Do you love packing only the essentials and setting up camp in the great outdoors? If you’ve ever gone camping or even just dreamed about it, then you understand the appeal of escaping the rigors of modern life by immersing yourself in the natural world. Here are five of the best camping destinations in the country, certain to help you experience nature in a unforgettable way:

 

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Many serious camping aficionados consider Grand Canyon National Park to be America’s best camping destination. The landscape is startlingly beautiful and the opportunities for outdoor fun are endless – including backpacking, vigorous hiking, rambling nature walks, guided mule rides, and boating and fishing trips on the Colorado River. There are two central campground options in the park: The Mather Campground, a great choice if you want a bustling camp experience full of fellow outdoor-loving folks, and the North Rim Campground, a wonderful option if you’re interested in a wilder, more secluded place in which to set up camp.

 

Bowman Lake Campground, Montana

This gorgeous campground is located in the Glacier National Park in northern Montana. You’ll bask in a glorious view of Bowman Lake and the surrounding mountain vista. If you like water activities, the lake is a great place for kayaking, fishing, and canoeing. Bowman Lake Campground is an especially ideal location if you’re an experienced camper looking for a very remote and authentic camping experience rather than a campground full of first-time campers and tourists. 

 

Blackwoods Campground, Maine

This natural wonder of a campground is located in Acadia National Park. You an opt for an entirely solitary, self-directed camping experience or else take advantage of the park’s offerings for guided private and group activities – including nature walks led by park rangers and evening campfire programs. The Blackwoods Campground offers over three hundred camping sites, each with room for up to two tents and one vehicle. If you’re looking for an active camping experience, you’ll love hiking the park’s granite peaks, biking and walking on the historic carriage roads, and taking a guided boat cruise to learn about the area’s sea life and natural history.

 

Chickasaw Campgrounds, Oklahoma

At these campgrounds, located in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, you’ll find a lush natural oasis away from the bustle of regular life. You can watch majestic blue heron fly over the Lake of the Arbuckles, swim and fish in the area’s many cool creeks, and enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful sunsets over Veterans Lake. You’ll also relish the area’s abundance of unique and gorgeous prairies plants, including Coneflowers, Little Bluestem, and Yucca. If you love to watch wildlife, then you’ll enjoy catching glimpses of flying squirrels, armadillos, white-tailed deer, and Eastern Meadowlarks.

 

Moraine Campground, Colorado

This camping area in the gloriously beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park offers five drive-in campgrounds. You’ll enjoy extensive hiking, walking, and biking trails, rafting and fishing opportunities, guided trail rides and backpacking trips, and wildlife sightings that can include glimpses of elk, moose, bears, bighorn sheep, and even mountain lions. There are also several well-mapped-out routes for glorious scenic drives through the park and surrounding areas. Some of the popular family-fun-options include cowboy sing-a-longs, ranger talks, and marshmallow roasts.