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Many families take the opportunity to go camping whenever school’s not in session. These family camping trips provide an excellent opportunity to bond, learn important life skills, and make memories that everyone will cherish.
However, many parents complain that finding great places to camp with kids can be challenging.
Are you tired of struggling to find a place everyone enjoys? Do you often feel like other campers see your kids as a nuisance? If so, we’ve got some good news for you!
Today, we’re sharing some of the best places you and your family can camp and enjoy the great outdoors. Let’s get started!
What Makes a Campground Great for Kids?
When it comes to campgrounds, kids and adults value very different things. Most kids want a campground that has lots of activities.
They might put playgrounds, swimming pools, and sports facilities on their priority lists. If they can have the opportunity to try something new and interact with others their age, that’s even better.
However, parents look for campgrounds that are safe and well-maintained. The best campgrounds are a combination of the two preferences.
A great campground for kids will provide plenty of entertainment and social interaction and has a safe and maintained environment. Families can enjoy nature by hiking, fishing, swimming, and other outdoor activities.
These campgrounds balance fun, relaxation, and comfort to help families make unforgettable memories.
Is Camping With Kids Hard?
Camping with kids can be incredibly challenging. Families who want a successful and memorable camping experience must spend time planning and preparing. It will also require patience and a flexible attitude.
As any parent knows, some kids struggle to adjust to a new environment. It can take time to get comfortable, especially when sleeping.
Camping can make it very challenging to maintain a normal routine. Those families who typically run on a very tight schedule may find camping with kids more difficult.
Just like on a road trip, parents will need to have a few tricks up their sleeves to keep kids entertained. Kids who normally spend significant time on electronics can struggle with disconnecting from their devices.
Those kids who are a bit more adventurous may take the opportunity to test the boundaries regarding safety. They may accidentally or purposefully put themselves in danger while camping.
Keeping track of everyone can be challenging, especially with larger families or those with older kids who have earned a bit more freedom.
Keep in Mind: Camping with kids is already difficult, but is it possible to camp with a baby? Let’s see how to have a successful camping trip with a baby!
How Can You Have a Stress-Free Camping Trip with Kids?
The key to having a stress-free camping trip with kids is planning. You want to start by spending time researching where you’ll stay. As we mentioned, some campsites are more kid-friendly than others.
You want to ensure your campground offers plenty for kids to do during your trip. Access to a swimming pool, mini golf, or a beach can help.
Additionally, you’ll want to create packing lists for everyone. Think through everything kids will need. Include everything from the basics to items you can use if things don’t go as planned. You want to know if they’ll have games or activities to keep them entertained if you get rained in.
Try to involve your kids when planning your camping trip. Let them help plan meals, create a routine, and make decisions. This will help you establish healthy expectations and ensure everyone is on the same page. If it’s their first camping experience, it may be worth keeping the trip short to test the waters.
The Best Places to Camp With Your Kids
Now you know what to look for and how to plan a great camping trip with kids, let’s look at some places to stay. We’ve found some of the best places to camp with kids nationwide. Let’s dive in!
Yogi-Bear’s Jellystone Camp-Resort: Luray, Virginia
Address: 2250 US 211 East, Luray, VA 22835
Nightly Rate: Starting at $119
About: You can find Yogi-Bear’s Jellystone Camp-Resorts all over the country, and they have a reputation for being exceptionally kid-friendly. One of the best is in Luray, Virginia. This incredible campground sits at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
With more than 175 camp and RV sites and cabins, you’ll have no trouble finding a spot here. Additionally, they offer a bark park for canine friends, the Pic-A-Nic Basket restaurant to grab a bite to eat, and the ranger station to grab any necessities you may have forgotten.
Why Your Kids Will Love It: Where this park truly shines is its water park. While other campgrounds may offer a lake or an outdated pool, Yogi-Bear’s Jellystone Camp-Resort: Luray offers a water park.
It features a 197-foot-long Virginia Vortex water slide, a 376-foot-long Luray Loop-de-Loop water slide, and a side-by-side slide to challenge your friends.
What kid wouldn’t love that? However, if that’s not enough, the park also offers a splash pad, mini-golf course, pedal boats, an outdoor movie theater, an arcade, and tons more activities.
Sun Retreats Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Address: 576 Yellow Hill Rd., Narvon, PA 17555
Nightly Rate: Starting at $72
About: With more than 350 sites, you’ll have plenty of options, and you can choose between various experiences. If you want an RV site with full hookups or a rustic tent site, they offer just about everything.
The campground offers many opportunities to relax, play, or make memories. Everyone in your family can have an incredible and relaxing time!
Why Your Kids Will Love It: Your kids will love the splash pad and kiddie pool. It makes for a fun and exciting place to cool off. Parents can sit in the shade and watch their little ones have the time of their lives.
Additionally, there’s a lake for fishing and a mini-golf course to challenge your fellow campers. Shoot hoops on the basketball court, take a peddle boat for a spin, or put your skills to the test at the shuffleboard. With so many options, kids won’t know what they want to do next!
Carolina Pines RV Resort, South Carolina
Address: 5800 SC-90, Conway, SC 29526
Nightly Rate: Starting at $68
About: Carolina Pines RV Resort is a full-scale RV resort that offers an exceptional experience for all ages. The resort is just a short drive from the popular Myrtle Beach and has become a popular destination for those craving relaxation and adventure.
With hundreds of RV sites and a schedule full of fun activities, this is the place to be if you want to create priceless camping memories with your kids.
Why Your Kids Will Love It: Your kids can enjoy the Carolina Splash Water Park. The park features a splash pad, a heated lazy river, and a gigantic bucket that dumps gallons of water onto the unfortunate souls beneath it. However, it’ll do the trick if you want to escape the intense Lowcountry heat.
Splash RV Resort & Water Park, Florida
Address: 8500 Welcome Church Rd, Milton, FL 32583
Nightly Rate: Starting at $51
About: Splash RV Resort & Water Park offers just over 300 campsites. You can also stay in cottages or Conestoga wagon rentals for a unique experience. The campground has all paved roads.
Additionally, sites come with free high-speed Wi-Fi for streaming your favorite shows. Whether you spend time relaxing in the Great Lodge, soaking in the natural scenery, or grabbing a drink at their beer garden, you’re in for a real treat when you stay here!
Why Your Kids Will Love It: There’s so much for kids to love about this RV resort. Kids typically run to the lazy river and water slides first. They’ll spend hours splashing and cooling off here.
However, it also has two heated pools, one for families and an adult-only pool. Once the kids experience the Pickleball courts, arcade, and Gaga ball court, you’ll likely have a hard time getting them to go home.
Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, Indiana
Address: 78 North Holiday Blvd., Santa Claus, IN 47579
Nightly Rate: Starting at $55
About: Regarding campgrounds for kids, you better check your travel plans twice to ensure Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort is on it! This seasonal resort offers more than 200 RV spots for your next family camping trip.
These sites are concrete slabs and provide a picnic table, fire pit, and Wi-Fi. Some sites have full hookups, but you get various options.
Why Your Kids Will Love It: Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort is popular with kids who want to make Santa’s nice list. The park is in Santa Clause, Indiana, down the road from the popular Holiday World amusement park.
However, you don’t have to leave the resort to have an incredible time. The resort also features Santa’s Splashdown Waterpark, which has Blitzen Bay Pool and two massive water slides, MoonRacer and Yukon. In addition, little ones can play at RainDeer WaterWorks and Candy Cane Cascades.
Coal Mine Ranch RV Park, Texas
Address: 2887 County Road 1403, Malakoff, Texas 75148
Nightly Rate: Starting at $40
About: Coal Mine Ranch RV Park is in the heart of the Lone Star State of Texas. It features spacious sites, a large play area, and activities like horseshoes, corn hole, washers, tether ball, and a playground. Coal Mine Ranch RV Park guests receive a discounted entry into their popular Prospectors Cove Waterpark.
Why Your Kids Will Love It: Coal Mine Ranch RV Park offers so many activities and games for kids to enjoy. They’ll have a tremendous time trying new yard games and getting to know other campers.
However, you may struggle to keep them away from Prospectors Cove Waterpark. With multiple water slides and tons of water, it’s the best place to cool off in the area. You can defeat the intense Texas heat and stay cool in the cove.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Florida
Address: 4510 Fort Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Nightly Rate: Starting at $76
About: Disney’s famous Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground has over 750 acres of pine and cypress trees. If you know anything about Disney, you know they don’t do anything halfway, including building campgrounds.
Whether you stay in a tent or a massive RV, they’ve thought through every detail to make your stay as smooth as possible. They offer unique recreational opportunities and a few magical touches that only Disney can pull off. If you’re a fan of Walt Disney, there’s no better place to stay.
Why Your Kids Will Love It: What kid doesn’t dream of a trip to Walt Disney World? Kids will love being minutes from the entrance to the Magic Kingdom.
In addition to taking a dip in one of their pools, you can join Chip ‘N’ Dale for a campfire sing-a-long, practice your archery skills, and ride a horse at their stables.
If you can think of it, Disney offers it. Everything from jogging trails to the playground, you’ll find it at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
Read More: Take a look at How to Plan an RV Trip to Disneyland!
Make Priceless Memories Camping With Your Kids
Camping is a great way to make priceless memories with your family. Your kids are only young once; before you know it, they’ll pack up for their own adventure. Don’t miss the opportunity to get out and experience the world with your kids.
There’s nothing better than sitting around a campfire with those you love most and making memories together. Trust us, the only camping trips with your kids you’ll regret are the ones you didn’t take.
