Camping

The largest state park in New York at 65000 acres with two separate recreation areas, beaches, campgrounds, cabins, and over 80 miles of trails. The Red House and Quaker areas each have their own beach, campground, and trail system. Kids love the Art Roscoe ski area in summer for mountain biking and the Thunder Rocks area for scrambling on massive boulders. The park has a store, restaurants, and cabin rentals, making it easy to plan a multi-day family trip. Stargazing is incredible here with very little light pollution.

One of the safest swimming beaches on Kauai north shore thanks to the longest fringing reef in the state that protects the shoreline from waves. The water is calm, warm, and shallow for a long way out making it excellent for young children. The reef creates a natural lagoon that is great for beginning snorkeling. The beach is long and the campground at one end makes multi-day stays possible. The mountain backdrop and quiet setting feel like classic old Hawaii. Windsurfing is popular here and fun to watch.

Living in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro means you’re never more than a couple hours from some of Texas’s best state parks. Whether your kids are into swimming, hiking, mountain biking, or just running around in wide open spaces, there’s a park that fits. Here are our picks for the best state parks near Dallas for families. Cedar Hill State Park - 20 Minutes from Downtown Cedar Hill State Park is the closest real state park experience to Dallas, sitting right on Joe Pool Lake barely 20 minutes from the city center. Kids can swim at the sandy beach, fish from shore, hike the Talala Trail loop, or - if they’re old enough - tear up the DORBA mountain bike trails. With 350 campsites, it’s also one of the easiest parks to plan an overnight trip. ...

A small and peaceful campground on the St. Lawrence River near the point where Lake Ontario flows into the river. The 48 campsites are nestled among trees with several right on the waterfront. Kids love fishing from the shore and watching the constant boat traffic. The views across to Wolfe Island (Canada) are lovely. A boat launch provides access to some of the best fishing waters in the state. The park is small enough to feel intimate and quiet, a nice alternative to the busier Thousand Islands parks.

A private oceanfront campground on Maui west side with tent sites and permanent glamping tents right on the beach. The reef off Olowalu is one of the best snorkeling spots on Maui with a high chance of seeing sea turtles. Kids fall asleep to the sound of waves and wake up to snorkel right from camp. The glamping tents have real beds and electricity for families who want comfort without a hotel. The location between Lahaina and Kihei makes it a convenient base. This is as close to beach camping paradise as it gets.

A family-friendly campground on a point jutting into the St. Lawrence River with incredible river views and stunning sunsets. The 175 campsites include waterfront options with direct river access. Kids love fishing from the shore, watching boats and ships pass, and swimming at the small beach. A boat launch and marina make it easy to explore the Thousand Islands by water. The park is close to Clayton village for dining and the Antique Boat Museum. Evening campfires with river views are hard to beat.

A quiet state park in the Rensselaer Plateau with a beautiful swimming beach on Black River Pond. The beach is sandy, lifeguard-staffed, and surrounded by forest. Short hiking trails loop through the woods and the park is popular for fishing. The campground is small with only 10 sites making it one of the most intimate camping experiences in the state park system. The park is off the beaten path and rarely crowded, which is exactly its appeal. A great low-key family day trip from the Albany area.

A large Hudson Highlands park with a swimming beach on Canopus Lake, over 50 miles of trails, and a campground. The beach is family-friendly with a sandy shore and lifeguards. The Appalachian Trail runs through the park and shorter nature loops are available for younger kids. The park encompasses 14000 acres of forests, ponds, and streams with excellent birding and wildlife viewing. Canopus Lake also has boat rentals. It is a perfect weekend destination that combines swimming, hiking, and camping.

A state campground on the shore of Cranberry Lake, one of the largest and most remote lakes in the Adirondacks. The 173 sites are wooded and many have direct lake access. The swimming beach is sandy and the lake is clean and wild. Kayaking and canoeing are excellent with miles of shoreline and islands to explore. The Cranberry Lake 50 trail circles the entire lake for ambitious hikers. The campground has a quieter, more remote feel than the busier Adirondack campgrounds to the east. Loon calls echo across the lake every evening.

A state park on Delta Lake with one of the best swimming beaches in central New York. The 900-foot sandy beach has a gradual entry and lifeguards on duty during summer. The lake is warm and calm, perfect for young swimmers. The park has a 101-site campground and a large picnic area with shelters. Fishing is good from the shore and boat rentals are available. It is a straightforward, no-frills family park that does the basics really well. The beach alone is worth the trip on a hot day.

A beautiful state campground on the Fulton Chain of Lakes with 126 sites, many directly on the lakefront. The sandy beach is perfect for swimming and the calm lake is ideal for canoeing and kayaking with kids. The campground connects to the Fulton Chain portage trail and sits right on Route 28 for easy access to Old Forge attractions. Sites are well-spaced and shaded by tall pines. The combination of waterfront camping, good swimming, and nearby activities makes this one of the best family campgrounds in the Adirondacks.

The only national forest in New York State, spread across 16000 acres of rolling terrain between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Over 30 miles of interconnected trails wind through meadows, pastures, and forest. The Interloken Trail is the signature route but shorter loops are available for families. Kids will see grazing cattle in the open pastures, which is unusual for a national forest. Blueberry picking in season is a fun bonus activity. Primitive camping is free and dispersed throughout the forest.

One of the largest and most popular campgrounds in the Adirondacks with 355 sites spread along the shores of Fish Creek Pond and connecting waterways. The campground is a paddlers paradise with direct water access to a chain of ponds and lakes. The beach is sandy with a lifeguard and the water is warm by midsummer. Sites range from waterfront spots perfect for launching a canoe to wooded tent sites set back in the pines. The campground store and recreation programs make multi-day stays easy for families. Book months in advance for summer.

A 73-site campground on the St. Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay with a swimming beach, fishing docks, and a boat launch. The location puts you right in the heart of the Thousand Islands with easy access to Boldt Castle, boat tours, and village shops and restaurants. The beach is small but clean and the kids fishing from the docks catch a surprising amount of bass and pike. The campground is shaded and well-maintained. This is one of the best base camps for exploring the Thousand Islands region.

One of the most popular state campgrounds in the Adirondacks right on the shore of Lake George. The 251 sites are shaded by tall pines and many sit directly on the waterfront. Kids can swim at the campground beach, fish from shore, and explore nearby hiking trails. Its location just two miles south of Lake George village makes it convenient for day trips to shops and attractions. Reserve months in advance for summer weekends because this one books up fast.

A stunning 400-acre botanical garden set against the dramatic backdrop of the Koolau Mountains. The garden is free and has wide paved roads perfect for strollers along with trails through collections of tropical plants from around the world. Kids enjoy the catch-and-release fishing lake and the visitor center has nature activities. The mountain views from inside the garden are among the most photographed on Oahu. A campground within the garden offers free weekend camping with a permit, which is one of the best-kept secrets on the island.

Paddle to your own island campsite on Indian Lake for a family camping adventure that feels like true wilderness. The DEC maintains 55 island and shoreline campsites accessible only by boat. Kids love the excitement of paddling to their campsite and having an island all to themselves. Indian Lake is large and scenic with mountain views from the water. The campsites have fire rings and pit toilets. The town of Indian Lake is nearby for supplies. This is a more accessible alternative to the Saranac Lake Islands with similar magic.

A well-maintained Catskills campground with 76 sites surrounding a beautiful 25-acre lake with a sandy beach. The swimming area is perfect for kids and canoe and kayak rentals are available. Sites are well-spaced and shaded. The campground is centrally located for day trips to Kaaterskill Falls, Slide Mountain, and Woodstock. The combination of lakeside camping, good swimming, and easy access to top Catskill trails makes this one of the best family base camps in the region.

A family-friendly state park on the shore of Keuka Lake, one of the cleanest and most beautiful Finger Lakes. The park has a sandy beach with a gradual entry perfect for young swimmers and a campground with sites nestled in the woods. The lake water is clean and warm by midsummer. Fishing is excellent from the shore and the park has a boat launch for kayaks and canoes. Hiking trails through the surrounding hills provide lake views. It is quieter and more relaxed than the bigger Finger Lakes parks.

Camp in a mountain forest at 3600 feet elevation above Waimea Canyon on Kauai with cool temperatures that feel nothing like the beach below. The campground has tent sites and rustic cabins set in a native forest filled with birdsong. The cooler climate is a refreshing change and kids need jackets which feels exotic in Hawaii. From camp you can hike to Waimea Canyon lookouts and Na Pali Coast viewpoints. The nene (Hawaiian goose) is commonly seen in the park. Stars at night are incredible with minimal light pollution.