A Quick National Parks Camping Guide: Where Should You Go?

If you're thinking about choosing a vacation spot, reviewing a national parks camping guide is a good place to start. After all, what better place to enjoy an outdoor vacation than in one of the beautiful parks managed by the United States National Parks Service? Facilities vary greatly by park, and campgrounds that accept reservations often book months in advance. Visit www.nps.gov for all of the details and information necessary to plan your trip.

Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most beautiful spots on the earth, boasting magnificent spires of red rocks and Bryce amphitheater often described as a geologic wonder. The park has two campgrounds -- North Campground and Sunset Campground - as well as a group camping area. The cost to get a campsite at these campgrounds is $20 for tents and $30 for RVs. They offer discounts as well.

Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park is home to six campgrounds. The Colter Bay and Flagg Ranch offer full hookups and laundry service. Overnight accommodations are also available at Gros Ventre, Jenny Lake, Lizard Creek, and Signal Mountain campgrounds. The campgrounds feature full hook-ups for RVs and tent sites available. You'll also find showers and dumping stations. The campgrounds vary, but you can find a site starting at $20 a night.

There are five campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park. Isput Creek and Mowich Lake are accessible only to walk-in campers and are located in the northwest corner of the park. The Cougar Rock, White River, and Ohanapecosh campgrounds are available to drive-in RV and tent campers. They are not open during the winter months. These campgrounds feature both RV and tent sites available, starting at $20.

Developed camping is available at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Mather Campground and the North Rim in Desert View Campground. There are no hookups in either facility, and the maximum RV size is 30 feet. Reservations are required at Desert View Campground. Those looking to find an RV park can go to the Trailer Village: RV Campground on South Rim. And you can't beat those grand canyon views.

Maine's breathtaking Acadia National Park is an excellent spot for a camping trip. The primary campsites, Blackwoods and Seawall Campgrounds, are located on Mount Desert Island. No hookups are available, but comfort stations and running water are provided. Campers traveling with stock animals can stay at the Wildwood Stables Campground. Those who want to enjoy primitive camping can stay at Duck Harbor Campground, which is on Isle au Haut. Non-electric campsites start at about $30 and go up from there.

Yosemite National Park is home to 13 campgrounds, seven of which allow for advanced reservations. Individual and group camping is available in the park and accommodations for campers who are traveling with horses. RV restrictions and available facilities vary by location. Camping fees start at $26 a day, and showers are not available at many campsites. And you need to apply for a permit to hike the half dome.

Rocky Mountain National Park is the ideal location to take in the majestic scenery of Colorado's breathtaking mountain peaks. The park is home to five drive-in campgrounds, as well as a group camping facility that can also be accessed by vehicle. Hookups are not provided at any of the park's campgrounds. Campground fees start at $30 a night in the summer and $20 a night in the winter. Additionally, reservations are required to enter the Rocky Mountain National Park.

California's Joshua Tree National Park is home to some of the most spectacular desert scenery on earth. There are nine campgrounds in the park, each of which offers different facilities, rates, and availability. Most sites start at $25 a night, but Jumbo Rocks campground starts at $20 a night. While Black Rock and Cottonwood have flushing toilets and a dump station, many other parks do not have running water and flushing toilets.

The spectacular mountain views in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park draw campers to visit North Carolina time and time again. The park is home to a number of backcountry camping opportunities, ten developed campgrounds, and a number of group campsites. Special facilities are available for campers who are traveling with horses. Reservations for campsites start at about $18. Additionally, there are wood regulations that you'll need to check out before camping.

Appreciate the canyons of the Zion National Park in Utah by staying in the three available campgrounds. While the South and Watchman Campgrounds are located within the Zion Canyon, the Lava Point Campground is about an hour away from the canyon. You must only camp within permitted sites, and RV sites are available. Getting a campsite starts at $20 a night. But there are some discounts available.

When it comes to camping in the Yellowstone National Park, you are covered with over 2,000 campsites available through 12 different campgrounds. Both tent and RV campsites are available. Depending on the location, the starting prices for campsites can range from $20 to $32 per night. There are also showers, dump stations, flushing toilets, and full hookups. You can find backcountry campsites to truly enjoy the nature of Yellowstone Park.

From coastlines to forests, you can see it all in Washington's Olympic National Park. You can also camp it as well. The national park features 15 campgrounds for campers to enjoy. These campgrounds offered sites for both RV and tent sites available. You can also find backcountry sites as well. Only two of these parks accept reservations, and the rest are walk-ons. You can find a campsite for as little as $15 a night.

Are you ready to experience mountain country? Then you might want to take a trip to the North Cascades National Park in Washington. You can find RV and tent camping at one of the six different campgrounds available. While the spots are big enough for a small RV, none of the campgrounds in the North Cascades have electricity or electric hookups. But, you can find backcountry camping permits.

Explore the Channel Islands National Park in California and stay at one of the five different campgrounds found on the islands. Many of these campsites are limited to under 15 campsites for tenters. However, at Scorpion Canyon, you can find 31 sites available. The sites start at $15 a night to see wonderful coastlines and scenic hiking trails.

Get ready to enter the land of the giants when you enter the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. Brimming with huge mountains and the world's largest trees, campers can enjoy the views while staying at 14 different campgrounds, three of which are open year-round. Many of the campgrounds are ready and waiting for RVs and tenting campers. However, electricity isn't available within the parks. Fees vary based on the location but can range from $10-$25.

If you've ever wanted to sleep out under the stars near some of nature's most spectacular stone arches, then Arches National Park in Moab, Utah is the perfect place for it. Arches only has one individual campground in the Devil's Garden that is $25 per night for 1-10 campers. It has 51 sites with drinking water and no electrical hookups. The campground does have flush style toilets.

You'll need to make a reservation during the busy season of March through October, and the campground fills up fast. Reservations are typically months out, and you can reserve six months ahead. During the rest of the year, sites are available on a first come, first served basis.

Arches also has two groupsites: Canyon Wren Groupsite accommodates 11-35 campers with nightly fees starting at $75, and Juniper Groupsite accommodates 11-55 campers with nightly fees ranging from $100-$250.

Explore all that nature has to offer by checking out the national parks across the nation. From vast deserts to mountains and canons to sequoias, you can see it all. Now it's time to grab your tent and pack your bag because you have some camping to do.