Secure Your Spot at These Breathtaking U.S. State Park Campgrounds Before It’s Too Late

If tackling all 63 U.S. national parks doesn’t sound like a monumental task, challenge yourself with the nearly 10,000 state park units spread across the nation. State parks, as the name suggests, are primarily overseen by local and state authorities, and they typically offer a quieter alternative to nearby national parks.

However, camping in a state park is just as breathtaking as any other experience. As highlighted by these seven locations, adventurers can discover enchanting rock formations, spectacular stargazing, and even wild horses within these special areas. Whether you’re plotting a stop on your next road trip or seeking a peaceful retreat from the bustle, think about spending the night at these amazing state parks.

Kōkeʻe State Park, Hawai’i

• Reserve a campsite: Kōkeʻe State Park

Kōkeʻe State Park spans 4,345 acres and showcases the stunning canyon, coastal, and forest landscapes of Kauaʻi, Hawai’i. Perched at an elevation of 3,500 to 4,000 feet, this park offers an otherworldly experience, as noted by Chris Faye, director of the Kōkeʻe Natural History Museum. Faye shares with Dinogo that one of the park's highlights is its adaptability to visitors’ preferences: “You can spend your day simply enjoying a picnic in the meadow at park headquarters to clear your mind and unwind. You don’t have to do anything, or you can choose to be active.” For those seeking adventure, don’t miss the Kalalau or Pu’u O Kila lookouts for breathtaking views of Kalalau Valley and the Nāpali Coast, or take a hike along the rim of Waimea Canyon.

Kōkeʻe State Park offers nine camping sites for visitors.

Harris Beach State Park, Oregon

• Reserve a campsite: Harris Beach State Park

You can’t go wrong with nearly 300 state parks in Oregon. As you cruise along Highway 101, you may feel drawn to stop at several, but don’t miss Harris Beach State Park in Brookings for a night or two. Here, you'll be just a short walk from stunning sea stacks along the shore (try saying that five times fast) and the dramatic waves that define the West Coast. In winter and spring, you might even spot whales as gray whales migrate. Travel three miles north to hike a segment of the Oregon Coast Trail in the coastal Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.

Harris Beach State Park features 65 full-hookup sites, 59 tent sites, and six yurts for your camping needs.

Highlands Hammock State Park, Florida

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While Florida’s swampy wilderness is often linked to Everglades National Park, which attracts 1 million visitors annually, a trip to Highlands Hammock State Park—about 150 miles north in central Florida—offers an equally wild experience. This state park welcomed around 160,000 visitors in 2022 and boasts more rare and endemic species than any other state park in Florida. Within its 9,000 acres, campers can spot wildlife such as the gopher tortoise and the Florida panther; it's estimated that only 120 to 230 adult Florida panthers remain in the wild. Bring your binoculars for a self-guided wildlife adventure or choose a tram tour to access areas of the park that are usually off-limits to the public.

Highlands Hammock State Park offers 159 sites for campers.

Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas

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While nearly 400,000 visitors flock to Big Bend National Park each year, the adjacent state park sees fewer than 50,000, making Big Bend Ranch State Park an ideal spot to experience the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem without the crowds. There’s so much to discover in this 311,000-acre park: popular activities include river rafting and horseback riding, but don’t overlook the park’s amazing stargazing opportunities—it’s designated as a Dark Sky Park.

Depending on your camping choice, you can truly disconnect at sites like Guale 2. “Guale 2 offers everything—millions of years of volcanic geology to explore, views into Mexico, an overwhelming sense of solitude, and sunrises and sunsets that will forever alter your perception of color,” park volunteer Gary Nored remarked in his review of the campsite. If you prefer easier access, other campgrounds like Fresno Vista and Grassy Banks are readily available without needing a four-wheel drive.

Big Bend Ranch State Park features 138 sites for visitors.

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

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Over 70 percent of Utah consists of public land, transforming the state into an adventurer's paradise for exploring its stunning red-rock terrains. While more than 10 million visitors flock to the Mighty Five national parks each year, only around 500,000 venture to Goblin Valley State Park, located roughly an hour's drive northeast of Capitol Reef National Park. This often-overlooked destination in Utah is famed for its hoodoos—tall, narrow rock formations sculpted by millions of years of erosion. Additionally, the park's designation as an International Dark Sky Park means that those hoodoos provide a breathtaking backdrop for some of the most stunning starry nights in the country, making it even more tempting to camp here.

Goblin Valley State Park offers 25 sites for camping, along with two yurts.

Assateague State Park, Maryland

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Not only is Assateague State Park Maryland’s sole oceanfront park, but it also provides campers with the unique experience of staying alongside wild horses. According to the National Parks Service, these horses were originally brought to the island in the 17th century by owners seeking to evade taxes on the mainland. Today, Assateague Island is divided between Virginia to the south and Maryland to the north—home to around 80 to 100 horses in Maryland and about 150 in Virginia (where they are known as Chincoteague ponies). Watching these horses is captivating enough for a weekend, but consider canoeing or kayaking to explore the park’s hidden coves and marshes. Assateague Outfitters, located in the adjacent Assateague National Seashore, offers two-and-a-half-hour kayak tours for those eager to learn about the island’s ecosystem.

Assateague State Park features 342 available sites for camping.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

• Reserve your campsite: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

The awe-inspiring experience of wandering among towering trees that seem to reach the sky attracts over a million visitors to the Redwood National and State Parks in California. Stretching from Humboldt County to Big Sur, groves of Sequoia sempervirens are co-managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the National Park Service, encompassing Redwood National Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods County Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Covering 10,000 acres, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is situated at the northernmost end, approximately 10 miles from Crescent City. Here, you can enjoy forest bathing, fish for salmon in the Smith River (the only undammed river system in the state), and relax beneath the grandeur of these 300-foot-tall giants.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park offers 89 camping sites along with four cabins for visitors.