Small, privately owned campgrounds and RV parks are where it all started. They might not come with all the fancy luxury amenities of jumbo RV resorts, but they offer the peace and quiet of a more authentic camping experience. When you’re looking to go hiking, stargazing, roasting smores by the campfire, and grilling burgers, these are the type of campgrounds you’re thinking of. These ten small parks, in particular, offer the best traditional camping experiences.
USA’s Best Small Campgrounds
Three Springs Campground
Credit: Three Springs Website
Three Springs Campground in Corinth, Kentucky is an awesome park for connecting back with nature. The campground is a good mix of tranquility and adventure, offering quiet, peaceful nights and hiking and horseback riding trails nearby. You can sign up for guided nature walks at the camp store, too. Once you’re ready to relax again, head to the park’s outdoor pool to lay out on their enormous sunbathing deck. Come with your family and enjoy Three Spring’s grassy, shaded grounds.
Mack’s Pines
With 40 miles of marked trails and over 1,000 miles of unmarked ones, Mark’s Pines is the trail-riding headquarters over the Ozarks for ATVs, dirtbikes, horseback riding, and hiking. As you might imagine, all this acreage creates ample opportunities for spotting wildlife, including black bears, wild turkeys, deer, lions, and beavers. Okay, only kidding about the lions. Just making sure you were still paying attention.
After you exhaust yourself getting muddy on the trails, head back to camp’s “Cozy Cafe” for some of the best burgers in the state!
The Camp@Cloudcroft
Credit: The Camp at Cloudcraft Facebook
The Camp at Cloudcraft sits on the eastern side of the Sacramento Mountains. This location offers picturesque views of the surrounding mountains, valleys, streams, and thousands of acres of the massive Lincoln National Forest. The park’s open-air pavilion hosts live local musicians. If you’re savvy for it, you can perform on stage! Bring your family, your pets, and your hiking gear, and prepare for a delightful weekend of music, games, and outdoor fun.
Wildwedge Golf and RV Park
Wildwedge Golf & RV Park is located near Pequot Lakes, Minnesota. It is located in the heart of the Minnesota lakes area, which means it is near hundreds of lakes and dozens of golf courses and on the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway and Bike Trail. It features one of the state’s best and most scenic executive golf courses, a top-rated mini-golf course and a unique 10,000 square foot wooden maze. In addition to its spacious and shady full hook-up RV sites, Wildwedge has several “Lodge Rooms”, one of which is a 2-bedroom suite that includes a full kitchen and a deck overlooking the golf course. They are also pet-friendly and have lots of yard games available for your enjoyment.
BJ’s Campground
Credit: BJ’s Campground Facebook Page
BJ’s Campground in eastern Wyoming features 19 beautiful, pull-through RV sites. As you can see in the picture above, the campsites have lovely, well-manicured lawns and covered picnic table areas. The campground is just across the street from a city park that’s great for pets and children and is only five minutes from the small western town of Lusk.
Crossings Winery
Credit: Crossings Winery Website
Crossings Winery in Glenns Ferry, Idaho was rated the 2017 Idaho Winery of the year. It not only offers fantastic wine but also has a beautiful, shaded RV park with huge spaces right across the street from the winery. Crossing’s immaculate golf course encircles the RV park. If you don’t fancy yourself a wine enthusiast, you’re still in luck. Tannins is an onsite restaurant and tavern that offers beer on tap and a full cocktail bar. It also offers live music and some fantastic, fancy eats.
Red Maples MHC and RV Park
Red Maples is a mobile home community and RV park in a quiet country setting in Fulton, Missouri. Its large, shaded sites each have an accompanying picnic table and can be reached well-lit, paved streets. The park includes a playground, gazebo, picnic area, and more. It’s less than a half hour drive from Columbia and Jefferson City Missouri.
Wolf Den RV Park
Credit: Janice Warren
Wolf Den RV Park offers year-round cabins only 45 minutes from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It’s also a short drive from the state’s landmark national parks–The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Don’t be fooled by the rustic decor of the cabin rooms. Each includes amenities like a coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, private bath, private deck and satellite TV. Wold Den also has an onsite restaurant when you need a bite to eat.
River’s Edge RV Park
Credit: River’s Edge Website
This RV park is located on magnificent Snake River in southwest Idaho and offers 24 spacious, shady RV sites. River’s Edge RV Park is great for all your favorite water-based activities, like swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and boating. It also has four cabins loaded with amenities including a refrigerator, microwave, dual burner hot plate, dishes, dinette table, and impressive scenic views.
Laurie RV Park
Laurie RV Park is a spacious campground in central Missouri near Lake of the Ozarks and the town of Laurie. All of its RV sites are full hookup and offer gorgeous views of the surrounding forests. It features a half-acre fishing pond pictured above. Bring meat of all varieties for grilling parties at their clean clubhouse.
