Lakeside camping in United States with campfires

America's diverse terrain has something for everyone no matter what kind of camping you’re into.

95% (101825 reviews)
95% (101825 reviews)

Popular camping styles for United States

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12 top lakeside campgrounds in United States with campfires

97%
(98)

Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground

109 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Joshua Tree, CA
Welcome to Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, your go-to destination for a unique and memorable camping experience in Joshua Tree. This family-owned and operated park offers breathtaking views from its 2,300 ft elevation, showcasing the beauty of the Mojave Desert and the surrounding mountains. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast looking to explore the area or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, Joshua Tree Lake RV and Campground has something for everyone. With panoramic views of the North face of Joshua Tree National Park, the ancient Copper Mountain Hills to the North and East, and exceptional desert vistas, you'll be surrounded by breathtaking landscapes wherever you look. Office Hours: 8:30 - 8 Sunday - Thursday 8:30 - 9 Friday and Saturday Check-in Begins at 12 PM. Checkout is at 11 AM. The campground is situated on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert and boasts some of the best stargazing opportunities in the region. With clear, unpolluted skies, you can enjoy the magnificent night skies and immerse yourself in the beauty of the stars. We want to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, so please take note of the following guidelines: Swimming is not permitted in the fishing lake and there is no swimming pool available. Pet owners will be pleased to know that their furry friends are welcome, but there may be an additional fee added to the reservation. Wi-Fi is provided by a third-party company and a separate service fee applies. Please note that we cannot guarantee the speed, rate, or troubleshooting of the Wi-Fi service. For your convenience, a wash station for dishes is available on-site, and the Joshua Tree Laundromat is located 9 miles away in downtown Joshua Tree. For campfires, it is important to keep them contained inside the designated burn barrels and never leave them unattended. In the event of high winds, campfire, and BBQ use may be suspended for safety reasons. So, pack your gear and head to Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, your favorite place to stay while you play in Joshua Tree. Experience the magic of the Mojave Desert and all its natural wonders, and create memories that will last a lifetime!
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$15
 / night
96%
(874)

Diamond Gulch

43 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents824 acres · Groveland, CA
CLOSE TO YOSEMITE! Explore the mines and hang out on our Groveland, California ranch! We are 35 minutes to the main gate of Yosemite National Park. A great place to stay just outside of the park. We have 824 acres on a beautiful cattle ranch with two small ponds. On our property, you'll find frogs, turtles, oak trees, pine trees and stunning views of Yosemite. We have several campsites to choose from including RV camping, tent camping, and a glamping tent. Pets are welcome. Campfires are permitted as long as there is no fire ban. Potable water and toilet are available onsite. There's a golf course less than a mile away. We are also very close to town. In just a few minutes, you can drive to our local grocery store and pizza parlour. We are a 10-minute drive to Pine Mountain Lake. Beautiful Pine Mountain Lake offers golfing, dining, horseback riding, water sports and an airport. When you come to the ranch it feels like you are hundreds of miles away from civilization, but still close to everything you need. It is incredibly peaceful! This is a great place for someone who wants to escape city life and enjoy the tranquillity of nature. Much of the ranch is open wilderness for you to explore, and it's not uncommon to see deer, frogs, turtles, quail, turkeys, or other countless species of birds. Diamond Gulch Camp is the perfect place to relax if you’re a photographer, artist, family or a group of friends looking for a place to camp near Yosemite. A small portion of the property was used as a gold mine years ago, and you may find remnants of old home sites if you go exploring. We're not far from Wards Ferry Road, Groveland, Lake Don Pedro and other interesting places.
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$36
 / night
95%
(2020)

Finnon Lake Recreation Area

39 sites · RVs, Tents140 acres · Placerville, CA
ALL RV VEHICLES AND VEHICLES WITH TRAILERS MUST TAKE ROCK CREEK RD. (Even if your GPS says to use Mosquito Road). These vehicles will not fit and can not cross over the single-lane suspension Mosquito Bridge. These vehicles and trailers will be forced to turn around or back up to take Rock Creek Road. Use caution - twisty narrow country road. If it's your first time you might want to check out the route ahead of time. From Sacramento on Hwy 50: At the second stop light, Spring St./Hwy 49, turn left, heading north about 1 block to the stop sign. Turn left, staying on Hwy 49, approximately 1 mile. Turn right on Hwy 193. Travel approximately 3.1 miles to Rock Creek Road. Turn right onto Rock Creek Road and travel 8.9 miles to Finnon Lake/Diner on the Left. The campground is behind the Diner. The DINER "Smoke on the Water" is open only Saturday- Sunday. Traveling West on 50 from Tahoe: make a right on HWY 49 traveling north. Follow the above instructions. Welcome to Finnon Lake Recreation Area! Our lovely lake offers serenity in a beautifully unique setting, nestled deep into the forest. Enjoy the scenic and exhilarating drive to our hidden gem along the South Fork of the American River- this is all for you to discover. The night skies above Finnon Lake will reveal stars unseen in most parts of California. Enjoy searching for bullfrogs, and watch the flock of Canadian Geese fly in right at sunset as the horizon blends into the watercolor sky. This private lake supports the fire protection efforts of the Mosquito Fire Protection District and the firefighters of this community. The lake is managed by volunteers of the community for the benefit of the residents and Fire Station. The primary funding source for the Finnon Lake Restoration is the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, which was signed into law in 2004 with a mission to support “efforts that improve the environmental, economic and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities and the residents of California,” according to its Website. Finnon Lake is also home to a popular 18-hole disc golf course and Mosquito’s only restaurant, "Smoke on the Water" Diner. Open on weekends only. Enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, paddling, hiking, or biking during your stay. Potable water, picnic tables, campfire rings, and toilets on site. The property can not accommodate horses. 2 dogs per site limit. Sites are from post to post. Our property is located in Placerville, California. Placerville is a charming California gold rush town named after the placer gold deposits found in its riverbeds and hills in the late 1840s. PLEASE NOTE, there is construction on the Mosquito Bridge. Expect delays, RVs/trailers must use Rock Creek Road (even if your GPS says Mosquito Road). Please message me with any questions. Please see our website: finnonrecreationarea.com for full directions. Diner: https://www.facebook.com/smokeonthewaterplacervilleca 530-622-1060. The diner is only open Saturday and Sunday. NO FIREWORKS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED. Smoking is only allowed in an enclosed vehicle.
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$40
 / night
97%
(3954)

Zion Wright Ranch Eco-Camp

57 sites · RVs, Tents1200 acres · Virgin, UT
Off Grid eco oriented camp on 1200 acres overlooking Zion National Park. Owned and operated by Bill Wright, a rancher whose family has farmed and ranched the land for several generations. A few minutes from Zion’s backcountry trails in the Kolob Terrace Region and approx. 40 minutes to the main gate of Zion NP. Bill Wright is the father of the legendary "Wright Brothers" the family of Professional Rodeo Saddle Bronc riders. You will often see Bill tending the land and moving cattle and horses from your campsite. This off the grid ranch has some of the most stunning views you'll ever encounter. Want a little adventure during your stay? Reserve a 2-hour horseback ride with Bill. He'll finish your ride with one of the most breathtaking vistas you can find of Zion National Park. Our property features many spaced out sites to choose from with bathrooms onsite. Pets and campfires are also allowed.
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$35
 / night
95%
(479)

Hidden Valley Nature Center

8 sites · Lodging, Tents1000 acres · Newcastle, ME
HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER IS 1,000 ACRES OF PROTECTED LAND IN JEFFERSON, MAINE - RICH WITH A VARIETY OF HABITAT AND TERRAIN INCLUDING OVER A MILE OF SHORE FRONT ON LITTLE DYER POND. Miles of multi-use trails great for hiking and biking, rolled and groomed XC ski trails, and several rustic huts and tent sites are waiting for you. Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) is your forest. HVNC is part of Midcoast Conservancy, and a portion of the booking fees goes to support our mission to protect and restore vital lands and waters on a scale that matters. PLEASE NOTE: ALL of the cabins and campsites are WALK-IN ONLY. No pop-up campers or vehicles of any kind are permitted within the preserve or in the parking lot. Midcoast Conservancy members receive a 40% discount. Not a member? Visit the Midcoast Conservancy website and join through the "donate" button at the top right of the home page. Your membership confirmation email will include your discount code. Thank you!
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$24
 / night
94%
(438)

Peconic River Campgrounds

20 sites · RVs, Tents8 acres · Calverton, NY
Grassy field. Natural woods. River accessible. We are located 30 minutes from Long Island, NY. Feel free to pitch your tent anywhere you like on the property. Choose the grassy meadow or the natural woods filled with trees. Have a campfire and enjoy nature. Bring fishing gear and cast away. Go for a relaxing walk on the 2,000 feet of walkable dikes right on the river. Bring your canoe or kayak and feel free to launch it right on site. If you're bringing an RV, we can accommodate vehicles up to 30 ft in length and the sites require levelling. There is a water hookup but no electrical hookup. Toilet & showers are available. Potable water available. Pet-friendly! Bring a bike and explore our dirt trails across the street. Or visit the man-made dam on Dam RD just 2 minutes down the road, where you can take a dip in the water. If you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle, look no further! It's serene, peaceful, and private. So come experience it for yourself! Nature awaits!
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$40
 / night
98%
(569)

River Ridge Ranch -722 acres

14 sites · Lodging, Tents722 acres · Springville, CA
Swimming in North Fork Tule River, miles of hiking trails on ranch. River Ridge goes from 1,000' elev. to 3,000' elevation. Hike right on the ranch. We are between Sequoia National Park (about an hour) and the Giant Sequoia National Monument (16 miles to groves up Hwy 190 and no entrance fee). Choose from individual tent sites, group tent sites, tiny cabins. the 5-acre Compound or the Entire Ranch. There are 33 giant sequoia groves in our Southern Region of the Giant Sequoia National Monument, some easily driven to, and some remote. Our ranch is a nature preserve and an education demonstration site, teaching sustainable and regenerative land use practices. River Ridge Institute, our non-profit, hosts a variety of events for the public. Please note: you are expected to leave the ranch and kitchen area as you found it, i.e., dishes washed thoroughly and dried and put away, recycling separated from trash, food scraps in compost buckets, sticky marshmallow removed from forks and surfaces (ick!). Thank you. Enjoy: The Kitchen has a 3-burner cooktop, large fridge, microwave, full dishes and utensils and pots and pans with a big washing area in the back. Propane barbecue grill.. There's a River Barn to use as a remote space and Turtle Cove for swimming. Saturday morning Farmer's Market in downtown at 9 AM - Noon. Ancestral land of the Foothill Yokuts tribe. Homesteaded in 1859, owned by the Negus family from 1909-2000. Barbara and I bought it to save it from subdivision and it's now protected by a Conservation Easement and acts as a community center for the arts, music, poetry, gatherings and outdoor education. We're both biologists, so, just ask us. Please see the Rules and Safety section to review our Waiver of Liability.
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$40
 / night
95%
(213)

San Diego Mountain Lodge

48 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Santa Ysabel, CA
San Diego Mountain Lodge is a beautiful escape to nature sprawled out over about 40 acres on a breathtaking spot that we call Hideout Mountain in Santa Ysabel, CA. Multiple experiences are offered: -- glamping in our vintage camper trailers, -- RV sites with full hookups and incredible views of Lake Henshaw -- campsites, -- luxury camping in our remodeled cabins (studio, 1br, and 2br cabins) each with different amenities ranging from full kitchens, wood burning fireplaces, large outdoor decks and private fire pits. Gather and share ideas with fellow guests at our community firepit and picnic tables. What makes Hideout Mountain a magical place? #1 on the list are the stunning views as far as the eye can see of Lake Henshaw and the valley and surrounding mountains. We also have a one-of-a-kind, world renowned restaurant and bar on the property: Josie's Hideout Saloon, open on weekends with live music. We are located just a few minutes drive away from downtown Santa Ysabel and Julian, with easy access off Hwy 76.
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$29
 / night
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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Lakeside camping in United States with campfires guide

Overview

With coastlines, alpine mountains, and verdant hillsides, America’s diverse terrain has something for everyone no matter what kind of camping you’re into—so it’s no surprise that more than 40 million people camp in America each year. The US has plenty of national parks (63 to be exact!) and a variety of landscapes and parks to choose from.

Where to go

Northeastern United States

Henry David Thoreau was famously smitten with his natural surroundings in Massachusetts—but the rest of the Northeast is pretty impressive, too. Consider Maine, which has an astonishing 3,500 miles of craggy coastline (That’s more than California has!). The extremely popular Acadia National Park has views for days thanks to gorgeous, pink granite cliffs, rocky beaches, and in the fall, spectacular foliage along the historic gravel carriage roads. Watch the day break from the summit of Cadillac Mountain—one of the first places in the United States to see the sunrise—or take a bracing dip in the waters of Sand Beach.

The Midwest

The Midwest is best known for its grassy, open spaces, but you can also camp around some incredible geographical attractions, particularly in South Dakota, where the legendary Badlands National Park houses rock formations and fossil beds, and Wind Cave National Park features one of the longest and densest caves in the world, with unique honeycomb-like boxwork formations. Above ground you’ll find the last remaining mixed grass prairie in the country—with elk, bison, and pronghorn sheep.

With more than 10,000 lakes, Minnesota is teeming with shoreline campsites, but Voyageurs National Park is by far the most impressive—to camp here, you actually have to arrive by boat. 

The Southern United States

Sure, the American South is known for its charming cities, but its outdoor escapes are equally superb. Chesapeake Bay explorations and bluff-side campsites around historic Williamsburg are major draws in Virginia, but the state’s true claim to fame is Shenandoah National Park, offering more than 500 miles of hiking trails (including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail), as well as Skyline Drive with over 70 stunning overlooks of waterfalls, wilderness, and forests. Rambling streams, mist-covered mountains, and some of the most diverse plant and animal life in the country abound at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina

Head further south for some true backcountry adventures—tents and hammocks only—in South Carolina’s incredible Congaree National Park, which preserves the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the US. If it's an underwater adventure you’re after, boat down to Biscayne National Park in the northern Florida Keys and get your fill of coral reefs, dive sites, mangrove forests, and wildlife watching.

The Southwest

The Grand Canyon is, without a doubt, the premier natural attraction in the Southwest, but several other natural phenomena make the region worthy of a visit. Big Bend National Park in Texas has very minimal light pollution, making it one of the best places in the country for stargazing, while New Mexico is home to White Sands National Park and its rolling dunes of rare, white gypsum sand that you can hike, tour on horseback, and even sled down. Travel further south through the state to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a must-see labyrinth of more than 100 caves and stalactites. Pitch a tent in the backcountry (no lodging in the park) or set up your RV in the surrounding BLM land.

America's West Coast

West coast, best coast? Boasting wild landscapes and natural wonders at (almost) every turn, some argue the American West is a true camper’s paradise. America’s first national park, Yellowstone covers parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and features more than 300 hypothermal geysers, including Old Faithful. For majestic scenery, try California, where you can find massive sequoia trees, waterfalls, and granite rock formations in Yosemite National Park, or panoramic views of stark desert at Joshua Tree National Park, named for the iconic, twisted, trees for which the park gets its name. One of the most ecologically diverse parks in the Pacific Northwest, Washington state’s Olympic National Park features three distinct ecosystems: glacier-capped mountains, rainforests, and the Pacific Coast. Stay at a campsite near the ocean and you might even catch a glimpse of humpback, sperm, or blue whales. 

Even farther west, visitors flock to Haleakalā National Park on the Hawaiian island of Maui to see spectacular sunrises and sunsets from the summit of the park’s namesake dormant volcano. Equally as magical are the glaciers in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, where you can spend your days exploring misty fjords and your nights sleeping under the stars with puffins and whales nearby.

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