There is something refreshing and peaceful about camping. Perhaps it comes from the way our country was founded by individuals trekking across miles of unexplored wilderness.
Of course, with today’s RV parks and campsites, this experience is even better, as there is no need to pitch a tent and rough it any longer. Instead, we can enjoy some fabulous RV parks and/or campgrounds.
Many of the following RV parks and campgrounds cater to families, with plenty of activities and amenities that will offer a unique vacation that combines a sense of adventure and some relaxation with getting back to basics.
Any of the noteworthy sites that are listed below is a campground or RV park that has unique features that make it worthy of a family adventure:
1. Jellystone Park: Larkspur, Colorado
What better way to excite kids than staying at a Yogi Bear-themed campground— wait, do kids today know the Yogi Bear character? Well, even if they don’t, Jellystone Park, situated between Colorado Springs and Denver, offers way more options than a site for pitching a tent.
You can opt for a yurt, safari tent, or teepees or upgrade to a cottage, complete with a bathroom en suite (now that’s my kind of camping!).
Pike National Forest is located nearby, which you can visit when staying at the park, or if you would rather, there are geocaching opportunities, an archery class, or a fossil dig on site. (If you haven’t heard of geocaching before, check it out here.)
There are a variety of planned activities and events for camp visitors throughout the year, so check and see what’s on the schedule when you are planning your visit.
Also, don’t forget to snap a few pictures with the local superstars Yogi Bear and Boo Boo. If you would rather travel within your RV, you will appreciate the full RV hookups provided on the 100-acre spot.
The Jellystone Park camp has much more to offer families as well, with Yogi Bear’s WaterZone, open seasonally, as well as Mini Bowling, Arcade Alley, and more. This provides a welcome combination of adventure plus relaxation opportunities for the family that enjoys the outdoor life.
2. Green River Oaks RV Park & Campground: Amboy, Illinois
Green River Oaks Park is considered one of the best family RV resorts in the country. There are various themes that change throughout the summer, meaning that each time your family stays, your experience will be slightly different and always be new and exciting.
You can choose to participate in all the themed activities, simply relax and unwind, or opt for a bit of both options.
The property features guest-favorite amenities like two heated swimming pools. Of course, traditional activities like fishing on Lake St. George and the Green River is also an option, as is bike riding (free rental) and kayaking, which you can rent on-site.
Seasonally, there are additional activities like a camp-wide hayride, and there are nearby golf courses as well as kid-favorite playgrounds right on site.
Green River is a family-owned and operated resort site that offers site rentals for campers or tents. If you don’t own your own RV, you can rent one of their cabins or travel trailers when visiting.
Visits can be scheduled for a weekend, a week, several weeks, or a whole season. Camping groups of all sizes are welcome, making this an ideal destination for a larger family or an extended family vacationing together.
It’s worth noting that there is free WiFi in the General Store and the Great Room on site. There are also basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and tennis courts.
There are so many amenities that it’s impossible to list them all, but suffice it to say that this park is designed for those who want to come, relax, and not have to worry about packing a huge amount of clothing or equipment, as laundry facilities and rentals or “borrowing” of equipment is all part of the experience.
3. Islander Resort: Lake Havasu City, Arizona
The Islander Resort is particularly perfect if your family loves to spend time on the water, as it is located on the shores of Lake Havasu.
You can fish and launch a boat right from the docks, and there are several options for rentals when it comes to trying out jet skis, canoes, kayaks, or even paddle boards.
In addition to its advantageous location, this campground also features over a mile and a half of sandy beaches, perfect for swimming. Of course, if you don’t like the idea of swimming in the lake, you can instead enjoy the on-site resort-style pool available for guests.
Campground activities at Islander Resort are pretty standard and include horseshoes, pickleball, bocce ball, shuffleboard, and more. The resort also has a hot tub, private boat launches, and even a convenience store, just in case you forget something you will need.
All RV sites are large and paved and include spectacular views of the mountains or the lake. If you don’t have an RV, you can rent a fully stocked cabin to enjoy the experience of camping without one. Keep in mind this includes everything your family needs to camp, except the food.
The Islander Resort offers full RV hookups but also has vacation rentals and park models as well. The award-winning Boat House Grill is the perfect on-site dining option for when cooking out or camp food just isn’t what you want.
The Island, as it’s known locally, is situated across from the world-famous London Bridge and is a family-friendly resort designed with fun and relaxation in mind all throughout the year.
4. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort: Orlando, Florida
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is nestled within 750 acres of cypress and pine forest. Of course, as you would expect with anything boasting the Disney brand, this is a unique resort and campground that families with kids will love!
There are four types of accommodations to enjoy at this Disney resort, each offering a bit of respite from the hustle, bustle and let’s just be honest, stress of the Disney Parks. These accommodation options range from rooms and cabins to RV campsites and more.
There are many activities that you can enjoy when staying at Fort Wilderness. One good way to put it is you can enjoy horseback riding and a meet and greet with the famous mouse himself, all in one day! Where else but a Disney camping resort would this be possible?
Other amenities include a pool with a water slide, bike and golf cart rentals, nature trails to enjoy to escape it all, archery, horseback riding, fishing, a beach, canoeing, and more.
It’s also worth noting that this is the best way to bring your four-legged family members along as there are some pet-friendly sites available, so if the idea of leaving your dog at a kennel simply won’t do, this might be a way to work around this.
As with everything the Disney brand sets out to do, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is well-designed, and is created to pay homage to the American frontier while still offering a variety of amenities and conveniences that make life easier for us today.
5. West Glacier KOA: West Glacier, Montana
Situated mere miles from the Glacier National Park on Lake McDonald, West Glacier KOA is considered one of the premier RV and cabin campgrounds in the United States.
This glamping experience provides a host of family adventures, and it comes complete with some of the most pristine views imaginable. Just as an aside, learn the meaning of glamping here.
The KOA after the West Glacier name indicates a level of quality that is only awarded to some 500 locations across the nation. This acronym KOA stands for Kampgrounds of America, and it is a franchise of privately owned campgrounds throughout Canada and the United States.
West Glacier offers access to nearly 700 miles of trails, meaning you and your family can explore wildlife, glaciers, lakes, peaks, and more to your heart’s content.
If your kids are too little to complete this much hiking/walking, you can ride the Red Bus for a unique tour through the park, and make sure to add a drive crossing the Continental Divide along the Going-to-the-Sun road (closed seasonally).
Of course, if a bus ride doesn’t fit the bill, you can also opt for a horseback ride as well, if your kids are up to this challenge.
Once you have experienced all you want of mother nature, then you can visit nearby towns for many other kinds of adventures. Visit art galleries, eat at delicious restaurants, and enjoy all that Bigfork has to offer.
West Glacier offers a variety of camping accommodations, including full RV hookups with pull-through and back-in campsites. There are also other camping cabins that provide basic needs like a bed and microwave, while the KOA deluxe models feature bathrooms, patios, and partial or full kitchens.
On-site amenities for all guests include laundry facilities, a hot tub (adults only), and an on-site espresso bar.
6. Frontier Town by Sun Outdoors: West Ocean City, Maryland
Stay at Frontier Town to enjoy an on-site Western experience, including Native-American and Wild-West-inspired towns, Wild West Shows, a Water Park, a cowboy store, photo ops, and much, much, more.
There is even an on-site water park, as well as themed events like Family Fun Week and Pirate Weekend.
Frontier Town has celebrated more than 60 years of glamping and coastal camping and is considered an ultimate family adventure. Pets are allowed at this resort, as are all ages of children, meaning the entire family can enjoy this experience together.
Billed as a place to have new family fun in an Old West Setting, this unique campground features full RV hookups, RV rentals, tent sites, cottages, cabins, and even Conestoga wagon rentals.
There are also three on-site restaurants to enjoy, including the Laze River Saloon Restaurant & Bar, the Pony Espresso & Creamery, and the Sweet Shop in the Western Experience, and there is also a Poolside Bar & Grill at the Water Park.
At the Frontier Town Wild West Western Experience, you and your family can ride ponies, take a trip on a stagecoach, pan for gold, and more. Be prepared for adventure, as there may be a gunfight, bank hold-ups, or jailbreaks, along with some authentic Native American dancing.
The Western town is based on an 1880s replica and is designed to be as real as possible. Here you can visit the saloons and restaurants, and don’t miss the Texas Trick Riders!
There are also nature trails, a ropes course, an arcade, miniature golf, a pool, fondly named the Cement Pond, and more family-friendly amenities to enjoy on-site.
7. Seaside KOA Resort: Astoria, Warrenton, Oregon
The Seaside KOA holds the distinction of being the second KOA quantified resort. Here, according to those who have visited, there is an abundance of activities offered that set it above the standard RV park.
For example, beachcombing, clam digging, or whale watching are all possible due to the proximity of the Seaside location to the Pacific Ocean.
RV sites, lodging in cabins, and tent sites are all ways you can stay at Seaside KOA. Campground amenities are plentiful and include mini golf, hot tub/sauna, pool, Wi-Fi, cable TV, and much, much more.
There are also staff-led activities that allow you to simply kick back and let someone else do the planning. I love this option personally, as trying to keep kids entertained for hours on end can get impossible after a while.
In addition to the standard recreational options, Seaside KOA offers a bit more. They have an outdoor basketball court that is open, rain or shine, as well as an indoor basketball court to enjoy when there are no other scheduled activities in the building.
Kids will also love the game room, giant chess and checker set, and bounce pillow where they can bounce for hours and hours (all while burning off energy).
The Seaside KOA is located on Oregon’s North Coast; as such, guests will discover the lure of not only the Pacific Ocean, as mentioned above, but the Columbia River.
You can spend your day doing any of the activities already outlined or enjoy day biking, kite flying, or exploring Fort Stevens State Park, located right across the street.
8. Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
As the newest accommodation set along the natural lazy river in Pigeon Forge, TN, The Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort offers premium and executive pull-through spaces, as well as waterfront spaces in the back.
You are mere minutes away from an abundance of attractions in the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville areas, made famous by being the birthplace of the beloved Dolly Parton.
Situated along 37 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains, each RV hookup at this resort includes concrete pads, grills, picnic tables, fire rings, and kid-friendly amenities. In addition, this brand-new resort has its own pool, and guests can also tube down Little Pigeon River when staying on site.
Other amenities of the Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort, which is open year-round, include golf cart rentals, a playground, a gym, fishing spots, a river walk, a dog park, a hot tub, a picnic pavilion, and more.
While the amenities are notable, being so close to so many attractions in nearby Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and even Sevierville adds a great deal to this particular park’s appeal.
At this RV resort, there are obviously RV sites to rent with hookups, but there are also RV rental options, as well as tent sites available.
The most notable area attraction kids will love when visiting this location is Dollywood, a family-friendly amusement park with a down-home reputation and commitment to excellence, bested only perhaps by Disney.
There are also mini golf courses, go-kart tracks, The Island with a huge Ferris Wheel called The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, hundreds of restaurants, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, a dinner show, along with many, many other options.
Gatlinburg also is home to Ripley’s Aquarium of The Smokies, which is a pretty cool aquarium featuring a walk-through tank tunnel, penguins, glass bottom boat rides, turtle times, and stingray petting opportunities.
9. Blue Bell Campground: Custer, South Dakota
Classic chuckwagon cookouts, old-fashioned hayrides, and more await you when you book a visit to Blue Bell Campground within Custer State Park in South Dakota.
This RV/campground site features 31 campsites with RV and tent capacities. There are also 23 cabins to rent in this campground that pays homage to the ranch way of life.
While there are many activities you can enjoy when staying at Blue Bell Campground, such as horseback riding and fishing, there are other adventures you can enjoy at nearby State Game Lodge Resort, including the thrilling Buffalo Safari Jeep Rides.
Go on one of these tours, named in the top 10 of US Safaris, to experience the park via the instruction of the expert guide who knows where to spot elk, buffalo, and other wildlife during your tour.
In addition to the horseback riding, fishing, and hiking you can enjoy when staying within the beautiful Custer State Park, you can also enjoy a guided Scenic Byway Tour in an open-top Jeep Rubicon. On the tour, you and your family will experience the majesty and adventure of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. This smooth road-only tour has a duration of between 2 ½ and 3 hours.
10. Lake Rudolph: Santa Claus, Indiana
This Sun Outdoors park is a magical place to make memories your kids will never forget. Nearly every section or road within Lake Rudolph Campground and RV Resort is Christmas-themed.
Enjoy amenities like Santa’s SplashDown Water Park, open seasonally, along with movie nights, mini-golf, and playgrounds, and even experience a visit from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer himself.
While you could stay on-site for sure during your stay, there are free parking trams and shuttles taking you as their guest to nearby Holiday World Theme Park and Splashin’ Safari for even more family fun.
Although the RV Park overall is most often considered a warm weather destination, there are Christmas cabins available within the month of December for Santa Claus Land of Lights.
The December Christmas stay features a cabin package that includes hot cocoa, a private visit with Santa, holiday surprises, two vehicle passes to see the lights, and the enchanting warmth of a fireplace.
This campground offers 200 cottages and cozy cabins, as well as tent sites and RV sites with electricity and water, which are available seasonally.
During the other times of the year, or the regular season when the water sports and amusement park visits are more applicable, Lake Rudolph offers campground guests several amenities, including a dark park, golf cart rentals, gem mining, cabana rentals, character visits (even at the pool), the on-site pool cleverly named the Blitzen Bay Swimming Pool, a camp store and also offers take-out dining from Blitzen Kitchen.
11. Herkimer Diamond KOA: Herkimer, New York
Situated in New York’s Mohawk Valley Region, Herkimer Diamond is another KOA worthy of attention. This upstate New York destination is ideal for all sorts of adventurers as it boasts regular cabins and tent sites. However, it also offers a bit more when renting the astronomy lodges.
As part of the astronomy experience, cabin guests will be able to enjoy a telescope and their own observatory right within the cabin.
Other themed cabins include the Solar Lodge, which is an off-the-grid experience for those of us who want to see if we could truly unplug from the world.
Caesar’s Place is Herkimer’s pet-friendly cabin, so it’s perfect if your furry family member is coming along on the trip.
Nearby, you can enjoy a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (about an hour away).
Of course, above all, perhaps the most notable feature of Herkimer as a destination is the Herkimer Diamond Mines where your family can prospect for diamonds (really quartz crystals but who cares?).
In addition to the many amenities, types of cabins, nearby attractions, and more, Herkimer also features a variety of RV hook-up sites with pull-in, back-in, and pull-through options. All campsite guests, no matter where they stay, have exclusive access to the campground’s fun activities and superb amenities.
The Prospector’s Pavillion on site is the location of daily activities like arts and crafts, BINGO, and more. Other fun activities on-site you can enjoy include basketball, volleyball, gaga ball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, giant chess, football, and much much more.
You can also take a nature walk on the brand-new hiking trails or float down West Canada Creek on a tube.
12. Sea and Sand RV Park, Highway 101, Oregon Coast
This unique RV park destination is open year-round, but the type of experience you will enjoy will obviously depend on when you decide to visit.
The Sea and Sand RV Park offers beach and ocean view RV sites while also featuring cozy forested campground sites, all with miles of beach access.
The summers offer guests easy access to the beach, fishing, charter boat rides, nearby golf courses, and more, but during the winter, guests can make wonderful memories as well.
Depoe Bay offers amazing sightings of migrating gray whales almost daily. Nearby Lincoln City and Newport feature factory outlets, casinos, lighthouses, aquariums, restaurants, and more.
Sea and Sand RV Park has over 109 available RV sites, each with full hookups, cable TV, and WiFi.
One of the neatest aspects of staying at Sand and Sea Park, in my opinion, is the Finder’s Keepers activity put on by the park. This takes place every single day of the year, so it’s always in season, but of course, it is weather permitting.
This activity involves Float Fairies placing colorful hand-blown glass flats around the 7 1/2 miles of beach for lucky treasure hunters to find. They are only placed during daylight hours and above the high tide line.
I can only imagine the joy on my kid’s faces as they set out daily (when weather appropriate) to try to find the glass float. Once one is found, the family is supposed to either register it online or bring it to the Visitors Center, and they will be given a certificate of authenticity and learn a bit about the artist. How cool is that!
13. Lakedale Resort: San Juan Island, Washington
Located on the picturesque island of San Juan in Washington is the 82-acre Lakedale Resort. While this location does offer standard camping options like RV sites and tent camping, my reason for adding it to this list has to be the out-of-the-box camping options.
There are log cabins, glamping cabins, a lake house, and cottages to rent, along with yurts and even a vintage Airstream RV to rent on-site.
The standard or classic campsites all feature picnic tables and fire pits, while the lodge itself has deluxe rooms with amenities like whirlpool tubs. As this resort is surrounded by three lakes, there are plenty of water activities to enjoy, such as paddleboarding, canoeing, fishing, and more. The resort also features organized activities to keep the kids entertained.
Another noteworthy feature of this unique destination is that you can take a car ferry when you drive to the area or take a thrilling floatplane to Friday Harbor. At any rate, getting to this location can be a big part of the fun, whether you drive or fly.
A bit about the accommodations at Lakedale is worth noting. The on-site Yurts you can rent are round and deluxe, featuring a private deck surrounded by forest, and they even have their own private hot tubs.
For the Glamping experience, you can choose from the cozy Canvas Cabin or the larger Canvas Cottage, the latter coming with a bathroom so that you can have all the fun of camping with none of the hassle.
All guests can enjoy continental breakfast served in the Mess Tent, seasonally.
On-site activities also include a SUP board, giant chess, fishing, and even cruiser bikes. There are art installations made throughout the 82-acre property that incorporate the natural beauty of the area in unique pieces of art. These are fun to try to find when exploring the property.
14. Ventura Ranch KOA: Santa Paula, California
As another KOA to make our list, Ventura Ranch KOA is a 73-acre campground nestled at the foot of Topatopa, Ventura County’s highest mountain.
Conveniently located a mere hour outside of Los Angeles, this campground offers the best type of getaway, far enough away to enjoy nature but close enough for plenty of attractions if you want to drive into town.
RV sites feature either full or partial hookups, but there is no cable for TV. I feel this is a bonus as camping can be a great way to reconnect with the family in a nature-rich environment. However, you won’t be without some conveniences as you can rent a cabin with electricity.
If you want your family to experience more in the way of the “roughing it” side of camping, though, you can opt for a tent site with no electricity, a safari tent with a porch and comfy bed, a real-life tepee, or a Conestoga wagon complete with electric lights.
Along with the regular activities for the family on-site, Ventura Ranch also has its own zip line plus ropes and obstacle course called Soar Over Ventura Adventure Course. There is also another zip line on site called the Eagles Nest zip line. Age and height restrictions do apply.
In addition to the zip lines, there are plenty of nature trails, a climbing wall, and even the Ventura Ranch World Labyrinth, which are unique to this location.
In this peaceful setting, you are encouraged to let the light shine upon you as you reflect and meditate. With this experience, campers can truly get away from it all.