2017 Camping Awards: Best Campgrounds

ALASKA

K’esugi Ken Campground
This Denali State Park campground has 33 RV sites, 10 tent sites, and three rustic cabins with wood stoves and built-in wooden sleeping bunks (no mattresses, bedding, or cookware). dnr.alaska.gov

Valdez KOA
Alaska’s only KOA is located on 18 quiet acres of land with 360° mountain views. RVs and cabins are equipped with Wi-Fi. koa.com 

ARIZONA

The Shady Dell 
The Shady Dell’s nine refubished vintage trailers are set on a quaint property in Bisbee that feels more like a tail-gate party with croquet on the artificial-turf patio. theshadydell.com 

Lazy Days KOA
This Tucson campground is the first KOA to install solar panel technology to power the grounds. New Southwest-style covered sites feature fireplaces and new two-bedroom deluxe cabins feature queen beds. koa.com

Point of Rocks RV Campground
The Prescott park is just minutes from downtown and adjacent to picturesque lake. Newly offered are Wi-Fi and 50-Amp sites throughout the upper loop of the park. pointofrocksrvcampground.com

CALIFORNIA

Tinker Tin Trailer Co.
The Trailer Pond at Alta Colina Winery in Paso Robles offers five beautifully restored vintage trailers on winery grounds. All-inclusive packages get you wine-and-cheese tastings, catered breakfasts, and hikes around the property. tinkertin.com

Ventana Campground
In Big Sur, campers rough it in the redwoods and then have access to the resort’s spa and Japanese bathhouse at the top of the canyon. ventanacamping.com

Inn Town Campground
On 15 wooded acres just 2 miles from Nevada City, you’ll find a campground with a community vibe. The grounds include tent and RV sites, plus 15 canvas tents with handcrafted and antique furnishings. A common building features bathrooms, a communal kitchen, and general store. inntowncampground.com

AutoCamp Russian River
In Guerneville, 23 Airstream trailers put the luxury in camping, with Casper mattresses, hotel-quality linens, spa showers, and fire pits. Wooded walking paths lead to lawn games and a Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired communal pavilion. autocamp.com

Base Camp Pop-Up
The Coachella and Stagecoach annual pop-up camp in Indio just got fancy with safari tents featuring down bedding, 500-threadcount sheets, lounge chairs, and screen doors. welcometobasecamp.com

Jackson Point Boat-In Campground, Tahoe National Forest
Part of the Pacific Crest Trail passes along the east side of the Jackson Meadow Resevoirreservoir, which also makes for a good fishing spot. fs.usda.gov

COLORADO

Starlite Classic Campground
The nine vintage trailers at this throwback campground in Cañon City are now equipped with WiFi, a pool, and dog park. starliteclassiccampground.com

Sol Mountain Farm Camp
Sleep under the stars in one of two new teepee sites on this privately owned organic homestead in Alpine. Pets are welcome. hipcamp.com

HAWAII

Na pali Coast Kayak Camping
Expect new guides and top-notch gear for these solo and guided kayak camping trips in Kauai. napalikayak.com 

IDAHO

Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast
This upscale canvas tent campground sits in Clark Fork’s heavily wooded forest. huckleberrytentandbreakfast.com

Dworshak Boat-In Campground
Dworshak State Park has 105 hike-in or boat-in roadless campsites spread out along the 54-mile reservoir. idahostateparks.reserveamerica.com

MONTANA

The Resort at Paws Up
The Greenough resort with 30 luxury tents and 28 cabins kicks off the summer with a new campfire concert series. pawsup.com

Group Bicycle Campsites
Each of the 18 new sites in Placid Lake and Salmon Lake State Parks attract camping cyclists riding site to site. Ammenties include a fire ring, potable water, and covered shelter with picnic tables. stateparks.mt.gov

NEVADA

Cathedral Gorge Camp
A desert photographer’s dream, the Cathedral Gorge State Park has a campground with 24 tent sites and newly installed electrical hookup for RVs. Park personnel have recently installed a steel-frame stairway down to Miller Point, which gives visitors a new view of the canyon a 1-mile trail below. parks.nv.gov

Silver Springs Beach
Two day-use picnic areas are located across from Lahontan Dam and Silver Springs Beach. The Lahontan State Recreation Area facilities include modern restrooms, showers, tables, and grills—and all facilities are newly ADA accessible. parks.nv.gov 

NEW MEXICO

Aguirre Spring Campground
This high-country campground in Las Cruces overlooking White Sands National Monument and the Tularosa Basin has direct access to two national recreation trails. lascrucescvb.org

OREGON

The Vintages Trailer Resort
These 31 trailers in Dayton on this 14-acre property include glamping amenities like pour-over coffee, robes, hotel-quality linens, pool, hot tub, and cruiser bikes. the-vintages.com

UTAH

Capitol Reef Resort
New Conestoga wagons in Capitol Reef National Park are modeled after authentic 18th-century designs and feature a king bed. Private bathrooms and fire pits are just a few steps away. capitolreefresort.com

WASHINGTON

Wilderness Camping
It’s easier than ever to snag an overnight among the lowland forests and sub-alpine areas along the Wonderland Trail in Mt. Rainer National Park, thanks to a new online reservation system. nps.gov/mora

Dash Point Cabins
The 7 heated cabins in Federal Way have been updated with queen-size futons and bunks that sleep three. parks.state.wa.us Deception Pass Cabins Popular boat-in site Ben Ure Cabin in Deception Pass State Park, has been updated and is now fully furnished with an electric kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor shower. It’s also heated and has electricity. parks.state.wa.us

WYOMING

Keyhole Tree House
The Cottonwood campground at Keyhole State Park gets an upgrade in the form of a private tree house with three rooms, an electric fireplace, and a large deck overlooking the lake. wyoparks.state.wy.us

CANADA

Conrad Campground
Located on Tagish Lake’s Windy Arm in the Yukon, it’s the first new campground in 30 years and has 29 sites for both tents and RVs. env.gov.yk.ca

Barefoot Beach Resort
On Skaha Lake in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, reserve one of 12 yurts or 50 tent sites. barefootresort.ca

MEXICO

Las Cañadas Campamento
Camp in a tent, cabin, or teepee in Baja’s Esenada for easy access to horseback riding, mountain biking, and water sports. Bonus: Cabins feature full bathrooms and hot water. lascanadas.com