RV owners have friendly debates about the pros and cons of all kinds of things. Towable or motorized? State parks or private campgrounds? Epic road trips or regional adventures? Opinions may vary about these topics--especially around a warm and toasty campfire. But there is one thing that all RVers agree about. We all love huge campsites!
I have never met an RV owner that likes to pull into a campground and squeeze into a small site right next to their neighbor’s hookups. So let’s take a minute to celebrate eight amazing campgrounds that offer up gigantic sites that fit the biggest of the big rigs! These campgrounds have campsites with beautiful natural views and lots of elbow room. So get ready to kick back in your camp chair and enjoy the extra privacy and seclusion!
Moose Hillock, New York
Moose Hillock is one of the best campgrounds in the beautiful Lake George region of New York. Their well-earned and accurate slogan is “look at nature, not your neighbor” and our family can confirm its accuracy. The vast majority of the campsites here are gigantic, wooded, and private. Families also love Aloha Beach--their gigantic tropical-themed swimming pool with waterslides. Abundant organized activities make this feel like an old-fashioned summer camp from the 1960s. The sound of live music fills the air twice a week and there is a Saturday evening chapel service if the spirit moves you.
Schoodic Woods Campground, Acadia National Park, Maine
An anonymous donor developed this near-perfect campground on land adjacent to the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park before turning over the property to the National Park Service. Was it Stephen King? The founder of Burt’s Bees? Nobody is certain, but rumors abound. What is certain is that this campground has gigantic and private sites, with thick rows of fragrant pine trees in between each of them. We could not see our neighbors from our site when we camped there a few years back. The Schoodic Peninsula is also much quieter than the main section of Acadia National Park, but it is every bit as beautiful.
Platte River Campground, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
The Platte River Campground is open year-round but offers a truly classic summer camping experience. Taking a tubing or kayaking run in the clear, warm waters of the Platte River out to the cooler waters of Lake Michigan is a transcendent National Park experience--and there are easy launch points near the campground. Platte River is cozy and shaded and the sites are mostly large and private. Some sites even offer electric hookups. Many of those sites are back in and have a large area behind them with a picnic table and fire ring. Don’t forget to catch a ranger program at the amphitheater during your stay. Each one we attended was excellent.
Blue Bell Campground, Custer State Park, South Dakota
Custer State Park is one of the best state parks in the country. It's incredible hiking, wildlife viewing, and natural beauty put it on par with America’s finest national parks. Custer is also blessed with an abundance of excellent campgrounds. Blue Bell Campground, which is filled with delightful smelling Ponderosa Pine trees, is our family favorite. As we set up our site a family riding horseback passed along the trail at the back of our huge site. It was a perfect start to a perfect stay. Make sure you get tickets for the legendary Chuck Wagon dinner that departs from the Blue Bell lodge right next to the campground. Your whole family will love listening to cowboy music and eating delicious steaks in the great outdoors.
Mueller State Park, Colorado
Mueller State Park is about 45 minutes west of Colorado Springs and about two hours from Denver. The large and wooded sites are a mix of back in and pull thru and many have awesome views. Campers love the regularly scheduled activities at Mueller, which are often described as being at ‘national park’ level. Families can enjoy archery lessons, a wonderful raptor talk at the amphitheater, and guided nature hikes. In the winter, visitors are able to enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding. Or just chill out and relax at your gorgeous site and take in the mountain views and the fresh Colorado air.
Fort Wilderness, Walt Disney World, Florida
Fort Wilderness is located on the Walt Disney World property in Orlando, Florida. The campground borders Lake Buena Vista, which means you can take boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom. It is organized around three main locations. The Outpost Depot is the entrance of the resort and also the transportation hub for accessing other Walt Disney World locations. The Meadows Depot is in the middle of the property and hosts a pool and recreation area as well as a trading post. The Settlement Depot is at the other end of the resort and has dining options, entertainment, a trading post, and the boat docks. The Fort has an incredibly natural feel to it and the sites are spacious and shady in most places. My family loves it here and we can’t wait to go back.
Fort De Soto Campground, Florida
Fort De Soto Campground is a perennial favorite for native Floridians and for snowbirds that flock down to the state every winter. And it’s easy to see why. Simply put, this is one of the most beautiful campgrounds in the country. There are 238 campsites, spread out over three loops and each loop has distinctive characteristics and rig and pet limitations. The great news is that all three loops offer back-in waterfront sites and spacious interior pull thrus. Even though the pull-thru sites don’t back up to the water, they are nothing to scoff at. They are lush and large, with an appeal of their own, especially if the waterfront sites are all booked.
Jellystone Park of the Alabama Gulf Coast
Yogi and his friends strike a perfect balance at this Jellystone Park. Campers can find peace and quiet at this campground and off-the-hook family fun and amenities. Many of the RV sites here look like state park sites, with plenty of elbow room and lots of shade. There are so many fun activities here that it is hard to know where to start--how about with the Water Wars Wagon Rides or Flashlight Freeze Tag? There is also a basic pool and splash pad at this park and a charming two-acre fishing pond that is packed with Bluegill, Bass, and Catfish.
