Any Campers out there? What's your favorite campground?

[North of Mouse]

We are planning a cross country road trip this summer and thinking of doing some camping along the way here and there. Would love to hear everyone's suggestions for their favorite place to camp in all the different states.

I am checking places out along with reviews, but it's always better to get tips from people who have actually stayed in places.

Do you have a favorite place you would recommend or always seem to return to year after year?

I will start....mine is Hermit Island Campground in Small Point, Maine. Have vacationed there for almost 50 years! Started as a baby and am now in my 50's and still love the place!

Elkmont CC in Great Smoky Mtns. National Park in TN. Such a relaxing place. Have been camping there since we got married 50 years ago!! Ressies again in June.

Also, Bar Harbor Campground in Bar Harbor, ME.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Adirondack Camping Villiage
Lake George NY

 

[NinaBella]

Ft DeSoto in Florida.

 

[Pooh2]

We are planning a cross country road trip this summer and thinking of doing some camping along the way here and there. Would love to hear everyone's suggestions for their favorite place to camp in all the different states.

I am checking places out along with reviews, but it's always better to get tips from people who have actually stayed in places.

Do you have a favorite place you would recommend or always seem to return to year after year?

I will start....mine is Hermit Island Campground in Small Point, Maine. Have vacationed there for almost 50 years! Started as a baby and am now in my 50's and still love the place!

We vacationed at Hermit Island for 20 years!!!
Since we've become empty nesters 5 years ago, we've been able to travel all over the country (2 states left to visit) but Hermit Island remains one of the most beautiful places we've been!

 

[HeatherC]

We vacationed at Hermit Island for 20 years!!!
Since we've become empty nesters 5 years ago, we've been able to travel all over the country (2 states left to visit) but Hermit Island remains one of the most beautiful places we've been!

It really is the best isn't it? The anchor. The Kelp Shed. Love it all!

 

[pigletto]

We are planning a cross country road trip this summer and thinking of doing some camping along the way here and there. Would love to hear everyone's suggestions for their favorite place to camp in all the different states.

I am checking places out along with reviews, but it's always better to get tips from people who have actually stayed in places.

Do you have a favorite place you would recommend or always seem to return to year after year?

I will start....mine is Hermit Island Campground in Small Point, Maine. Have vacationed there for almost 50 years! Started as a baby and am now in my 50's and still love the place!

We are not usually campers but decided it was the best way to do a cross country trip to the Canadian Rockies this summer with our 14 year old son. We haven’t camped since we were younger, and my son has never been. We are cottagers in the summers usually.
Anyway, we will be staying in hotels on the way out, but once we get there we will be camping at Tunnel Mountain in Banff and Whistlers campground in Jasper National park.
To get back into camping we will be doing a few weeends closer to home before the trip. We’ve heard great things about how pretty Letchworth State park in PA is. And we will be camping up nearby Killarney Park in Northern Ontario as well.

 

[luvsvacation]

The most beautiful campground I've ever been to was the campground in Arches National Park in Utah. It was amazingly beautiful. In the fist picture you can see our van before we set up the tent.

 

[bcla]

View attachment 307392 View attachment 307390 The most beautiful campground I've ever been to was the campground in Arches National Park in Utah. It was amazingly beautiful. In the fist picture you can see our van before we set up the tent.

That looks like Devils Garden Campground. I was there once to see a presentation at the amphitheater.

 

[bcla]

We are not usually campers but decided it was the best way to do a cross country trip to the Canadian Rockies this summer with our 14 year old son. We haven’t camped since we were younger, and my son has never been. We are cottagers in the summers usually.
Anyway, we will be staying in hotels on the way out, but once we get there we will be camping at Tunnel Mountain in Banff and Whistlers campground in Jasper National park.

Just be careful with food storage and bears. I think they have bear boxes in most of those campgrounds now, but maybe a decade ago it was supposed to be in the trunk of a vehicle and out of sight. It's also about more than just bear. I don't think they want animals looking to humans for food sources. I'd seen crazy stuff like coolers being left out at a campground while the occupants were in their tent, and there were crows all around trying to get the cooler open.

 

[pigletto]

Just be careful with food storage and bears. I think they have bear boxes in most of those campgrounds now, but maybe a decade ago it was supposed to be in the trunk of a vehicle and out of sight. It's also about more than just bear. I don't think they want animals looking to humans for food sources. I'd seen crazy stuff like coolers being left out at a campground while the occupants were in their tent, and there were crows all around trying to get the cooler open.

Thank you. I appreciate the message. We have really researched this trip and we are nature lovers and wildlife advocates so we are determined to be respectful of where we are and keep our campsite bare of food and scented toiletries. In the Canadian National Parks they still allow food/dishes/toiletries to be kept locked in your car. I know in some of the US National Parks it has to be in the bear proof boxes provided. I think I had read in some areas (Yellowstone and Glacier maybe?) that the bears have learned to break into the vehicles and they know what a cooler is and that there is food in it. If we allow them to get our food we are endangering their lives because if they keep coming for food they are shot .
It's a good message. We will be in THEIR territory and need to be cautious and respectful.

 

[bcla]

Thank you. I appreciate the message. We have really researched this trip and we are nature lovers and wildlife advocates so we are determined to be respectful of where we are and keep our campsite bare of food and scented toiletries. In the Canadian National Parks they still allow food/dishes/toiletries to be kept locked in your car. I know in some of the US National Parks it has to be in the bear proof boxes provided. I think I had read in some areas (Yellowstone and Glacier maybe?) that the bears have learned to break into the vehicles and they know what a cooler is and that there is food in it. If we allow them to get our food we are endangering their lives because if they keep coming for food they are shot .
It's a good message. We will be in THEIR territory and need to be cautious and respectful.

Depends on the location. I remember the time I visited Yellowstone/Grand Teton and researched maybe staying in a tent cabin. I asked about food storage and was told it was OK as long as the food was stored in the trunk of a car. For someone used to visiting the Sierra Nevada, that seemed kind of crazy since there are areas in California where bears will break into cars. However, that's a learned behavior, so that isn't something that all bears can do. I do understand that bear boxes are being installed in more and more campgrounds. When I stayed in campgrounds in Washington State, no campsites had individual bear boxes like I've seen in California. They had scattered ones around, and the signs said that they were for campers arriving by bus/motorcycle/foot/bicycle who didn't have a vehicle. The really odd thing was that we were even told that storing a cooler in plain sight in the car was OK. They were mostly worried about squirrels and birds. Sure they had bears, but we were informed that bears in the area avoid campgrounds and people.

I wouldn't really worry about having scented items other than storing them in accordance with the local rules. The animals know there's food in the area and they will investigate it anyways. I think the big deal is that they don't want any kind of reinforcement for the animals if they are successful in getting food.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I have to admit....camping in Yellowstone may not be my thing. I don't think I would sleep at all worrying about a bear stopping by to say hi.

We camped at Yellowstone and were rather restless. If we go back, we are going to stay at a hotel.

 

[HeatherC]

That looks like Devils Garden Campground. I was there once to see a presentation at the amphitheater.

I am definitely going to check this one out!

Pigletto...so I do like you have a fabulous trip planned too!