking isn’t for you, this park also is surrounded by 6,000 different lakes and ponds and over 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, making it the optimal camping location for any nature lover.

Acadia National Park has two different camping areas; the first camp is called Blackwood which is located closer to the island’s town center making it more of the tourist type feel while the other, Seawall, is more of an outdoors, rustic environment. Camping is restricted to these two locations only, however you are still able to hike and explore the entire park.

Blackwood:

• Year-Round (permit needed December-March)
• 30$ per site (May- October)
• 10$ per site (April & September)
• Free (December- March)

Seawall:

• Late May-September
• 22$ walk-in site
• 30$ drive-up motor home, camper, or tent.

-White Mountain National Forest: New Hampshire-

If you like a good hiking challenge, then this is the destination for you.The White Mountains offer a rugged hiking trail through a section of the Appalachian Mountains and although it is a very challenging trail the views are  rewarding. Previous campers suggested hiking the trails in the fall months because the scenery is breathtaking. This location offers 24 different drive-in camping grounds with a total of 800 sites open to the public but reservations are required.  

Park Information:

• Open: Year-Round
• 3$ daily passes to the park
• 5$ seven-day pass to the park
• 18$-24$ per night for campsite
• Free back-country camping
• Parking on trail-head requires a permit

-Green Mountain National Forest: Vermont-

If you want to incorporate a little history into your weekend get-away, then Vermont’s Green Mountain Park is the place to go. It is home of the Long Trail which is 270 miles of pure beauty and is the oldest, long-distance trail in the United States. The trail follows the edge of the Green Mountains which goes through Vermont to Massachusetts and b orders Canada. If the trail is appealing to you, there are 70 campsites along it with accessible water sources. This campground is different than the others because it has five campgrounds that offer no electrical hookups or waste dumping stations, so be sure to come  prepared!

Park Information:

• Open: Year- Round
• Visitor center varies by season
• No entrance fees
• Free campsites
• Trail campsites charged small fee

-Pine Grove Furnace State Park: Pennsylvania-

Sitting at the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains in south-central Pennsylvania is the Pine Grove Furnace State Park. It is located in an area referred to as the South Mountains which is near one of the most famous foot trails in the world, the Appalachian Trail. If you are feeling courageous you can take on the challenge of this trail, however only 2,000 people have attempted to hike the full length (2,186 miles) and only a small portion actually finishes it. No matter what portion you cover, it is a great experience. There are around 70 sites for both tent and RV’s  during March-December and you can reserve a spot up to 11 months in advance.

Park Information:

• Open: Campground open (April-December)
• Park open year-round
• Backpacking/overnight hikes are not permitted
• No entrance fee
• 4$-5$ per night (backpacking/river camping ranges)
• 15$ per site/each night

-Assateague Island National Seashore: Maryland-

Beaches, beaches and more beaches! This relaxing destination is off the coast of Maryland and Virginia and is covered in salt marshes, coastal bays and forests along with 37 miles of beach that you may hike or simply set up camp on. Don’t forget that if you do pitch your tent on shore that you are a safe distance from the waves and the herd of wild horses that roam the area. There are two Oceanside campgrounds along with four bay-side camping areas from the 16 ^th of October to the 14 ^th of April. Camping is restricted to the Maryland side of the island and sites are reserved by a first-come, first-served policy. You can also make reservations up to six months in advance from April  14^th-October 15^th.

Park Information:

• Open: Year-Round
• 50$ per night for horse camping
• Campsites open (October 16th- April 14th)
• 10$ back-country camping (mandatory seven-day permit)