Your favorite places to camp

[RangerPooh]

DH and I have decided that this summer we are planning to do a lot of camping. Both of us grew up camping all over California (we're originally from Ca) and have some favorite places to camp when we visit this summer. But as we're currently residing in Maryland we're considering making it a cross country road trip of tent/car camping experiences for our family. It'll be a three generation roadtrip, grandparents, DH and I, and the grandkids ages 5, 3, and baby.

So please, tell me some of your favorite places to camp throughout the continental USA.

Thanks!

Our favorites:
CA: Yosemite, Calaveras Big Trees, Big Basin Redwoods

 

[JerseyJanice]

My living room.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Yosemite & Sequoia. We always camp there.

 

[paintnolish]

The Great Smokey Mountains
The UP of Michigan
Fort Wilderness!!!

 

[scrapquitler]

The Hilton.

 

[KramBerries]

My favorite places require a canoe. I love camping in Caddo Lake, along the Buffalo River, and along the Rio Grande.

For car camping, we really enjoyed Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Arches, Bryce, Zion, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

 

[minniebeth]

www.hockinghills.com

Hocking Hills, Ohio, we know several families that come from several different states to come camping here.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

There is a place near Ocala FL called Ginny Springs...IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!

It a series of like 5 clear/blueish spring fed swimming holes connected by a river. People just tube down the river and stop at different springs. It's gorgeous!
http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/

 

[kbsparky]

Buggs Island Lake, in Southern Virginia, near the NC border.

Find the camping areas managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. There are several waterfront campsites there that let you set up your tent on the beach of the water. You are literally 100 feet or less away from the water!

If you go in mid to late summer, the water temps should be in the 80 degree range.

 

[SDFgirl]

If you go to the Smokies, our favorite spot to camp there is The Little River Village KOA in Townsend, TN. It's right outside the park boundary and farther away from the tackiness of Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge.

The people there are soooo nice, it's clean and beautiful. They keep it up really well. Plus there are campsites right on the Little River.

http://www.koa.com/where/tn/42175/

 

[stsomewhere]

The upper pennisula of Michigan. Also, the west coast of the lower pennisula has great sandy beaches and sand dunes.

 

[smschex]

I am told there are wonderful places to camp around Lake Ouachita in Arkansas. We love the lake. However, my idea of roughing it is a hotel without high speed internet, so i will never know about the camping facilities.

 

[RangerPooh]

I'm enjoying reading everyones responses. We lived in SW Michigan for a year, but sadly didn't get out explore as DHs job kept him busy until winter. I really would like ot get up to the Isle Royal area (but the best way might be from Wisconsin??).

We're now considering camping somehere in the Smokey Mountains (Pigeon Forge area is one possible place), so any rec's would be nice as we're open to suggestions.

I would love to exlore Yellowstone and the Tetons, but we're thinking of saving those for the summer of 2011 as we'll be living back in WA then
allowing us the ability to spend more time there.

 

[MinnieTink]

I am such an indoorsy girl. The closest I get to camping is hiding in my DS's Thomas the Train tent in my basement. I am a nervous wreck camping thinking what kind of bug could be crawling on me etc.

 

[Wall-E1]

The only place I have gone primitive camping (pitched tent) is in Everglades National Park. It was a combined camping/canoeing trip with my son and we enjoyed it. Just don't do it in the middle os summer or you will be eaten alive(not alligators - mosquitos).

 

[Mermaid02]

Mount Desert Island Maine

 

[okeydokey]

The FL State park system has great camp sites. We love anything along the Panhandle beaches, Port St. Joe, Henderson Beach in Destin.

 

[englishteacha]

Acadia National Park in Maine.

You asked! It's the wrong direction, though.

 

[RangerPooh]

Acadia National Park in Maine.

You asked! It's the wrong direction, though.

It's supposed to be a beautiful park!

 

[Darcy03231]

DH tells everyone my idea of camping is a two star hotel!

Having said that, we did a camping trip last year with a bunch of friends on the Upper Delaware River in Pennsylvania and had a blast!