Best State Parks for RV Camping (That are Big Rig Friendly)!

Looking to explore the best state parks for RV camping in the U.S.? As full-time RVers, we roam all around North America, on the hunt for the best parks for camping and getting out into nature. We have stayed at some amazing parks that are worthy of any camping bucket list.

The United States has over 10,000 State Parks waiting to be explored! State Parks are wonderful ways that states have protected land for the enjoyment of the people. Opportunities to connect with and appreciate nature, explore, get active, and support your health and well-being in the great outdoors!

We are sharing our favorite spots in this ever-growing list of state parks with great RV camping that we believe are perfect for your next RV adventure!

What To Kow About RV Camping at State Parks

What makes State Park Camping Great

As full-time RVers, we like to mix up where we stay. We love boondocking and camping off-grid, and we also have had great experiences camping at State Parks!

For us, mixing it up with on-grid stays at State Parks provides us comfort and a nice balance between off-grid life and having the additional amenities offered when staying at sites with water, electric, and sewer hookups. Low-stress laundry for one!

State Parks can be great places to camp as they often provide amazing outdoor activities that you can access right from your site.

In our experience, this has included hiking, biking, fishing, off-roading, and boating!

In addition, we have found that State Parks often provide more space between campsites and more peaceful settings than some private campground or RV resort options. State Parks can also often be more cost-effective than some of the private local campground options.

Drawbacks of RVing at State Parks

With a bigger RV (our fifth wheel is just under 40ft long), sometimes it can be tough to find spots large enough in state park campgrounds.

Many State Parks and National Parks cater toward smaller rigs or tents and if there are larger spots, they can be few and far between. This can make booking a bit more difficult and create the need to book sites further in advance.

In addition, state park campgrounds offer fewer amenities than private campgrounds. This being said, what state parks may lack in RV park or resort amenities (like miniature golf, splash pads, and swimming pools), they may up for in miles of multi-use trails, open space, and natural beauty.

You also might have a more challenging time finding full hook-up spots if that is what you are interested in.

Lastly, if you are interested in longer stays, most state parks have a 14-day stay limit.

U.S. State Parks Perfect for RV Camping

Below is a list of amazing state parks for RV camping that we have stayed at during our travels. This list will be updated as we continue to explore new places and find other great state parks that are perfect for RV camping, to add to this list!

Leasburg Dam State Park, Las Cruces NM

Leasburg Dam State Park in New Mexico offers affordable camping in a quiet setting not far from Las Cruces, historic Mesilla, and nearby White Sands National Park. Strolling through the campground you can soak in views of the surrounding mountains and the Rio Grande River. The night skies were amazing and everyone we met was extremely friendly.

We did catch some snow during our visit in February, but it made for some amazing hiking at White Sands National Park and the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.

Leasburg Dam State Park Features:

• Spacious paved sites (many with covered picnic tables)
• Hiking, bike trails, and walking paths accessible from campsites
• Nearby attractions include Las Cruces and White Sands National Park (the campground will even loan you a sled and wax for sand sledding!)
• Cost-effective at only $14/night
• 23 sites with water and electric hookups (some 30amp, some 50amp service) and a picnic table
• RV dump station available

Reservations: Leasburg Dam State Park; can be booked up to 6 months in advance

Picacho Peak State Park, Picacho AZ

Picacho Peak State Park campground offers sites with electric hook-ups and great views of Picacho Peak. This campground is fairly close to the highway so you can expect to hear some road noise, but you can enjoy hiking and nature trails directly from your site.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, we think you will love to explore the Sunset Vista and Hunter Trails, which are fun and adventurous hikes that include steep inclines and steel cable sections for a unique hiking and climbing experience!

Picacho Peak State Park Features:

• 85 electric sites for RVs and tents (no water or sewer hookups available), but flush toilets and shower facilities are available
• $30 per night / per vehicle (October – May), $25 per night /per vehicle (June – September)
• Dump station available
• High-Speed WiFi internet access is now available at all campsites, provided by Airebeam. Additional fees are required for access. We used our own internet plan, so we do not know how good the speeds are!
• Paved, level sites with great views of Picacho Peak
• Easy access to fun and challenging hiking trails to explore the Sonoran Desert and 1,500-foot Picacho Peak

Reservations: Picacho Peak State Park; can be booked 1 year in advance

Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane UT

Sand Hollow State Park offers convenient access to the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park against a stunning blue backdrop of the Sand Hollow Reservoir.

It is also not far from the main section of Zion National Park and amazing unique hikes like Yant Flat Candy Cliffs.

Our first couple of nights were spent at the Sandpit campground, an OHV paradise that is a popular destination for all things off-roading and four-wheeling! The rest of our stay was spent at the Westside Campground, which offered more spacious sites that were paved and level.

The Westside campground was also a bit quieter than Sandpit, although you can expect to hear plenty of OHV noise, along with occasional noise from boats on the water.

Sand Hollow State Park Features:

• 2 campgrounds to choose from (Sandpit & Westside) with sites ranging from primitive to full hookup sites
• Westside Campground offers full hook-up sites for $43 per night
• Sandpit Campground (great for those with OHVs) offers no hookup primitive sites for $30/night and sites with water and electric for $40/night
• Dump Station Available
• Easy access to Sand Hollow Reservoir and boat ramps where you can do a variety of water activities including boating, fishing, and swimming. We had a great time kayaking here!
• Convenient to St. George and the West side of Zion National Park

Reservations: Sand Hollow State Park; can be reserved 4 months in advance

Ridgway State Park, Ridgeway CO

Ridgway State Park is a great state park for camping as it offers full hook-up sites close to the San Juan Mountains and the famed Million Dollar Highway. We used our campsite at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground as a home base during some of our favorite Colorado adventures.

These included exploring Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, driving the Million Dollar Highway, hiking to some of Colorado’s most beautiful alpine lakes nearby, and visiting downtown Ouray and Silverton.

Verizon cell service was almost nonexistent (although Campendium listed it as two bars of 4G) so we did rely on our Starlink here. This is a great example of why it is important to have backup internet solutions if you plan to be working while RVing!

Ridgway State Park Features:

• Convenient to great Colorado hiking and mountain towns like Ouray, Silverton, and Telluride
• Can be a nice home base for a day trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• 258 sites across 3 campgrounds: Dakota Terraces Campground, Elk Ridge Campground, and ​Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground 
• Full hook-up and partial hook-up sites and dump stations are available
• Dakota Terraces Campground has direct access to the reservoir and a swimming beach
• Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground has direct access to the Uncompahgre River
• All campgrounds offer playgrounds, restrooms, laundry facilities, miles of trails for hiking and biking, and snack machines
• There are also 25 remote walk-in tent sites available for a bit more seclusion
• Summer (April 1 to October 31): Basic Tent-only Campsites: $28/night, Electric Hook-up Campsites: $36/night, Full Hook-up Campsites: $41/night
• Winter (Nov. 1 to March 30): Basic Tent-only Campsites: $18/night, Electric Hook-up Campsites: $26/night, Full Hook-up Campsites: Not available
• Level-paved sites in a beautiful setting

Reservations: Ridgway State Park; can be booked 6 months in advance

Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado Springs CO

Cheyenne Mountain State Park sits nestled below Cheyenne Mountain, overlooking the flat lands of Kansas to the east. It has large, quiet sites with easy access to hiking trails and is a great home base for exploring beautiful Colorado Springs attractions like Pike’s Peak and Garden of the Gods.

In our opinion, Cheyenne Mountain State Park is one of the best state parks for RV camping if you are looking for spacious sites, a beautiful landscape, and close proximity to popular activities in a more populated city area like Colorado Springs.

This park is across from Fort Carson, so you can expect to hear the taps bugle call as a friendly wake-up call each morning!

Cheyenne Mountain State Park Features:

• Large, level, paved sites
• 61 campsites available (51 full hook-up sites and 10 walk-in tent sites)
• Archery range and 9-hole disc golf course
• 28 miles of hiking and biking trails throughout the park
• Beautiful scenic views of Cheyenne Mountain and plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities as you roam the grounds

Reservations: Cheyenne Mountain State Park; can be booked 6 months in advance

McKinney Falls State Park, Austin TX

McKinney Falls State Park offers peaceful camping in a serene wooded setting. So much so that you might never know that you are so close to bustling Austin, Texas!

We found our camping experience at this State Park to be the perfect retreat after days exploring the city and a great place to work away from the noise. With shaded hiking trails and a romantic waterfall, this State Park Campground is an outdoor oasis with an amazing location. The perfect place to get the best of both worlds!

McKinney Falls State Park Features:

• Private wooded sites, nestled in the trees
• Only 13 miles from downtown Austin
• 81campsites, all with electric and water hook-ups (12 with 50amp service, 69 with 30amp)
• $24/night for 50amp sites, $20/night for 30amp sites
• 9 miles of hiking and biking trails in the park
• Explore, swim, or fish on Onion Creek which flows over beautiful limestone rock

Reservations: McKinney Falls State Park; can be booked 5 months in advance

Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach NC

We can’t leave out the East Coast from this list! Carolina Beach State Park is one of the best state parks for RV camping in the eastern United States, as it offers a shady getaway among the pines, while only being a quick bike ride, walk, or drive from a famous stretch of North Carolina beaches!

This is the best place to see the rare Venus fly trap that grows within the park, hike, and bike through miles of sandy trails, and enjoy all kinds of outdoor adventure along the North Carolina coast!

Carolina Beach State Park Features:

• 69 campsites with no hook-ups for RVs or tents, and 10 RV campsites with full hook-ups (water, sewer, and electric)
• All campsites have picnic tables and fire rings. There are also centrally located bathhouses with restrooms, hot showers, and a dump station for RVs
• $36/night for full hook-up sites; $26/night for dry camping sites
• There is a 14-night maximum stay at Carolina Beach State Park campground and reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance.
• Nearby attractions include: Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, and the Fort Fisher State Historic Site. We also highly recommend taking a day trip to Bald Head Island!

Let us help you plan your trip: Guide To Camping At Carolina Beach State Park & Best Things To Do in Carolina Beach

Edisto Beach State Park, Edisto Island SC

Another east coast gem! Edisto Beach State Park is a perfect destination for RVers and road-trippers looking for a unique beach getaway and those who want to connect with nature and appreciate some of the state’s best stretches of coastline.

Surrounded by natural beauty and local charm, Edisto Beach may not get as much attention as places like Charleston or Myrtle Beach, making it even more special.

Edisto Beach State Park Features:

• 112 campsites with water and electrical hookups
• Sites with picnic tables and fire pits; dump station available
• Two campground options: Beach Campground on the water; Live Oak nestled under a tropical feeling canopy of trees down the road
• Nearby Attractions: Edisto Beach, Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve & Wildlife Management Area, Folly Beach, Charleston

Build out your itinerary using our guide: Top Things To Do in Edisto Beach South Carolina

Resources for Finding State Park Campgrounds

There are many different ways to find great state park campgrounds for your RV travels and adventures. One of our favorite apps for easily locating amazing state park camping is Campendium! Campendium allows you to filter by the type of RV park you are looking for (public or private RV park), see recent reviews and photos of the campgrounds, and check out cell service in the area.

We also love using RV Life which serves as our RV Safe GPS, trip planning tool, and place to browse campground reviews and check for cell service and internet speeds!

As we have a large rig and also need great internet service for work, we take a couple of additional steps to check for site suitability:

1. Look at state park campsites using satellite view on Google Maps. You can typically match up the satellite images with the campground map to tell which campsite is which!

2. Check if campsite photos are listed on CampsitePhotos. This site has been extremely helpful to us to get a better understanding of what sites might work best for our RV! It is also a great tool if you aren’t sure what exactly the campsite looks like based on the State Park’s maps or photos.

Have other great state parks for camping you think we should add to our travel bucket list for a future rv trip?

Please share with us below! We would love to hear from you ☺

Please protect these areas - for the wildlife, the environment, and for the enjoyment of future generations. Practice Leave No Trace

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