Camping is an opportunity to get away from the bustle of everyday life. It can also be a chance to discover somewhere new. The discoveries are even sweeter when the place you’ve found is outside of the usual routes. These off the beaten path campgrounds are a delight to explore. Here are a few to spark your interest.
1.Cottonwood State Park in Oregon
The Cottonwood Canyon State Park is a relatively new park with minimal facilities. It’s the state’s second largest park, but there are few camping sites, and indeed amenities; the largest site is 75 feet. But the setting is spectacular. The lack of cell phone coverage is secretly a blessing. You will disconnect from the busy world and have real time to recharge. Plan to bring water with you when you hike this incredible country, as it is only available in the campground.
2. Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada
The Dinosaur Provincial Park is delightful. The park is often overshadowed by the much more famous Drumheller. Even many Albertans are unaware of it. The park offers powered sites, some pull-throughs, and many shaded tent sites. Guided programs are offered in the restricted-access natural preserve, and there is space for free-range scrambling as well. When you spot a dinosaur bone, (not if, when) tell the park staff. You may have actually contributed to paleontological research!
3.Sleeping Bear Campground in Maine
The Sleeping Bear Campground is a nature lover’s paradise! With rental cabins, you can choose to stay in your RV or not. Maximum RV length is 40 feet, and the small campground offers pull-through sites. Each site is beautifully tucked in to the woods and feels like your own private campground. The owners are friendly and helpful, happy to give you direction to all the nearest recreation sites including boating, fishing, swimming, and visiting Baxter state park. It also provides easy access to ATV trails.
4. Wolf Camp in South Dakota
South Dakota’s Wolf Camp is your chance to meet a wolf up close. The resident wolf pack is available for education purposes, and the moonlight chorus they provide is unforgettable. The camp sites are open and close together but the RV sites have full hookups, and the campground has many other amenities. These family-owned facilities are well-kept, clean, and in a great location. The reasonably priced on-site café serves meals and drinks, and offers a relaxing atmosphere. Use this as a base for exploring the area or as a handy escape from everyday life.
Going to your favorite familiar camping spots is a joy, but discovering somewhere new is even more exciting. Finding a fantastic campground outside of your usual stomping grounds is your chance to try something new. Wilderness or modern, lakeside or desert, you will find a new place that suits you perfectly.
