Western Campgrounds Near State and National Parks

Many privately owned and operated campgrounds can be used as base camps for day trips into the nation’s most popular state and national parks.

Privately owned campgrounds have amenities like water, electrical, and sewer service hookups at each campsite as well as swimming pools and Wi-Fi service. Some even have hot tubs, restaurants, organized family activities, and other attractions that make them great places to camp.

Here's a listing of several popular state and national parks across the Western U.S., along with campgrounds where you should have a decent chance of snagging a campsite — even during the peak summer travel season:

Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park: One of the most famous natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest. Incised by the Colorado River, the canyon is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles. RVers can visit both the North and South Rims of the canyon. While campsites inside the park often book up weeks or months in advance, there are campgrounds outside the park that are more likely to have space available.

• Campgrounds near the North Rim include:
  • Kaibab Camper Village in Jacob Lake: This remote campground, open May 15 to Oct. 15, features RV and tent sites. The campground is 45 miles from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
     
• Campgrounds within 90 minutes of the South Rim include:
  • Grand Canyon Railway RV Park in Williams: This campground is located next to the train station that offers entertaining day trips to the South Rim on train cars that include live musical entertainment and Western-style holdups. 
  • Williams / Circle Pines KOA in Williams: This campground, which is open all year, is about an hour’s drive from Mather Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The campground has RV and tent sites and park model RV rentals. Onsite amenities include bike rentals and an indoor swimming pool and spa. 
  • Village Camp Flagstaff in Bellemont: This park is open year-round and features RV sites as well as park model RV rentals.

Flagstaff area campgrounds are closer to two hours from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, but can also serve as base camps to visit other popular parks nearby, including Wupatki National Monument and Walker Canyon National Monument.

• These campgrounds include:
  • Flagstaff KOA in Flagstaff: This campground offers RV and tent sites as well as park model rentals. Amenities include barrel train rides, banana bicycle rentals, and an onsite breakfast cafe.
  • J & H RV Park in Flagstaff: This is an age-restricted, non-smoking RV park that also offers pet-sitting services.

California

Yosemite National Park: Known worldwide for the scenic grandeur of its towering waterfalls, its vertical cliffs, and massive granite domes, Yosemite is a bucket list destination for travelers across North America.

• While campgrounds inside the park are often booked months in advance, there are many campgrounds outside the park, including:
  • Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes RV Resort in Groveland: This campground features RV sites, park models and other rental accommodations. The campground is open year-round and is about 10 minutes from the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park and about an hour’s drive from Yosemite Valley, depending on traffic and weather conditions. The campground has frontage on the South Fork of the Tuolumne River.
  • Yosemite Pines RV Resort and Family Lodging in Groveland: This campground not only has RV and tent sites, but retro brand Silver Beach and White Water travel trailers, which are manufactured to look like vintage trailers. The rental units typically come with refrigerators, microwave ovens, coffee pots, and fresh linens. The campground is about an hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley, depending on traffic and weather conditions.

Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage site, Mesa Verde is known for its ancient cliff dwellings, which are some of the largest and best preserved in the United States. The dwellings are remnants of the prehistoric Ancestral Pueblo people, who lived in the area for roughly 700 years, from about 550 to 1300.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Dolores River Campground in Dolores: This campground, which has frontage along the Dolores River, offers RV and tent sites as well as vintage Airstream travel trailers and other rental accommodations.
  • The Views RV Park & Campground in Dolores: This campground offers RV and tent sites and other rental accommodations. Amenities include a pavilion with barbecue grills and stand-up paddle boards for rent. 

Rocky Mountain National Park: This park features glistening alpine lakes, towering mountain peaks and abundant wildlife, including moose, elk, mule deer, foxes, and black bears. The park features over 300 miles of hiking trails as well as the famous Trail Ridge Road, which reaches altitudes over 12,000 feet.

• Nearby campgrounds include: 
  •  Estes Park KOA Holiday in Estes Park: This campground, open May 1 to Oct. 15, is located five miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The campground features RV and tent sites and park model rentals. Onsite amenities include pancake breakfasts during the summer months and a free shuttle into town. 
  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Estes Park: This campground, open May 3 to Sept. 27, offers RV sites, park model RV rentals, and an RV rental. Amenities include a 9 hole miniature golf course, gagaball, a mining sluice, a jump pad, and a heated swimming pool. The park also offers organized family activities and themed weekends with Yogi Bear.
  • Winding River Resort in Grand Lake: This campground complements its campsites with onsite activities, including horse and pony rides and wildlife viewing opportunities. It’s likely you’ll spot some moose, elk, fox, coyotes, bears, and many types of birds that make the area their home.

Montana

Glacier National Park: This park is world famous for its jagged peaks and 25 active glaciers. The park is traversed by the 53-mile Going to the Sun Road, one of the most breathtaking drives in North America.

• Nearby campgrounds include: 
  • Mountain Meadow RV Park in Hungry Horse: Located nine miles from Glacier National Park, this campground offers RV sites and RV rentals as well as rental accommodations. The campground is typically open from May 1 to Oct. 1. 
  • West Glacier KOA Resort in West Glacier: This campground, which is typically open from May to October, features RV and tent sites and furnished park models. Amenities include the Lazy Bear Cafe, which provides hot breakfasts, pastries, and an espresso bar, and the Fireside Grill, which has a dinner menu and bar. The campground also has an ice cream shop.

Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone sits on top of a dormant volcano and is home to more geysers and hot springs than any other place on Earth. The park is also famous for its wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly for elk and bison, as well as its scenic lakes and waterfalls. While most of the park is in Wyoming, it also extends into parts of Montana and Idaho.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Yellowstone Park / West Gate KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana: This campground, open May 19 to Sept. 30, is only five miles from the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Amenities include a miniature golf course and a heated indoor swimming pool.
  • Red Rock RV Park in Island Park, Idaho: This campground is open May 10 to Oct. 1 and is located 22 miles from the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns National Park: One of the most famous cave networks in the world, this park offers both self-guided and guided cave tours.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Bud's Place in Carlsbad
  • Carlsbad KOA Holiday in Carlsbad
  • Carlsbad RV Park in Carlsbad

White Sands National Park: This park protects the largest gypsum dune field in the world. It is the most visited national park in New Mexico with over 600,000 visitors per year.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Hacienda RV Resort in Las Cruces: This pet-friendly park offers everything from cozy back-in sites to extra-large pull-through sites. Amenities include a relaxing hot tub, a state-of-the-art exercise room, high-speed internet, and an exciting activity room with games for all ages. Pet amenities include a dog run and a dog wash station.

Oregon

Crater Lake National Park: Widely known for its rich blue color and extreme clarity, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the top ten deepest in the world. It is nearly 2,000 feet deep.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Crater Lake Resort in Fort Klamath, Oregon: This resort, roughly 30 miles from Crater Lake, features RV and tent sites as well as park model rentals and other accommodations. Nearby attractions include the Crater Lake Zipline, the longest in Oregon with over 8,000 feet of cable, and Train Mountain Railroad Museum, which features the world’s largest private caboose collection and the world’s largest model railroad. 
  • Lemolo Lake / Crater Lake North KOA Holiday in Idleyld Park: This campground is next to a 540-acre lake and features a boat launch as well as kayak, canoe, fishing, and pontoon boat rentals. The campground also has access to a 10-mile-long hiking and biking trail that goes around the lake. The campground is 30 miles from Crater Lake and is closed in winter. 

Silver Falls State Park: Considered to be the “crown jewel” of the Oregon state park system for its dense forests and beautiful waterfalls, many of which can be seen from its famed “Trail of Ten Falls.”

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Silver Spur RV Park in Silverton

South Dakota

Three of the Black Hills’ most popular national parks —  Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, and Wind Cave National Park — are within 45 minutes of each other. Custer State Park is in the same neighborhood, offering a full range of outdoor recreation activities.

Mt. Rushmore, of course, is famous for its sculpted faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, while Jewel Cave and Wind Cave are noted for being among the longest cave networks in the world. Jewel Cave is considered to be the world’s third longest cave, with over 210 miles of mapped and surveyed passageways. Wind Cave is another one of the world’s longest cave systems. “The cave is still being explored with no end in sight,” according to the National Park Service website.

• Campgrounds that could be used as base camps to visit all three national parks include:
  • Allan Ranch Campground in Hot Springs
  • Big Pine Campground in Custer
  • Custer Crazy Horse Campground in Custer
  • Custer's Gulch RV Park and Campground in Custer
  • Custer's Last Chance RV Park & Campground in Custer
  • Custer / Mount Rushmore / Black Hills KOA Holiday in Custer
  • Fort Welikit Family Campground in Custer
  • Hot Springs South Dakota / Black Hills KOA Holiday in Hot Springs
  • Sunrise Ridge Campground in Hot Springs

Palisades State Park: Located by the eastern edge of South Dakota, near Sioux Falls, this park surrounds Split Rock Creek, which is lined with Sioux quartzite formations varying from shelves several feet above the water to 50-foot vertical cliffs. Scenic overlooks and rushing water make Palisades a popular getaway. The park is popular among campers, photographers, sightseers, picnickers, rock climbers, and hikers.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Brandon: This campground complements its RV sites and rental accommodations with organized family activities with Yogi Bear. Park amenities include two large playgrounds, a heated swimming pool, miniature golf, sand volleyball, laser tag, and a corn maze during the fall.
  • River of the Double Bend Campground in Trent: This park has 23 RV sites, 11 tent sites, and one cabin rental.
  • Sioux Falls KOA Journey in Sioux Falls: This campground offers RV sites and rental accommodations. Amenities include cornhole and pickleball courts. 

Wyoming

Grand Teton National Park: Some of the most beautiful mountains and lakes in the country are contained in this northwest Wyoming park, which is just south of Yellowstone National Park.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Snake River Cabins and RV Village in Jackson: In addition to providing RV and tent sites and park model accommodations, this campground can arrange horseback rides and river rafting trips on the Snake River. The park is 17 miles from Grand Teton National Park.

Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone sits on top of a dormant volcano and is home to more geysers and hot springs than any other place on Earth. The oldest national park, established in 1872, Yellowstone is also famous for its wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly for elk and bison, as well as its scenic lakes and waterfalls. While most of the park is in Wyoming, it also extends into parts of Montana and Idaho.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Yellowstone Park / West Gate KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana: This campground, open May 19 to Sept. 30, is only five miles from the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Amenities include a miniature golf course and a heated indoor swimming pool.
  • Red Rock RV Park in Island Park, Idaho: This campground is open May 10 to Oct. 1 and is located 22 miles from the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: This park protects some of the most pristine natural areas in the eastern U.S. in both Tennessee and North Carolina. A tour through the park offers visitors breathtaking mountain scenery, including panoramic views, rushing mountain streams, and mature hardwood forests stretching to the horizon.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Pigeon Forge Landing in Pigeon Forge: This new RVC Outdoor Destinations resort opened in March of 2021. Amenities include a swimming pool, hot tub, fitness room, pickleball courts, and a sundry store. The campground is 32 miles from Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  • Townsend / Great Smokies KOA Holiday in Townsend: This campground, which is open all year, features RV and tent sites and park model rentals. Activities include wagon rides, an outdoor movie cinema, and planned family activities. The campground is only 14 miles from Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Virginia

Shenandoah National Park: Encompassing some of the most scenic sections of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, Shenandoah offers dense forests, waterfalls, hiking trails, and the famous Skyline Drive, one of the most beautiful drives in the country.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Endless Caverns in New Market: This campground is a destination in itself, featuring a cave that guests can explore. Other amenities include a zero-entry swimming pool and a catch-and-release fishing pond. The campground is a 40-minute drive from Shenandoah National Park.
  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Luray: This campground is only five miles from Shenandoah National Park and features RV and tent sites as well as park model rentals. Attractions include swimming pools, waterslides, and splashpads as well as a zipline, miniature golf, and laser tag. The park also offers organized family activities and theme weekends with Yogi Bear. 

Utah

Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park: These two national parks are just 30 minutes from each other.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Moab KOA Holiday in Moab: This campground offers RV and tent sites and cabin rentals. Amenities include a hot tub and sauna, a new playground, and a bike wash and repair station. 
  • Village Camp in Moab: Located on the south side of the Colorado River, Portal is only a few minutes from downtown Moab and a 5-minute drive to Arches National Park. Portal has two RV sections to choose from. Its North Side is open to all registered RVs and the South Side offers premium sites and ownership sites.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: Monument Valley is one of the most photographed places on Earth, with unique rock formations that rise as much as a thousand feet above the desert floor.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • The View Hotel and Campground in Monument Valley: This venue features a hotel, elegantly furnished park model cabins as well as a campground with dry RV sites with excellent views of the rock formations of Monument Valley. Guests can also enjoy an onsite restaurant that serves both American and traditional Navajo cuisine. Guided tours of Monument Valley are also available. 

Zion National Park: Within this park’s 232 square miles are 2,000-foot Navajo Sandstone cliffs, pine- and juniper-clad slopes, and seeps, springs, and waterfalls supporting lush and colorful hanging gardens, all of which make Zion one of the most visited destinations in the Southwest.

• Nearby campgrounds include:
  • Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Hurricane: Located 30 minutes from Zion National Park, this 53-acre resort can keep kids splashing and smiling all day. They can play in the water zone, which features two swimming pools, multiple giant water slides, a splashground with kiddie slides, and a lazy river. Or, they can hang out at the man-made lake with its beach and challenging floating obstacle course that dares families to climb, slide, jump, and balance. Other onsite attractions include a jumping pillow, a large playground, gem mining, several sports courts, and an outdoor movie theater. The park also offers organized activities with Yogi Bear.
     
  • Zion River Resort in Virgin: This campground, located 20 minutes from Zion National Park, features RV and tent sites and rental cabins. Amenities include a swimming pool and playground. Educational programs and organized activities are also available.