Top Campgrounds on the River for Summer Outdoor Adventures

Water, sand, and sun. This is the list for you if these are your top considerations while selecting an RV park or campground!

After reading hundreds of reviews, we have selected the best coastal RV parks in each of the 50 states—yes, even Alaska and Hawaii. These locations didn't make our list just because they have a beach.

Every campground we choose has something special to offer guests, whether it's the breathtaking scenery, amazing facilities, or nearby recreational options.

Best Campgrounds on the River

So go over our list and get ready to plan your next amazing RV vacation right now.

1. White River Campground

Have you got loneliness? At White River RV Park & Campground, get away from the busy population in a peaceful area surrounded by cedar trees, which is ideal for campers seeking a little serenity.

Along with the extra benefit of a peaceful destination, you'll have access to hikes, waterfalls, and all the breathtaking wonders of Sequoia National Forest. You can bring your dogs, the campground has water and flush toilets, and the river is great for wading.

Choose from spacious pull-through full hookup sites with electricity and water, or rustic tent sites without hookups. Their 275 Sites and 20 Cabins offer a wide range of alternatives to suit any camper's needs.

There are also vacation rentals available. If you don't have camping gear, you can rent a beautiful 44-foot RV, nice cabins with modern amenities including toilets, a hot tub, game room, and rustic cottages on the creek for a fantastic getaway! For sure your entire family will love it out there.

2. Yampa River State Park, Colorado

There are actually three "parks" in one, Yampa River State Park. 35 electric RV spots can be found in the headquarters campground. At the campground's entrance are a dump station and potable water hydrants.

RVers who have toy haulers and want to engage in outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, and off-highway vehicle riding will find plenty of options at this park.

The center of this state park is a 134-mile section of the Yampa River. It has thirteen boating and fishing access spots from Hayden to the Dinosaur National Monument, which is close to the Utah border.

The third main feature of the Yampa River State Park system is the Elkhead Reservoir. At the lake, guests can go fishing, boating, and swimming.

3. Reelfoot Lake State Park, Tennessee

Reelfoot Lake State Park, which offers boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing, is situated in Tennessee's northwest region.

A sequence of strong earthquakes in 1811–1812 forced the Mississippi River to temporarily flow backward, inundating the surrounding forest and creating the 15,000-acre lake.

By boat is one of the best ways to enjoy Reelfoot Lake. When the winds are quiet, Reelfoot Lake is a great place for canoes, kayaks, and jon boats.

For the whole family, there are also a number of simple hiking trails. For added comfort, Reelfoot Lake offers two campgrounds with many bathhouses and RV sites equipped with connections.

4. Lake George Escape Camping Resort, New York

Your camping trip will be memorable at Lake George Escape Camping Resort, which is surrounded by the 6 million-acre Adirondack Park and features 175 acres of lush woods and meadows!

575 RV sites are available at this park, with pull-through spaces for bigger vehicles like Class A motorhomes and back-in spaces for smaller vehicles like fifth wheels and travel trailers.

There are many waterfront, pond front, and wooded campsites available at the park. A clubhouse, many sports courts, hiking and nature paths, a swimming pool, laundry facilities (laundry room), general store, and a dog park are among the amenities.

Saratoga Springs, Six Flags, and the Village of Lake George are a few of the nearby attractions.

5. Wolf River Trips & Campground (New London, WI)

Here, the Wolf and Little Wolf rivers meander through the farmlands and woodlands of central Wisconsin, offering amazing recreational options along with breathtaking scenery.

Wolf River Trips and Campgrounds is the place to experience the area's beauty and excitement.

Wolf River Trips and Campgrounds has everything you need for an exciting and restful family vacation, whether planning a week of camping and fishing or just a day of tubing.

At Wolf River Trips, you are going to have easy access to the amenities without travelling up the hill.

6. Arcadia Campground

The Arcadia region was typically the furthest the early settlers traveled on their first day of exploration up Mount Graham.

Arcadia was home to a number of Civilian Conservation Corps camps founded in the 1930s to give jobs to laborers laid off by the Great Depression, a bit later in the Pinalenos' history.

Constructed by those Depression-era workers, the 19-site Arcadia Campground is the first campground tourists come across when climbing Mount Graham via the Swift Trail (AZ 366).

The tall ponderosa pine stands that shadow Arcadia Campground are dotted with Gambel oaks and Arizona walnuts. Because of its diverse environment, this is a great place to go bird watching.

Amenities include: Tent camping, Fee charged for some activities, Picnic tables, Toilets, as well as Drinking water.

7. Island View Resort, Idaho

Island View Resort, which is situated on the beautiful Lake Pend Oreille, provides 61 spacious, fully equipped RV sites. A supermarket, a marina, and laundry facilities are examples of campground amenities.

This RV park in Idaho offers a ton of activities, including horseshoeing, fishing, swimming, and more. Golf courses, ATV rides, kayaking and canoeing, water sports, motorcycling, and hiking are available close by.

Sam Owen Preserve, a heavily forested pine and cedar woodland, is within one mile from this RV park. Hiking, canoeing, swimming, boating, and skiing are popular summertime pastimes.

8. Whitefish Lake State Park, Montana

This is the perfect spot for nature lovers. Take your family to Whitefish Lake State Park, where you may camp and enjoy beach games. Activities including swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing are popular on this typically serene lake with stunning views of the mountains.

This little park, which lies outside of Whitefish, has a nice beach, camping, and mature forest. Kids adore the trains that rattle along the perimeter of the park.

A bathhouse, showers, vault toilets, and an on-site store with ice and firewood are among the amenities offered by the campground. Prepare yourself for boondocking as most of the sites here lack connections.

9. Umbagog Lake State Park, New Hampshire

The southernmost point of Umbagog Lake is home to the Umbagog Lake Campground. Said Um-'bay'-gog, the lake is called Abenaki, which means shallow water. There was a Native American tribe living nearby called the Abenaki.

Coin-operated showers, flush and pit toilets, and a camp store are all features of the campground. There are 35 distant campsites scattered in quiet regions around the lake, in addition to 32 sites in the main campground.

There are lots of outdoor activities to enjoy here, such as swimming at the beach, boating, great fishing, and animal viewing.

You can also rent rowboats, canoes, and kayaks. Moose, deer, and a variety of birds can all be seen while viewing wildlife.

10. East Beach State Campground, Rhode Island

East Beach, one of the state beaches in Rhode Island with the least development, is a gorgeous waterfront spot perfect for swimming and saltwater fishing.

RVers who are looking for a more rustic camping experience on three miles of unspoiled beach frontage can check out Rhode Island's East Beach State Campground.

This location does not have utilities, and specific camping/vehicle equipment criteria must be met. Every camping unit needs to be self-contained and have four wheel drive.

Since fifth wheels and trailers are prohibited, Class B motorhomes are a great choice for camping here. This 20-site campsite with a barrier beach has four composting toilets for bathrooms.

11. Broad River Campground

This community room is available for hire Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (weekends until 11 p.m.) and is housed in the recently constructed campground clubhouse.

You can add more hours at a nominal cost. Maximum capacity of 100 people, 50 inside and 50 outside.Ideal for various occasions, including bridal showers, baby showers, religious festivals, retirement celebrations, holiday parties, team-building exercises, training sessions, and more.

There are several couches, tables, and chairs in the area, along with a 75" HD TV that can be connected via HDMI and VGA and free WiFi.

There's an open, covered cement patio outside with ping pong, cornhole, and multiple picnic tables. Included in the rental is the catering kitchen located adjacent to the common room.

The office, camp store, and restrooms are located in the handicap-accessible clubhouse.

When five or more domes, cottages, or RV sites are reserved for the same date, discounts are applied.

12. River View Campground & Canoe Livery

Modern campground River View Campground & Canoe Livery is a great spot situated in Sterling, Michigan, on the picturesque Rifle River. For families and parties, we rent out kayaks, canoes, and campsites.

River View has both rustic and full-hookup campsites. More riverfront camping is available at River View Campground than at any other location along the Rifle River, with well over a mile of riverfront campsites.

Our 160-acre campground has a lot of hiking and mountain bike paths and borders state forest territory.

For those who would prefer not to deal with the trouble and expense of towing an RV, there are seasonal campsites and cabins available.

We take great satisfaction in our dedication to giving each and every one of our guests a wonderful experience along with modern, clean facilities.

During the camping season, River View Campground & Canoe Livery is open every day. (April 1–October 15) Weekend reservations are welcome and accepted all year round.

13. Stoney Creek RV Park, Alaska

At Stoney Creek RV Park, you can enjoy all the amenities of downtown while still feeling completely alone!

Situated on 15 acres, this fully-serviced RV park is conveniently close to downtown Seward, which provides a plethora of activities where the mountains, ice, and ocean converge.

You shouldn't worry if you're not an adventurous camper. This RV park has 81 sites that offer all you need for a comfortable camping experience.

Showers, laundry facilities, satellite TV, and Wi-Fi are among the extra features. Here, campers may take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and wildlife.

14. Lewis and Clark State Park

A rocky environment with miles of coastline, tall buttes, and hilly terrain surrounds campers in Lewis and Clark State Park. With 101 campsites, this state park is located on one of Lake Sakakawea's upper bays.

One of the main draws for tourists is the boating facilities, which include a marina with boat ramps and slip rentals. Northern pike, sauger, and walleye fishing are all very good.

A beach, swimming area, and self-guided nature trail are also available. There are eight basic sites available for boondockers, but the bulk of the campsites have electricity and water.

15. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park

Shut-ins are mountain range-cracking rock formations that create a network of lakes, rivulets, waterfalls, and plunge pools. They can be found in Ozarks streams.

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park and the adjacent St. Francois Mountains are unique destinations due to their geology, wilderness traits, and other natural features.

Because of its natural beauty, it makes the ideal setting for resting, enjoying the outdoors, hiking, camping, picnicking, and splashing in the shut-ins.

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park campground is open all year round and has a variety of campsite options, including basic, full hookup, and equestrian campsites.

16. First Landing State Park, Virginia

First Landing State Park, which is situated on Cape Henry in North Virginia Beach, provides a variety of recreational opportunities for guests.

The Chesapeake Bay Beach offers swimming, and there are 19 miles of paths for bicycling and hiking. This state park also offers boating and saltwater fishing to its visitors.

Campers can choose from 200 campsites, some of which have water and electricity hookups. There is a fire pit, fire ring, and picnic table at each location.

The boardwalk at Virginia Beach, the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, the Norfolk Naval Base, the Cape Henry Lighthouse, and the First Landing Cross in nearby Fort Story are some of the nearby attractions.

17. Grand Marais Recreation Area

The arrowhead region of Minnesota is well-known for its amazing Lake Superior scenery, the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the rugged Sawtooth Mountain range, the Superior National Forest, and the many Minnesota State Parks.

The Grand Marais campground, which offers 300 campsites, including full hookup RV sites, has a nature area, cobblestone beaches, a harbor break wall, as well as access to public water.

Bottom Line

That concludes our list of the best campgrounds on the river as selected by the professionals at Sportsaber!

Have you stayed at any of the places we recommend? Which one are you going to visit first? Are there any others that we missed? You can share your experiences with others!

Looking for more destination inspiration? Continue reading our blog to discover even more amazing campgrounds and RV parks.

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Best Campgrounds on the River for Summer Camping