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.

Sarah Joseph
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…
HYK Outdoors’ clever new teardrop camper trailer is made with eco-friendly cork
Lightweight, naturally insulating, and damn handsome, cork might be the single best camper build material
HYK Outdoors teardrop trailer camper parked in a field.

For decades, the RV industry has been in a race to the bottom to see who could offer the cheapest possible product. Thankfully, many brands are catching on to the fact that customers actually care about the environmental impact of their personal recreational vehicles, too. HYK Outdoors, makers of hand-built teardrop campers, is stepping up efforts to incorporate more eco-friendly materials into its camper line-up. The latest next-gen material? Cork (seriously).

Get the scoop on HYK Outdoors' teardrop camper made with cork paneling
HYK Outdoors recently debuted a next-gen concept for one of its best-selling teardrop campers. On the outside, the showpiece model appears to be a slightly revamped version of the company's Trailrunner—a 5' x 8' teardrop camper built for overlanders looking to tackle serious off-road terrain. It's already a compact and capable lightweight towable. Now it looks like HYK is focusing on the parts you can't see—on what's "'under the hood"—to take its campers to the next level.

Read more
Bowlus debuts the all-new 2025 Rivet travel trailer, and it’s a retro-modern stunner
With an unmistakable design and an insane off-grid power bank ready to take you anywhere
Bowlus Rivet travel trailer being towed by an SUV through a grassy field.

Nothing captures the spirit and feel of the Great American Road Trip like an all-aluminum travel trailer. The iconic “silver bullet” design has endured as a symbol of escape and hitting the open road for the better part of a century. Now, Bowlus — an under-the-radar luxe RV brand you may not have heard of — is upending nearly 100 years of history with yet another stunning retro-modern trailer.

Get the full details on the all-new 2025 Bowlus Rivet travel trailer
Bowlus just announced the addition of the to its line-up of unique travel trailers. The one-of-a-kind design combines elements of classic aluminum RVs, vintage airplane aesthetics, and a dash of luxury yacht for good measure. It takes all the upscale elements of the brand’s ultra-luxe travel trailers and adds rugged, go-anywhere capability, allowing owners to get far, far off the beaten path.

Read more
These are the best multi tools you need to have in your EDC kit, hands down
Stay prepared for any eventuality with one of these tools
Leatherman signal fishing

We are men. We always feel as though we need our chosen tools nearby. There is a culture of men always feeling the need to be prepared for anything. Just in case the world ends tomorrow, we have what we need to survive and protect. We are so dedicated to this that an entire industry called everyday carry, or EDC, has grown around it. But there is a component of EDC tools that cannot be forgotten: the multi-tool. Not only is it vital to get yourself one of the best multi-tools, but it may be the most vital.

Multi-tools are the most important item in EDC
All the best EDC kits have a handful of must-haves to ensure you're prepared for any eventuality. A great EDC knife is the first thought many have when they think of everyday carry. But there is a long list of possible things to carry: a flashlight, a first-aid kit, a lighter, a compass. Each of these items has a very specific design intent.

Read more