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The 5 best places to go camping year-round
Forget what you may have heard — camping isn't just an activity for the summer months. No matter what time of year, rustic escapes around America welcome travelers, along with their tents and RVs, for nights of roasted marshmallows, cookouts, and campfire songs in some of the country’s most spectacular locales.
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Turn off your cell phone, take a deep breath of fresh air, and plan an off-season excursion to one of these year-round campgrounds.
Where: Arches National Park, Utah
One of America's natural wonders, Arches National Park, is home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Formed by erosion from a salt bed below the ground, the arches accentuate the desert landscape with a majestic orange glow best viewed at sunrise. With a 50-person limit at the campsites for personal tents and some RV lots, Devils Garden Campground, situated 18 miles in to the park, requires reservations up to six months in advance for March through October. From November to February, the sites are limited and available on a self-serve basis. At night, the moon’s glow brings a glimmer to the hollow arches, set amidst the La Sal Mountains, creating a mystical setting for evening stargazing.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Arches National Park Travel Guide
Where: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Cozy up in the comfortably outfitted cabins of Namakanipaio Campground as the lava illuminates the night sky in the near distance. Namakanipaio offers a rare chance to enjoy recreational activities as well as relaxation steps away from active volcanoes. The solidified lava rock, resembling shiny tar, stretches throughout the park in wild formations that make for unique hiking opportunities. Trails throughout the park showcase the natural beauty that grows from the active volcanoes, with wild orchids and red lehua flowers native to Hawaii. The campground offers 10 cabins (with WiFi), tent and camping equipment rental, and well as campsites for the DIY set.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Big Island Travel Guide
Where: Yosemite National Park
On the western edge of Yosemite National Park sits the Yosemite Pines RV Resort, where rustic cabins, ample RV spots, and tent sites make up a multifaceted year-round resort. A swimming pool, sand volleyball court, and a playground for children highlight the woodsy campground set about 30 minutes from a main entrance to Yosemite. The cabins range in quality based on price, with the premium cabins offering well-appointed wooden abodes that have modern amenities, such as TVs, full kitchens, and accommodations for larger families. Yosemite Pines RV Camp stands out for its variety of lodging options, cleanliness, and picturesque evergreen mountain backdrop.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Yosemite Travel Guide
Where: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona
The calming and peaceful Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area on the eastern end of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest provides a great opportunity to disconnect from the rat race. At 6,300 feet above sea level, the 800-acre recreation area and 150-acre lake have long been a treasured spot for fishing, swimming, boating, and bird watching. Look to the sky for bald eagles, blue heron, and red-tailed hawks as they soar over the 100-foot pine trees. With ample space for RVs (92 sites) and tents (31 sites), the campground makes for a welcome retreat, letting the natural splendor of the area take center stage.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Arizona Travel Guide
Where: Rock Island, Tennessee
Set in central Tennessee near the cascading waterfalls of The Caney Fork River Gorge, Rock Island State Park is a year-round river oasis. The whitewater sections of the river here are challenging and intense, attracting professional kayakers from around the world. The lively gorges of the area link to great hiking trails, nine in total, with many opportunities for swimming, fishing, and skipping rocks. There are 10 cabins run by the Tennessee State Parks commission on site, which are well-crafted and maintained, as well as 60 campsites.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Tennessee Travel Guide
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