Six Great Places to Go Camping in the U.S.

Normal day life, especially in a big city can get tedious and boring.

If you get that feeling sometimes that you are just not having fun and excitement, then you are not alone. Research shows that humans have always been a hardy folk, living in the great outdoors and toiling with nature. It is only in the last two hundred years that society has changed drastically. It happened especially after the blessing (or curse?) of industrial revolution and mass production that we have started living comfortable yet monotonous lives.

All of us still yearn for those great outdoors even if we don’t realize it. If you are tired of your dull routine job or spending your evenings on the couch watching TV, you might be feeling that call of the wild coming from inside. It’s time to pack your bags and take a tour of nature to feel what you have been missing.

We have prepared a list of great camping sites around the country that you can visit for a weekend trip. No matter where you live, there are always plenty of sights to see.

Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pennsylvania

The park is located near the city of Harrisburg at the centre of Pennysylvania state. There are more than 70 camp and trailer sites available which are open from March to December.

Source: Cumberland Valley Visitor’s Bureau

The Appalachian Trail runs through the center of the scenic forest and is a famous hiking trail. Around 2,000 people attempt to hike the entire 2,186-mile trail each year and between 2 and 3 million people hike or walk a portion of it.

There is no entrance fee and a camping site costs from $5 to $20.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve, New York

The Minnewaska Park lies less than a 100 miles north of New York and is an awesome place to pitch a tent around the New York area. The main feature is the Shawangunk ridge (pictured below) which rises more than 2,000 feet above sea level. The park is home to rugged, natural rock formations, several waterfalls, three lakes, dense forest and ledges overlooking great views. There are miles of footpaths and carriage roads across the park on which to bike, walk, hike and camp for nature lovers.

Source: The Odyssey Online

The park is open for camping from May to November. Members of the preservation pay $24. Non-members pay $38.

Ludington State Park, Michigan

If you live in the Chicago, Detroit area then you can visit the Ludington State Park. The park is situated between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan. Activities here include canoeing which offers gorgeous, up-close views of the water, and you can also bike on the designated two mile trail on the beach.

You can enjoy everything from sand dunes and shoreline to marshlands and forest, as well as eight separate trails, which go through the woods, covering 21.5 miles for hiking.

Source: Pure Ludington

There are three campgrounds available with more than 350 campsites with showers and bathrooms. There are also 10 remote sites for people interested in hiking alone.

The camp is open for hiking all year round. Camping is allowed from May to November. Membership is from $11.

Big Bend National Park, Texas

This park lies in western Texas close to the southern border. The Rio Grande cuts through the park and offers opportunities for rafting, kayaking or canoeing.  These activities are just one of the way to enjoy the park.

Source: HipCamp

There are also trails running through desert and mountains, for a day hiking trips. Devil’s Den is most famous. It is a moderate trip more than 5 miles long that runs up and down the edge of a beautiful limestone canyon.  Another famous hike is the Santa Elena Canyon Trail. This one is a much shorter hike, less than 2 miles. It offers a great view of the canyon

The park operates three campgrounds and is open throughout the year making it one of the best places to go camping all year round. Camping sites cost $12 – $15 per night and vehicle admissions are $25.

Ozark National Forest, Arkansas

The forest lies in north-west Arkansas at the nexus surrounded by Kansas, Oklahoma Dallas, Memphis and St Louis.

Source: Arkansas Gazette

The forest features more than two hundred camping and picnic sites. There are close to a dozen swimming beaches with thousands of acres of lakes, ponds and streams. It also features more than 400 miles of hiking trails. The 218-mile Ozark Highlands Trail is the best-known hike, but the amazing living cave systems at Blanchard Springs also attract many visitors

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Situated in north-west Virginia near the town of Harrisonburg, Shenandoah Park is close to Richmond city and D.C. The park is less than a 2 hour drive from the capital. It is home to over several trails, stretching 500 miles and leading the traveler to stunning viewpoints across waterfalls, and at times through miles of tranquil and quiet wilderness.

Source: National Park Service

For a challenge, try the eight-mile hike to Old Rag Mountain. It is a tough but popular course in the park and rewards hikers with an amazing view from the peak.

There are four campgrounds open throughout the year except winter. Entrance fee is $2 per vehicle.

These are just a few of the many great places you can go camping in the countryside. They offer a lot of opportunities for experiencing nature and sightseeing balanced with a decent amount of physical activity that can help you relax from the daily busy life.