Great Campgrounds to Stay in Near Iconic Scenic Drives

Camping is a fun way to break up your journey along America’s most beautiful road trips

Setting up camp when driving a scenic road is an affordable and immersive way to get to know different areas of the country. A drive along the Pacific Coast Highway in Big Sur, California, can take you across the Bixby Bridge.

Getty Images

Lauren David,

AARP

Published August 19, 2025

If birdsong is your preferred morning alarm, camping will provide the perfect wake-up call. Whether you’re taking a long road trip or on a weekend getaway, pitching a tent at a campground when driving a scenic road is an affordable and immersive way to get to know different areas of the United States.

According to the 2025 KOA Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report, 55 percent of Generation X and 54 percent of boomers are choosing to slow down and be in the moment, while 54 percent of Gen X are picking tent camping.

“A well-chosen campground can turn an incredible drive into a truly memorable trip,” says Jeffrey Bettin, vice president and general manager of marketplace and payments at Campspot. “Look for places that aren’t just convenient but also offer things to do when you’re not behind the wheel — like trails, water features or even a little local culture.”

Here are five campgrounds to add to your road trip itinerary.

Camping in Big Sur, California, puts you close to nature.

Cavan Images/Getty Images

Big Sur Campground & Cabins, California

Nestled among towering coastal redwoods and the Big Sur River on 11 acres, Big Sur Campground & Cabins offers a cozy, nature-focused retreat. Pitch a tent, choose an RV hookup site or book a cabin and access a swimming hole, basketball court, and wellness and stargazing activities. The iconic Pacific Coast Highway, also known as Highway 1, is more than 650 miles spanning north to south, hugging the coastline with gorgeous scenery — cows dotting the rolling hills, rugged cliffs, historic bridges, lookout points and hiking trails. Check the weather and ensure roads are open before embarking on your scenic drive on the PCH.

Driving this road is fun any time of year, though there are fewer people in fall and winter. “Fall is a magical time in Big Sur. Crowds thin out, and the colors change in the hills,” says Max Jerome, general manager of Big Sur Campground & Cabins. Plan your trip between December and April for a chance to spot migrating gray whales from the cliffs. Visit Pfeiffer Beach for its rare purple sand and iconic keyhole rock formation that glows at sunset in the winter, he adds.

campgrounds at yogi bear's jellystone park

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort sits on 73 acres and offers tent camping, glamping and RV sites along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

Courtesy Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Virginia

In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with impressive views, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort sits on 73 acres and offers tent camping, glamping and RV sites with plenty of activities, such as pools, outdoor movie theater and volleyball courts. Travel a little more than an hour away from the Luray, Virginia, campground to the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic drive spanning the Appalachian highlands to weathered mountains. The parkway connects two national parks: Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Check out the Blue Ridge Music Center, the Folk Art Center or Mabry Mill for live music, Bettin says.

When the colors begin to change, the fall foliage is spectacular and gets a lot of attention, he says. “The spring wildflower bloom from April to early June is equally spectacular and often less crowded,” Bettin adds.

a mountain at palo duro canyon state park

Take a detour off Route 66 in Texas and visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park, where you can see the second-largest canyon in the U.S.

Getty Images

Amarillo KOA Journey, Texas

The Mother Road, or Route 66, crosses eight states and spans approximately 180 miles in Texas. Amarillo is the largest town on the stretch of Route 66 from Oklahoma to Texas and into New Mexico, making this campground an ideal place to pitch your tent. Cabins and a lodge are also available. On hot days, you can cool off in the outdoor pool. Or let your dog run and play in a designated dog park.

The iconic Cadillac Ranch art installation — Cadillacs upright and half-buried — is worth a visit. "As bold as it sounds, locals encourage road-trippers to bring a can of spray paint and leave their mark,” says Kelly Self, head of consumer public relations at Kampgrounds of America. When you’re hungry or want a food challenge, head to Big Texan Steak Ranch, a family-owned restaurant known for its 72-ounce steak. Eat the steak and the accompanying meal in one hour, and it’s on the house.

Detour to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, about 35 miles from the campground, to see the second-largest canyon in the United States. There are more than 30 miles of hiking, horse trails, bike paths, geocaching and native Texas wildlife, such as lizards, mule deer and longhorn cattle, Self says.

a picnic table near an rv at a campground

Indian Mountain State Park Main Campground offers 47 campsites, each with a picnic bench and grill for tents or RVs.

Ashleigh Newnes

Indian Mountain State Park Main Campground, Tennessee

The Cumberland National Scenic Byway, which spans 200 miles from east to west, passes through eight counties in Tennessee. Open year-round, Indian Mountain State Park Main Campground offers 47 campsites, each with a picnic bench and grill for tents or RVs.

Make time to visit the many Tennessee state parks that are free, such as Cove Lake, Standing Stone and Norris Dam, says Morgan Gilman Bologeorges, director of marketing, revenue and guest experience at Tennessee State Parks. She encourages visitors to create their own adventure. Each season offers opportunities to experience the byway. In the fall, take a ranger-led hike; in the spring, observe the beautiful wildflowers; and in the summer, go boating or paddling on the lake, Bologeorges says.

a sign that reads nelson's point on the side of a road with an rv in the background

South Nicolet Bay Campground is one of five campgrounds located within Peninsula State Park.

Mike Tittel

South Nicolet Bay Campground, Wisconsin

One of five campgrounds located within Peninsula State Park, South Nicolet Bay Campground offers 143 sites with two sites to accommodate people with disabilities. Take a dip in the park’s only sandy swimming beach, rent a boat or play a round of volleyball on one of two sand courts after a day’s drive. “On summer evenings, campers can attend a professional musical under the stars at Northern Sky Theater,” says Jen Rogers, director of media relations with Wisconsin’s Destination Door County.

A 66-mile drive, Door County Coastal Byway hugs the various bays of Lake Michigan and the Green Bay bluffs with beaches, lighthouses and nature preserves. During the summer and fall months, many communities on the byway have festivals and farmers markets on the weekends, she says.

%{postComment}%

Lauren David is a contributing writer who covers food, gardening and health. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Dwell, Martha Stewart, Southern Living and other outlets.

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login

Most Popular

Benefits Recommended For You

See All