Back when I was a kid, camping trips consisted of a leaky tent pitched on a rocky piece of earth and some marshmallows burnt to a crisp over the campfire. Don’t get me wrong, I loved camping then and I still love it now, but there’s no denying that camping has evolved in ways that were unimaginable a few decades ago. Today, modern campgrounds boast everything from waterparks to coffee carts, and they appeal to a larger number of people than ever before. With the amenities offered at some American campgrounds these days, there’s nothing rough about roughing it.
1. Summer Movie Nights
Movie night is a family tradition and campgrounds are catching on to the trend by offering outdoor movie nights for campers. When the sun starts to set the big screen comes out and family-friendly movies are projected amongst the lightening bugs and twinkling stars.
Give it a try:
– Inn Town Campground in Nevada City, California
– Joseph H Steward State Recreation Area in Jackson County, Oregon
2. Upgraded Yurts
If the idea of camping is appealing but sleeping on the ground is not, why not give yurts a try? These round houses are similar to cabins but have an earthier feel. Plenty of campgrounds now offer yurt rentals and savvy campers are booking their stay months in advance.
Give it a try:
– High Falls State Park in Jackson, Georgia
– Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab, Utah
3. Communal Campground Kitchens
Some people love cooking meals on a camp stove or over a campfire, and others, not so much. To accommodate campers that don’t want to cook outdoors, many campgrounds now offer fully stocked communal kitchens that campers can use to whip up a meal using modern day methods.
Give it a try:
– ACT Campground in Moab, Utah
– Hauli Huvila Campground in Reedley, California
4. Coffee Cafes
Camping and coffee go hand in hand (if you’re a coffee drinker—you’ll know coffee goes hand in hand with anything) so if you’re worried about getting your caffeine fix in the great outdoors, check out one of the many campgrounds that now house coffee cafes, latte trucks and high-end coffee bars. At campgrounds these days it’s easier than ever to get that caffeine kick before hitting the trails.
Give it a try:
– Honey Bear Campground in Boone, North Carolina
– Buffalo Run RV Park in Island Park, Idaho
5. Stargazing Tours
One of the best things about camping is time spent under the stars and some campgrounds now offer stargazing tours and stargazing parties to help campers learn more about the sky above. At these events, professionals are on hand to point out the magic happening in the night sky.
Give it a try:
– Burneau Dunes State Park in Mountain Home, Idaho
– Cherry Springs State Park in Galeton, Pennsylvania
6. Live Music
Many of today’s campgrounds have stages and amphitheaters, welcoming local and regional talent to play for music-loving campers. If listening to live music outdoors is your idea of relaxation, grab your camp chair and jam along at one of the many campgrounds that keep live music coming through.
Give it a try:
– Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Suwannee County, Florida
– Lakewood Camping Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
7. Food Trucks
Food trucks are all the rage and why not? They bring fresh and eclectic meals to the places people gather. So it only makes sense that campgrounds are in on the act, inviting food trucks into the campground to serve up delicious meals to hungry campers.
Give it a try:
– The Lantern Resort in Jefferson, New Hampshire
– Malaekahana Beach Campground in Kahuku, Hawaii
8. Great Swimming Pools
Pools and campgrounds have gone together forever, but the pools at some campgrounds today put the swimming holes of yesteryear to shame. Campgrounds around the country now offer their guests amenities such as heated pools, lazy rivers and, in some instances, private waterparks. So what are you waiting for? Grab your swimsuit and goggles and get camping.
Give it a try:
– Hidden Creek Camping Resort in Marion, North Carolina
– Frontier Town in Berlin, Maryland
– Kentucky Splash Waterpark in Williamsburg, Kentucky
9. Over-the-Top Halloween Festivals
With its colorful leaves and crisp blue skies, October might just be the best month to go camping. Campgrounds across the country celebrate the month by hosting over-the-top Halloween festivities. Choose from costume and pumpkin carving contests, haunted hikes and hayrides, or take the little ones trick or treating from campsite to campsite.
Give it a try:
– Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky
– East Harbor State Park in Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio
– Lums Pond State Park in Bear, Delaware
10. Yoga Classes
Do you want to get away on a much-needed camping trip but dread missing your beloved yoga class? Well, now you don’t have to! Many modern day campgrounds offer outdoor yoga classes to their campers. Look for sunrise and sunset yoga practices and seasonal offerings as well.
Give it a try:
– Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort in Foxboro, Massachusetts
– River’s End Campground in Tybee Island, Georgia
– Zion River Resort in Virgin, Utah
11. Pancake Breakfasts
Why spend the morning cooking when someone else will do it for you? Today, some campgrounds now offer pancake breakfasts any day of the week for campers to enjoy (other campgrounds offer pancake breakfasts on special holidays like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day). If you’re a fan of flapjacks, choose a campground that serves them up.
Give it a try:
– Santa Cruz KOA in Watsonville, California
– The Ridge Campground in Mount Morris, New York
12. Games, Games and More Games
Today’s modern campground promises to keep you entertained during your stay. From disc golf and bocce ball, to volleyball and geocaching, campgrounds have upped their game in the game department.
Give it a try:
– Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, Georgia
– Campland on the Bay in San Diego, California
13. Campground Lobster Bake with all the Fixings
It’s no secret that Mainers love their lobster bakes (think lobster, mussels, clams and potatoes with a hefty side of butter) but it is a little-known secret that some campgrounds in the Pine Tree State offer pre-ordered lobster bakes that campers can eat right there in the campground. Forget campfire meals, these campground lobster bakes take camp food to a whole new level.
Give it a try:
– Recompence Shore Campground in Freeport, Maine
– Seaport Shores Campground in Seaport, Maine
14. Zip Lines
Do you like your camping trip with a side of high adventure? If so you’re in luck, because campgrounds across the country have installed zip lines, allowing campers to take the term “birds-eye-view” to a whole new level.
Give it a try:
– Indian Creek Campground in Tecumseh, Michigan
– Kittatinny Ziplines and Campgrounds in Milford, Pennsylvania
15. Hayrides
Hayrides are a fun and family-friendly activity that kids (and adults!) of all ages enjoy and that’s why today’s campgrounds offer them year-round. Step back in time and see the land the way the pioneers saw it—from the seat of a wagon.
Give it a try:
– Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park (many locations)
– Cades Cove Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
16. Craft Brewing and Bars
At some campgrounds in America beers are brewed right on site. From microbreweries built a stone’s throw from where you pitch your tent to campground bars that offer a selection of local beers on tap, even campgrounds aren’t missing out on the craft brew craze.
Give it a try:
– Aquia Pines Camp Resort and Wild Run Brewing in Stafford, Virginia
– Scenic View Campground in Spooner, Wisconsin
17. Game Rooms
The conundrum with camping is what to do on a rainy day. Campgrounds are tackling that problem head on by building game rooms—large spaces where kids and adults alike can play pool, ping pong, board games or lounge on a couch and read a book. Now there’s no need to worry if the skies turn gray.
Give it a try:
– Zooland Family Campground in Asheboro, North Carolina
– Deer Creek State Park in Mount Sterling, Ohio
Are you ready for an adventure? Find the best American campgrounds.