Escape the crowds and get off the beaten path

Most scenic campgrounds in the US for 2022

Silver Bell Campground, Colorado

Best for aspen groves and subalpine forests

Located outside of Aspen, Colorado, Silver Bell Campground is among the country’s finest for scenery and accessibility.

With just 14 sites, the campground remains relatively quiet year-round, but it still manages to provide guests with once-in-a-lifetime views of aspen groves, Maroon Creek and the ever-spectacular Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii

Best for volcanic crater hikes

If you’ve ever done the famous Haleakalā sunrise tour, then you know what’s in store for backpackers willing to go a little bit further to catch those stunning views.

If not, Mark Twain may have summed up the sight of a rosy tropical dawn rising over this stunning volcanic crater best when he said it was “the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed.”

Assateague Island, Maryland

Best for wild horses

Photo: Candy Delaney / Getty Images

One of the world’s most unique camping environments, Assateague Island in Maryland is a designated National Seashore, meaning that this little slice of east coast heaven is as pristine as it gets for scenic camping.

The position and relatively scarce tree cover on the island provide epic views across miles of ocean, and the walk-up or drive-up beachfront sites ensure that your view is never a matter of competition.

San Juan Islands, Washington

Best for ocean serenity

Photo: Brad Mitchell / Getty Images

Between soaring bald eagles, resident orca pods and miles of virtually untouched shoreline, camping on the San Juan Islands is a wilderness lover’s dream

Caladesi Island, Florida

Best for relaxing beach time

Photo: Bender / EyeEm / Getty Images

Among the most underrated camping spots in the country, the iconic yet rarely visited Caladesi Island State Park is a bonafide wonderland for campers seeking the perfect combination of epic views, relaxing beach time and winding hiking trails.

Located on Florida's west coast, Caladesi Island is a boat-only destination, making it an easy choice for folks hoping to escape the majority of the coastal crowds.

Tuolumne Meadows Campground, California

Best for waterfalls

Photo: DNY59 / Getty Images

While busier than some of the other campgrounds on this list, Tuolumne Meadows manages to capture the best of Yosemite National Park's soaring granite walls and cascading waterfalls without the pressing crowds of Yosemite Valley.

Enjoy trails that transport you to epic views, or visit Tenaya Lake for the perfect summer picnic and the chance to swim, canoe or relax on the beach.

Mount Pisgah, North Carolina

Best for mountain peaks

Photo: Logan Mock-Bunting / Getty

When it comes to Mount Pisgah, it’s not just the campground that inspires awe in its visitors, but the road to get there too.

Dubbed "America’s favorite drive," the Blue Ridge Parkway escorts visitors through some of the Southeast USA’s finest terrain – sky-high blue spruce, lofty mountain peaks and bright wildflowers – before reaching Mount Pisgah Campground.

Grand Canyon North Rim Campground, Arizona

Best for mesmerizing rocks

Photo: Michele Falzone / Getty Images

The North Rim Campground allows visitors to sleep on the plateau of land separating Roaring Springs Canyon and Transept Canyon, bordered by the famous North Rim Transept Trail.

Travelers lucky enough to snag a spot at this coveted campground will be treated to unearthly sunrises as light streams into the canyon in the early mornings, as well as world-class stargazing.

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