The Best Family Campgrounds to Visit This Year

When planning a summer vacation or weekend camping trip, it can be hard to find RV resorts and campgrounds that are kid-friendly. Many locations in Florida, Texas, and Arizona are restricted to travelers who are 55 years old and older. Plus, sometimes staff members as well as other campers don’t seem very friendly towards families.

Children love to run around, play tag, and splash in the swimming pool. Isn’t that better than sitting in front of a television or computer monitor? If you’re looking for family campgrounds that welcome kids of all ages, you’re in luck. Here is a list of eleven of the best RV parks across the country that will provide a positive environment for you to make memories with your kids this camping season!

What Makes A Campground Family-Friendly?

Most families are looking for campgrounds that are within their budget. They can’t afford to spend a week where the nightly rate is $90/night. They’re usually camping to save money on a hotel stay. So affordability is key to family-friendliness.

Amenities are also key for a campground to be kid-friendly. A campsite in the middle of nowhere with shady trees and a beautiful view of a lake is wonderful for people looking for tranquility and solitude. But this won’t work for most families. There needs to be plenty of activities to keep children busy like a swimming pool, basketball court, or weekend dance parties.

Finally, most families are traveling in larger RVs. The campsites themselves need to be accommodating. Campgrounds that only cater to rigs 35 feet or less aren’t family-friendly. There needs to be room for slide-outs to extend as well as room to park a second vehicle.

What Types of Amenities Are Usually At A Family-Friendly Campground?

As mentioned above, there needs to be plenty of amenities for a campground to be kid-friendly. In the summer, families are looking for RV parks with a swimming pool or beach access. Campgrounds situated on lakes or ponds that have paddle boats, kayaks, jumping pillows, and beach areas are also great amenities that lure families.

At other times of the year, families enjoy having access to outdoor fun like mini-golf, basketball, horseshoes, corn hole, pickleball, and volleyball. Campgrounds that offer planned activities like crafts, movies, and magic shows are also ideal for families. Finally, basic amenities like bathhouses and laundry facilities are also important.

11 Best Family Campgrounds in the US

No matter if you’re looking for a family campground in the East or the West, the North or the South, these eleven options are great getaways for a family vacation. They offer plenty of amenities at reasonable prices, except for Fort Wilderness. But you can’t have a list of family campgrounds without adding the RV park at Disney World!

1. Islander Resort

Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ

Amenities: Offering both back-in and pull-thru sites, Islander Resort is a family favorite because of its spectacular scenery and kid-friendly amenities. Guests have access to a swimming pool and hot tub, on-site dining, pickleball courts, corn hole, fishing, and more. Plus, the campground sits on Lake Havasu, one of the premier destinations in Arizona. Families enjoy stunning sunsets as well as entertainment for the kids.

Nightly Rate: from $69

2. Tall Pines Campground

Location: Bainbridge, NY

Amenities: For families wanting to escape the summer heat, Tall Pines Campground in New York is a great option. The campground has full hook-up riverfront sites as well as poolside and hilltop sites. There are canoe, kayak, and inner tube rentals available, swimming pool, fishing dock, mini gold, playground, and more. Plus, the campground staff plans regular activities and event nights like Jurassic Dino Week, Summer Palooza, Hawaiian Week, and more. Parents won’t have any problems keeping their kids entertained during their stay.

Nightly Rate: from $48

3. Splash RV Resort and Waterpark

Location: Milton, FL

Amenities: Access to the waterpark is included in your stay at Splash RV Resort. Guests enjoy relaxing in the lazy river, splashing in the heated family pool, and squealing down the water slides. And when the adults want some time alone, there’s an adult-only heated swimming pool and hot tub. It’s a water adventure for the whole family! Plus, there are golf cart rentals, an arcade, a gaga ball court, and stunning bath houses. In addition to the amenities, the full hook-up concrete pads make getting in and out a breeze.

Nightly Rate: from $51

4. Jellystone Park Mammoth Cave

Location: Cave City, KY

Amenities: If you’re spending time exploring Mammoth Cave National Park, a great family campground nearby is the Jellystone Park campground. Enjoy the 2.3-acre lake with sandy beach, the wibit water obstacle course, the activity pool and splash pad, jumping pillows, mini golf, and more. This Jellystone location offers all types of campsites from tent sites to premium waterside sites. So no matter what type of camping you’re looking for, Jellystone Park Mammoth Cave has it all.

Nightly Rate: from $35

5. Austin Lake RV Park and Cabins

Location: Toronto, OH

Amenities: If you’re looking for outdoor recreation, Austin Lake RV Park has it. The 80-acre lake has a sandy beach and an inflatable obstacle course. Guests have access to paddle boats, paddle boards, kayaks, and bumper boats. Stocked ponds provide great opportunities for fishing, and kids enjoy playing around in the creek that flows through the park. There are also hiking trails, playgrounds, pedal karts, a tube slide, and hayrides as well as planned events and activities. You won’t run out of fun things to do here.

Nightly Rate: from $65

6. Newport Dunes Waterfront RV Resort

Location: Newport Beach, CA

Amenities: Newport Dunes is full of family-friendly activities that include access to the public beach, water sports rentals, a beach volleyball court, Moe B’s Munchies Snack Bar, bike and pedestrian trails, and more. During the summer, outdoor movies on the beach are also provided. The swimming pools and cabanas provide safe places for families to enjoy hours of fun. All campsites are full hookups, and some are even waterfront. Plus, the RV resort’s location provides a great launching point to explore other area attractions like Balboa Island, Back Bay Nature Preserve, Crystal Cove State Park, Fashion Island, and more.

Nightly Rate: from $75

7. Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA Holiday

Location: Elizabethtown, PA

Amenities: The Hershey area of Pennsylvania is one of the most family-friendly locations in the entire state. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly campground where you can also plan a day trip to Hersheypark or Hershey’s Chocolate World, this KOA is a great option. From horseshoe pits to sand volleyball courts to playgrounds, there are plenty of outdoor activities to keep the kids busy. Planned activities in the summer like wagon rides, kids’ crafts, and themed weekends make staying at Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA Holiday a memorable family vacation experience. Plus, there are laundry facilities, bath houses, a camp store, and a snack bar on-site for added convenience.

Nightly Rate: from $66

8. Wild Acadia Camping Resort

Location: Trenton, ME

Amenities: Like Jellystone Park Mammoth Cave, Wild Acadia Camping Resort gives your family a great place to stay while enjoying one of America’s National Parks. Only 20 minutes from Acadia National Park, Wild Acadia offers full hook-ups about as close as you can get to the beauty of the Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast. Your kids will have a blast going down the two 300-foot waterslides, playing on the spray ground, and standing under the dumping bucket. They can have water wars with the water balloon catapult stations, test their strength on the 32-foot climbing wall, or bounce around on the Sling-Shot or Jumpshot trampolines. Mini gold, gem mining, and a playground are also on-site.

Nightly Rate: from $45

9. Wallowa Lake State Park

Location: Joseph, OR

Amenities: The only state park on this list, Wallowa Lake offers a different experience for families looking for a less resort-type experience. There are over 100 hook-up sites, many with beautiful views of Wallowa Lake. Within the campground, campers have access to a dump station, evening programs, hiking trails, horseshoe pits, a playground, and interpretive programs. There’s even a Junior Ranger program for kids to learn more about the state park, wildlife, and history of the area. If you’re looking for a more natural environment, Wallowa Lake State Park is a great option for a family camping vacation.

Nightly Rate: from $32

10. Beaver Lake Campground

Location: Custer, South Dakota

Amenities: Another more natural campground without the resort feel is Beaver Lake Campground in South Dakota. Its proximity to Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, and Jewel Cave National Monument makes it a great launching point to enjoy the local attractions. The Black Hills are pleasant in the summer, making Custer a great summer destination for warm days and cool nights. Amenities include a heated swimming pool, laundry facilities, a basketball court, a volleyball court, bathhouses, a playground, and a dog park. Plus, an RV tech lives on-site if you happen to run into any issues during your stay.

Nightly Rate: from $63

11. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Location: Lake Buena Vista, FL

Amenities: The most expensive family campground on the list is Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. But there’s no denying that a stay here will create memories that last a lifetime. Guests don’t just have easy access to the parks, but there are also plenty of on-site activities. Numerous water fun is available at the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool, the fort-themed water play area, and the Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool. If you’d rather stay dry, there are unique activities like archery, horseback riding, and canoeing available. Plus, each campsite is equipped with privacy-enhancing landscaping, making your stay enjoyable and secluded even though there are hundreds of other guests on-site.

Nightly Rate: from $100

Make Memories That Will Last Forever at These Family Campgrounds This Season

Instead of booking an all-inclusive resort that can cost an arm and a leg, choose from one of these family campgrounds this camping season. Or plan a summer vacation to one of these areas and enjoy the local attractions as well as the numerous amenities on-site. Not only will you save on overnight stays, but you’ll enjoy the comforts of home.

At which family-friendly campground will you be making reservations soon?