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Breathtaking Bucket List Campsites Across The U.S.
Camping and hiking in Yosemite National Park is a bucket list adventure you'll never forget.
Preparing for a camping adventure, no matter what the season or who tags along, doesn't have to be an arduous or burdensome undertaking. Whether you're aiming for a solo outdoor adventure, quality time with little ones, or a multigenerational romp in nature, we've got you covered with not only where to go for the best campsites across the country, but also, the details on how to lock in a coveted reservation as well as what you can expect once you arrive.
The following destinations, campsites, and trails are bucket list quests for many hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. It's best to plan ahead.
Camping in Yosemite National Park is an intrepid adventure.
Perhaps you've dreamed of thru-hiking and you've had the Pacific Crest Trail or the John Muir Trail on your radar, however, you don't have several weeks or months that you can take out of your busy schedule for a long-distance backpacking adventure. The good news, for intrepid and fit hikers, is that you can tackle a big trek, with plenty of elevation gain, over a weekend in Yosemite National Park.
Most of the popular Yosemite Valley sits within a no-camping zone, so you'll have to hit the trails and hike in at least a few miles, with thousands of feet of possible elevation gain, to reach your camping spot. Of course, this is also where the big views are!
The most important thing you should know is that reservations are required for lodging, camping, and backpacking in Yosemite National Park from May 24—September 1. Choose from 13 different campgrounds and reserve your spot as soon as possible on Expect the summer months to be the most busy; if you have the time, plan to camp in the shoulder seasons.
Hiking to the top of Half Dome is a bucket list adventure for many, but you'll need a permit if you want to go. Apply for a wilderness permit that includes Half Dome, which will allow you to camp in Little Yosemite Valley, or at another spot along the way. Half Dome Trail is a strenuous 14—16-mile hike, with 4,800 feet of elevation gain. Your efforts will be rewarded in spades, however, as you'll see Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, Half Dome, and stellar panoramic views of Yosemite Valley. Begin from either Happy Isles or Curry Village or from a nearby campground—Upper, Lower, and North Pines Campgrounds are the closest and most desired.
Death Valley National Park has some of the most beautiful and remote camping spots in the entire national park system.
For a multi-night adventure in the lowest, driest, hottest national park, a park that is a designated gold-tier Dark Sky Park, look no further than Death Valley National Park. You can expect to encounter rugged terrain, skies full of stars and planets, nights so quiet that they seem 'loud', and wild horses. Yes, wild horses!
Given that the backcountry is so remote, with few other backpackers on the trail, it might be a good idea to enlist a professional guide. Wildland Trekking leads tours throughout this weathered landscape that straddles the border between California and Nevada. Planning well ahead to ensure your spot, choose the Death Valley Classic Backpack, which operates from January—March.
This otherworldly trail in the land of extremes twists through Death Valley's backcountry for nearly 30 miles. For three nights, you'll sleep under the darkest and most beautiful skies, while listening a nearby creek. The trail requires a fair amount of bushwhacking, steep climbs, and snaking ambles through multi-hued canyons. You'll carry everything you need and nothing that you don't on your back and your own two feet will get you to the looped finish line. It's an incredibly rewarding feeling to challenge your body and your mind on this adventure. Each campsite is remote and private, giving you ample opportunity to reconnect with yourself and the world around in a peaceful, undisturbed environment.
Views and diverse terrain abound in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Exposing children to the outdoors is something you'll always be proud of as a parent. A fantastic park that offers plenty of day hikes for all levels is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Keep eyes peeled for a plethora of wildlife like black bears, over 200 different species of birds, deer, and salamanders.
Permits are required for overnight backcountry stays and tags are essential for parking. Be sure to operate with Leave No Trace principles and stay bear award during the high activity months of May—August, hanging your food and smelly items on the cable system. is your go-to resource for booking camping sites in the park and nearby—choose from 30 different options.
Also, it's worth noting, there are tons of family-friendly activities and fun happenings in the nearby Tennessee towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. From mini-golf to Dollywood to Anakeesta, a mountain top adventure park, there's plenty to do in the surrounding areas.
Hiking opportunities abound, with trails open every month of the year. Hike Charlies Bunion, Alum Cave Bluffs, Andrews Bald Rainbow Falls, or Chimney Tops—all offering the beautiful sights and sounds of nature with waterfalls, old-growth forests, or bird's-eye mountain views.
Children new to hiking will love the four-mile-roundtrip Kephart Prong Trail, which highlights the Civilian Conservation Corps' history as well as the logging industry. An easy two miles to the trail shelter, this hike has fun features like log bridges and evidence of an old fish hatchery that was built in 1936. If kids love the trails and the outdoors, they'll want to protect wild spaces for years to come.
