The Top 15 States for RV Camping in National Forests

Sep 25, 2018 |

The Top 15 States for RV Camping in National Forests

By Nathan Paul Swartz

If you’re in the mood to knock your karma out of the park, pick up a bag or two of litter

Most camping in national forests falls into two categories: paid campgrounds and dispersed camping. Paid national forest campgrounds typically provide a vault toilet, picnic table, and fire ring, and have designated camping spaces. Some will utilize the old “iron ranger”—a place to put money more or less on the honor system—while others will have campground hosts who may or may not be able to provide change and might even sell firewood. Dispersed camping in the national forest is typically boondocking along some forest road with little to no amenities.

If you’re looking for pristine wilderness (or as close as you can get to it via car or RV) then the dispersed camping is more likely to pop your tent, but if you’re looking for at least a vault toilet, possibly access to a spigot, and some semblance of civilization, look into the paid options.

Paid or not, there’s usually a sign at some point along your journey that will inform you of any particular rules. Most camping of any kind in national forests is limited to 14 consecutive days. You can often just move to another spot, preferably down the road a bit, but check with a local ranger station for the specifics on any given forest. You’ll also want to be aware of fire bans, which are not always posted but given that ignorance is not above the law, are something you’ll want to check in on, especially in “fire season” which seems to go year ’round in some parts of the country these days. Typically, the national forest’s website will provide any fire ban info, and you can also check the website of the county you’re in, as they may have additional information. Finally, as we’re all sharing these forests—and technically they’re all of ours as American citizens—make sure to leave absolutely nothing behind, and if you’re in the mood to knock your karma out of the park, pick up a bag or two of litter. Snagging anything around your immediate campsite will at least give you the full natural experience, and then leaving nothing behind but a happy forest will put the next folks in the perfect position to leave it as they found it as well.

To help you get started, we’ve put together some of the best sites across the nation, in the 15 states where national forest camping is the easiest to find, most abundant, and prettier than a fox leaping into the winter snow. However, there is plenty of national forest camping across the nation, and most states have at least a few options.

Alaska National Forests

The Last Frontier is, logically, the state with the most national forest, and Tongass National Forest—a rainforest covering much of Southeastern Alaska’s panhandle—is the largest national forest in the nation. The Tongass is home to 19 wilderness areas and its shiniest jewel of a campground rests on Mendenhall Lake, where the quintessential Alaskan glacial experience can be had while still enjoying the (rather rare) full hookup experience in a national forest campground.

In the Chugach National Forest, the nation’s third largest, highlights include Williwa, a paid campground with views of glacier-laden mountains just west of Whittier, and Tenderfoot Creek Campground, about an hour west on Alaska’s Route 1.

Arizona National Forests

For a state that tends to conjure up desertscape more than thick woodlands, Arizona is absolutely blanketed in national forestland. From pinyon-juniper scrublands to towering ponderosa pines to psychedelic cactus forests—including the only state you’ll find the saguaro cactus—the diversity is as impressive as the Copper State’s winters are warm.

We’ve already covered boondocking in Prescott & Tonto National Forests, but there’s ever so much more to explore. Some of the best camping in the nation lives in the shade of the forests surrounding the Grand Canyon’s North and South Rims and continues pouring all down and around Flagstaff. South of Tucson, on the way to Bisbee, Arizona, the Coronado National Forest continues the trend.

Maybe best of all, Arizona is one of those states where most of the best national forest camping is also free.

The Best RV Camping in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

The Best RV Camping in Coconino National Forest

Camping in the Coconino means easy access to some of Arizona’s best towns. Be sure to check out miniature Jerome, currently trending Cottonwood, and the famous low blue and adobe against red rock backdrops Sedona.

The Best RV Camping in Coronado National Forest

Tombstone, Arizona—you know it from countless silver screen appearances—and the slightly more authentic Bisbee, AZ are the highlights in the Coronado, but as big cities in the Grand Canyon State go, Tucson is easily the most interesting. Further west, Patagonia, Arizona is an experience worth parallel parking in and of itself.

The Best RV Camping in Kaibab National Forest

No doubt due to its proximity to the Grand Canyon, the Kaibab has the lion’s share of Arizona’s best national forest camping.

The Best RV Camping in Prescott National Forest

Prescott is a great little town on its own, not far from Jerome and the Coconino.

The Best RV Camping in Tonto National Forest

California National Forests

Well, California, look at you and your endless national forestland. The Golden State hosts, every single day of every single year, eighteen national forests in total, most of them completely within California’s borders.

You can hardly go wrong in the areas between Lassen Volcanic National Park and Mount Shasta, and the Sierra Madres nearly span the entire state from north to south, where national forest after national park after quaint small town await.

The Best RV Camping in Angeles National Forest

National forest camping not terribly far from Los Angeles.

The Best RV Camping in Cleveland National Forest

Smack dab between San Diego and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

The Best RV Camping in Eldorado National Forest

One of the many national forests surrounding blue as the day Lake Tahoe.

The Best RV Camping in Inyo National Forest

The Eastern Sierras are not only stunning but full of cool little towns. Look for hot springs outside of Mammoth Lakes and look into the Ancient Bristlecone Pines.

The Best RV Camping in Klamath National Forest

Far, far north in the “Great State of Jefferson,” lives the Klamath.

The Best RV Camping in Lassen National Forest

A forest surrounding a similarly-named national park that, without a doubt, is the national park experience.

The Best RV Camping in Los Padres National Forest

Just above the angels, lives the father…and so just north of Los Angeles, Los Padres.

The Best RV Camping in Mendocino National Forest

The Best RV Camping in Modoc National Forest

The Best RV Camping in Plumas National Forest

The Best RV Camping in San Bernardino National Forest

Get hip to this timely tip, it’s the last kick you can get (in the song anyway) on Route 66.

The Best RV Camping in Sequoia National Forest

The name alone should clue you in, though you won’t always find the massive orange Sierra redwoods known as sequoias in every campground in this national forest, if you’re looking for big trees rest assured that the sugar pines, red firs, and Jeffrey pines are nothing to squawk at…unless you’re a Stellar’s jay perhaps.

The Best RV Camping in Shasta National Forest

Shasta is a cute little town and the mountain isn’t hard on the eyes, either.

The Best RV Camping in Sierra National Forest

Lovingly placed just south of Yosemite, north of Kings Canyon, and spanning the Sierras all along John Muir’s favorite places to lose himself within. (Note that Jerseydale is currently closed, but will likely reopen relatively soon…relatively being an unknown factor. Still, it deserves attention…)

The Best RV Camping in Six Rivers National Forest

As close as you can get to national forest camping in the Redwoods.

The Best RV Camping in Stanislaus National Forest

The Best RV Camping in Tahoe National Forest

The Best RV Camping in Toiyabe National Forest

More Eastern Sierra camping…

Colorado National Forests

Easily the best state for national forest camping, the perfect mesh of abundance and, if you want it, free camping, help Colorado live up to its reputation as being our best mountain state. National forestland can be found surrounding nearly every destination a wanderer may wont after, and when the solace of nature needs give way to a little civilization, the state is known for town after town of interesting main streets, breweries, and things to do.

The San Juan Mountains are a great place to start and venture off in any direction from there.

The Best RV Camping in Arapaho National Forest

The highfalutin side of Colorado, lining Interstate 70 as it traverses some of the best—and richest—mountains in the nation.

The Best RV Camping in Grand Mesa National Forest

The Best RV Camping in Gunnison National Forest

Crested Butte and the surrounding national forest are rainbows over jagged cliffs, coffee shop breakfast tacos, and the perpetual ponderance over whether, just perhaps, we are already living in heaven.

The Best RV Camping in Pike National Forest

Pike National Forest bridges the gap between Breckenridge and Denver, but give Buena Vista’s downtown a chance if you have the inclination.

The Best RV Camping in Rio Grande National Forest

As much as Pagosa Springs is a happening, rafting, brewery town, the Rio Grande’s beginnings are the star of this slice of Colorado. Follow it all the way to New Mexico and beyond…

The Best RV Camping in Roosevelt National Forest

All around Rocky Mountain National Park, which can be tough to get a spot in given its proximity to Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins, a national forest is just waiting for your backup plan.

The Best RV Camping in Routt National Forest

The Best RV Camping in San Isabel National Forest

Leadville, Buena Vista, and Salida all have something to offer when it comes to small-town interest. Leadville boasts of its elevation, twice that of “the Mile High City” of Denver, while Salida is a rafting town that can’t be missed. Perhaps best of all is showing up in Buena Vista and hearing how the locals pronounce it.

The Best RV Camping in San Juan National Forest

The San Juans of Colorado is arguably the state’s best landscape, for variety, views and small-town appeal…however, anyone who would actually argue that would no doubt be as wrong as a U-turn down a one-way street. Give the loop a spin and see if you can’t find yourself every last beautiful place to pitch your particular type of tent.

The Best RV Camping in White River National Forest

Florida National Forests

National forest camping in the Sunshine State runs the gamut from palm tree alligator streams to longleaf pine borderlands. You’ll see more birds than you can manage to log and never be all that far from a major city or highway.

Options trend toward the panhandle Apalachicola to the Ocala, just north of Disney, and then up to the slightly less crowded Osceola.