The 10 Best Campgrounds With Views
Outside of disconnecting from our phones and breathing a little deeper, the greatest thing about the outdoors is the scenery. Whether you’re taking in a summer sunset in the Southwest or the fall colors in New England, there’s always a place in nature that will take your breath away. If you want to plan your trip around the best campgrounds with views, these are the 10 you’ll want to pick from!
1. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort: Luray – Luray, VA
Nearby Scenery: Tunnel Park Overlook, Pinnacles Overlook
Nearby Attractions: Luray Caverns, Car and Carriage Caravan Museum, Shenandoah National Park
Nearby Airports: Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Unique Amenity: Zip Line
If you want views but you don’t want to be too far from it all, this Jellystone location is a perfect balance. With all the amenities you’d expect from a Jellystone, you’ll sleep comfortably and have plenty to do in between scenic hikes and drives. While this 2022 Campspot Award winner (fourth for Top Campgrounds with Views) has 73 picturesque acres of its own, the real jewel is its proximity to Shenandoah National Park.
Book this Entrance to the Shenandoah Valley
2. Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains – Granby, CO
Nearby Scenery: Granby Ranch Gazebo, Rainbow Bay Scenic Stop
Nearby Attractions: Moffat Road Railroad Museum, Rocky Mountain National Park, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Nearby Airports: Denver International Airport, Colorado Springs Airport
Unique Amenity: Outdoor Theater
If you’re looking for campgrounds with mountain views, look no further. The Rocky Mountains are easily one of the most majestic features of the entire United States, and they’ll be on full display for you here. With proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park, some of Colorado’s best hiking, fishing, and camping is at your fingertips. This newest addition to Sun Outdoors took home a pair of 2022 Campspot Awards, taking second in Top Campgrounds with Views and fourth in Top Campgrounds for First-Timers.
Book this Rocky Mountain Retreat
3. Launch Pointe – Lake Elsinore, CA
Nearby Scenery: Lake Elsinore Vista Point, Dos Lagos Lakeside
Nearby Attractions: Apple Boulders, Castle Park, Disneyland
Nearby Airports: Ontario International Airport, John Wayne Airport
Unique Amenity: Waterpark
Maybe campgrounds with mountain views aren’t what you’re looking for. If you’re team beach in the “beach vs. mountains” debate, you’ll be right at home here on the water. Relax among the palm trees and enjoy a desert sunset in this quintessentially Southern California getaway. If you’re not traveling with your own RV, no worries! Launch Point has some really unique vintage trailers and fully-furnished yurts you can stay in. If you do have your own rig, make sure to reserve the buddy sites if you’re traveling with a group.
Book this Southern California Stay
4. Black Beach Campground – Silver Bay, MN
Nearby Scenery: Silver Bay Marina Scenic Overlook, Fantasia Overlook
Nearby Attractions: High Falls, Palisade Head, Split Rock Lighthouse
Nearby Airports: Duluth International Airport, Range Regional Airport
Unique Amenity: Waterfront
Black Beach offers simplistic beauty. Sit lakeside in this Minnesota campground in the summer or enjoy the changing leaves in the fall. Whichever season you pick, there will be plenty of outdoor adventures to choose from. With local hiking, biking, and ATV trails, your only problem will be choosing which to do first! Being centrally located to four state parks, you’ll want to take in all the best hikes the region has to offer.
Book this Beachfront Campground
5. Yellowstone Hot Springs – Gardiner, MT
Nearby Scenery: Devils Thumb, Canary Spring
Nearby Attractions: Yellowstone National Park, Montana Whitewater Rafting & Yellowstone Zipline Tours, Fort Yellowstone
Nearby Airports: Yellowstone Airport, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
Unique Amenity: Pavilion
You didn’t think we would put together a list of campgrounds with views and leave this one out, did you? Taking home first place in Top Campgrounds with Views at the 2022 Campspot award, Yellowstone Hot Springs stands alone as the premier place to be when you want a campground with a view. With arguably the best-known national park of them all in your backyard, you’ll constantly be in awe of the world around you when you visit. They don’t call this area Paradise Valley for nothing!
Book Montana’s Newest Hot Springs Experience
6. Rodanthe Watersports and Campground – Rodanthe, NC
Nearby Scenery: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Bodie Island Lighthouse
Nearby Attractions: Elizabeth Gardens, Rodanthe Pier Place, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
Nearby Airports: Norfolk International Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Unique Amenity: Canoeing/Kayaking
Rodanthe Campground offers equal parts idyllic waterfront getaway and watersports paradise on the Pamlico Sound. Whether you want to watch the waves go by or head out onto the water yourself, Rodanthe has you covered. If you’re camping with your tent or RV, make sure to get a waterfront site for the best views possible. If you’re looking for something a little more comfortable, rent the cabin that Rodanthe offers.
7. Roadrunner Travelers Campground – Terlingua, TX
Nearby Scenery: Santa Elena Canyon Overlook, Fresno Overlook, Mule Ears Viewpoint
Nearby Attractions: Big Bend National Park, Sam Nail Ranch, Big Bend Ranch Stae Park
Nearby Airports: Midland International Air and Space Port, El Paso International Airport
Unique Amenity: Dog Park
Few places capture the rustic beauty of the desert like West Texas. With proximity to Big Bend National Park, this is one of the best places you could stay if you want to experience iconic desert sunsets. The views don’t stop there, though! Terlingua is a Dark Skies Region, so you’ll have uninhibited views of the night sky, perfect for stargazing and nighttime photography.
8. Angel Fire RV Resort – Angel Fire, NM
Nearby Scenery: Palisades Sill Historic Marker, Eagle Nest Lake State Park
Nearby Attractions: Downtown Taos Historic District, Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, Kit Carson Park
Nearby Airports: Albuquerque International Airport, Colorado Springs Airport
Unique Amenity: Mini-Golf
Besides having a super cool name, Angel Fire also offers the finest in luxurious RV resort experiences. Taking home top honors at the 2022 Campspot award for Top Campgrounds in the USA, this resort is sure to have everything you could want. In one of the most beautiful sections of the Four Corners, you’re sure to enjoy the natural beauty of northern New Mexico, surrounded by wilderness and national forests. There are specific sites that correspond to the views you’ll get, so choose wisely!
Book the Top Campground in the USA
9. George Base Camp – White Salmon, WA
Nearby Scenery: Columbia River Gorge Viewpoint, Rowena Crest Viewpoint
Nearby Attractions: Mount Hood Railroad, Port Marina Park, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum
Nearby Airports: Portland International Airport, Eugene Airport
Unique Amenity: Playground
The Columbia River Gorge is home to everything you could want for an outdoor adventure. With a beautiful waterfront view lined with the iconic trees of the Pacific Northwest, the hours will pass by like minutes. Everywhere is scenic in this part of the country, even the charming local cities you can stop into. When you’re finished with a long day of hiking, head into town and check out the local restaurants and wineries!
Book this Pacific Northwest Paradise
10. Portal RV Resort and Campground – Moab, UT
Nearby Scenery: La Sal Mountains Viewpoint, The Great Wall
Nearby Attractions: Hole ‘N’ the Rock, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park
Nearby Airports: Grand Junction Regional Airport, Provo Airport
Unique Amenity: Playground
Not satisfied to just sit back and watch the scenery? Well, adventurers who have to go see what’s out there have been flocking to Moab for years now. With the raw beauty of the Utah desert all around you, this is the retreat all desert lovers need. With proximity to two of Utah’s most popular national parks, you’ll never be short on outdoor activities. If you love to off-road, four-wheeling is the best way to see some of the more unique sights that Moab has to offer. When you get back to your base camp, this luxury resort will have all your needs covered so you can rest before doing it all again the next morning!
If you want to be blown away by natural beauty, these are the absolute best campgrounds with views. There are no wrong choices on this list! Whether you’re looking for deserts, mountains, lakefronts, or just a unique getaway, these spots promise a visit you’ll never forget!
Joe Coleman is a freelance travel and outdoor writer based in East Texas. His love for the outdoors started when living near Olympic National Park and has stayed with him ever since. Taking a respite from social media, you can reach him exclusively at joecolemanfreelance@gmail.com.
Image credit in order of appearance: Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort: Luray, Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains, Launch Pointe, Black Beach Campground, Yellowstone Hot Springs, Rodanthe Watersports and Campground, Roadrunner Travelers Campground, Angel Fire RV Resort, George Base Camp, Portal RV Resort and Campground