10 finest state parks for tenting and RVing

Photo courtesy of Getty Images / gradyreese

The United States is dwelling to greater than 10,000 state parks, attracting greater than 700 million annual guests. As an increasing number of vacationers search the open highway and open areas, these numbers have continued to develop. Many of those parks cater to tent campers and RV vacationers, with campgrounds, full hookups and different facilities out there. To discover the very best, a panel of specialists partnered with 10Best editors to choose the preliminary nominees, and the highest 10 winners had been decided by widespread vote. Read on to be taught extra in regards to the winners.

Photo courtesy of Ranger Aaron Webster, Cape Disappointment State Park

No. 10: Cape Disappointment State Park – Ilwaco, Washington

The Pacific Ocean meets the Columbia River at this Washington state park. Explore lighthouses, army bunkers and pure habitats throughout the park (seashores, old-growth forests, freshwater lakes and saltwater marshes). The campground has 50 full hookup websites and 18 partial hookup websites, in addition to a dump station, restrooms and showers.

Photo courtesy of jenifoto // Getty Images

No. 9: Lost Dutchman State Park – Junction, Arizona

The Lost Dutchman State Park is positioned within the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, about 40 miles east of Phoenix. RV tenting is out there at 138 websites, with 68 of them offering water and electrical hookup providers; restrooms and showers are positioned close by. Hiking, mountain biking and year-round wildlife viewing alternatives can be found for friends.

Photo courtesy of Wyoming State Parks

No. 8: Curt Gowdy State Park – Cheyenne, Wyoming

10Best contributor Chez Chesak tells us about this state park, “Located just 25 minutes west of downtown Cheyenne, this natural gem is nestled in the pine-covered foothills of the Rocky Mountains and offers seven sections of richly varied landscape.”

Numerous outside adventures are discovered within the park, together with an archery vary, mountain biking, fishing, boating, climbing, horseback using, paddleboarding and extra. Both back-in and pull-thru RV websites can be found, with an extra charge for electrical hookups.

Photo courtesy of iStock / tonda

No. 7: Custer State Park – Custer, South Dakota

Located within the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota, Custer State Park protects 71,000 acres of terrain and a herd of some 1,300 bison – one of many largest publicly owned herds on the planet – who’re recognized to cease visitors alongside the park’s Wildlife Loop Road on occasion. The park has 9 campgrounds to select from, together with the favored Sylvan Lake Campground. Many websites embrace electrical hookups and dump stations.

Photo courtesy of Zoonar RF // Getty Images

No. 6: Tishomingo State Park – Tishomingo, Mississippi

Mississippi RV campers searching for a state park stuffed with historical past and scenic magnificence ought to think about visiting Tishomingo. The park is positioned instantly off the well-known Natchez Trace Parkway and within the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Over 60 campsites can be found for RVs. Each paved campsite incorporates water and electrical hookups, picnic tables and grills and has direct entry to Haynes Lake.

Nearby are two bathhouses with restrooms and showers and a central dump station. Some of the quite a few park actions and points of interest embrace climbing trails, disc golf programs, playgrounds, a volleyball courtroom, a swimming pool, canoeing, fishing and mountaineering.

Photo courtesy of Georgia Department of Natural Resources

No. 5: Vogel State Park – Blairsville, Georgia

Vogel, considered one of Georgia’s oldest state parks, sits on the base of Blood Mountain inside Chattahoochee National Forest. The park is especially widespread in the course of the autumn months when the Blue Ridge Mountains placed on a colourful show of fall foliage. RV campers can select from 90 campsites with electrical hookups.

Photo courtesy of Delilah Aguilar

No. 4: Great Plains State Park – Mountain Park, Oklahoma

For RV campers searching for a wide range of nature and historical past experiences to understand and discover, Great Plains State Park in southwestern Oklahoma could be the right vacation spot. History buffs will love exploring the deserted 1900s Gold Bells Mill and Mine, whereas others might wish to spend their time on Tom Steed Lake having fun with snowboarding, fishing and swimming.

Concrete and gravel RV websites surrounded by shady bushes are all through the park, with full hookups, picnic tables, hearth pits and grills. Comfort stations with restrooms, plus boat ramps and playgrounds are close by. Numerous climbing and mountain biking trails run all through the park, and mountaineering can also be a favourite exercise.

Photo courtesy of Cavan Images // Getty Images

No. 2: Gulf State Park – Gulf Shores, Alabama

This Alabama state park guarantees that you just’ll by no means be bored if your loved ones brings their RV right here to camp. Almost 500 improved RV websites can be found at Gulf State Park, with pull-thru, back-in, waterfront and ADA accessibility. All RV websites present full hookups plus Wi-Fi. Eleven trendy bathhouses are scattered via the park, and a few websites are positioned close to the pool, playground, tennis courts and climbing trails.

Swim and kayak within the Gulf of Mexico or Lake Shelby, or try the fishing and academic pier. 10Best contributor Chez Chesak recommends, “Grab a bike at the front door, pedal over a pedestrian bridge, and toodle around the marshes, trails, dunes, coastal wildlife and nine different ecosystems available here.”

Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Natural Resources

No. 1: Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park Campground – Middle Brook, Missouri

RVers can select between primary, electrical or sewer/electrical/water websites on the Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park campground. Stock up on necessities on the campground retailer. Other facilities embrace showers, restrooms, laundry services and a playground.