Camping in America’s national parks keeps getting better. Travelers rank these places for scenery, campground quality, and easy access to trails, water, and wildlife. Each park offers something different. Some give high mountain views, while others offer ocean air or quiet desert nights. Based on thousands of reviews and current park info, these are the best places to pitch a tent or park an RV, starting with the ones campers praise most.
1. Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier draws campers for its sharp peaks, blue lakes, and trails that start near many sites. Many Glacier Campground earns praise for wildlife sightings and direct access to iconic hikes. St. Mary Campground faces sunrise over ridgelines and keeps restrooms clean even in peak season. Rangers host talks that help visitors plan safe routes and learn bear-smart habits. The road network puts major trailheads a short drive away, yet camp areas feel quiet after dark. Reservations help in summer, while shoulder seasons allow easier bookings. Glacier pairs raw scenery with dependable services, which keep campers returning.
2. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming / Montana / Idaho
Yellowstone spreads its campgrounds across geysers, waterfalls, and forested plateaus. Canyon Campground ranks high for a central location, showers, and laundry that support weeklong stays. Grant Village places you near the lake for calm evenings and quick morning launches. Mammoth Campground stays open in winter, so hardy campers watch steam drift over snow fields at sunrise. Staying inside the gates saves drive time and puts wildlife viewing at your doorstep. With a dozen campgrounds and thousands of sites, Yellowstone fits first-time visitors and planners who want comfort plus classic park sights.
3. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite remains a core camping choice for granite walls, big waterfalls, and shuttle-linked access. Upper Pines keeps you close to valley trailheads and evening ranger programs. North Pines feels roomier, which helps families and remote workers who need a quiet hour online. The bus system reduces car use and connects campgrounds to major viewpoints. Reservations sell out fast, so flexible dates and off-peak months improve your odds. Even with crowds, nights feel peaceful under tall pines, and mornings start with pink light on Half Dome. Yosemite delivers landmark views without giving up basic convenience.
4. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton rewards campers with rugged peaks and well-run facilities. Colter Bay Village provides tent and RV sites near Jackson Lake, along with easy rentals for kayaks and boats. Gros Ventre Campground offers wide, shaded pads and common moose sightings along the river corridor. Jenny Lake Campground, for tents only, gives short walks to trailheads with fast access into the canyons. Clean restrooms, clear signage, and helpful staff keep days smooth. Many campers plan sunrise photos, midmorning hikes, and quiet afternoons by the water. Short drives connect most camp areas to stores and visitor centers.
5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee / North Carolina
The Smokies combine accessible camping with rich forests and frequent wildlife. Cades Cove Campground puts you near an 11-mile loop of historic cabins and open fields where deer and turkeys graze at dusk. Elkmont draws visitors during firefly season and stays popular for easy river access the rest of the year. The park maintains large site counts across several valleys, so you can choose creek white noise or ridge views. Camp stores, ranger talks, and nearby towns keep logistics simple. Early bookings help during holidays, while midweek spring and fall dates bring cooler air and calmer trails.
6. Olympic National Park, Washington
Olympic stands out for its range of camping environments, from rainforest to rugged coastline. South Beach Campground draws beach lovers who wake to ocean sounds and cool air. Kalaloch offers easy reservations and direct beach access, while Hoh Campground places campers among mossy trees and quiet trails. The park’s size allows privacy even in peak season. Campers value the mix of coastal sunsets, river walks, and mountain day trips from a single base. Each site delivers a different view of the park’s diverse settings, which makes Olympic one of the most varied camping choices in the country.
7. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Camping inside Grand Canyon National Park lets you start the day steps from a world wonder. Mather Campground stays popular for its clean facilities and proximity to South Rim viewpoints. The North Rim Campground, open seasonally, offers cooler air and fewer crowds. Desert View Campground draws photographers who want first light over the canyon without a long drive. Campers appreciate shuttle access, well-marked trails, and maintained fire rings. Evenings bring star-filled skies and quiet air at the rim’s edge. Staying overnight gives you sunrise and sunset from a front-row seat, something day trips cannot match.
8. Zion National Park, Utah
Zion’s Watchman Campground provides quick access to the park shuttle, which helps with early hikes through the canyon. Travelers note clean restrooms, well-spaced sites, and views of sandstone cliffs glowing at dusk. South Campground offers similar comfort with a touch more privacy. Both lie near the Virgin River, adding cool air and water sounds at night. Zion’s popularity demands planning, but once settled, campers find trails, shops, and visitor centers within walking distance. It is one of the few parks where you wake beside red cliffs and reach a trail minutes later without driving.
9. Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia brings a coastal twist to national park camping with ocean breezes, rocky shores, and forested sites. Blackwoods Campground stays popular for proximity to Bar Harbor and quick access to the Park Loop Road. Seawall Campground attracts campers who want sea views and quiet nights away from crowds. Schoodic Woods, on the mainland side, earns praise for large private sites and modern facilities. Visitors like the mix of hiking, biking, and stargazing over the Atlantic. Morning light across the granite shoreline gives Acadia its signature charm and keeps travelers returning each summer.
10. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountain offers alpine camping with sweeping backdrops. Moraine Park Campground earns high ratings for open meadows with elk at dawn and easy access to hiking trails. Aspenglen provides a quieter option near the Fall River entrance with cool shade and fewer crowds. Thin air and cool nights remind campers they are high above sea level, so layering helps. The park’s main campgrounds connect visitors to trailheads, waterfalls, and scenic drives without leaving the boundary. Rocky Mountain camping combines comfort, wildlife, and views that showcase Colorado’s high country.
