Camping holds a warm place in our hearts and we always enjoy it here at Simply Awesome Trips- whether a planned multi-day excursion or a spur of the moment overnight in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which sits just down the road from us.
We have visited many different campgrounds over the years, and overall, most have been just fine. Sometimes it’s not the particular campground that makes it memorable but simply the experience of spending time with your family and sleeping together under the stars.
A few campgrounds, though, really do stand out for us. The thought of them always brings a smile to our face and a gushing endorsement to our lips whenever someone asks us “Is there a good campground around there?”
* Note- This is a list of campgrounds only, not backcountry campsites, of which we have some favorites there too. Another time, another blog.
Basin Campground in Kodachrome Basin State Park, Utah
Amanda’s pick
The spectacular scenery of Kodachrome Basin State Park
Sandwiched between Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument, Kodachrome Basin State Park was a fabulous and accidental find on our last trip to southwest Utah. We happened upon it because the campground at Bryce Canyon was full. We may never go back to camping at Bryce after finding Kodachrome.
Basin Campground (one of 2 campgrounds in the park) has lovely secluded campsites, several stunning hiking trails starting steps from the campground, a laundry facility, and unlimited, free hot water for showers. It seemed like every time we turned around, we discovered another cool thing about this campground.
But by far the best aspect of our accidental discovery was the color of the rocks in Kodachrome. The hues changed every hour, especially during sunrise and sunset. We just sat back and enjoyed the show.
It was easy to get to Bryce Canyon everyday and also do a spectacular hike in adjacent Grand- Staircase. Or you could do some great hikes in Kodachrome itself.
To find out more about the best hikes nearby and how we spent our 5 days in Kodachrome, Bryce, and Zion National Park, check out 5 days in Southwest Utah.
Hood Creek Campground at Hyalite Canyon Recreation Area Near Bozeman, Montana
Amy’s pick
Campsite at Hood Creek Campground
Hood Creek Campground, one of three campgrounds in the Hyalite Canyon Recreation Area in Montana, makes me feel like I’m away from it all. It feels completely remote yet it’s only 20 miles from downtown Bozeman. When camping with kids in tow, it can be reassuring to know that we can just pack up at anytime if needed or run to town to purchase the can opener I forgot to pack.
The campground sits on the shore of the Hyalite Reservoir and the sites are spacious and private. You can bring your paddleboards or kayaks (rent them in Bozeman) and enjoy your days playing on the water or hiking one of the many nearby trails like Grotto Falls. The beauty here is simply breathtaking.
To see more about what to do in nearby Bozeman, Montana, check out our blogs about Bozeman:
Bandy Creek Campground in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, TN and KY
Amanda’s pick
We love the big campsites and nice bathrooms at Bandy Creek Campground.
I love my Smokies but they can get pretty busy, especially during the summer and fall, so sometimes we opt for Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, also in East Tennessee, straddling the TN- KY border. It’s a wonderful park to explore with kids as it has easy hiking trails, lots of natural arches to ogle, a river to raft, mountain bike trails, and horseback riding. Plus, it has some of the best stargazing in East Tennessee.
Bandy Creek is the biggest of the 5 campgrounds in Big South Fork and my favorite to camp in. The dedicated tent-only loop has good-sized sites and nice bathrooms with hot water showers. The campground itself has a pool, a sand volleyball court, a Ranger Station/Visitor Center nearby, and a camp store for all the things you forgot to pack as well as ice creams for post- hike treats. And there are several trails leaving right from the campground, including mountain bike trails, so you don’t have to get back in your car if you don’t want to.
To find out more about the amazingness of Big South Fork,check out our blogs about it:
Colonial Creek Campground in North Cascades National Park, WA
Amanda’s pick
The view of Diablo Lake from Colonial Creek Campground- not bad eh?
Most of the tent sites are pretty secluded and all come with humongous trees.
Situated right on the shores of Diablo Lake, Colonial Creek is the campground for people who like to bring their own SUPs or kayaks when they camp. It is a truly amazing view.
North Cascades National Park is one of America’s least visited parks and I have no idea why- it is simply stunning, relatively easy to get to from Seattle, and has a variety of hikes to choose from to suit any ability.
You can choose to camp on the shoreline of Diablo Lake or just across from it when you spend the night in Colonial Creek Campground. Whatever you choose, reserve early online because the people who know about this place, tend to come back again and again.
To find out more about this campground and what else there is to do in North Cascades, check out A Simply Awesome Day In North Cascades.
Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Amy’s pick
One of the best campsites in Elkmont campground in the Smokies.
Perhaps because I have so many memories of camping as young child in the Smokies at Elkmont with my family, it continues to be one of my favorite campgrounds. As an adult now, I still love the background sound of the river, the smell of damp earth mixed with smoke from the campfire, and the shock of the river’s freezing cold water on a hot summer day. It’s a family-oriented campground and I’ve never experienced fellow rowdy campers here.
And to be fair, it’s not a fancy campground and it’s a large one. The campsites don’t have electricity, the bathhouse has no showers (they do have flush toilets), and many of the sites offer little privacy. But over the years, we now know the best sites to reserve so that we can enjoy everything Elkmont has to offer: reading in our hammocks, hiking the nearby Little River Trail, tubing down the small cascades of the river, and exploring the adjacent “ghost town.”
If you don’t feel like cooking over a camp stove or miss civilization, you can even drive over to nearby Gatlinburg or Wears Valley to feast like royalty at your restaurant of choice. With so many options, Elkmont remains a perennial family favorite.
To find out more about Elkmont and what to do in the Smokies, check out these blogs:
More Camping Blogs
In a quest to get a comfortable night's sleep while tent camping, my choice of sleep pads has evolved over the years. I am happy to report that I have finally found “THE ONE” and it has recharged my camping life yet again. 5 years later, I am still happy with it.