For many families, camping is a fun tradition that can bring everyone closer to nature and closer together. There’s just something about the outdoor setting that shouts fun and lightens up everyone’s mood. Yet it also calls for intensive research on the right activities, trails, and convenient facilities for you and your little campers to enjoy. If you’re looking for a change in scenery with your family and are planning a memorable family camping adventure, here’s a list of the 10 best campsites for kids you can check out.
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List Of Top 10 Best Campsites for Kids
1. Malaekahana Beach Campground, Hawaii
Spend the weekend or enjoy the long holidays with your family in style at Malaekahana Beach Campground. Located on the tropical island of Hawaii, you’re sure to have a blast with its warm weather and fun, bright atmosphere. Malaekahana is a public campground where you can enjoy the salty breeze by the beach and do a lot of interesting activities that are perfect for all ages. If you have a kid who loves swimming, this is definitely the place to be. Everyone is also encouraged to try surfing and play with the waves. For those who have an interest in sailing, the campground also offers this at a fair price.
Worry not about frisky kids as the place’s swimming and surfing lessons will surely have them release all their pent-up energies. If you’re lucky, you can even catch them at a discount. Just don’t forget to bring your sunscreen! As the day ends, you can then sleep soundly in their cabins or rent out some of their best plantation hales and suites for extra luxurious comfort. Note, though, that the owner prefers guests to stay in the campgrounds for at least two nights to fully explore the area and experience its beauty. They also have a camping store available where you can buy camping essentials and snacks.
Website: https://www.malaekahana.net/ Address: 56-335 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, HI 96731 Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day Contact: (808) 674-7715
2. Ocean Lakes Family Campground, South Carolina
Looking for a tried-and-true campground that many families have enjoyed for years? Ocean Lakes Family Campground is just the perfect spot for you! Ocean Lakes is among the top and largest campgrounds in the US. It can be found at the south end of Myrtle Beach. Aside from their list of popular attractions, the place also boasts its outstanding amenities and professional team that makes them one of the best campsites for kids. They offer a wide selection of kid-friendly activities that will surely put a smile on every child’s face.
This includes skateboarding, swimming, and other sports. But for those children who prefer the arcade, they also have it ready at the recreational center. No kid is left bored or unhappy here. Their RV park’s energy and setting also vary depending on the season. Visit at the height of the camping season during school break and join in the fun along with thousands of guests enjoying their vacation. If you want a more mellow and relaxed atmosphere, come in here for a getaway when the kids are back in school. The place also hosts special events from time to time, so make sure you stay updated.
Website: https://www.oceanlakes.com/ Address: 6001 South Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 Hours: Open 24 Hours A Day Contact: (843) 238-5636
3. Jellystone Park, Colorado
Hey there, Boo Boo! Did I hear someone call Yogi Bear? Get in the fun campground of Jellystone Park and have the chance to meet Yogi and Boo Boo. Just don’t be late at the flag-raising and lowering ceremonies during the beginning and end of each day or you’ll miss them! Whether you’re 5 years old or 50, Jellystone is guaranteed to give you an awesome camping experience that you won’t forget. Prepare to get splashed as your little ones try out their super-duper triple looper, a 300 ft slide filled with twists, turns, and laughter!
Your little campers can also spend the day outdoors doing some fossil dig, archery class, and geocaching. The place also offers other activities including mini-golf and the jumping pillow, which is a giant inflatable pad that can accommodate several children at once. Don’t forget to bring your pic-a-nic basket when you head on to the Yogi Bear Lake or explore the nearby Pike National Forest. And in case you’re wondering, you don’t need to worry about leaving your furry pal at home as this place has a bark park dedicated to letting your pets enjoy the getaway too. Visit this family-owned place just midway between Denver and Colorado Springs and start your very own Yogi family adventure. Jellystone Park sure does know how to give families their much-needed bonding time and all of this is why we put it on our best campsites for kids list.
Website: https://www.campjellystone.com/ Address: 650 Sky View Ln. Larkspur, CO 80118 Hours: In Season: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM Daily; Off Season: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Daily Contact: (720) 325-2393
4. Witch Meadow Campground, Salem
In the sleepy town of Salem lies a peaceful campground that packs a lot of exciting activities for families. Witch Meadow Campground is an all-in-one campsite that offers an incredible variety of spellbinding attractions and amenities that shouts fun. It features a 14-acre freshwater lake perfect for swimming, boating, and fishing. And if your kid’s not much of a water sports fan, you can check out their wide playground to enjoy basketball, volleyball, badminton, kickball, and tons of other outdoor sports. The ground also has a recreation hall where your little ones can play pinball, ping-pong, pool, or video games. They even have a children’s library for all bookworms out there to enjoy. And if you want a warm, relaxing swim, you can also dip into their heated pool.
Just in case you need to take a peek at the online world, their Adult Lounge and the entire park are completely equipped with free Wi-Fi. And did I mention they have a walking trail at the park for your pets? That’s right, your best paw pal can come too! Since this endless list of fun activities will surely make your stomachs growl, they also made sure to have yummy meals available for you to dig in. Overall, it surely is the ultimate campsite that will leave every family happily exhausted from all the fun.
Website: https://witchmeadowcampground.com/ Address: 139 Witch Meadow Road, Salem, CT 06420 Hours: Open 24 hours a day Contact: (860) 859-1542
5. Herkimer Diamond KOA, New York
Herkimer Diamond KOA welcomes you with a beautiful landscape that leads every guest to their themed deluxe cabins and lodges. Among these are the famous Astronomy and Astrology lodges that have been enticing many sky-watchers’ attention for their own featured observatories and telescopes. Its easy accessibility, add it up with the fun outdoor activities awaiting you and your kids, makes it a perfect spot for all types of campers. Spend the whole day in The Miner’s Village and learn about diamonds. Did you know that they were once quartz crystals, processed by nature for over 500 million years?
The pint-sized miners can join in searching and digging for Herkimer diamonds as they learn about geology. Who says education can’t be fun, right? What’s more, is you can also keep your mined gems and turn them into pieces of jewelry. If this sounds a bit extreme for you, your family can also just enjoy the sun and swim at their Herkimer diamond-shaped pool. Plus, you can even fish for trout in the nearby West Canada Creek. The campground restaurant also offers many delicious cuisines that will surely fill those hungry tummies. But it’s actually the views that make the stay incredible. You’ll even feel your body relax as you watch the leaves silently fall down the flowing river. If you want a fun camping experience that can also bring solitude, you should seriously consider going to this place.
Website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/herkimer/ Address: 4626 State Route 28 North Herkimer, NY 13350 Hours: Opens from April 15 to October 31 Contact: 315-891-7355
6. Lakedale Resort, Washington
Camping minus the “rough”, this is what Lakedale Resort offers to every family out there. If you’re an exhausted parent who cringes at the mere idea of camping, know that the experience doesn’t have to be as tiring as you remember from scouts anymore. Gone are the days when you get torn at the idea of bonding with your kids and having a good night’s sleep for vacation. You can have the best of both worlds! Lakedale Resort is situated on San Juan Island in Washington. It’s an 82-acre campground of forest, meadows, and lakes that offers a variety of accommodations for every traveler. Choose from the lodge, yurts, a vintage Airstream RV, glamping cabins and cottages, log cabins, a lake house or just bring your own tent or RV with you. Regardless, this place will surely give you a superb camping experience.
They have a range of amenities including fire pits, picnic tables, and whirlpool tubs depending on your campsite option. The resort is also surrounded by three lakes, making almost every water activity like fishing, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding more accessible. They also offer other unique activities like tie-dye shirt making, bocce, a giant chess game, and even doing crafts like stuffed animals. After doing these, you can then make s’mores with your kids by the campfire and gaze at the beautifully twinkling stars. Enjoy all these and end your day with a well-deserved rest in a soft bed and comfortable room. Camp without the stress and head on to Lakedale.
Website: https://www.lakedale.com/ Address: 4313 Roche Harbor Road Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Hours: Weekdays/Weekends (Non-Summer Hours): 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Weekdays/Weekends (Summer Hours): 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Contact: 360.378.2350
7. Black Hills Trailside Park Resort, South Dakota
Looking for a perfect place to safely trek miles of breathtaking trails? Bring your family to Black Hills Trailside Park Resort! Located in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, the Black Hills of South Dakota, this is definitely the campground dream for many families. It offers 35 RV sites, 14 tent sites, 8 beautiful cabins, and a trail suite. The place lies at the edge of Hill City which also allows you to easily access many attractions, restaurants, and shops in the area.
What really makes this campsite extra special is that it’s about twenty minutes away from one of the most important historical places in the country- Mount Rushmore! But wait, there’s more. They also have bike, car, and ATV rentals to complement your stay, making the touring easier than ever. Try to catch some brown and rainbow trout in Spring Creek or just enjoy the relaxing water and swim around. So, pack your hiking bags and bring your floaties now, and get ready for a camping vacation you and your kids won’t ever forget.
Website: https://trailsideparkresort.com/ Address: 24024 US Hwy 16/385, Hill City, SD 57745 Hours: Open 24 hours a day Contact: (605) 574-9079
8. Colonial Woods Family Camping Resort, Pennsylvania
Bask yourself at the untouched beauty of the natural surroundings in Colonial Woods Family Camping Resort and get the holiday you deserve. This campground offers a range of wonderful activities that will surely give your family a camping trip to remember! Whether you like to stay in your own tent or RV or you prefer getting cozy in cabins, the park is ready to accommodate your needs. Start the fun with the exciting water slides or spend the time in with your kids to play and make arts and crafts together. There’s also a fishing section to keep curious kids busy and wide activity fields to keep them moving. They have a bunch of sports games and even have a mini-golf course for those who are interested.
What’s more is you can also visit some of the nearby famous fantastic spots including the Crayola Factory, Dorney Park and the Wildwater Kingdom, and The Land of Make Believe and Pirates Cove. After a day of fun and if your little ones still have some extra energy, you can take a dip at the heated swimming pool or swim around at the cool spray pool. But if you’re all tired and you feel like settling in for the night, you can bond and relax with your family with some outdoor movie experience. Colonial Woods is a perfect place to have some family camping fun.
Website: https://colonialwoods.com/ Address: 545 Lonely Cottage Drive, Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972 Hours: Open 24 hours a day Contact: (610) 847-5808
9. Fort Yargo State Park, Georgia
Welcome to the home of a 1792 fort log built by early settlers! Fort Yargo State Park is a camping gem located between Athens and Atlanta. It offers breathtaking scenery and many outdoor recreations for both young people and young at heart. Visitors can opt to stay in numerous facilities to accommodate all budget ranges. This includes a cottage, cabin, or air-conditioned glamping yurt, or just find your perfect RV or tent camping spot. The place features a 260-acre lake wherein you and your family can swim, fish, paddle kayaks, and boat.
It also has a challenging wooded disc golf course you’ll surely spend more time on than anticipated. If you like biking or hiking, they have Bird Berry, Mountain Bike Loop, Lake Loop, and Winder Connecting trails for you to explore! And for those who are planning to arrange a social gathering, this gorgeous state park picturesque landscape is definitely one for the books. Not to mention that the area’s weather is great all year round with pleasant summers and mild winters. Escape from life at the metro and bring in your family to Fort Yargo State Park for some exciting adventures and heart-pumping nature activities.
Website: https://gastateparks.org/FortYargo Address: 210 South Broad Street, Winder, GA 30680 Barrow County Hours: Park 7:00AM - 10:00PM Office 8:00AM - 5:00 PM Contact: 770-867-3489
10. Friendly Beaver Campground, New Hampshire
Friendly Beaver Campground is an award-winning campsite that has been providing families non-stop camping fun for 40 years now. It’s filled with relaxing and entertaining amenities designed to encourage families to bond and even have the space to socialize with other friendly beavers. And it sure is the best place for children who love swimming and water splashing! You can pick from their four different swimming pools- an indoor heated pool, wading pool, sports pool, and a standard swimming pool- to start your camping vacation. Or you can opt to go to their petting farm first. Either way, you can enjoy these two any day you like.
If you’re planning to stay longer, don’t worry about dirty clothes as they have convenient laundry facilities to keep those clean while you enjoy nature. They also have a teen game room for the youngsters to get together, and a playground and activity room for the much younger ones. The adults are welcomed to relax at the designated rec hall and enjoy the night with fellow parents. In Friendly Beaver, no one will ever get bored as everything has been designed to entertain people of all ages.
Website: https://www.friendlybeaver.com/ Address: 298 Old Coach Road, New Boston, NH 03070 Hours: Open 24 hours a day Contact: (603) 487-5570
Conclusion
Whether you are on the search for your family’s newest favorite spot or are looking for an interesting place to check out, there are many kid-friendly campgrounds in the US waiting for you to explore. Your family can find the purest beauty of nature and still enjoy the perks of modern amenities with most of the best campsites for kids on our list. We have even included some of the country’s most iconic places and hidden gems nearby for some extra punch of fun. Don’t forget to share with us your experiences in these campgrounds and let us know the highlight of your wonderful family getaway!
