The 5 Best Kid-Friendly Camping Destinations for Outdoorsy Families

When planning your next family camping trip, head out to one of these 5 wild and wonderful places your kids are sure to love:

1. Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon

For a fun camping trip on the Pacific Ocean, you can’t beat Fort Stevens State Park. Straddling both the ocean and the Columbia River, the park offers year-round camping and day use. There are plenty of activities for kids, with beach-combing, horseback riding, swimming, and biking among the more popular activities. This was once a military installation, so your family can also explore historical exhibits, which include an old shipwreck and fort.

2. Skidaway Island State Park, Georgia

Located close to historic Savannah, Georgia, this campground is full of live oaks, Spanish moss, and sturdy boardwalks over the salt marshes for viewing fiddler crabs, egrets, and even alligators. History buffs will enjoy a visit to nearby Savannah, while water-loving kids will be thrilled with a visit to the Atlantic Ocean on nearby Tybee Island, where a lighthouse and a science center offer lots of kid-friendly thrills.

3. E.T. Mahoney State Park, Nebraska

If your kids love water parks, E.T. Mahoney State Park is the destination for them. Covering 690 acres on the Platte River, this park boasts a family aquatic center with slides, wave pool, and a lap pool. Summer activities include pony rides, miniature and disc golf, boating, and even theatrical productions. Arts and crafts activities are also available for more creative youngsters.

4. Raccoon Creek State Park, Pennsylvania

Families who camp in the winter will appreciate Raccoon Creek State Park. It has all of the usual summer camping activities, but also offers families a chance to camp in winter and ride snowmobiles, ice fish, and ice skate. If you do decide to visit Raccoon Creek in the winter, check out offers for Gander Mountain for deals on everything you’ll need to stay warm in the wilderness. During the summer, mountain biking and horseback riding are popular, and the park offers many miles of scenic hiking trails.

5. Saint Andrews State Park, Florida

The Gulf of Mexico is here to represent at Saint Andrews, where the beautiful white sand offers beach bumming at its finest. Kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving are all possible here, as are leisurely strolls on the park’s two nature trails. An historic turpentine still gives visitors a glimpse of how past generations used the resources along the Gulf Coast. Fishing by boat and off the

park’s piers and jetties is permitted, and the park shop will even sell you bait.

The U.S. is home to many awesome state parks, but the 5 parks listed above offer unique attractions and natural amenities that every camping family should experience. Most of the parks offer cabin rentals for families who travel without tents or RVs, but call ahead and reserve cabins early to avoid disappointment.