When you hear the word “camping,” it conjures a different experience in the mind of many people that hear it. That being said, it is an agreed upon experience that allows people to spend time in natural settings that run the gamut from parklike to rustic to back-country wilderness. Despite the fact that there are hundreds of stellar natural parks and wilderness settings that provide every type of camping experience, here are a few of the standouts that are great year round while providing the most varied experiences, amenities, and scenic opportunities.
Olympic National Park, Washington
The varied ecosystems of this expansive Pacific Northwest park includes a rainforest, mineral springs several lakes, mountains, a number of waterfalls and more than one beach with ocean views. In addition to fishing, hiking, and biking there are some fantastic historical sites and tours as well. You will find a wide variety of animals from elk and Black Tail Deer to Cougars, Bald Eagles, Bobcats, and even Black Bears. Of course there are plenty of great camping sites throughout the Park as well as several lodges, resorts and cabins.
Gulf Islands National Seashore along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi is the place to camp if you desire white sand beaches and clear blue waters. Many of the islands have primitive camping, but the Fort Pickens Campground on Santa Rosa Island accommodates RVs. Just steps from the seashore, campers enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and boating as well as the historic sites on the inland.
With nearly 5,300 acres of scenic sand dunes, shoreline vista, ponds, marshlands, and forests, Ludington State Park in Ludington, Michigan is just one of the terrific camping locations in the Great Lake State. With beaches on both its Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake shoreline there’s almost no end to the fun on and in the water. Of course, there’s biking and hiking as well. There are three campgrounds at Ludington State Park with a combined 344 modern campsites. All of the campsites have electricity and there are modern shower and bathroom facilities in each campground.
Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, California
With 10,000 acres made up of old growth coastal redwoods, this California state park is bisected by the Smith River, which is the last major free flowing river in California. A cornucopia of wildlife and beautiful settings are the backdrop. Activities include boating, biking, hiking and even horseback riding trails are available. The Jedediah Smith Campground has 89 sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and flush toilets. This is a perfect park for tenting as well as for bringing a small RV.
Fantastic camping experiences in the U.S. are almost limitless with plenty of options to suit every desire. Although it’s best to make reservations and preparations well in advance, anyone with sleep apnea that also loves any type of camping is pretty much set to go if they’re an HDM Auto Z1 user. The bottom line is that no matter what time of year or where you choose to go camping, getting out into the great outdoors is always a breath of fresh air.