If you’re looking to camp with your family, there are many great options for you to consider. There are some beautiful, fantastic campsites and parks across the country and even across the world that you can explore and appreciate through camping.
When you’re new to camping, it’s exciting to camp in the backyard or in your local community. But after you’ve been doing it for a bit, you may find that you want to explore new, different areas. There are so many out there for your family to experience, and it can be hard to know where to begin. We’ve gathered a list of some of our favorite camping parks and locations for you to consider.
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Here are some of our ideas for the best family camping trips:
Lakedale Resort in San Juan Island, Washington
About a two-hour drive from Seattle, this resort and campsite are full of great things all family members can enjoy. It’s a beautiful island that you need to access by ferry, and you can stay in canvas-covered yurts, log cabins, or tent sites. On the way over to this island, you’ll pass other smaller islands, and you might even get lucky and see some orca in the water.
Jellystone Park at Larkspur, Colorado
Jellystone Park is a well-known national park. It’s a Yogi-themed campground that is found halfway between Denver and Colorado Springs. And it has a lot of great fun to offer a family. You can go and camp in tents, or you can stay in their themed cottages with en suite bathrooms. They also have yurts, teepees, and safari tents.
Pike National Forest is nearby, and you can also enjoy fun activities at the campsite itself, such as a fossil dig, geocaching, or archery classes. And, of course, you can get fun pictures with Yogi Bear and Boo Boo. Here are flag-raising and lowering ceremonies at the start and end of each day where you can meet the famous bears.
Burton Island State Park in St. Albans, Vermont
Over on the East Coast, there are some fantastic spots for camping. One we enjoy is this island park with no cars allowed. It’s on the island in the middle of Lake Champlain, and being on an island makes it feel more adventurous for many people (kids included).
There’s a ten-minute ferry that will take you over from the mainland, and you can head to your campsite on foot. They have carts you can borrow to carry your gear, or you can pay staff to bring it for you. There are over 44 campsites on the island, and you can book in advance and try to get one of the waterfront spots for the best experience.
Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, Georgia
Fort Yargo is located between Athens and Atlanta and hosts a 1792 fort built by early settlers in the country. You can stay in a cottage, a cabin, an air-conditioned yurt, or bring your own tent or RV to a camp spot.
They have many great activities such as hiking trails, picnic areas, boat ramps, swimming, kayaks, and more.
Ventura Ranch KOA in Santa Paula, California
Another great place to camp with kids is in sunny California at Ventura Ranch. Located just about an hour outside of Los Angeles, you can see mountains and pleasant weather, as well as rock climbing, hiking, zip-lining, and more. You can stay in tent sites or RV sites, or you can rent a safari tent that comes with a bed and porch.
Little Talbot Island State Park in Jacksonville, Florida
The white sandy beaches of Florida can be a great place to camp, especially if you’re not from a beachy area, and this is a new experience for your family, too. You can build sandcastles, hunt for shark teeth and sand dollars, or rent bikes and explore the island. The campsite is set within beautiful pine, oak, cedar, and magnolia trees that create a natural playground. This will be a trip your whole family will remember.
Here are some additional ways to have fun with the family on your camping trips:
- Pack games and activities that you can enjoy together
- Teach your children about safety around the campsite
- Let your children be part of the planning and exploring together
- Have a scavenger hunt and prizes for finding the things on the list
- Bring a constellation chart and try to find the different stars at night
- Bring board games, a deck of cards, etc.
- Bring glow sticks, glow necklaces, etc.
- Bring coloring books, sketchbooks, or reading books
- Encourage your child/children to create a Camp Diary and log the events they experience
- Allow each member of the family to choose a meal that you enjoy on the trip
When planning your family camping trips, remember that some parks have different seasonal hours or are only open during certain times of the year. Do your research before you fully plan a trip to ensure the campground you want to visit will be open when you’re planning to go.
Camping as a family will help you create memories that will last a lifetime for all of you.
