Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

A new study says these are the 10 best states for a family camping trip

Take your family camping to one of these 10 states this summer.

By
Family Vacation Guide

There are always problems you can run into when you go camping, but when you’re bringing kids along (especially for their first trip), you want the experience to be memorable. Camping with kids takes a ton of preparation, but the Family Vacation Guide took out all the guesswork by analyzing eight crucial traits that could affect your camping experience. They considered everything, from activities to family-friendly camp spots and crime rates, and tallied the score to a final number out of 10. Other factors considered include social media data, hiking trails, safety scores, and annual temperatures. These are the best states for camping, according to the analysis.

Top 10 states for family camping

We’re all for camping pretty much anywhere and everywhere, but Family Vacation Guide’s report says these 10 states practically guarantee an extraordinary camping experience for your entire clan in 2023.

Recommended Videos

Florida

Florida, the sunshine state, takes the lead with a score of 7.93 out of 10 for safe camping spots. With its year-round sunshine and an average temperature of 70.7 degrees, this state offers a playground of diverse campsites, many of which receive four-star ratings.

Related

New Jersey

Scoring neck-and-neck with Florida, New Jersey beckons with its beautiful inland camping spots in proximity to the sea. Immerse yourself in the state’s white-sand beaches while partaking in many activities. With numerous family-friendly walking trails, New Jersey offers an outdoor wonderland for both young and old.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire earns a score of 7.68 out of 10, impressing families with its abundance of family-friendly camping grounds and activities. With an average temperature of 43.8 degrees, this state provides a refreshing retreat from the ordinary (especially in summer). Notably, New Hampshire boasts the lowest crime rate among the top contenders, ensuring peace of mind for a safe vacation.

Massachusetts

The third Northeast state on the list is Massachusetts, where families can revel in a camping experience that seamlessly blends seaside charm with dense forests. With a score of 7.65 out of 10, this coastal state offers an array of thrilling activities, from captivating boat tours to exhilarating jet skiing and parasailing. Explore the highest number of family-friendly hiking trails for this state’s size and discover hidden treasures with your little ones.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it packs a punch with a score of 7.53 out of 10. History buffs will definitely appreciate everything this state has to offer. Rhode Island boasts the highest number of activities per 10,000 km2, with an astonishing 1,178 options to keep the fun going.

Virginia

Scoring equally as high as Rhode Island, Virginia emerges as a dream camping destination for families seeking a harmonious blend of natural wonders and engaging activities. Don’t forget Virginia has some of the best colonial destinations in the United States, so don’t miss the chance to bring your kids to places like Williamsburg.

Maine

Scoring 7.4 out of 10, Maine secures the second-highest number of Instagram posts in the top 10 after Florida, a testament to the breathtaking beauty found within its borders. With an average yearly temperature of 41 degrees and the third-lowest crime rate, Maine guarantees a safe and enchanting haven for your family camping vacation.

Vermont

Vermont, with its score of 6.84 out of 10, offers stunning scenery, from rolling hills to majestic mountains, as you partake in almost 300 activities per 10,000 km2. (And, if you need a break from the kids, it actually has a pretty cool wine scene.)

Delaware

Delaware has over 500 activities per 10,000 km2, so your family will never run out of things to do. With an average temperature of 55 degrees, this state offers comfortable weather for outdoor adventures.

Hawaii

While Hawaii holds the highest crime rate among the top 10 states, at 5,077 per 100,000 people, it compensates with its unparalleled array of activities per 10,000 km2. Second only to Rhode Island, Hawaii is a tropical paradise teeming with opportunities for adventure and relaxation.

From the sun-soaked beaches of Florida to the historical allure of Rhode Island, each state offers a distinctive blend of safety, adventure, and natural wonders.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Sarah Joseph
Sarah Joseph
Contributor
Sarah is a lover of all things outdoors. With a bright sense of adventure and a heart for the mountains, she is always…
Remote Vans drops 3 new camper van models designed for luxury living on the road
Complete with Starlink internet and enough battery power to keep you going off-grid indefinitely
Side view of a Remote Vans camper van with its sliding door open.

Camper vans have come a long (long) way since the OG models your parents and their parents grew up with. Many of today's rigs are built not just for living on the road but for living and working in style — some offer premium features that rival most modern studio apartments. Case in point: Remote Vans. The company's latest three camper van models are designed for modern digital nomads with enough amenities to make you at least consider trading in your house keys for a life on the road.
Get the details on Remote Vans' three camper van models

Each of the three camper van models — Friday, Oasis, and Aegis—is born from a stock Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. Straight off the production line, it's arguably the most capable and tech-forward platform on the market, designed for easy living on the road. But Remote Vans goes well beyond the stock platform, customizing each of the three models to within an inch of its life.

Read more
There’s actually a great reason for that red light on your camping headlamp
Why you should use the red light on your headlamp when camping
Camping at night

Camping is amazing. The sights, the sounds, the fresh air, and the adventure are unparalleled, but there are some things about camping that aren't so romantic. One challenge that often annoys campers and hikers alike is the unrelenting presence of bugs, especially at night. If you find yourself constantly having to re-apply the bug spray, you might not be aware that most modern headlamps have a solution—red light.

The red light feature in headlamps is more than just a gimmick. It's a thoughtfully designed solution to a common outdoor problem. In this article, we'll shed some light on the red light feature in your favorite headlamps and lantern.
Bugs aren't attracted to red light

Read more
Redtail Overland’s new luxe Skyloft camper van is a $500,000 thing of beauty
With room for four and a sleek, yacht-like interior, this might be the most luxurious camper van money can buy
Redtail Overland Skyloft Campervan parked next to a river.

In a few short years, van life has gotten a whole lot boujee-er. It started with the "functional above all else" style of van living portrayed in Nomadland before evolving into the cutesy, boho-inspired van life of YouTube fame. Now, some of the best custom van builders are crafting ultra-high-end rigs that rival the comfort and design of a luxury studio apartment. Redtail Overland is one such builder, and the company's all-new Skyloft might be one of the swankiest camper vans half a million dollars can buy.
Get the scoop on Redtail Overland's new Skyloft camper van

One of the biggest problems with van living (or living in any tiny travel trailer) is space. Fitting sleeping quarters, a kitchen, a dining/work space, and a bathroom into cramped quarters while keeping it livable is no small feat. Redtail Overland is looking to solve that problem with the Skyloft. By moving the "master bedroom" out of the cabin and into a pop-top sleeping area, the rest of the cabin is freed up for everything else. The result is a surprisingly roomy floor plan with a heated, enclosed wet bath, a full galley kitchen, a large, U-shaped dining/work space, tons of storage, and the capability to transport and sleep four adults.

Read more