Best National Park Car Camping

One of the lesser known campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Abrams campground is on the smaller side, with only 16 sites, but it offers more quiet and beautiful scenery than most of the other campgrounds. The campground is tent-only but you can drive right up to your site, so it’s also optimal for sleeping in your car. There is a creek that runs right next to the campsite, and each site is surrounded by lush forest. The campground sits at 1,125ft elevation giving it a milder summer climate than other parts of the park. The campground is a little bit more remote than some of the other campgrounds in the park, but still allows access to lots of great activities like hiking and fishing, all of which are easily accessible from the site. Reservations are required for Abrams Creek Campground for $17.50 per night. Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov. Check out is at 12pm. Campfires are allowed with heat treated wood only. Hammocks are allowed in the campground as long as they are over the footprint of the campsite and attached to trees no smaller than 10 inches in diameter with padding. There are no electrical hookups or dump stations at this campground. Amenities such as groceries, firewood, and last minute supplies are available in center of the park, a bit of a drive from this campsite. Pets are allowed on leash, no longer than 6 ft. If all sites are booked at Abrams Creek, or if you are looking for a campground that is much larger and more central to the main part of the park, Cades Cove is also an excellent choice for car camping in the park.

This small, 24 site campground offers a shady retreat under the site’s namesake Cottonwood trees during your visit to Big Bend National Park. The best times to visit this campground are during the Fall and Winter peak seasons, because even with the shade, the park in general reaches extreme temperatures in the summer. The site is open from November 1 - April 30. Make sure you bring your Luno Car Window Screens with you if you do visit during any of the warmer dates, so that you can sleep with the windows down. The site is located between the Castolon Historic District and Santa Elena Canyon, giving you easy access to some of the park’s top attractions, while staying private and quiet. This campground is usually first-come-first-serve, but because of Covid regulations, you currently must reserve ahead of time on Recreation.gov. Sites are $16 per night. The sites are designed for tent camping, or car camping, with space to easily drive your car right up into your campsite. Pit toilets, picnic tables, grills, and water are all available. There is no dump station and no generators allowed. If all sites are full here, Rio Grande Village Campground is an excellent option if you’re looking for a larger campground. Chisos Basin Campground is also a great choice with easy access and close proximity to the Window Trail, one of the most popular hiking trails in the park.

With 109 sites, Many Glacier Campground is one of the larger campgrounds in Glacier National Park, but it is also one of the most optimal for car camping. Each site allows you to pull your car right up to the campsite so that you can easily sleep in it, while getting the full campground experience. The campground is forested creating a sense of privacy at most sites, even with its size. This campground gets pretty popular due to it’s central location in the park. You’ll be in one of the best places to access most of the park’s hot spots including, but not limited to Grinnell Glacier, Lake Josephine, and more. Sites are available by reservation only on recreation.gov. It’s a good idea to try to book them as soon as they become available, because they book up pretty quickly. Sites are $23/night. The campground has flush toilets, a disposal station, picnic tables, and fire pits. There is a camp store nearby in case you forget to bring anything. Pets and fires are allowed. A number of sites have electrical hookups.

Located at the northern end of Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth Campground puts you in an excellent location to be near the Mammoth Hot Springs, Hot Spring Terraces, hiking, fishing, and more. You’re also very likely to see wildlife at this campground, such as elk and bison. This is the only campground in the park that is open year round. It offers expansive views of the area, with scattered Juniper and Douglas Fir trees offering shade. The campground is fairly large with 85 sites available. This campground is reservation-only. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov. There is cell phone reception at this site, as well as a seasonal camp store which sells ice, firewood, and other last minute items you may need. There are fire pits and picnic tables at each site. There are flush toilets, trash and recycling collection, food storage, and potable water available for all guests.

With 44 sites available, Hidden Valley is a midsize campground located in Joshua Tree National Park. Your stay here will find you surrounded by giant boulders, often frequented by climbers. Most sites at this campground allow you to pull your car right up to them, making it optimal for Luno car camping. Most sites have space for 2-3 cars, but some only have space for one. The campground is pretty centrally located, a little bit more in the north end of the park, but you’ll still be in a great location to access whatever attractions you wish to visit. You’ll be right by the Hidden Valley Nature Trail, as well as the Hidden Valley area and the Hall of Horros area. Hidden Valley is a first-come-first-serve site, so it’s definitely difficult to get one of these sites if you arrive on the weekend, but not impossible. Sites are $15 per night. There is no cellphone reception at this campsite, or anywhere in the park. Pit toilets are available, and trash storage collected year round. Campfires are only allowed in designated fire rings. Keep fires small, as Joshua Tree has a very dry climate and is susceptible to fires. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. If you’d prefer a reservable campsite, Jumbo Rocks Campground is a great option as well. Make sure to book early as sites fill up quick, especially on weekends.

California’s newest, and probably most underrated National Park, Pinnacles National Park is a high desert heaven with great hiking trails, bird watching, camping, and more. Pinnacles Campground is located on the east side of the park, so make sure that’s where you want to be when you book your site because there are no connection roads between the east and west side of the park (except for hiking trails). Sites allow you to pull your car right up to them, making them optimal for car camping. Many sites offer shade from oak trees, but check the campsite photos link provided to make sure that yours does. In the summer, this campsite is definitely one that you’ll want to bring your Luno Window Screens along to, as it can get pretty toasty. Sites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance, and must be reserved on recreation.gov. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Water is available throughout the campground, and coin operated showers and a dump station are available at the site. There is also a swimming pool which is open usually from the middle of April until the end of September. Pets are allowed in the campground, on paved roads, and in parking lots, but not on hiking trails. All pets must be kept on a 6 foot leash. Campfires are permitted when fire danger permits. There is a campground store located near the campground in case you forget any important gear or food.

This often overlooked National Park on the North Atlantic Coast should be on everyone’s national parks bucket list. Blackwoods Campground is located on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, the largest island in the park, and is one of the largest campsites with 281 sites available for reservation. Blackwoods is an excellent campground for car camping. You can pull your car right up to each site, and most sites have a private feel surrounded by trees. The campground is an optimal location to visit many of the best attractions in the park, and if you don’t want to drive, you can take the Island Explorer Shuttle from the campground to any drop off point. All sites at Blackwood are also only a ten minute walk to the ocean. Flush toilets, running water, and a dump station are available at this site. All sites have their own picnic table and fire ring. Roads are paved. Reservations are required for this campground. Reservations can be made up to 2 months in advance on recreation.gov. There is no cell reception or wifi in this campground. This campground is not open during off-season which is October 18-May 6. Sites are $30/night.

Though this spot isn’t technically located inside of Grand Canyon National Park, it will offer unparalleled versions of the same views from the North Rim. This campsite is located on BLM land and is free dispersed camping. It is located about an hour’s drive from the North Rim entrance to the park. If you’re looking for an actual campsite with amenities inside of the park, we recommend the North Rim Campground, but if you don’t mind dispersed camping, we highly recommend this spot because of the views. There are no amenities here, including no water, so make sure you bring what you need. Also, be sure to pack out everything you pack in and practice Leave No Trace Policies to leave it better than you found it.

Cathedral Valley is located at the north end of Capitol Reef National Park. It’s one of the more remote areas of the park, and can usually only be accessed with 4x4 or AWD vehicles. Depending on weather conditions and recent rainfall, sometimes you’ll need higher clearance vehicles as well. The campground is the only one in the area, and it is primitive with pit toilets and fire rings. Potable water is also available in the area, but not at the campground, so it’s a good idea to bring extra just in case something happens, since the area is so remote. Cell phone reception is slim to non-existent. This all being said, this might be one of the most spectacular places you ever camp. Cathedral Valley lacks the crowds and offers outstanding views of the Cathedral rock formations. It’s also a popular place for night sky photography due to the incredible lack of light pollution. The campground is free and first-come-first-serve.

Zion National Park’s main campground, Watchman Campground sits beneath the incredible rock formations of the south end of the park, an every campsite has a view. Campsites are available year round, and reservations are required March-November. Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov. The campground has 190 sites, but it’s a good idea to book early when necessary, as they tend to fill up almost immediately, especially in high season. Reservations can be made six months prior to the date of stay. The sites are great for car camping since you’ll be able to pull right up to your site. Some sites are also near the river. There are a few shaded sites as well, which can accommodate vehicles up to 12’6” in height. Generators are not permitted and there are no hook up sites. There is a dump station available for campers. Sites with electrical hookups are $430/night, and tent only sites (with vehicle drive up availability) are $20/night. There are also 18 tent only sites that are walk up, so if you’re planning on camping in your car, make sure you don’t book one of those. Each campsite has a fire pit and picnic table.

One way to attempt to miss the crowds in Yosemite is to stay in and explore Tuolomne Meadows instead of the Valley. That being said, in high season, you still will encounter other people, but it’s worth a try. Though it lacks the famous vistas and rock formations like El Capitan and Half Dome, Tuolomne Meadows is a paradise in itself. Tuolomne Meadows Campground is the park’s largest and is open seasonally from July to September pending snow on Tioga Road. Typically, half of the campground is reservable, and the other is first-come-first-serve. It’s always a good idea to get a reservation if you can, though they do fill up almost immediately upon release on Recreation.gov. Though this campground is large, it’s forested so you’ll be most likely nestled in your own tree-filled spot. It offers easy access to all the best activities in Tuolomne such as Cathedral Rock Trail, and more. The campground has cell reception, trash/recycling collection, a dump station, food storage lockers, potable water, flush toilets, and on site-staff when it’s open. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit. Sites are $26/night.

Though this is one of Rocky Mountain National Park’s main campgrounds, it still manages to portray a backcountry vibe. The campground is sparsely forested with gorgeous views of the Rocky’s all around it. The sites are drive-up, so you’ll be able to easily car camp. The campground has 247 sites and is optimal for wildlife viewing. There is also an outfit nearby offering horseback riding tours through the park. During the summer season, all sites are reservable on Recreation.gov, and are available to book six months in advance. Reservations are highly recommended, and it’s recommended to book as early as possible, as they tend to book up, especially in the summer. In the winter, 64 of the sites are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit. There is no cell reception or camp store at the campground, so come as prepared as possible with what you need. There is ice and firewood for sale though. Trash and recycling collection, food storage lockers, a dump station, potable water, and toilets are all available year round (flush during Spring, Summer, and Fall, and vault during Winter). Campsites are $30/night during high season and $20/night during the Winter.