Enjoy the Great Outdoors at the 15 Best Family Campgrounds in the U.S. [2025]

Family camping has evolved from roughing it to choose-your-own adventures ranging from tent sites to RVs, glamping safari-style tents, and well-equipped cabins. The best family campgrounds offer family time outdoors with trails, water, bike rides, starry skies, and campfires with s’mores and movies. These activities are paired with amenities that make camping with kids easier, including furnished tents with beds, cabins with kitchens, and campsites near clean bathhouses.

Pools, activity centers, and on-site attractions (including miniature golf and playgrounds) make downtime at the campground part of a great outdoors vacation — not just a gap between big adventures. Some standout campgrounds offer proximity to national parks and family attractions for big days out with a comfortable yet natural place to land at night. Others function as destination resorts where you can take a dip in the pool, hit craft hour, roast s’mores by the campfire, and call it a day.

We’ve highlighted 15 family campgrounds across the U.S. with kid-forward amenities in locations great for visiting nature and attractions. You’ll see specific things to do at each campground, how to book them, and what to expect in terms of price so you can match your family’s camping style and budget with family-friendly campgrounds.

What Makes a Great Family Campground?

Many campgrounds cater to families by offering many ways to stay, from RV or tent sites to roofed options, including cabins and furnished tents. Some offer heat, air conditioning, and private bathrooms.

All-weather fun is common, with pools, splash pads, game rooms, gem mining, and programs for nature and arts and crafts. In the evenings, many family campgrounds offer movie nights and s’mores. Themed weekends, such as trick-or-treat Halloweekends, are popular with families.

Kid-friendly logistics often include on-site food or a camp store, laundry, and playgrounds close to campsites. Campgrounds are often destinations, but may offer proximity to nearby family attractions, such as national parks, lakes, beaches, and theme parks, to make adventuring beyond the camp easy.

Campground Brands for Families

Family-friendly campground brands include:

• KOA (Kampgrounds of America): KOA has more than 500 North American locations, typically featuring pools, playgrounds, and activity calendars. These are great for consistency across road trips.
• Jellystone Park Camp Resorts: Jellystone’s Yogi Bear-themed parks often feature character meet-and-greets, water zones, daily activities, and a wide array of accommodations, from cabins to tent sites.
• Sun Outdoors: The Sun Outdoors brand includes RV resorts with pool complexes, sports courts, and cottage rentals.
• Thousand Trails: This membership network of RV campgrounds has more than 200 locations, many with miniature golf, activity centers, and pools. Cabins and tent sites are usually available.
• Under Canvas: Bookable with World of Hyatt points, Under Canvas offers safari-style tent camps, sometimes with en suite bathrooms. Expect camp programming, such as s’mores and yoga, and locations near national parks.
• AutoCamp: You can use Hilton Honors points to book AutoCamp’s Airstreams, cabins, and tents at campgrounds that offer clubhouses and events and may have transit access to nearby parks.

Is Family Camping Right for You?

Family camping is good for families who want to spend time outdoors with days on trails or water and evenings by a campfire with s’mores. It’s also a good fit if you value play space and quiet, as campgrounds offer plenty of room to spread out and enjoy nature. Some campgrounds are close to national parks, making exploring some of America’s greatest outdoor sites easy.

Many resorts offer kid-centric programs, such as arts and crafts, game nights, and scavenger hunts at activity centers. You can also just hang out by the sports courts or pool.

Modern campgrounds often have tent and RV sites with water and power or sites with cabins or furnished tents so you can accommodate your family’s comfort level. That flexibility is good for multigenerational trips, too. For example, grandparents could book a cabin while cousins sleep in an RV, and everyone can meet up at the splash pad or around the campfire.

How To Book Family Camping

You can book family camping vacations directly with brands, using park systems, or with hotel loyalty programs.

Brand sites such as KOA, Jellystone, Sun Outdoors, and Thousand Trails show real-time availability and have the best information about amenities and upcoming events. National and state park systems include Recreation.gov and ReserveAmerica for park campgrounds and cabins. Destination resorts such as Under Canvas and AutoCamp are available through hotel loyalty programs. For example, you can log in to your World of Hyatt account to redeem points for Under Canvas bookings.

Hot Tip:

Many campground brands code as travel with major issuers, so you can earn travel bonus points with travel credit cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, which earns 2x points on travel purchases.

Tips for Booking and Saving on Family Camping

• Book early for peak travel: If you’ll camp during high-demand dates, book well in advance. Sought-after cabins and RV sites near national parks can sell out months in advance.
• Use memberships: If you’ll camp multiple times, consider signing up for membership programs with campgrounds that offer them, such as Thousand Trails, KOA, and Jellystone.
• Understand seasonal amenities: Water attractions are typically seasonal; confirm dates before booking if access is essential.
• Consider shoulder seasons: Late spring and early fall may offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and better prices in many regions.
• Plan for weather: Bad weather can dampen a camping trip, so have a backup plan and be ready with flexible options or trip cancellation insurance.

The 15 Best Family Campgrounds in the U.S.

We’ve highlighted campgrounds with strong family programming and amenities and consistently positive guest feedback. We prioritized campgrounds with varied lodging types, kid-centric features, such as water zones, and proximity to natural or family-friendly attractions.

1. The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort (Lake Buena Vista, Florida)

Fort Wilderness Resort is one among many places you can stay in Orlando for a Walt Disney World vacation, but it’s the only campground on Disney World property. It’s surprisingly quiet and natural for a spot just a short boat ride from the Magic Kingdom.

You can spend your days at Disney World theme parks, then return to the campground for the Chip ‘n’ Dale Campfire Sing-Along and movies under the stars. There’s also horseback riding, archery, canoeing, fishing, and other resort activities.

The cabins sleep 6, including bunk beds for kids. There are full kitchens and dining spaces. RV and tent sites are available in the 750-acre campground. Boat and bus transportation link the campground to the Magic Kingdom and other parks, and golf cart rentals are available to all guests.

Depending on the season, expect to pay between $500 and $700 or more per night for a cabin.

Hot Tip:

Visit the stables at Tri-Circle-D Ranch to see the ponies, whether you plan to ride or not.

2. Under Canvas Zion (Virgin, Utah)

Under Canvas Zion is a 196-acre camp along the mesas near Zion National Park’s Kolob Terrace. Designed for unplugging, the campground has no Wi-Fi but focuses on starry skies and camp culture. During the day, families can take canyon strolls or kid-friendly hikes, and nighttime brings campfires and s’mores. Seasonal on-site food makes dining simple, with a strict no-food-in-tents policy.

Close to Zion National Park, this is an excellent campground for families planning to explore the canyons, the Narrows, Angels Landing, and scenic drives throughout the park.

Furnished canvas tents offer classic glamping, with a mix of comfort and connection to nature. Expect wood floors, sofas, and hotel-style beds under a canvas tent with a view. Some offer wood-burning stoves and private bathrooms — but you won’t find TVs.

Nightly tent rates range from $400 to $1,200, depending on the tent you book. The Angels Landing suite sleeps up to 6 and has a private covered deck with a fire pit. This campground is bookable with World of Hyatt points, typically ranging from 35,000 to 108,000 points per night.

3. AutoCamp Yosemite (Midpines, California)

AutoCamp Yosemite offers sleek Airstreams and cabins with a 24/7 central clubhouse and store that are helpful if you get back late from Yosemite Valley. It’s polished yet family-friendly, with outdoor spaces for hanging out around communal firepits and a pool and hot tub for relaxing after long hikes.

A killer feature at this campground is the YARTS bus stop at the property. The bus offers a ride into Yosemite National Park, where you can see the waterfalls and stunning granite overlooks and take on challenging hikes and rock climbing. The bus makes it easy to avoid peak-season parking chaos.

Nightly rates range from $300 to $650, including canvas tents, accessible suites, Airstreams, and family cabins. Paying with Hilton Honors points? Nightly rates are from 75,000 to 354,000 points.

4. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo (River Ranch, Florida)

An hour south of Orlando, the Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo is a 1,700-acre dude ranch with luxury glamping and classic ranch lodging. If you’re looking for a taste of the Wild West in Florida with comfortable amenities, this is it.

Families can enjoy the Saturday night rodeo with barrel racing, trick riding, and bull riding. Activities for campers include horseback rides, a petting zoo, and tours in an airboat or swamp buggy along the Kissimmee River. The River Country Water Park is a major attraction, featuring waterslides and a tropical-style pool.

Some of the unique lodging at the ranch includes Conestoga wagons and tipis. Lodge guest rooms, tent sites, and RV sites are also available.

Tent and RV sites cost around $70 per night, and cabins and cottages around $240. Unique glamping experiences, including tipis, wagons, and canvas tents, cost about $190 per night.

5. Sun Outdoors Pigeon Forge (Sevierville, Tennessee)

Sun Outdoors Pigeon Forge is a Smoky Mountains RV resort with large RV sites and cabins for families who want a roof. You can spend your days at the resort or venture out for nearby adventures in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, including the Dollywood family theme park. It’s just 15 miles — about half an hour’s drive — from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you can enjoy fishing, hiking, scenic drives, and ranger-led activities.

On-site attractions include a large pool complex with a lazy river, along with kid-favorite gaga ball and pickleball. There’s also a playground, arcade, sports court, and bark park with a dog wash station.

Expect to pay about $80 for standard RV sites and about $100 to $190 for cabins, depending on the size.

6. Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: Larkspur (Larkspur, Colorado)

Between Denver and Colorado Springs, Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: Larkspur is in the scenic foothills with entertainment and views. Family highlights include a heated pool, Yogi Bear’s Water Zone with water slides and a dump bucket, and interactive water features. Activities include foam parties, miniature bowling, arcade, miniature golf, and themed weekends, along with Yogi Bear character meet-and-greets.

Lodging includes RV campsites and modern cabins, with rates from about $95 to $339. Sign up for Club Yogi Rewards to earn bookable points on your camp stay.

7. Firelight Camps (Ithaca, New York)

Firelight Camps takes backyard camping to a higher level in the backyard of La Tourelle Inn & Spa in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. You can sleep among the trees and enjoy communal campfires at sundown in the outdoor lounge area. Recreation includes a game and book library, bocce, and cornhole. Nearby trails include the Upper Buttermilk Falls trail.

On-site experiences include outdoor yoga, wild foraging, forest bathing hikes, and live music.

Tents can sleep up to 4 and are furnished with hardwood floors, beds, private porches, battery-powered lanterns, and a desk. Some tents offer electric heaters, fans, floor lamps, and outlets.

Rates range from about $230 to $275 per night, depending on size and electricity. AARP and AAA discounts are available.

8. Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)

Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains offers tent camping with private bathrooms and comfortable beds. There’s a garden, outdoor fireplace, lounge, and outdoor community areas. Amenities include yoga classes, hiking, cycling, and live music. Nightly campfires and board games make this a great campground to come home to after a day of exploring. Kids tents and family-friendly programs make this a fun stay for the whole family.

The campground is in an 182-acre valley with hiking trails and wildflower meadows. It’s close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood. There’s no Wi-Fi or TV, just stargazing and s’mores.

Safari tents with a shared bathhouse start around $219 per night, and suites with kids tents with room for up to 6 are about $600 nightly. World of Hyatt points redemptions range from 16,750 to 50,000 points per night.

9. KOA Resort: Mount Rushmore (Hill City, South Dakota)

Families visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial can sleep in the Black Hills at the fun and kid-friendly KOA Resort: Mount Rushmore. The campground offers numerous activities, with horseback riding, a pool, hot tub, fishing, miniature golf, bounce pillow, bike and UTV rentals, a climbing wall, gem mining, and more.

Campground events include the Mount Rushmore Rodeo and Chuck Wagon Dinner, where you ride a chuck wagon to a mountain meadow for a cowboy music show and eat campfire steaks and Dutch oven dishes.

Ways to stay include tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. Group sites are available. Basic tent sites are priced low at around $30 per night, and deluxe cabins with full bathrooms are about $260 nightly. RV site pricing depends on the site, but basic RV sites are about $50 per night. Sign up for KOA Rewards to earn points you can use to book camping reservations.

10. Beaver Island Retreat (Beaver Island, Michigan)

Beaver Island Retreat offers safari tent camping on Beaver Island in Michigan, one of the most remote locations in the country. This retreat is known for dark skies and a peaceful, natural setting. You can hang out at the pavilion, playing board or card games and enjoying the campfire. The guest facility offers a gourmet kitchen and laundry with extra linens, blankets, pillows, and washers and dryers with complimentary detergent.

Camp activities include nature walks, hikes, beaches, and a nearby public playground and toy museum. The retreat is ADA-compliant, offering an accessible tent and bathhouse. The kitchen and laundry are also accessible.

Safari tents accommodate 2 adults, but you can add an optional miniature glamping tent for 2 kids to camp steps away from the main tent. Beds offer memory foam mattresses and bamboo sheets, and room amenities include unlimited ice, lump charcoal, and firewood.

Family tents, including a miniature glamping tent, are around $425 to $500 per night.

11. Coldwater Gardens (Milton, Florida)

The Coldwater Gardens eco-resort offers glamping tents, treehouses, and cabins among the gardens and trails. Activities include nature exploration on the trails for hiking or biking, and seeing the wildlife, flora, and fauna of the campground’s 415 acres. On Coldwater Creek, families can swim, visit sandbars, kayak, or canoe. Picnicking, gardening, and farm education are available, too.

The resort is near Navarre Beach, the Gulf Breeze Zoo, Blackwater River State Forest, and other local attractions.

Rates vary depending on the site, but generally range from about $200 for a tiny house to $260 for a private treehouse among the magnolias.

12. AutoCamp Cape Cod (Falmouth, Massachusetts)

AutoCamp Cape Cod is on the scenic Atlantic shore and a perfect basecamp for exploring Cape Cod. From the campground, you can visit Falmouth or Woods Hole or take the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.

Campground activities include lawn games, kayaking, paddleboarding, yoga, and music by the campfire. Free bicycles are available for exploring Cape Cod, including the Shining Sea Bikeway. The on-site restaurant offers occasional raw bar pop-ups and a light, complimentary breakfast.

The campground offers Airstreams, cabins, and adventure tents, all of which are fun ways for families to enjoy camping in Cape Cod.

Rates are about $200 for adventure tents, $250 for Airstreams, and $489 for cabins. This campground can be booked with Hilton Honors points, ranging from 70,000 to 276,000 points per night.

13. Jellystone Park Hill Country (Canyon Lake, Texas)

Jellystone Park Hill Country is in scenic Texas Hill Country, between Austin and San Antonio, close to historic New Braunfels. It has a water playground and multiple pools for cooling off in the Texas heat, and it’s a great jumping-off point for day trips to the Guadalupe River and Gruene. Kids can play in the water, hop on the huge jumping pillow, play miniature golf, and meet Yogi Bear and friends. The activities center offers candy bar bingo and arts and crafts on the weekends.

Tent and RV sites and cabins are available, including 2-bedroom cabins that sleep up to 8 people, have 2 bathrooms, and have a covered porch.

Tent sites with electric and water are about $75 per night, and RV sites start at about $85. Rooms in the lodge are about $130, and cabins range from about $155 per night to $250.

14. Thousand Trails Orlando (Clermont, Florida)

Thousand Trails Orlando offers a large campground full of activities just west of Disney World. The camp has boat rentals for the small lake, 2 pools and hot tubs, miniature golf, shuffleboard, fishing, sports courts, and playgrounds.

Most sites at the campground are for RVs, but there are numerous cottages, some sleeping up to 8, with a loft that kids can turn into a private clubhouse.

Typical rates are $55 for RV sites and $160 to $220 for cabins. Thousand Trails offers camping and cabin memberships that can cover the cost of your stay.

15. Splashway Campground (Sheridan, Texas)

Halfway between Houston and San Antonio, Splashway is a water park with a campground. The waterpark is a huge draw for campers, with thrilling slides, an obstacle course, a lagoon, a wave pool, a lazy river, and kids water play areas. There’s also miniature golf, a fishing pond, laser tag, playgrounds, sports courts, and organized family activities.

Campground lodging options include tent and RV sites, cottages, cabins, and vacation homes.

RV sites are typically about $65 per night. Expect to pay about $130 nightly for cottages and $200 for cabins. Vacation home prices vary depending on which you choose, but booking a vacation home is usually $300 or $600 per night.

Final Thoughts

If your best family memories tend to be outdoors, family campgrounds can help you make the most of that, with room to enjoy nature and maintain kid-friendly routines at night. With lodging to meet the needs of families and amenities you can make the most of, like pools, miniature golf, and activity centers, family campgrounds can be a destination or a jumping-off point to greater adventures.