One of the best ways to experience the country’s national parks is with your RV. The freedom to move from place to place, combined with the creature comforts afforded by your RV can make it a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors.
There are 63 national parks, but you can’t camp in all of them. And even among those where you can, some are better than others. All of the parks we have listed are places where you can camp within park boundaries. So what are the ten bests national parks for RV camping? Gas up your RV, get your generator ready and make plans to visit one of these great national parks.
Here Are Our 9 Best National Parks for RV Camping
Joshua Tree National Park
Nestled in the southern California desert, Joshua Tree National Park is named after the iconic and unusual trees that populate much of the park. The northern part of the park, located in the Mojave Desert, contains the trees and hills and boulders for enthusiastic rock climbers. The eastern part of the park, in the Colorado Desert, is generally flatter with sand dunes, scrub bushes and cacti. The you can also find the California fan palm, the only species native to California.
The park has several options for RV camping.
Reservations Required
Black Rock Campground
Black Rock Campground has 99 sites available. There are no hookups, but the campground has flush toilets, potable water, trash, and a dump station. There are no showers.
You can make reservations at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232473?tab=campsites. Standard cost is $25 per site per night.
Cottonwood Campground
Cottonwood Campground has 62 sites available. Reservations are required most of the year. There are no hookups, but the campground has flush toilets, potable water, trash and a dump station. There are no showers. You can make reservations at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/272299?tab=fees. Standard cost Is $25 per site per night.
Indian Cove Campground
Indian Cover Campground has 101 sites available. Reservations are required most of the year. There are no hookups, but the campground has vault toilets, potable water and trash. There is no dump station or showers.
You can make reservations at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232472. Standard cost is $25 per site per night.
Jumbo Rocks Campground
Jumbo Rocks Campground has 124 primitive sites available. You’ll need to make reservations most of the year. The campground has vault toilets, but there is no potable water and no dump station.
Maximum RV length is 35 feet. Costs for a standard site are $20 per site per night. You can make reservations at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/272300.
Ryan Campground
Ryan Campground is a smaller campground with 31 primitive sites. The campground has vault toilets, but there is no potable water available and no dump stations.
You’ll need reservations for Ryan Campground. The standard cost is $20 per site per night ($10 with senior or access pass). You can make reservations at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10056207.
First-come first-serve
Belle Campground
This campground has 18 primitive sites that are available on a first-come first-serve basis. It sits at an elevation of about 3,800 feet. There are pit toilets, but no potable water or dump stations. Standard cost is $25 per night ($12.50 for senior or access pass holders).
Hidden Valley Campground
Sitting at about 4,200 feet is Hidden Valley Campground. This campground has 44 primitive sites that are available on a first-come first-serve basis. There are pit toilets, but no potable water or dump stations. Standard cost is $15 per night ($7.50 for senior or access pass holders).
White Tank Campground
White Tank Campground has 15 primitive sites available. RVs cannot exceed a combined length of 25 feet. This campground’s sites are available on a first-come first-serve basis. There are pit toilets, but no potable water or dump stations. Standard cost is $15 per night ($7.50 for senior or access pass holders).
Grand Canyon National Park
What can be said about the Grand Canyon that isn’t already known? Famous around the world. Known to every man, woman and child in the United States. The backdrop for photos, Hollywood movies and countless wedding proposals. The iconic symbol of the American West. The mile-deep canyon, 18 miles wide, was carved by the mighty Colorado River over millions of years. What remains is a monument to nature unlike any other in the world.
There are several options for RV camping, with varying amenities.
South Rim
Mather Campground
Mather Campground is on the south rim. The campground has 327 sites, 55 of which are tent only. Most of the RV spaces are pull-through and there are no hookups. There is, however, drinking water and dump stations. The campground also has ice for sale, a camp store and laundry.
Standard cost is $18 per night. The maximum RV length is 30 feet long. From March 1 through November 30, most of the spots are by reservation. There are ten spots that are first-come, first-serve. You’ll need to reservations as far in advance as possible at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232490.
Desert View Campground
Desert View Campground has 49 sites. There are no hookups and the maximum length of RVs is 30 feet. Spots are by reservation only. You can reserve your spot up to six months in advance. During the summer there is a camp store, ice for sale and flush toilets, but the campground has no dump station.
The cost is $18 per site per night, $9 with a senior or access pass. You can make your reservations at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/258825.
Trailer Village
The only place for a full RV hookup in the park is at Trailer Village, which is operated by a park concessioner. Here you’ll find all the amenities you’d expect at a full-service RV park. There are a total of 123 sites and it’s open year-round. It’s recommended to make reservations up to a year in advance.
The cost for the sites is $61-$71 per site per night, depending on trailer length. There is no senior or access pass discount since the campground is not operated by the National Park Service. You can make reservations here.
North Rim
For a more remote experience, the North Rim Campground is open from May 15 – October 15. The 90 sites are by reservation only. The north rim receives only about 10% of the park’s visitors. So you won’t find the same crowds (or amenities) that you’ll find on the south rim. There are no hookups available. The campground does have drinkable water and a dump station.
The North Rim is about a 4.5 hour drive from the south rim, so if you decide to stay there, you’ll be spending most of your time in this more remote area. You can make reservations at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232489. Standard site are $18 per site per night.
Yosemite National Park
Few places on earth can match the grandeur and scenery of Yosemite National Park in California. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park is home to massive sheer granite cliffs, subalpine forest, clear mountain lakes and amazing waterfalls. Some of the parks better known attractions are as famous and well-known as the park itself: Half Dome, looking like a mountain sliced down the middle; the 3,000 foot sheer granite face of El Capitan; and the 620 foot Bridalveil Fall.
The park is also home to a rich variety of animals, including black bears, foxes and bighorn sheep. Perhaps no other park has as many scenic trails for hiking and backpacking. The park is also one of the premier destinations in the world for rock-climbing.
Yosemite has several campgrounds for RV camping. They can vary widely in amenities. Below is the park service’s summary of the campsites.
You can visit make reservations at recreation.gov.
Kings Canyon National Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are adjacent to each other and usually experienced together. In Sequoia, you’ll find giant sequoia trees that can be in excess of 3,000 years old. They’re some of the largest trees in the world. Topping them off are “The Generals”, referring to the General Sherman and General Grant Trees. They soar to over 275 feet. In Kings Canyon, you’ll find deep canyons and soaring alpine peaks that reach in excess of 14,000 feet. Mt. Whitney, at 14,494 feet is the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. Both parks are great for hiking, whether through the magical forests of Sequoia or the challenging peaks and valleys of Kings Canyon.
There are several options for RV camping in the park. There are no full hook-ups and all spots are $22 per night.
| Name | No. of Sites | Hookup | RV Length | Amenities | Cost | Reservations |
| Sunset | 158 | No | 30’ | Water, Food Storage, Camp Store | $22 | Yes |
| Lodgepole | 214 | No | 40’ | Water, Trash, Dump Station, Flush Toilets | $22 | Yes |
| Azalea | 19 | No | 30’ | Water, Flush Toilets | $22 | Yes |
| Crystal Springs | 50 | No | 25’ | Water, Trash, Food Storage | $22 | Yes |
| Sentinel | 82 | No | N/A | Water, Trash, Food Storage | $22 | Yes |
| Sheep Creek | 111 | No | 30’ | Water, Trash, Food Storage | $22 | Yes |
| Moraine | 121 | No | N/A | Water, Trash, Food Storage | $22 | Yes |
|
Potwisha |
42 |
No |
24’ |
Water, Trash, Food Storage, Dump Station Nearby |
$22 |
Yes |
Go to recreation.gov to make reservations.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Spanning both North Carolina and Tennessee lies America’s most visited national park. In Great Smoky Mountains National Park you’ll find rolling green mountains, lush valleys, diverse wildlife and traces of the area’s Appalachian culture. In addition to the amazing scenic drives, the park is also good for hiking, backpacking, fishing and biking. The park is also home to black bears, elk, coyotes and bobcats among others. And if you go at the right time, the park is one of the premier spots to witness the fall foliage.
There are eight campgrounds where you can camp with your RV. There are no full hook-ups.
| Name | No. of Sites | Hookup | RV Length | Amenities | Cost | Reservations |
| Abrams Creek | 16 | No | N/A | Water, Trash, Food Storage | $17.50 | Yes |
| Balsam Mountain | 42 | No | 40’ | Water, Trash | $17.50 | Yes |
|
Cades Cove |
19 |
No |
40’ |
Water, Trash, Food Storage, Dump Station |
$25 |
Yes |
| Cataloochee | 27 | No | 25’ | Water, Trash, Food Storage | $25 | Yes |
| Cosby | 15 | No | N/A | None | $17.50 | Yes |
| Deep Creek | 111 | No | N/A | Water, Flush Toilets | $25 | Yes |
| Elkmont | 200 | No | N/A | Water, Restrooms | $25-$27 | Yes |
|
Smokemont |
142 |
No |
N/A |
Water, Trash, Toilets, Dump Station |
$25 |
Yes |
You can make reservations at recreation.gov.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park was America’s first national park for a reason. Established in 1872, it was not hard to see how important the park was and how vital it was to preserve this unique area. The foundation of the park is a supervolcano, and the park’s hydrothermal features include, geysers, hot springs, pools of bubbling mud and sulfur gasses. It’s far more than just the world-famous Old Faithful. Located mostly in Wyoming, the park also has an amazing array of wildlife. They include grizzly and black bears, bison, elk, bighorn sheep and grey wolves, among others.
Yellowstone has 12 campgrounds with over 2,000 spots. Some can be reserved at recreation.gov while others can be at Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Here is a chart of the campgrounds.
These campgrounds can be reserved at Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
These campgrounds can be reserved at Recreation.gov.
Everglades National Park
Water is at the heart of Everglades National Park. Located in the southernmost part of Florida, it is a vast and diverse area. More than just swampy grasslands, the park is the home to marshes, forests and rivers that house hundreds of species of animals. The park is home to more than a dozen species of frogs and toads, fish, deer, squirrels, iguanas, snakes and alligators. The unique nature of the park led to it being named a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
There are two options for RV camping in the park
Flamingo Campground
Flamingo Campground is a full-service campground operated by Flamingo Adventures. There are 65 RV sites. You’ll find 41 sites with electrical hookups. There is potable water available, trash, flush toilets and a dump station. Not all RV sites have electrical hookups.
The cost for RV electrical hookups is $45 per night during the week and $55 Friday through Sunday. There is a 10% discount for senior and access pass holders. Reservations are highly recommended. You can make them at https://flamingoeverglades.com/camping/.
Long Pine Key Campground
Long Pine Key is open from November through May. There are 108 campsites, but there are no electric hookups. There are flush toilets, showers, potable water, and dump stations.
The maximum RV length is 35 feet. Costs are $30 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday. You can make reservations at https://flamingoeverglades.com/camping/.
Redwood National Park
Soaring more than 300 feet in the air, the Redwood tree is the largest in the world. It’s also the namesake and highlight of California’s Redwood National Park. The park is intertwined with the state parks, so you’ll visit both. The parks are unlike any other in the system. The enormous trees are generally between 800 and 1,500 years old, although they have been know to reach 2,000 years. There are numerous trails for hiking and backpacking that will give you an up-close look at these wonders.
The parks are along the Pacific coast, a few hours north of San Francisco. While there is no camping in the national park, you’ll find several options in the state parks and surrounding areas. You’ll find black bears, elk and beaver in the park as well.
There are four developed campgrounds where you can camp in your RV. None of the campground have hookups. The campgrounds are administered by California State Parks. Standard fee is $35 per night. You can visit the state parks website to book these in advance.
Jedediah Smith
This campground has 86 campsites without hook-ups. The campground has hot showers, toilets, and a dump station. There is a 25-foot limit on RV length.
Mill Creek
Here you’ll find 145 campsites, without hook-ups. There are showers, trash and a dump station. There is a 28-foot limit on RV length.
Elk Prairie
Elk Prairie has 75 sites without hook-ups. It has hot showers, restrooms and trash receptacles. The RV length limit is 27 feet.
Gold Bluffs Beach
There are 26 campsites at Gold Bluffs Beach. There are restrooms and solar showers. This site is more rustic than many others. The limit for your RV is 24 feet.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park offers almost unlimited recreation in a scenic land dominated by jagged mountain peaks, clear mountain lakes and sub-alpine forests. The Teton Mountains rise almost 14,000 feet and Teton Park Road gives you the opportunity to take in the beauty of the park. And whether you’re looking to hike, backpack, rock climb, bike, boat, raft, fish or horseback ride, the park has plenty of ways to enjoy it. You may also see some of the park’s inhabitants, such as bears (both black and grizzly) and moose.
Established as a national park in 1929, the park lies just outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It’s one of the most popular national parks, so crowds can be an issue during the summer. During the spring and fall you’ll find smaller crowds and still plenty of things to do at lower elevations. If you want to go in the high season, you may need to plan your lodging a year in advance. The park is also near Yellowstone National Park, so you can see both in one trip. As with Grant Teton, however, you’ll need to plan far in advance due to crowds.
Grand Teton has several campgrounds throughout the park. Here is a table of the available places to camp in your RV.
You can reserve your spots at Recreation.gov.
