The Best U.S. National Parks for Your Family Camping Trip

There are few things more exciting than witnessing the beauty of America's national parks. In the U.S., there are 63 gorgeous national parks to explore, filled with wilderness, natural beauty, and adventure. At each one, there's so much to see and do that you will need more than one day for your adventure.

One of the best ways to truly experience nature's beauty with your family is to go camping. In this slideshow, we'll explore the best U.S. national parks for camping. We'll discuss what makes each park worth visiting and what available amenities you should be aware of.

This post was updated in June 2025 to include updated and relevant information for families.

Fish Creek Campground, Glacier National Park

Address: Fish Creek Campground Rd, West Glacier, MT 59936, USA

Located in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park is a spectacular place to go camping. It is filled with glacier-carved peaks and beautiful valleys running to the Canadian border. Glacier National Park attracts approximately 2.9 million visitors annually and has more than 1,000 plant species, 130 lakes, and hundreds of animal species. In addition, there are over 700 miles of hiking trails, and other activities include cycling, fishing, backpacking, boating, and camping.

The park has 13 front-country campgrounds to choose from, so you are bound to find one that will suit your needs. Fish Creek Campground is the second-largest campground and one of the most popular camps, with 178 sites and four sites for tents only. The park accepts reservations up to 6 months in advance and cancellations up to four days before your arrival. It is advised to book early, as the grounds fill up quite quickly during peak season.

Fees: Campsite capacity is limited to two vehicles and eight people, with a maximum of two tents per site. $30.00

Things to Do at Glacier National Park

When visiting Glacier National Park, there are plenty of exciting activities to enjoy. For an educational activity, stop by the Apgar Nature Center and Park Information Centers to learn about some of the things you'll see. There's also a Junior Ranger Program that's great for kids. Of course, there are many beautiful trails to hike or to stop and have a picnic.

Amenities at Glacier National Park

Trash collection (seasonal)
Food storage lockers (seasonal)
Picnic tables and fire rings are provided.
Flush toilets (seasonal)
Shower types: hot (seasonal)
Staff on site (seasonal)
Amphitheatre (seasonal)
Dump station (seasonal)
Potable water (seasonal)
RV allowed, yes

Elkmont Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Address: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont Cg Kiosk, Elkmont Campground Rd A, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, United States

Elkmont Campground is the busiest and biggest campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The summers are hot and humid, and the winters are mild. It is the closest family campground to Sugarland’s and is open between March 8th and December 1st. The beautiful mountain views, forests, and waterfalls are a must-see for campers.

The park also has options for backcountry camping and 10 front country campgrounds. There are 200 drive-up sites and nine sites that are wheelchair-friendly.

Fees: $30 per night per site. Up to six people per campsite.

Things to Do at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the perfect place for your favorite outdoor activities. Whether you prefer biking, hiking, or fishing, there's a place at the park for your family to have fun. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also home to over 90 historic structures and plenty of wildlife.

Amenities at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Trash collection (seasonal)
Food storage lockers (seasonal)
Camp store (seasonal)
Ice for sale (seasonal)
Firewood for sale (seasonal)
Staff on site (seasonal)
Amphitheatre (seasonal)
Potable water (seasonal)
Fires (only in the permitted fire rings provided at each campsite)
Toilet type (flush toilets, seasonal)
Showers (none)
RV allowed, yes

Lower Pines, Yosemite National Park

Address: 9024 Southside Drive, Yosemite, CA 95389

If you are looking for a gorgeous scenic spot, then Yosemite National Park has a wide variety of beautiful campgrounds. There are three Pines campgrounds. Lower Pines is the smallest campground, with only 73 sites, while North Pines has 80 sites. Upper Pines is larger and has 235 sites; however, during the peak season, it can feel a little overcrowded, making it difficult to find a campsite and also waiting longer for facilities and services.

All three of these campgrounds are close to the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Here you can see the beauty of Yosemite with views of El Cap and Half Dome. Furthermore, these campgrounds are all within biking or walking distance of the showers, Curry Village, and Yosemite Village. To ensure you get a campsite, it is best to book five months in advance.

Fees: Regular sites are $36.00 and double sites are $60.00. Maximum of six people per site and two vehicles.

Things to Do at Yosemite National Park

Camping is a popular activity at Yosemite, and there are many things to do during your camping trip. Yosemite National Park has over 750 miles of trails to explore. You can also choose to go on a guided tour, which is offered year-round at the park.

Amenities at Yosemite National Park

Cell phone reception (seasonal)
Trash collection (seasonal)
Food storage lockers (seasonal)
Staff on site (seasonal)
Fire-ring charcoal fires are allowed at any time. Campfires are permitted at any time during October through April. However, from May through September, campfires are only allowed between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Yosemite Valley.
Picnic table
Toilet types (flush toilets, seasonal)
Amphitheatre (seasonal)
Potable water (seasonal)

Watchman Campground, Zion National Park

Address: UT-9, Springdale, UT 84767, United States

Are you a keen camper looking to connect with nature? If so, Zion National Park is the perfect destination, with towering red cliffs, diverse scenery, and 68 species of mammals. Zion National Park has three campgrounds to choose from. Lava Point Campground has six ancient campsites, vault toilets, and trash cans, but no water. South Campground is closed at the moment due to rehabilitation work.

However, the most popular campsite is Watchman Campground. Tents and electric campsites are available year-round. Campsites are full during the peak season. It is advised to reserve your spot up to 6 months in advance. Watchman Campground features 95 sites with electricity; however, no generators are allowed. There are 69 tent-only sites, 18 tent-only walk-in campsites, and group sites that can accommodate 9–40 people.

Fee: The fees vary between $10 and $130 per night. Check back on their site for updates.

Things to Do at Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a beautiful place to explore the great outdoors with your family. There are three campgrounds at Zion, and for the adventurous family, there are places for backpacking, canyoneering, and climbing. For a more laid-back activity, you can participate in bird-watching, looking for one of the 291 species of birds at Zion.

Amenities at Zion National Park

Cell phone reception (seasonal)
Trash collection (seasonal)
Food storage lockers (seasonal)
Staff on site (seasonal)
Fire-ring charcoal fires are allowed at any time. Campfires are permitted at any time during October through April. However, from May through September, campfires are only allowed between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Yosemite Valley.
Picnic table
Toilet types (flush toilets, seasonal)
Amphitheatre (seasonal)
Potable water (seasonal)

Bridge Bay Campground, Yellowstone National Park

Address: 260 Bridge Bay Campground Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA

The United States' first national park, Yellowstone, is 3,468.4 sq mi. It is filled with abundant wildlife, gorgeous geysers, mountain ranges, hiking trails, campsites, and wonderful hot springs. It offers campers a unique outdoor experience with plenty of activities to look forward to. There are 12 different campgrounds with over 2000 campsites to choose from, all with different amenities to meet your needs.

Bridge Bay: 431 sites
Canyon: 272 sites
Fishing Bridge RV Park: 310 sites
Grant Village: 429 sites
Madison: 276 sites
Indian Creek: 70 sites
Lewis Lake: 84 sites
Mammoth: 82 sites
Norris: 139 sites
Pebble Creek: 27 sites
Slough Creek: 16 sites
Tower Fall: 31 sites

Some campsites are more popular than others, depending on your needs. All campsites must be booked in advance, except for Mammoth Campground, which offers first-come, first-served sites from October 15–April 1. Madison, Grant Village, and Bridge Bay offer group sites with an assigned leader.

Depending on the size of the group, fees range from $165 to $474 per night. The other campgrounds are priced between $20 and $99, and some sites also charge taxes. You can view the prices here.

Things to Do at Yellowstone National Park

Activities near Bridge Bay include biking, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, paddling, windsurfing, snow sports, swimming, wildlife watching, and whitewater paddling. Finally, the gorgeous natural features you will find at Bridge Bay include waterfalls, swimming holes, rivers, hot springs, lakes, caves, and forests.