With thousands of campgrounds across the U.S., you’re never far from a place to spend the night. But when it comes to traveling with kids, there are extra considerations: distance to bathrooms, availability of clean water, ample space to run around, swimming pools, playgrounds, and more. Based on the factors that matter most to families, these are some of the top family campgrounds across the U.S.
1. Splashway Waterpark & Campground
Sheridan, Texas
Located between Houston and San Antonio, Splashway Waterpark & Campground features waterslides and attractions for all ages, plus accommodations spanning cottages and RV sites to multi-bedroom cabins. When you’re not at the water park, try laser tag or putt-putt. Campground amenities include firepits, picnic tables, shower and restroom facilities, electric and sewage hookups, laundry machines, a camp store, a dog park, and golf cart rentals. The resort also offers scheduled activities and events that include live music on select days.
2. The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Camping becomes a little more magical at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. The campsites can accommodate everything from tents to 45-foot RVs and are outfitted with privacy-enhancing landscaping; water, cable TV, and electrical hook-ups; and a picnic table and charcoal grill. Many sites also include a sewer hook-up, and some allow pets. There are two pools, including one with a waterslide and water play area, plus activities like horseback riding, archery, and canoeing. If you don’t want to rough it, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort lean into an outdoorsy vibe but have many of the comforts of home.
3. Islander Resort
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Located on the shores of Lake Havasu, Islander Resort is a great choice for families who love to spend their days in or on the water. You can fish (with a license) and launch your boat from the docks, and there are several places nearby that rent paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and jet skis. The campground boasts more than a mile and a half of sandy beach for swimming, or you can take a dip in the resort-style pool.
Classic outdoor campground activities like pickleball, horseshoes, bocce, and shuffleboard are also favorite pastimes at Islander Resort. Its RV sites are large gravel lots with a concrete picnic table area and include views of the lake or the mountains. If you aren’t RV camping, you can rent one of the campground’s fully stocked cabins that come with everything you’ll need (except food) for a family camping vacation. Bonus: This resort also offers on-site dining at the Boathouse Grill.
4. Winding River Resort
Grand Lake, Colorado
One of the best family campgrounds and lodging resorts located on the Colorado River, Winding River Resort borders both Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapaho National Forest. Formerly a logging camp dating back to the late 1800s, the campground resort is an ideal setting for camping, hiking, and trail riding with your kids.
Winding River Resort offers cabins, spacious RV and tent sites, guest horse camp sites with corrals, and a unique Covered Wagon lodging experience. Activities include horseback riding, hayrides, fishing, hiking, and ATV rentals. There are also Chuck Wagon Breakfasts during the summer, plus disc golf, pickleball, a sports field, playground, and Cowboy Church. Nearby Grand Lake, Lake Granby, and Shadow Mountain Lake National Recreation Area all provide boating, fishing, and water sports opportunities.
5. Tall Pines Campground and River Adventures
Bainbridge, New York
At Tall Pines Campground, the spacious RV sites include all the amenities necessary for modern camping comforts. When it’s time to leave the campsite, you can canoe, kayak, tube, and fish in the Unadilla and Susquehanna Rivers, or just hop in for a swim. On Fridays, Chippy’s Hippie Pizza Delivery will deliver your dinner in a pink 1969 VW Bug. And kids will love listening for the bell from Chippy’s Ice Cream Cart.
At nearby Frog Pond Farms, you can see farm animals, shop for local produce, and wander in the greenhouse. There are many places to see just a short drive away, too, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad, and the Kopernik Observatory & Science Center.
6. Splash RV Resort
Milton, Florida
With paved RV sites, cottages, and Conestoga Wagons for families who want to glamp, Splash RV Resort is located near Navarre Beach in Milton, Florida. At more than 60 acres, this is one of those big family campgrounds with so much to do that you may never want to leave.
Put on your bathing suit and head to the on-site water park to float down the lazy river, splash down the dual waterslides, swim in one of the resort pools, or get drenched by the Splash Bucket. There’s also a pickleball complex, playground, arcade, and new mini golf course. If you don’t feel like cooking, you can enjoy food and drinks at the on-site tiki bar and food trucks.
While there’s plenty to do at the campground, Milton is only about six hours by car or RV from Orlando, so you could include the Splash RV Resort on a multi-day Florida family road trip that incorporates the best Orlando theme parks and Florida water parks.
7. Austin Lake RV Park & Cabins
Toronto, Ohio
Family-owned and -operated Austin Lake RV Park & Cabins is situated on a huge manmade lake with plenty of open space for hiking, biking, and relaxing. Water sports and swimming are a favorite activity at the resort’s 80-acre lake, sandy beach, and inflatable obstacle course. Paddle boats, paddleboards, kayaks, and bumper boats are also readily available. Stocked spring-fed ponds are great for fishing, and a kid-friendly creek flows through the park offering hours of fun.
Hiking trails, bird watching, a large picnic area with shelters, playgrounds, pedal karts, outdoor games, and planned weekly events round out the activities offered at this family campground.
8. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina
Newport Beach, California
An iconic family recreation destination in California’s Orange County, Newport Dunes is home to the area’s premier RV resort, Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina. This California family campground resort offers roomy RV accommodations, charming cottages, a 450-slip marina, boat launch ramp, bike and watercraft rentals, a waveless beach, and four pools.
Your RV site can be right by the water surrounded by palm trees and nestled up to a sandy beach. Watch the kids splash at the pools, beach, or summertime inflatable water park, or bring a blanket and watch a movie on the beach. In addition to typical beach activities, this campground is only 30 minutes from Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm theme parks.
9. Pineland Camping Park
Arkdale, Wisconsin
About two hours north of Madison, Pineland Camping Park is home to a Kids Clubhouse with a mini golf course, jumping pillow, arcade, and other activities. But that’s not the only thing that makes it one of the country’s best campgrounds. Pineland offers an array of amenities for a unique camping experience, including playgrounds with gaga ball pits, a heated pool, and gem mining.
Most of the campsites are very wooded, so you’ll have some privacy, and the campground offers tent camping, rental RVs, and cabins. Pineland Camping Park also boasts organized family activities, themed weekends, and live music every Saturday night. If you don’t want to cook, you can visit the Pineland Grille for a hand-tossed pizza, fish fry, and more.
10. Beaver Lake Campground
Custer, South Dakota
Located roughly 50 minutes from Rapid City, Beaver Lake Campground has a pool and inflatable waterslide that will keep kids busy all day long. Its RV sites are grassy, very large, and can be sunny or located under the pine trees, and you’ll have plenty of space for your camp chairs while you relax around the firepit. Tent campers will find ample tent sites, and those looking for more amenities will enjoy the deluxe or basic cabins.
This is a great family campground to use as a base for visiting Mount Rushmore (22 minutes away), Custer State Park (29 minutes), Crazy Horse Memorial (10 minutes), and Jewel Cave National Monument (nine minutes).
11. Jellystone Park Mammoth Cave
Cave City, Kentucky
Just a few miles from Mammoth Cave National Park, Jellystone Park Mammoth Cave is one of the country’s best campgrounds for relaxation and fun with friends and family. Whether you want tent sites, RV sites, or to try out the camping lifestyle in one of the park’s cabins, the campground makes a great home base for activities like exploring Mammoth Cave, kayaking in the Green or Nolin Rivers, and soaring with nearby ziplines and canopy tours.
This Jellystone Park, one of more than 75 Jellystone campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada, has many planned activities (check the park’s calendar to find out what’s going on when you want to visit) as well as giant jumping pillows, a splash pad area, a sandy beach with an inflatable obstacle course, mini golf, and fishing ponds. When it’s time to relax, grab your towel and head to one of the swimming pools, or just hang out at your campsite with friends and family. Who knows, maybe Yogi and Cindy Bear will stop by for a visit?
12. Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA Holiday
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
The Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA Holiday is one of central Pennsylvania’s best family campgrounds. The RV sites are gravel, and many have a patio with a firepit, Adirondack chairs, charcoal grill, and a glider for relaxing. (Premium patios have a gazebo for protected outdoor dining.)
This campground is close enough to spend some time at Hersheypark or visit Amish Country. History buffs can go to Gettysburg, make a day trip to the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, or see the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Families love to visit Hershey’s Chocolatetown at Hersheypark and pick up supplies for s’mores around the campfire. Be sure to check out the streetlights when you do—they look just like Hershey’s Kisses.
This is one of those classic family campgrounds where you can relax and watch the kids swim, play mini-golf, catch fish in the stocked pond, and make other memories you’ll treasure long after your vacation has ended.
Editor’s note: For more family camping ideas near you, explore campgrounds at Go RVing, Recreation.gov, Hipcamp, and KOA.
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