The Most Unique Camping Spots Across the U.S.

America’s geography is unmatched in diversity, spanning from scorching, sandy deserts to snow-capped mountains and dense swamps; coastal wetlands to high, grassy plains. There’s perhaps no better way to experience this incredible variety than by taking a back to basics approach and living in harmony with the land. In other words: camping.

So grab your hotdogs, tents, hiking poles, and potable water—we’re hitting the road, taking you to camping sites around the country that are far more than your standard “dirt patch in the woods” affair. At these unique outdoor destinations, you’ll not only escape the noise and stresses of the city but also learn a thing or two—about indigenous mining practices, dark sky preservation, Gilded Age luxury, and much, much more.

1. Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area – Kula, Hawaii

At an elevation of 6,200 feet, this 10-acre reserve offers fantastic views of Central and West Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Molokaʻi, and Lanaʻi on clear days, though the park’s usual fog is part of its mystical appeal. With several individual trails that form one long loop, Polipoli Spring is one of the most unique places to hike on the island, taking you through scrub foliage, China fir, eucalyptus, and towering coastal redwood. The park is also a popular spot for mountain biking, seasonal pig hunting, and birding. Make sure to pack layers, as it can get quite chilly at night!

2. ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ Beach – Jamestown, Rhode Island

This peaceful cove in Fort Wetherill State Park was once home to the largest fort of the Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay; however, it’s perhaps better known as the fictional Conanicut Island in Wes Anderson’s 2012 film, “Moonrise Kingdom.” It’s on these shores that precocious teens Sam and Suzy first fall in love—pitching a tent, listening to records, and jumping off the rocks together. Visiting the beach, it’s easy to channel this same sense of adventure; there are great views of Newport Harbor and the Castle Hill Lighthouse, plus biking trails and old ruins to explore.

3. Hole-in-the-Wall Outlaw Hideout – Kaycee, Wyoming

The famous outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid once hid from authorities here in the Big Horn Mountains, where sweeping views helped them to spot approaching lawmen from afar. From the late 19th century until the early 20th, there were even cabins at the top of the plateau, allowing criminals to take refuge there in the depths of winter. Today, the area is a part of the Willow Creek Ranch and home to cattle, horses, falcons, and eagles. If you’re not the tent-camping type, the ranch has cabin and bunkhouse lodgings, both of which transport you to the days of the Wild West.

4. The Desert of Maine – Freeport, Maine

This small area of rural Maine is not, in fact, a desert, but a tract of abandoned farmland, where topsoil eroded to expose thick layers of glacial silt. Locals have fully embraced the oddness of a desert in an otherwise heavily-forested region, filling it with a colorful fiberglass camel, hobbit-like playhouses, mini golf, and a Gemstone Village. Just a short walk from the dunes, a campground offers cabins, domes, and glamping tents for parties of up to six people, with a camp store, bathhouse, and lawn games on site.

5. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve – Arco, Idaho

This reserve in Central Idaho’s Snake River Plain is home to three major lava fields, which form one of the best-preserved flood basalt areas in the U.S. Entering the preserve, you’ll see dozens of volcanic cones formed by ancient lava flows and Earth’s deepest rift crack, which plunges down 800 feet. The preserve’s campground contains dozens of sites for both tents and vehicles, and during the winter months, walk-in snow camping is permitted. Once you’ve set up for the night, go for a drive on the loop road that passes through the park’s most stunning natural formations.

6. Assateague Island – Berlin, Maryland

While no humans live on this Mid-Atlantic island, it is home to around 300 wild horses, described in local folklore as survivors of a shipwreck off Virginia’s coast many moons ago. Pitching your tent on the island’s seashore campgrounds will put you up close and personal with the herd, but do nottake this as an opportunity to pet or feed them. The National Park Service advises visitors to stay at least 40 feet away from the horses at all times; however, don’t be surprised if you see them trotting around a picnic table or passing by your fire pit.

7. Sand Mountain – Fallon, Nevada

What was once an ancient lake is now a two-mile-long dune, formed by sand that seems to sing every time the wind blows. The size of these sand grains—between 0.1 and 0.5 millimeters in diameter—is just right to create an eerie hum each time they vibrate together. At 600 feet tall, this mighty “mountain” is easily visible as you drive down Highway 50, a.k.a. the “Loneliest Road in America.” A camping area at the foot of the mountain is a great landing spot for all kinds of sandy adventures, from off-roading to exploring the ruins of a 19th-century postal station.

8. Sunken Forests – Rye, New Hampshire

The coast of New Hampshire is home to several petrified stump fields or “sunken forests”: places where, 11,000 years ago, trees were drowned by a retreating glacier. The roots of different coniferous trees are typically visible at low tide off Odiorne Point State Park, while another forest off Jenness Beach is a more rare sighting, appearing only once every few decades. For a chance to spot it, spend the night at the nearby Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort or the Tidewater Campground in Hampton, both of which are only a short drive away from Rye’s beaches.

9. Cosmic Campground – Mogollon, New Mexico

As a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary, this part of Gila National Forest is remarkably free of light pollution and one of the best places in the world for amateur astronomers to take in the night sky; the nearest artificial light is more than 40 miles away. A short walk from the campsites, four concrete pads serve as telescope platforms, though you must bring your own equipment to use them. The park service also asks that campers not light fires near the observation pads or use flashlights without red light filters, so as to keep the dark sky perfectly pristine.

10. Sharp’s Island – Richmond, Virginia

This acre of sand and granite sits smack dab in the middle of Richmond, Virginia, right where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plain along the James River. For 75 years, the Sharp family lived on this tiny isle until, sadly, their home was destroyed in a flood. However, the magic of the hideaway has been restored in recent years with a small wooden cabin, platforms for tents, an outdoor bar, and a grilling station (all bookable on Airbnb!). There are plenty of swimming holes to explore after you’ve settled in, plus a Little Free Library and a massive found-objects sculpture by local artist Keith Ramsey.

11. Mystic Hot Springs – Monroe, Utah

For centuries, folks have trekked to central Utah to enjoy the warm, rejuvenating waters of these natural hot springs. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s, when artist Mike Ginsburg fell in love with the spot, that it became the beloved spa it is today, with five soaking bathtubs and two swimming pools. When you’re not getting your zen on in the mineral waters, you can relax in an authentic pioneer cabin, a Grateful Dead-themed converted school bus, or a good old-fashioned sleeping bag under the stars. Mystic also hosts many concerts throughout the year, as well as a large festival each July.

12. Palisades State Park – Garretson, South Dakota

These 50-foot-tall rock formations are a jarring sight amongst South Dakota’s grassy plains, and their minerals have long been used by the Sioux and Dakota peoples to make calumets: ornate tobacco pipes used in traditional ceremonies. While, at 435 acres, Palisades is the state’s second smallest park, it still attracts plenty of hikers, fishers, kayakers, and climbers with its beauty and history. For those who want to spend a night (or several) exploring all of the park’s natural wonders, there are both cabins and tent sites, as well as a rustic group lodge for larger parties. During your stay, make sure to check out the steel truss bridge that crosses over Split Rock Creek, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

13. Great Camp Santanoni – Newcomb, New York

Constructed between 1892 and 1893, this Japanese-style log mansion was once one of the great family estates of the Adirondacks and is now preserved as a historic site. Surrounded by thousands of acres of woods, water, and farmland, the camp is a wonderful place to explore. In fact, the building’s doors are left open during the summer and fall so that visitors can walk through the interior, imagining its former grandeur. While the house itself is not available for overnight stays, those wanting to stay close by can pitch a tent on one of eight lakeside spots or head to the nearby Newcomb Campground.

14. Ape Canyon – Cougar, Washington

This narrow gorge near Mount St. Helens got its name from being one of the most infamous Bigfoot encounter sites in modern history. Legend has it that, in 1924, a group of miners staying in the canyon were attacked by a gang of wild “apemen,” escaping by the skin of their teeth. (Others have countered that this was more likely a group of rowdy youth, but where’s the excitement in that?). While the exact location of the miners’ cabin is unknown, you can camp in the same general area along portions of the trails and near the Plains of Abraham. Just remember not to bring any food that would attract a Sasquatch…

15. Honey Island Swamp – Pearl River, Louisiana

Legend says that this part of the Louisiana bayou is home to a giant ape-alligator hybrid creature with gray hair and yellow eyes, though thankfully, visitors are much more likely to encounter birds, turtles, snakes, and boars. The swamp was long occupied by the Choctaw and Acolapissa peoples, and it’s easy to see why they were drawn to it: The soft hum of insects, coupled with the sharp rays of light that poke through the tree canopy, create a serene, otherworldly ambiance. The Pearl River Wildlife Management Area offers primitive camping sites in Honey Island, and professional swamp tours are available both in nearby New Orleans and on the western edge of the swamp itself.

Source: www.atlasobscura.com