As if you needed another reason to celebrate August as prime campfire—and thus marshmallow toasting—season, August 10 is National S’mores Day. Whether it’s an official holiday or not, you can thank the Girl Scouts for inventing the ooey-gooey treat in 1927. To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of ten great places across the country where you can enjoy s’mores under the stars or in the comfort of a hotel while also saving money. Don’t worry if you can’t celebrate the holiday; National Marshmallow Toasting Day follows on August 30.
Wake up to the sunrise over New Mexico’s stunning Organ Mountains at Sierra Vista, the country’s top-ranked campground. This campground offers natural beauty without sacrificing accessibility, with unrivaled views and the convenience of being close to Las Cruces.
Sierra Vista has some of the amenities found in paid campgrounds despite being a free, dispersed campground (like noise restrictions and frequent check-ins by BLM Rangers). If you get tired of admiring the view from your campsite, there are trailheads nearby, and White Sands National Park is only a short drive away. There aren’t many other unspoiled campgrounds that provide such easy access to our country’s most beautiful and wild places.
Details about the campground:
- Price: free
- Number of sites: dispersed
- RV sites: yes
- Fires allowed: yes
- Pets allowed: yes
Stay in the heart of it all at the Mountain West region’s top-rated campground. Many Glacier Campground offers breathtaking views of Swiftcurrent Lake, which is surrounded by five of Glacier National Park’s iconic peaks, as well as access to the park’s numerous amenities, including a restaurant, grocery store, and more! You’ll probably want to stay longer because there are so many trailheads and outdoor opportunities right from camp.
Keep an eye out for wildlife and enjoy the sunsets and sunrises glistening over the mountain peaks. Bears and moose are frequently seen right from camp, so follow wildlife Leave No Trace principles.
Campground Details:
- Price: $23
- Number of sites: 110
- RV sites: yes
- Fires allowed: yes
- Pets allowed: yes
If you’re a seasoned dispersed camper, “The Wall” is probably somewhere near the top of your bucket list. Your campsite will likely feel like your own personal slice of nature, with the wide-open Buffalo Gap National Grasslands on one side and views of the Badlands on the other.
Sunsets will be a highlight of your stay, illuminating the iconic rock formations that are so recognizable to the Badlands from camp! Badlands National Park is only a short drive away, and the nearby town of Wall is a great place to stock up on supplies. This is the most popular campground in the Great Plains region.
Campground Details:
- Price: free
- Number of sites: dispersed
- RV sites: yes
- Fires allowed: yes
- Pets allowed: yes
Stay at a campground that has been used as a filming location for many Hollywood blockbusters, including Gladiator and Iron Man. Almost every campsite here will have spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada range on one side and the Inyo Mountains on the other. Climb one of the numerous routes available on the high-desert rock formations, or go for a hike and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
Remember that times have changed, and the Alabama Hills are no longer the wild west they once were. Camping is now prohibited in a number of areas, including west of Movie Road. Today, you can only camp in designated areas or in previously established areas. Special permits will soon be required at the top-ranked institutions.
Campground Details:
- Price: free (subject to change under new permitting)
- Number of sites: dispersed
- RV sites: yes
- Fires allowed: yes
- Pets allowed: yes
One of America’s most photographed lighthouses can be found on the rugged shores of Lake Superior. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, known for its dramatic cliffs, rocky beaches, and picturesque hiking trails, is pleasing to the eyes and soothing to the soul. The lighthouse, now a National Historic Landmark, was built in the early twentieth century to aid ships on stormy Lake Superior and can be seen from some of the campsites at this Midwest region’s top-ranked campground.
The fishing for trout and salmon is excellent, and hiking trails wind through forests, alongside waterfalls, and alongside the lake. Look for loons, bobcats, lynxes, and other exciting wildlife. It’s ideal for a summer getaway, but it’s open all year.
Campground Details:
- Price: $16 – $20
- Number of sites: 46
- RV sites: yes
- Fires allowed: yes
- Pets allowed: yes