Best National Parks For Camping
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Dry Tortugas
Key West, FL
(305) 242-7700
www.nps.gov/drto
Only accessible by boat or plane, Dry Tortugas is one of the hardest national parks to reach. It's also one of the least visited parks in the system with less than 70,000 visitors annually. However, those who make the 70-mile trek from Key West are guaranteed a place to camp and have access to secluded beaches and pristine blue waters. Established in 1935, this national park preserves Fort Jefferson in addition to neighboring islands that comprise the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico. Known as one of the world's best spots for snorkeling, Dry Tortugas National Park has a 10-site primitive campground available on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, the National Parks Service states all campers, once they arrive, will be guaranteed a place to camp either at one of the campsites or in the large overflow area.
Related: Under-The-Radar National Parks
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Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, CO 81330
(970) 529-4465
www.nps.gov/meve
Located in the Montezuma Valley about 35 miles west of Durango and in the vicinity of the Four Corners region, Mesa Verde is both a national park and a critically important World Heritage Site. The park was established in 1906 and features some of the best-preserved ruins built from the 6th to the 12th century by Ancestral Puebloans. Surprisingly, Mesa Verde (Spanish for Green Table) is among the least visited national parks in the U.S., and its campgrounds rarely sell out. The Morefield Campground and Village is fully open through October 19 and reservations can be made through Aramark Leisure. Mesa Verde holds approximately 4,400 archaeological sites, including several structures built 2,000 feet above the valley floor. The most famous site is the Cliff Palace, with an estimated 150 rooms, is the largest cliff dwelling in North America.
360 Highway 11 E.
International Falls, MN 56649
(218) 283-6600
www.nps.gov/voya
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Redwoods National & State Parks
1111 Second St.
Crescent City, CA
(707) 465-7335
www.nps.gov/redw
Preserving 133,000 majestic acres near the Oregon border, Redwoods National Park is home to nearly half of the remaining coast redwoods in the world. Yet despite preserving a significant portion of the world's tallest tree species, designated as a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, it's one of the least visited national parks in California. Established in 1968 in part to preserve old growth redwood trees and its watershed, the park combines three California State Parks and is home to Hyperion, which at 379.3 feet the tallest known living tree on Earth. Only a small percentage of visitors actually camp within Redwoods National Park, which suggests there is a greater chance of booking a camping reservation than at more high profile national parks. In addition to the old growth redwood forests, Redwoods National Park stretches across 40 miles of rugged coastline and is also home to a diverse collection of animal species, including California sea lions, bald eagles, black tailed deer and spotted owls. The park headquarters can be found a few miles outside the protected area in Crescent City.