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Coolest Campgrounds for Families

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By AAA Travel Editor Katie Broome
September 23, 2020
From kids’ camps and splash pads to miniature golf and movie nights, campgrounds today offer all sorts of family-friendly fun that can make for a memorable vacation. With the help of AAA inspectors, we’ve rounded up 12 of the coolest campgrounds for families from coast to coast. Most feature the standard family fare (swimming pools and game rooms), but many go above and beyond with rental bikes, on-site amusement parks, gem mining and even “glamping” (glamorous camping) tents stocked with all the essentials.
Check out the list below for family camping inspiration. (If you’re new to camping, you’ll find lots of helpful tips about what to pack and where to go in Planning Your First Family Camping Trip.)

East Coast

flickr / CC BY/Patrick Mueller

Bear Den Campground

Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Location perk: In Pisgah National Forest near Linville Gorge, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 324.8).
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups and furnished cabins.
What families will love: The mountain location, swimming and fishing at the lake and beach, canoe and paddleboat rentals, golf cart rentals, a game room, movie nights and nearby hiking trails.
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Cherrystone Family Camping Resort

Cape Charles, Virginia
Location perk: Right on the Chesapeake Bay waterfront with great sunset views.
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups, furnished cabins, camper rentals and glamping tents.
What families will love: The five swimming pools (including an adults-only pool), four fishing piers, boat and bicycle rentals, golf carts, miniature golf, jumping pads and daily activities in summer.
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Frontier Town RV Resort & Campground

Berlin, Maryland
Location perk: It’s less than a 20-minute drive to Ocean City’s boardwalk or Assateague State Park.
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups, rental RVs and furnished cabins.
What families will love: Campers get discounted admission to the on-site amusement park ( Frontier Town's Wild West Show & Waterpark), which features a Native American village, steam train and Wild West shows. Other fun features include a water park and lazy river, miniature golf, golf cart rentals, kayak rentals, a zipline and ropes course, an arcade and daily activities in summer.
AAA Inspector 55 says: “A wonderful place for families. You can also rent and sleep in a covered wagon.”
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flickr / CC BY/Nicolas Henderson

Jellystone Park at Birchwood Acres

Greenfield Park, New York
Location perk: In the foothills of the Catskill Mountains.
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups and furnished cabins, lodges and villas.
What families will love: The mini water park with slides and water shooters, multiple swimming pools, a jumping pad, playgrounds, a fishing lake, paddleboat rentals, gem mining, a game room and daily activities in summer.
AAA Inspector 46 says: “It’s a great place to unplug and recharge while making lasting memories with the little ones.”
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Courtesy of Myrtle Beach Travel Park

Myrtle Beach Travel Park

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Location perk: Right on the Atlantic Ocean.
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups and furnished cabins, villas and trailers.
What families will love: The fishing lake, multiple swimming pools (both outdoor and heated indoor), the lazy river, splash pad, an arcade and daily activities in summer.
AAA Inspector 621 says: “Though all of the campgrounds [AAA] list[s] are clean and well-kept, this one stood out to me as a favorite, particularly for the views and amenities. It’s a great alternative to the high-rise hotels along the Grand Strand.”
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Normandy Farms Campground

Foxborough, Massachusetts
Location perk: About 45 minutes from Boston and 1.25 hours from Cape Cod.
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups, furnished cabins, pop-up trailers, safari tents and Yurt rentals.
What families will love: The Olympic-size swimming pools, indoor heated pool, bike park, fishing pond, nature trails, recreation lodge with an arcade and activities, outdoor movies and golf cart rentals.
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iStockphoto.com/Matt Rides

Pine Acres Family Camping Resort

Oakham, Massachusetts
Location perk: On Lake Dean, with some campsites on the waterfront.
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups, RV rentals and fully furnished cabins.
What families will love: Swimming and fishing lake with three beaches, swimming pool, adults-only hot tub, splash and jumping pads, canoe and kayak rentals, miniature golf, gem mining, bike rentals, an arcade, an adult lounge and daily activities in summer.
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Midwest

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Hart Ranch RV Resort

Rapid City, South Dakota
Location perk: Just 30 minutes from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and 1 hour from Badlands National Park.
The digs: Tent sites,RV hookups, rental campers and fully furnished cabins.
What families will love: The hiking trail, Olympic-size swimming pool, bike and golf cart rentals, miniature golf, BMX track, game room, children’s camp programs and weekly rodeos in summer.
AAA Inspector 584 says: “This campground is a great launching spot for exploring nearby Black Hills attractions like Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park, Reptile Gardens and Custer State Park. With so much to do and so many facilities, it is clearly a resort.”
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Wikimedia Commons / CC BY SA/Winkelvi

Wylie Park and Storybook Land

Aberdeen, South Dakota
Location perk: Part of a large municipal park that includes a children’s amusement park.
The digs: Tent sites,RV hookups and fully furnished cabins.
What families will love: The on-site amusement park ( Storybook Land/Wylie Park) gets rave reviews, as does the miniature golf, go-carts, bumper boats, paddleboat and canoe rentals, swimming beach and recreational trail.
AAA Inspector 584 says: “This place is a destination in itself. It offers expansive, sprawling grounds with shade trees, ponds, wildlife and easy biking for children. But the main draw is the awesome themed amusement park with a merry-go-round, miniature train, castle and lots of displays depicting fabled tales and characters like Captain Hook, Humpty Dumpty [and] the Wizard of Oz.”
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West Coast

Courtesy of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina

Campland On The Bay

San Diego, California
Location perk: In Mission Bay Park right on the Mission Bay waterfront; just 10 minutes from SeaWorld San Diego.
The digs: Tent sites and RV hookups.
What families will love: Multiple swimming pools, a beach, boat and bike rentals, game room, ice cream parlor, skateboard park, daily activity schedule and live entertainment year-round at an outdoor venue.
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Flying Flags RV Resort

Buellton, California
Location perk: 2 hours west of Los Angeles and just 15 minutes from the Pacific Ocean.
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups, glamping tents, vintage trailer rentals, fully furnished cabins and cottages.
What families will love: Modern amenities, cottages with front porches and enclosed side yards, multiple swimming pools, a splash pad, bocce court and fire pits.
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Yosemite Pines RV Resort and Family Lodging

Groveland, California
Location perk: On the Tioga Pass Scenic Highway, just 30 minutes from Yosemite National Park’s Big Oak Flat entrance.
The digs: Tent sites, RV hookups, fully furnished cabins, rental trailers and glamping in Conestoga wagons.
What families will love: The petting farm (with alpacas!), bocce court, horseshoes, swimming pool, nature trails, gold panning and daily activities in summer.
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AAA

Start Your Next Camping Trip with AAA

AAA Travel provides peace of mind for travelers—from the first mile of the journey to the last. Get inspiration for your next camping trip with AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner, or browse pre-planned road trip itineraries on AAA.com/RoadTrips. Estimating fuel costs is easy with the AAA Gas Cost Calculator, and if your car needs a quick tune-up before the trip, find a AAA Approved auto repair facility near you at AAA.com/AutoRepair. For printed maps, AAA TourBook guides and trip planning advice, visit your local AAA office.
Media: AAA NewsRoom
Properties: AAA.biz/Diamonds
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