The Best Campgrounds Near National Parks in the West

Camping in national parks was once a spontaneous affair, as long as the forecast was clear and the calendar was empty. Nowadays, campers must book sites and plan trips many months in advance thanks to the parks’ fast-growing popularity. With funding and staffing at federally operated campgrounds in question this summer, here are alternative basecamps for car, tent, and RV camping, all less than an hour from a popular national park entrance in the West. 

Zion National Park, Utah

Despite being 45 minutes from Zion National Park, Snow Canyon’s landscape and natural beauty draw easy comparisons to the famous park. Camp near towering red Navajo sandstone cliffs and sage bushes at one of Snow Canyon State Park’s 37 sites (five of which are tent-only). Sites are available to reserve four months in advance on a rolling basis. Weekends in the spring and fall fill up fast with visitors taking advantage of the mild desert weather, so you’re more likely to snag a spot on weekdays or outside of peak seasons. Within the state park, follow a 1.2-mile round-trip trail to the Petrified Dunes, and don’t miss the 2.5-mile round-trip Lava Flow trail. If that’s not enough to explore, make Red Cliffs Recreation Area a stop along the way in or out of Zion.

Yosemite National Park, California

Only 18 miles from the south entrance of Yosemite, the privately-owned Outdoorsy Yosemite is close enough for day trips to the park and yet tucked away in its own High Sierra oasis. If you’d rather not tent or RV camp (sites have full hookups), book a rustic cabin, glamping tent, or stationary camper instead. A short walk away is Bass Lake, a five-mile-long lake that’s popular in warmer months for wakeboarding, paddle boarding, sailing, and swimming. For those who’d rather stay on land, the one-mile Way of the Mono loop features interpretive signs that are great for kids, and the three-mile round trip from Goat Mountain to Teaford Saddle gradually climbs a Forest Service road to a fire lookout. Back at the campground, dip in the pool, play board games at the picnic tables, gather around the community fire pit, or take part in the rotating calendar of events on the grounds.

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

As one of the most remote national parks, visitors rarely have trouble finding a campsite within Great Basin. But for a free and clean option only 15 minutes down the highway, the Sacramento Pass Recreation Area has 10 modest first-come, first-serve sites maintained by the Bureau of Land Management. Each site has a picnic table and grill, and some have shade structures. There’s a communal restroom and trash cans. Bring your own drinking water because potable water isn’t available. The campground’s lower loop surrounds a small fishing pond stocked with trout from a nearby hatchery, and multiple trails for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and ATVers leave from the campground. You’re allowed to stay at your site for 14 days, giving you ample time to appreciate the dark skies. The chances of seeing a shooting star out here are high, especially if you plan to stay during a meteor shower.

Glacier National Park, Montana

The privately owned Divide Creek Campground in Babb, Montana is a roadside gem for the weary traveler. Only a quarter-mile from Glacier National Park's east entrance, you can set up camp at breathtaking tent sites on the banks of the Saint Mary River or in adorable treehouse-like cabins. Summers are busy so book early to reserve a spot. For the perfect day, stroll to St. Mary Village for shopping and ice cream, cool off in Saint Mary Lake, and end the day cozied up by the fire. The heavily forested surroundings offer plenty of privacy between groups, but you’re also close to amenities like hot showers or the lodge at St. Mary Village. Just across the road is the nearly 50-mile-long Going-to-the-Sun Road, a National Historic Landmark with views of glacier-carved peaks and gem-blue alpine lakes.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Only 10 miles from the south entrance of the Grand Canyon, the Tusayan-Montane (formerly Ten-X) Campground has 142 single-family sites managed by the Forest Service, as well as several sites for larger groups. The simple campground (think pit toilets and campsites with a picnic table and a fire pit) is nestled within a ponderosa pine and Gambel oak forest.

If you’re looking for more amenities, drive 17 miles south of Tusayan-Montane to Wander Camp. One of several glamping destinations that have popped up around federal recreation sites, the compound of canvas tents—king, twin, family, and triple sizes—has more to offer than a traditional campground (like a real bed) while still maintaining a rustic experience. Fuel up on a pancake breakfast from the on-site food truck before tackling part of the Grand Canyon’s Rim Trail, which stretches west for 13 mostly paved miles from the South Kaibab Trailhead to Hermits Rest. Your jaw will drop to the canyon floor when you see it for the first time.

Yellowstone National Park, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho

Just because you’re in cowboy country doesn’t mean you have to rough it. The Yellowstone Park / West Gate KOA Holiday in West Yellowstone, Montana is situated just six miles from the west entrance. Here you’ll find more than 300 RV, tent, and cabin sites, as well as a heated indoor pool, camp store, on-site restaurant, upgraded Wi-Fi, and bike rentals. Summer is prime time, but the campground is open from May 19 to October 1. This little sliver of wilderness happens to be the tripoint where the borders of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana touch. Visit three states in one day by starting off at the campground in Montana. Take a drive to Gibbon Falls in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming (if the park is open), and then picnic at Henrys Lake in Idaho. 

Tip: If the West Gate KOA is full, try the Yellowstone Park / Mountainside KOA down the road.

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

In 1968, schoolteachers Jack and Ede Reisland opened the first private tourism property near the national park called the Denali Grizzly Bear Resort. To this day, it is the oldest family-owned and operated resort in the area. The campground has 18 RV and 20 tent sites with a centrally located bathhouse. Some tent-only sites are located on the Nenana River, which forms the southern border of Denali National Park. The resort also has a 119-room rustic cedar hotel and 30 homey cabin rentals, both with views of the surrounding wilderness and the railroad on the other side of the river. Get a snack at the food truck court, pick out a souvenir at the general store, or book an outing at the local tour desk. The Denali Visitor Center is less than a 15-minute drive away.