Sure, it’s enticing to experience a fancy, NYC style hotel, but trading in the “five star” for real moonlight amidst nature will be an experience you’re guaranteed not to forget. Immersing yourself in the peaceful outdoors is one of the best things to do for the soul, so why not take advantage of the experience with a camping trip? Camping can be as easy as setting up a tent at a local campground, or as intense as falling asleep alongside a mountain in the middle of nowhere. It’s a great way to see more of the world, and usually budget friendly! 

Here are seven amazing places in the United States to go camping in the United States: 

The Grand Mesa, Colorado 

The Grand Mesa is the world’s tallest flat top mountain, standing at almost 11,500 ft. This Colorado peak offers several stopping points in which you can closely observe natural wildlife including rams, mountain goats, bears, bulls, and many more midwestern critters. The Grand Mesa provides a campground toward the bottom of the mountain, where visitors can stay in rustic log cabins, facing a scenic panorama of everything this mountain has to offer. If you decide you’re up for something a little more intense, just start climbing, or driving, up a little further.

At an incline, a wide array of open places are displayed, overseeing the intimidating forestry, blue lakes, and peaceful grasslands. One of the best features of the Grand Mesa is the independence that it encourages. You have the ability to wander anywhere you desire, as long as you carry outdoor knowledge and caution, this mountain is endless and stretches in depth for miles and miles. There are also tons of places alongside this summit to set up a cozy tent with no other campers in sight. This Grand Mesa is meant to share! 

Glacier National Park, Montana 

The world is an incredible place, and Glacier National Park depicts this statement perfectly. Take a step into this Montana district, and it’ll feel like you’re on a completely different planet. This vicinity consists of about 25 glaciers, uniquely shaped mountains, sparkling lakes, daunting waterfalls and more. Not only is Glacier National Park one of the top spots in Montana to experience this bewildering state, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to take a camping trip. Glacier National Park has about 13 different campgrounds and about 1009 front-country campsites, all of which are very affordable, ranging from $10-$23 per night. Glacier National Park is also suitable for families, couples, or independent travelers if you feel like going on a solo trip! After a night under the Montana stars, take a hike on one of the 734 miles of trail Glacier National Park has to offer, such as Avalanche Trail or Iceberg Lake. Since there’s so much of this beautiful place to see, research all of the different campsites prior to choosing which one you want to experience. 

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee 

Get ready to whip out your flannel and favorite sleeping bag, because a camping bucket list can’t be complete without Tennessee! Tennessee hosts tons of exquisite camping spots, but Cades Cove is one of those hard to beat areas. Cades Cove is part of the amazing Smokies, an 800 mile long stretch that deviates from the Appalachian Trail. This region is a wide ranging valley, flourishing with life. It is surrounded by the famous Smokey Mountains, and is known for its remarkable hikes, up close viewing of wildlife, and open horizon. After a day of exploring the Smokies, cozy up under a blanket and watch the sunset by a campfire – absolute perfection.

Wai’anapanapa State Park: Maui, Hawaii

For the beach lovers out there, experience an unconventional camping adventure in Hawaii! Set up base on the border of Maui, the Hawaiian jungle, and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing overnight- as close as it gets to spending the night right on shore. This area is home to black sand beaches, caves, and tall rocks for cliff diving. Because let’s face it, being able to get out of bed and walk a few feet to the Hawaii ocean sounds like a dream come true. Note that just like any new environment, overnight camping in Hawaii requires self education and preparation about the wildlife, climate, and culture of the area.

Zion National Park, Utah

Did you know it’s possible to camp around canyons? Zion National Park is one of the most peaceful places to camp, located near the town of Springdale, Utah, and cornering the Mojave Desert. Zion Park displays a captivating assembly of canyons, mountains, mesas, and sandy deserts. This incredible preserve also cuts through to forestry trails, waterfalls at the Emerald Pools, rivers, and red cliffs. Zion Lodge is located about halfway through the park, and offers three different campgrounds, as well as motels and cabins. 

North Cascades National Park, Washington

Most of the scenery that encompasses the great state of Washington appears as if it’s straight off a postcard. This incredible state is pushed right underneath the border of Canada and directly alongside the West Coast, making its geography very alluring. 

North Cascades National Park is one of Washington’s many desired points, with a capacity of about 1,070 miles. Popular activities for North Cascades campers include backcountry camping, boating, and scenic hiking. This beautiful arena is directed at a mountainous landscape, caving into large bodies of water. In addition, it takes about three hours to get to Seattle, so if it’s your first time in Washington, you have a chance to see the famous city. To top it off, the park is harbored by more than 300 glaciers. 

Granite Tent Campground, Gunnison National Forest, Colorado 

The Gunnison National Forest is a long stretching, mystical realm of vivid forestry distributed amongst rocky mountains that look like they can reach the sun. Whether you’re planning to camp or not, this Colorado region should be on your travel bucket list! 

Just like the name states, the Granite Tent Campground is for tent campers only, so that means no RV stays. Most of the Granite Tent’s Campgrounds spots are propped near a series of peaceful rivers, and provides easy access to rafting, rock climbing, hiking, and fishing. It’s a smaller campground with only six total campsites, but is perfect for travelers who enjoy a little bit of isolation to enjoy the pure, raw nature. If you ever feel like taking a break from the direct area, take a drive along one of the scenic routes that border Granite Tent Campground, including an up-close view to the San Juan Mountains.